Occupant protecting system for vehicle
First Claim
1. An occupant protecting system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a shock absorbing membrane member of a substantially triangular configuration which is folded in an inoperative state of the system and is unfoldable and developed between a vehicle body and an occupant upon collision of the vehicle,said membrane member having fixed points at two corner portions which are fixed to a vehicle body and having one movable point which is located near one of said fixed points when said membrane member is folded, said movable point being movable substantially straightforwardly along the vehicle body away from said one fixed point when said membrane member is unfolded; and
developing means for developing said shock absorbing membrane member by moving said movable point upon collision of said vehicle.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An occupant protecting system for a vehicle includes a triangular shock absorbing member which is accommodated in a folded state within an accommodating casing mounted along a roof rail. The shock absorbing member is held stationarily at its front and rear ends to a vehicle body by fixing pins. A movable pin mounted at a lower end of the shock absorbing member is connected through a wire to a developing or unfolding device mounted to a center pillar. The developing or unfolding device includes a gas generator and a cylinder with a piston slidably received therein and coupled to the wire. When the gas generator is operated upon collision of the vehicle to force the piston in the cylinder downwardly by a high pressure gas generated by the gas generator, the movable pin is pulled down through the wire, so that the shock absorbing member is drawn out of the accommodating casing and developed into a triangular shape. Thus, the membrane-like shock absorbing member, when being accommodated, is compact in size and can easily be mounted in a narrow space in the vehicle body.
140 Citations
7 Claims
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1. An occupant protecting system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a shock absorbing membrane member of a substantially triangular configuration which is folded in an inoperative state of the system and is unfoldable and developed between a vehicle body and an occupant upon collision of the vehicle, said membrane member having fixed points at two corner portions which are fixed to a vehicle body and having one movable point which is located near one of said fixed points when said membrane member is folded, said movable point being movable substantially straightforwardly along the vehicle body away from said one fixed point when said membrane member is unfolded; and developing means for developing said shock absorbing membrane member by moving said movable point upon collision of said vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification