Safety system for removing a rider from a vehicle by deploying a parachute

• US 5,593,111 A
• Filed: 07/18/1994
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph S. Leak Sr, Troy Jackson
• Original Assignee: Joseph S. Leak Sr, Troy Jackson
• Inventors: Jackson, Troy, Leak, Joseph S. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mojica, Virna Lissi
• Application Number:
  US08/276,338
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 244/16, 244/113, 244/110 D, 244/122 AF, 244/122 AG, 244/137.2, 244/137.3, 244/137.1, 244/143, 244/147, 244/149, 244/151 B, 244/900, 244/903, 244/904, 180/282, 180/272, 180/271, 280/810, 280/733
• US Class Current: 244/110.00D
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2600/102 Motorcycling
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 27/00 Safety equipment

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for reducing the velocity of a rider in or on an open cockpit vehicle when the rider is thrown from the vehicle are disclosed. The present invention provides a drag-reducing device such as a parachute or parawing that is affixed to the rider so that when a crash occurs, the rider is slowed down after ejection and therefore more likely to survive the crash without severe injuries. The present invention is preferably used in conjunction with a motorcycle and includes a sensor system for sensing the imminence or occurrence of a crash an/or the ejection of the rider from the vehicle. A transmitter receiver system is used to relay a signal to a deployment system that is attached to the rider as part of a system containing the drag inducing device, which rapidly deployed, thereby causing the velocity of the ejected rider to be reduced and providing the further benefit of lifting the rider away from the crash site.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a drag-inducing device affixed to a rider for lifting the rider from a vehicle and reducing the rider'"'"'s velocity after separation from the vehicle;

an active deployment system connected to the drag inducing device; and

a sensor system communicating with the deployment system,

whereby the sensor system senses a crash condition and signals the active deployment system to actively deploy the drag-inducing device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a motorcycle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drag-inducing device is a parachute.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drag-inducing device is a parawing.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drag-inducing device is connected to the rider by a harness comprised of a plurality of straps.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a stress reduction ring disposed between the drag-inducing device and the rider.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the deployment device comprises a receiver and a quantity of pressurized gas, wherein the receiver activates a mechanism for releasing the pressurized gas.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the receiver is a wireless receiver.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor system comprises a transmitting unit connected to one or more sensors.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sensor system comprises a wireless transmitting unit connected to one or more sensors.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor system comprises one or more tether sensors for determining when the rider is removed from the vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor system comprises one or more vehicle tilt sensor devices.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor system comprises one or more sensor means for determining that a crash is imminent.

14. Apparatus for safely removing a rider from a moving motorcycle and reducing the rider'"'"'s velocity, comprising:

a means for increasing the drag of the rider said means for increasing drag being affixed to the rider;

active deployment means for actively deploying the means for increasing drag; and

sensor means for communicating with the deployment system,

whereby the sensor means senses an imminent crash condition and signals the deployment means to actively deploy the means for increasing drag to lift the rider from the vehicle and reduce the rider'"'"'s velocity.

15. A method of decreasing the velocity of a rider thrown from an open cockpit vehicle comprising the steps of:

attaching a device comprising a drag-inducing device and an active deployment system to the rider;

sensing a crash and creating a crash signal;

relaying the crash signal to the deployment system; and

actively deploying the drag-inducing device to remove the rider from the vehicle and to reduce the velocity of the rider.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of attaching a tether between the rider and the vehicle;

and activating the deployment system when the tether is detached from between the rider and the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of sensing the tilt of the vehicle;

comparing the tilt to a predetermined maximum tilt level; and

activating the deployment mechanism if the maximum tilt level is exceeded.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of sensing the proximity of the vehicle to other objects;

determining if a crash is imminent; and

activating the deployment mechanism if a crash is imminent.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of deploying the drag-inducing device comprises releasing a quantity of compressed gas.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of attaching a device comprising a drag-inducing device and a deployment system to the rider comprises attaching a harness comprised of a plurality of straps to the rider.