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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
First Claim
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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.

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