Side impact head strike protection system

• US 5,480,181 A
• Filed: 01/21/1994
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Automotive US, Inc. (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: Simula Inc (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Hardtmann, Dirk J., Yaniv, Gershon, Mowry, Gregory A., Romeo, David J., Bark, Lindley W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US08/181,768
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728 R, 280/728 A, 280/729, 280/730 A, 280/730 R, 280/743 R, 280/743 A, 280/751, 280/749, 280/748, 280/753, 280/733
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/08 automatically movable from an inoperative to an operative position, e.g. in a collision electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23184 Tubular air bags connected to the vehicle at their two extremities

Abstract

The present invention is a tubular structure which inflates upon side or oblique vehicle 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 side pillars and roof rail. The primary component of the present invention is a braided tube linked to 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 side window.

Claims

1. A safety system for protecting occupants of vehicles comprising:

(a) a braided tube enclosing an inner bladder running the length of the tube, said tube having a first end, a second end, and an inner surface;

(b) said tube mounted proximate to said first end at a first position in the vehicle;

(c) said tube mounted proximate to said second end at a second position in the vehicle;

(d) means for generating gas flow into said inner bladder, thereby inflating the braided tube;

(e) crash sensor means connected to said means for generating gas, said crash sensor means being capable of initiating generation of gas flow into said inner bladder upon detection of an impact,

wherein said tube in its uninflated state is substantially longer than the straight-line distance between said first and second positions in the vehicle,

wherein upon inflation, said tube increases its diameter and decreases its length substantially such that said tube deploys under tension in a substantially straight line between the first and second positions in the vehicle.

2. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said inner bladder is comprised of a gas-retentive material.

3. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said inner bladder is comprised of an elastomeric material.

4. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said tube is pivotally mounted proximate said first end.

5. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said tube is pivotally mounted proximate said second end.

6. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said tube is pivotally mounted proximate said first end and pivotally mounted proximate said second end.

7. The safety system of claim 1, further comprising a strap attached to said first end for mounting.

8. The safety system of claim 1, further comprising a strap attached to said second end for mounting.

9. The safety system of claim 1, further comprising straps attached to said first end and to said second end for mounting.

10. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said braided tube comprises continuous fibers impregnated with a high-elongation elastomer.

11. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said inner bladder comprises at least one layer of an elastomeric material.

12. The safety system of claim 11, wherein said at least one layer is joined at a seam running the length of said bladder.

13. The safety system of claim 11, wherein said bladder is seamless.

14. The safety system of claims 11, 12 or 13 wherein said outer surface of said bladder is bonded to said inner surface of said braided tube.

15. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the diameter of said inner bladder is larger than the diameter of said braided tube such that said inner bladder is only partially inflated when said braided tube is fully deployed.

16. A safety system for protecting occupants of vehicles comprising:

(a) a braided tube enclosing an inner bladder running the length of the tube, said braided tube having a first end, a second end, and an inner surface;

(b) said braided tube mounted proximate to said first end to a first position in the vehicle;

(c) said tube mounted proximate to said second end to a second position in the vehicle;

(d) means for generating gas in said inner bladder, thereby inflating the braided tube, said inner bladder comprised of at least one layer of elastomeric material;

(e) crash sensor means connected to said means for generating gas, said crash sensor means being capable of initiating generation of gas flow into said inner bladder upon detection of an impact,

wherein upon inflation of said inner bladder, said braided tube increases its diameter and decreases its length substantially such that said braided tube deploys under tension in a substantially straight line between the first and second positions in the vehicle.

17. The safety system of claim 16, wherein said inner bladder comprises a bonded seam running the length of the bladder.

18. The safety system of claim 17, wherein said inner bladder has an outer surface, and the outer surface of said inner bladder is bonded to the inner surface of the braided tube.

19. The safety system of claim 16, wherein the inner bladder is seamless.

20. The safety system of claim 19, wherein said inner bladder has an outer surface, and the outer surface of said inner bladder is bonded to the inner surface of the braided tube.

21. The safety system of claim 16, wherein the braided tube is attached to the first position by a pivotable mount.

22. The safety system of claim 16, wherein the braided tube is attached to the second position by a pivotable mount.

23. A safety system for protecting occupants of motor vehicles comprising:

(a) a braided tube enclosing an inner bladder running the length of the tube, said braided tube having a first end, a second end, and an inner surface;

(b) at least one attachment strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of said at least one attachment strap connected to the first end of the braided tube, the second end of said at least one attachment strap mounted to a first position in the vehicle;

(c) said tube mounted proximate to said second end to a second position in the vehicle;

(d) means for generating gas flow into said inner bladder, thereby inflating the braided tube, said inner bladder comprised of at least one layer of elastomeric material;

(e) crash sensor means connected to said means for generating gas, said crash sensor means being capable of initiating generation of gas flow into said inner bladder upon detection of an impact,

wherein upon inflation of said inner bladder, said braided tube increases its diameter and decreases its length substantially such that said braided tube deploys under tension in a substantially straight line between the first and second positions in the vehicle.

