Passenger safety device for high speed vehicles

• US 4,765,569 A
• Filed: 04/06/1987
• Issued: 08/23/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph E. Higgins
• Original Assignee: Joseph E. Higgins
• Inventors: Higgins, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAREFOOT, GALEN L
• Application Number:
  US07/034,911
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 244/121, 244/118.5, 244/122 R, 280/741, 280/742, 280/738, 280/739
• US Class Current: 244/118.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0093 Aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2615 for diverting the gas into a plurality of bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2201/00 Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/02 Supports or holding means for living bodies

Abstract

The specification discloses a passive restraint system for high speed vehicles utilizing inflatable bags placed in the backs of the seats of the vehicle. The bags are connected by headers to a manifold which communicates with the exterior of the vehicle and, when open, allows air at high speed to enter and inflate the bags. A relief valve is provided in the cabin to open moments before the bags inflate to remove any danger of pressure shock from the rapid inflation of the bags and to, in some cases, aid in the inflation thereof. In some applications, an optional compressed air and/or compressed gas supply is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A safety device for occupants of vehicles, including:

(a) inflatable means for protecting the occupants of said vehicle,

(b) means to utilize outside air entering said vehicle connected to said inflatable means, wherein said means to utilize include;

i. a manifold communicating with the exterior of said vehicle and said inflatable means, at least one exhaust relief air scoop communicating between the exterior of said vehicle and the interior of said vehicle; and

(c) means to control connected to said means to utilize.

2. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said means to utilize further includes at least one seat header interposed between said manifold and said inflatable means.

3. The device defined in claim 2, wherein said inflatable means include at least one inflatable air bag connected to said seat header.

4. The device defined in claim 3, and further including:

(a) an exhaust relief valve connected to said exhaust relief air scoops and operated by said means to control,

(b) an inlet valve positioned downstream of said inlet and operated by said means to control.

5. The device defined in claim 4, and including at least one venturi interposed in said manifold between said inlet valve and seat header.

6. The device defined in claim 5, and further including a header valve interposed between each of said seat headers and its said corresponding inflatable air bag and connected to said means to control.

7. The device defined in claim 6, and further including:

(a) a compressed gas supply connected to said manifold, and

(b) a gas supply valve interposed between said gas supply and said manifold and operated by said means to control.

8. The device defined in claim 7, wherein said inflatable means include passenger air bags and pilot crew air bags.

9. The device defined in claim 8, wherein said means to control include:

(a) a power supply,

(b) a master on/off switch connected to said power switch, and;

(c) an altitude operated switch connected to said master on/off switch.

10. The device defined in claim 9, wherein said means to control further include:

(a) a passenger system on/off switch connected at its input to said altitude operated switch, and at its output to said inlet valve, said header valve and said gas supply valve.

11. The device defined in claim 10, wherein said means to control further include a pilot-crew on/off switch connected at its input to said altitude operated switch, and at its output to a pilot/crew header valve.

12. The device defined in claim 11, wherein said means to control further include:

(a) an automatic system actuator operable upon impact connected to said altitude operated switch, said inlet valve, said gas supply valve, said passenger header valve, and said pilot/crew header valve to operate said valves to first open said exhaust relief scoops, next open said manifold inlet, next connect said gas supply to said manifold, and then operate said header valves to inflate said passenger and said pilot/crew air bags.

13. The device defined in claim 12, and further including:

(a) a vehicle seat, said vehicle seat including;

i. a hollow seat back portion,

(b) a seat back covering at least a portion of said hollow portion; and

(c) said inflatable means being mounted in said hollow portion of said vehicle seat and being covered by said seat back.

14. A safety device for occupants of vehicles, including:

(a) inflatable means for protecting the occupants of said vehicle;

(b) a compressed gas supply connected to said inflatable means;

(c) at least one relief air scoop communicating between the exterior of said vehicle and the interior of said vehicle; and

(d) means to control connected to said compressed gas supply and said exhaust relief air scoop.

15. The device defined in claim 14, and including:

(a) at least one seat header interposed between said compressed gas supply and said inflatable means.

16. The device defined in claim 15, wherein said inflatable means include at least one inflatable airbag connected to said seat header.

17. The device defined in claim 16, and further including:

(a) an exhaust relief valve connected to said exhaust relief air scoop and operated by said means to control; and

(b) an inlet valve positioned downstream of said compressed gas supply and operated by said means to control.

18. The device defined in claim 17, and including at least one venturi interposed in said manifold between said inlet valve and said seat header.

19. The device defined in claim 18, wherein said inflatable means include passenger airbags and pilot/crew airbags.

20. The device defined in claim 19, wherein said means to control include:

(a) a power supply,

(b) a master on/off switch connected to said power switch; and

(c) an altitude operated switch connected to said master on/off switch.

21. The device defined in claim 20, wherein said means to control further include:

(a) a passenger system on/off switch connected at its input to said altitude operated switch, and at its output to said inlet valve, said header valve and said gas supply valve.

22. The device defined in claim 21, wherein said means to control further include a pilot-crew on/off switch connected at its input to said altitude operated switch, and at its output to a pilot/crew header valve.

23. The device defined in claim 22, wherein said means to control further include:

(a) an automatic system actuator operable upon impact connected to said altitude operated switch, said inlet valve, said gas supply valve, said passenger header valve, and said pilot/crew header valve to operate said valves to first open said exhaust relief scoops, next open said gas supply valve, and then operate said header valves to inflate said passenger and said pilot/crew airbags.

24. The device defined in claim 23, and further including:

(a) a vehicle seat, said vehicle seat including;

i. a hollow seat back portion,

(b) a seat back covering at least a portion of said hollow portion; and

(c) said inflatable means being mounted in said hollow portion of said vehicle seat and being covered by said seat back.