Personal manually-actuatable safety restraint gas bag shield

• US 5,492,359 A
• Filed: 06/27/1994
• Issued: 02/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert S. Oliver
• Original Assignee: Robert S. Oliver
• Inventors: Oliver, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/265,958
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801.1, 280/728 R, 280/730 R, 280/733, 280/748, 280/750, 280/728.1, 280/730.1, 446/220, 446/226
• US Class Current: 280/728.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0293 Additional pads or cushions in vehicle compartments, e.g. movably mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/02 Occupant safety arrangements or fittings , e.g. crash pads seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00

Abstract

A portable, personal, manually-activated safety restraining gas bag shield is provided herein. It includes a bag formed solely of gas-impermeable non-expandable fabric which is adapted to be selectively provided either in a deflated condition or in an inflated condition. A pocket in the bag having access means to the interior of the bag and controlled by a manually-actuatable, one-way valve to provide for gas to the interior of the bag. A cylinder of compressed gas is disposed within the pocket the cylinder including a closed nozzle connected to the manually-controlled, one-way valve for inflating the bag. Manually actuatable structure is provided to operate the manually-actuatable valve, thereby to control the flow of gas released from the cylinder into the interior of the bag.

Claims

1. A portable, personal, manually-activated safety restraining gas bag shield comprising:

(i) a bag formed solely of gas-impermeable, non-expandable fabric, and adapted to be selectively provided either in a deflated condition or in an inflated condition;

(ii) a pocket in said bag having access means to the interior of said bag, and controlled by a manually-actuatable, one-way valve to provide for gas access to the interior of said bag;

(iii) a cylinder of compressed gas disposed within said pocket, said cylinder including a closed nozzle connected to said manually-controlled, one-way valve and being actuatable manually for inflating the bag; and

(iv) manually-actuatable means to operate said manually-actuatable valve, thereby to control the flow of gas released from said cylinder into the interior of said bag.

2. The bag of claim 1 which has two spaced-apart planar surfaces.

3. The bag of claim 2 wherein said pocket is secured to the exterior of one planar surface, said pocket covering a closable opening in that planar surface.

4. The bag of claim 2 including means on one planar surface temporarily to secure said bag to a base member.

5. The bag of claim 2 wherein the source of gas under pressure is a cylinder of compressed air, compressed carbon dioxide, or compressed nitrogen, having controllable outlet means to supply gas to the interior of said bag.

6. The bag of claim 5 including a valve associated with said outlet means to control the supply of gas to said interior of said bag.

7. The bag of claim 6 including a threaded outlet neck on said cylinder, and an internally threaded nipple secured to said gas inlet means to said bag, said nipple including said valve means.

8. The bag of claim 7 wherein said manual means to initiate control of the flow of gas into said bag comprises a hand squeezable bulb to operate the valve.

9. The bag of claim 7 wherein said manual means to initiate control of the flow of gas into said bag includes a pivotal hand lever to operate the valve.

10. The bag of claim 1 including a carrying handle, and four flaps by means of which said bag may be folded into a compact condition.