Inflatable structures for side impact crash protection
First Claim
1. An inflatable protective system which provides cushioning and containment of an occupant of a vehicle from side impact of the vehicle by another object, wherein the vehicle has a side panel assembly located adjacent to the end of a seat upon which the occupant to be protected is seated, said side panel assembly containing a window and window opening at the upper end thereof, a window frame and a roof rail adjacent to an upper side of said window, said system comprisingan inflatable bag foldable into a collapsed, relatively compact configuration and inflatable to form a substantially broad, planar air cushion having dimensions sufficient to extend over the window opening in said side panel assembly;
- means for storing the folded bag within the side panel assembly at a location below said window, with the folded bag being stored in a position facing a flank of the occupant'"'"'s torso when the occupant is seated on the seat;
inflator means mounted within the side panel assembly and in flow communication with said bag; and
impact sensor means mounted within said side panel assembly, said sensor means being capable of activating said inflator means to inflate said bag when another object impacts said side panel assembly with a predetermined force, with the inflated bag forming a shock absorbing cushion for the head and upper torso of the occupant and a cushioning barrier to restrain the occupant'"'"'s head and neck from moving into the window opening or of striking the window frame and roof rail.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable protective system provides cushioning and containment of an occupant of a vehicle from side impact of the vehicle by another object. The system includes an inflatable bag which is foldabble into a collapsed, relatively compact configuration for placement within a door of a vehicle. An inflator and an impact sensor are also mounted within the door, with the inflator being in flow communication with the bag. Upon impact of the door, the sensor activates the inflator to inflate the bag. The inflated bag forms a substantially broad, planar air cushion having dimensions sufficient to extend over the window opening in the door. The inflated bag forms a shock absorbing cushion that prevents the occupant'"'"'s head from striking the door elements and also acts as a cushioning barrier to restrain the occupant'"'"'s head from being ejected through the window opening.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An inflatable protective system which provides cushioning and containment of an occupant of a vehicle from side impact of the vehicle by another object, wherein the vehicle has a side panel assembly located adjacent to the end of a seat upon which the occupant to be protected is seated, said side panel assembly containing a window and window opening at the upper end thereof, a window frame and a roof rail adjacent to an upper side of said window, said system comprising
an inflatable bag foldable into a collapsed, relatively compact configuration and inflatable to form a substantially broad, planar air cushion having dimensions sufficient to extend over the window opening in said side panel assembly; -
means for storing the folded bag within the side panel assembly at a location below said window, with the folded bag being stored in a position facing a flank of the occupant'"'"'s torso when the occupant is seated on the seat; inflator means mounted within the side panel assembly and in flow communication with said bag; and impact sensor means mounted within said side panel assembly, said sensor means being capable of activating said inflator means to inflate said bag when another object impacts said side panel assembly with a predetermined force, with the inflated bag forming a shock absorbing cushion for the head and upper torso of the occupant and a cushioning barrier to restrain the occupant'"'"'s head and neck from moving into the window opening or of striking the window frame and roof rail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification