Side impact head strike protection system
First Claim
1. A safety system for protecting the head, neck and face of occupants in a vehicle comprising:
- (a) a tube having a first end and a second end;
(b) the first end of the tube being pivotally mounted at a first position in the vehicle;
(c) the second end of the tube being pivotally mounted at a second position in the vehicle;
(d) means for generating gas in the tube;
(e) crash sensor means connected to the means for generating gas, said crash sensor means being set to initiate generation of gas in the tube upon detecting an impact,wherein the tube in its uninflated state is substantially longer than the straight-line distance between the first and second positions in the vehicle,wherein upon inflation, the tube increases its diameter and decreases its length substantially such that;
(i) the tube deploys under tension in a substantially straight line between the first and second positions in the vehicle, and(ii) the tube forms a semi-rigid member stretched in a substantially straight line from the first position in the vehicle to the second position in the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a tubular structure which inflates upon side or oblique impact to protect the occupants of a vehicle such as an automobile. The structure is mounted in its undeployed state along the periphery of the vehicle'"'"'s window. The primary component of the present invention is a braided tube containing a gas generator. When a side impact is detected, the gas generator is ignited, inflating the braided tube. As the braided tube inflates, the diameter of the tube increases and its length decreases. The tube then pulls out of its storage location and forms a taut, semi-rigid structural member across the vehicle'"'"'s window.
147 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A safety system for protecting the head, neck and face of occupants in a vehicle comprising:
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(a) a tube having a first end and a second end; (b) the first end of the tube being pivotally mounted at a first position in the vehicle; (c) the second end of the tube being pivotally mounted at a second position in the vehicle; (d) means for generating gas in the tube; (e) crash sensor means connected to the means for generating gas, said crash sensor means being set to initiate generation of gas in the tube upon detecting an impact, wherein the tube in its uninflated state is substantially longer than the straight-line distance between the first and second positions in the vehicle, wherein upon inflation, the tube increases its diameter and decreases its length substantially such that; (i) the tube deploys under tension in a substantially straight line between the first and second positions in the vehicle, and (ii) the tube forms a semi-rigid member stretched in a substantially straight line from the first position in the vehicle to the second position in the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A safety system for protecting the head, neck and face of occupants in a vehicle having a window opening and a first pillar and a second pillar on either side of the window opening comprising:
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(a) a first tube having a first end and a second end; (b) the first end of the first tube being pivotally mounted to the first pillar at a first position; (c) the second end of the first tube being pivotally mounted to the second pillar at a second position, said first tube being stowed around a portion of the periphery of the window opening between the first pillar and the second pillar; (d) means for generating gas in the first tube; (e) crash sensor means connected to the means for generating gas such that when the crash sensor detects an impact, it initiates generation of gas by the means for generating gas, wherein, upon inflation, the first tube increases its diameter and decreases its length substantially, and forms a semi-rigid member stretching under tension from the first position to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A safety system for protecting occupants in a vehicle comprising:
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(a) an inflatable braided tube comprising continuous fibers impregnated with a high-elongation, air-tight elastomeric material, said braided tube having a first end and a second end, the first end of said braided tube being attached to a first pillar of a vehicle, the second end of said braided tube being attached to a second pillar of said vehicle; (b) means for generating gas within said inflatable braided tube; and (c) means for sensing an impact connected to said means for generating gas, said means for sensing an impact being set to initiate generation of gas by the means for generating gas upon detecting an impact, wherein said braided tube is stowed in a non-linear fashion against a surface of the vehicle between the first pillar and the second pillar, and wherein the length of said braided tube reduces substantially upon inflation. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A tubular structure for use as a safety device in vehicles, said tubular structure comprising:
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(a) an inflatable braided tube comprising continuous fibers impregnated with a high-elongation, air-tight elastomeric material, said braided tube having a first end and a second end; (b) pivotable mounts attached to the first and second end of the inflatable braided tube; (c) means for generating gas within the inflatable braided tube; and (d) means for connecting the means for generating gas to a crash sensor, wherein the length of said braided tube reduces substantially upon inflation. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for protecting the occupants of a vehicle from side impact collisions, comprising:
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(a) providing a braided tube pivotally mounted between a first position on a first pillar in the vehicle and a second position on a second pillar in the vehicle, said braided tube being stowed against a surface of the vehicle contiguous to the first and second pillars; (b) providing a gas generator within said braided tube; and (c) providing a crash sensor connected to said gas generator, said crash sensor being set, upon detection of an impact, to initiate generation of gas in the braided tube, thus causing the braided tube to increase in diameter and decrease in length, and deploy under tension across the shortest possible distance between the first and second positions.
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Specification