24. The safety system of claim 23, wherein said inner bladder comprises a bonded seam running the length of the bladder.

25. The safety system of claim 24, wherein said inner bladder has an outer surface, and the outer surface of said inner bladder is bonded to the inner surface of the braided tube.

26. The safety system of claim 23, wherein the inner bladder is seamless.

27. The safety system of claim 26, wherein said inner bladder has an outer surface, and the outer surface of said inner bladder is bonded to the inner surface of the braided tube.

28. The safety system of claim 23, wherein said inner bladder comprises an upper layer and a lower layer of elastomeric material, and wherein the ends of said upper and lower layer are turned inward and sealed to each other by an adhesive.

29. The safety system of claim 28, wherein said braided tube comprises an upper layer and a lower layer, and the ends of said upper layer and said lower layer are bound together by stitching, thus forming the first end and the second end of the braided tube.

30. A safety system for protecting the occupants in a vehicle having a window opening and a first pillar and a second pillar on either side of the window opening comprising:

(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 flow into the first tube such that when the crash sensor detects an impact, it initiates generation of gas by the means for generating gas in the first tube;

(f) a second tube having a first end and a second end;

(g) the first end of the second tube being pivotally mounted to the first pillar at a third position; and

(h) the second end of the second tube being pivotally mounted to the second pillar at a fourth position, said second tube being stowed around a portion of the periphery of the window opening between the first pillar and the second pillar;

wherein, upon inflation, the first tube and the second tube increase their diameter and decrease their length substantially, forming two semi-rigid members stretching under tension from the first pillar to the second pillar.

31. The safety system of claim 30, further comprising means for generating gas flow into the second tube.

32. The safety system of claim 31, wherein the means for generating gas flow into the second tube is at least one fluid connection between the first tube and the second tube.

33. The safety system of claim 30, further comprising means for generating gas flow into the second tube, said crash sensor means being connected to the means for generating gas in the second tube such that when the crash sensor detects an impact, it initiates generation of gas by the means for generating gas flow into the second tube.

34. The safety system of claim 30, further comprising a first fluid connection between the first tube and the second tube, said first fluid connection fluidly connecting the first end of the first tube to the first end of the second tube.

35. The safety system of claim 34, further comprising a second fluid connection between the first tube and the second tube, said second fluid connection fluidly connecting the second end of the first tube to the second end of the second tube.

36. The safety system of claim 30, further comprising means for equalizing pressure between the first tube and the second tube.

37. The safety system of claim 36, wherein the means for equalizing the pressure between the first tube and the second tube is at least one fluid connection between the first tube and the second tube.

38. The safety system of claim 30, wherein the first end of the first tube and the first end of the second tube are mounted to the first pillar using a single pivotable mount.

39. The safety system of claim 38, wherein the second end of the first tube and the second end of the second tube are mounted to the second pillar using a single pivotable mount.

40. An inflatable tubular structure comprising:

(a) a braided tube of continuous fibers, said fibers crossing each other at fiber crossing points and forming first and second angles at the fiber crossing points, the first angles having longitudinal bisectors and the second angles having circumferential bisectors;

(b) an inner bladder running the length of the braided tube;

(c) means for connecting said inner bladder to a source of inflating gas; and

(d) means for mounting said braided tube at fixed positions on a vehicle,

wherein when the braided tube is inflated and the diameter of the tube increases, the first angles increase and the second angles decrease, resulting in a substantial decrease of the length of the braided tube.

41. The inflatable tubular structure of claim 40, wherein said continuous fibers are selected from at least one of Kevlar, nylon, dacron and polyester fibers.

42. The inflatable tubular structure of claim 40, wherein the unconstrained length of the braided tube decreases by 20% to 50% upon inflation.

43. The inflatable tubular structure of claim 40, wherein prior to inflation the first angles are acute, and upon inflation of the unconstrained tubular structure the first angles become obtuse.

44. The inflatable tubular structure of claim 40, wherein the means for connecting said inner bladder to a source of inflating gas are means for connecting said inner bladder to a source for generating gas located inside the braided tube.

45. The inflatable tubular structure of claim 40, wherein the means for connecting said inner bladder to a source of inflating gas are means for connecting said inner bladder to a source located external to the braided tube.

46. The inflatable tubular structure of claim 40, wherein the inner bladder comprises a seam running the length of the bladder.

47. The inflatable tubular structure of claim 40, wherein the inner bladder is uniformly bonded to the inner surface of the braided tube.

48. The inflatable tubular structure of claim 40, wherein the ends of the inner bladder are flattened and sealed with an adhesive, and wherein the ends of the braided tube are flattened and bound together by stitching.

49. The inflatable tubular structure of claim 40, wherein said inner bladder is comprised of a gas-retentive material.

50. The inflatable tubular structure of claim 40, wherein said inner bladder is comprised of an elastomeric material.