Padding to reduce injuries in automobile accidents

• US 5,098,124 A
• Filed: 09/06/1990
• Issued: 03/24/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Shokoohi, Ferevdoon, Breed, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US07/578,365
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 280/751, 280/752, 280/739, 280/750, 280/753, 280/756, 280/729, 267/91, 267/146, 267/149, 267/148, 293/107, 293/110, 297/216, 297/487, 297/488
• US Class Current: 280/751
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0051 Knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0407 using gas or liquid as energy absorbing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/04 Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0428 associated with the side doors or panels, e.g. displaced towards the occupants in case of a side collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/045 associated with the instrument panel or dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 13/06 the damper being a fluid damper, e.g. the plastics spring not forming a part of the wall of the fluid chamber of the damper F16F13/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/0481 provided in an opening to the exterior atmosphere

Abstract

Padding for use on vehicle doors for protection of occupants in side impact accidents is composed of a plurality of cells. Each cell is filled with air and sealed except for an orifice. The flow of the air through the orifice provides the damping required to absorb the energy of the impacting occupant. Each cell contains a spring, usually in the form of foam rubber, to maintain the cell in its inflated shape. The plurality of cells provides for better control over the motion of the occupant. The padding can also be used on any surface of the passenger compartment including knee bolsters, headrests, A and B pillars, roofs structures, roof and seats.

Claims

1. A padding for cushioning and absorbing energy from an object which impacts against it, said padding comprising a plurality of padding cells arranged substantially side by side to form a cushion surface, each padding cell including:

(a) an enclosed chamber containing a gas and having side walls formed of substantially impervious flexible material and an end wall having a flow restrictor means for controlling the flow of said gas therethrough, said chamber being adapted to be collapsed from an initial position with full internal volume to a final, collapsed position with substantially less internal volume; and

(b) means for restoring said chamber to its initial position, said means being disposed away from said flow restrictor means to permit the unimpeded flow of said gas to and through said flow restrictor means.

2. The padding defined in claim 1, wherein said cells have a maximum width, between opposite side walls, which is not substantially greater than the size of the object which is expected to impact against it.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said restoring means comprises foam.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said restoring means comprises fibers.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said restoring means comprises at least one spring.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said restrictor means comprises a hole in said chamber.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the flow through said restrictor means is substantially proportional to the viscosity of said gas.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided to vary the area of said restrictor means in response to pressure inside said chamber.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the flow through said restrictor means is substantially controlled by the inertia of the gas.

10. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said padding is disposed on to a motor vehicle door.

11. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said padding is disposed on to a motor vehicle knee bolster.

12. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said padding is disposed on to a motor vehicle headrest.

13. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said padding is disposed on to a motor vehicle roof structure.

14. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said padding is disposed on to a motor vehicle roof support pillar.

15. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one chamber has restrictor means of different size than that of another chamber.

16. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said padding is incorporated in a motor vehicle seat.

17. The invention in accordance with claim 16 wherein said seat additionally comprises an anti-submarining structure.

18. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gas is maintained above atmospheric pressure.

19. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said chamber contains substantially no volume in its collapsed position.