Vehicle air bag guard

• US 5,749,599 A
• Filed: 11/22/1996
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henry J. Gardner
• Original Assignee: Henry J. Gardner
• Inventors: Gardner, Henry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US08/754,980
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 280/748, 280/751, 297/487, 297/256.15, 297/250.1, 182/196, 182/207
• US Class Current: 280/748
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2824 part of the base being supported by the vehicle frame B60N2/289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2839 having a front guard or barrier
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/286 forward facing B60N2/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/162 Means for diverting, destroying or blocking the bag in case of dangerous deployment, e.g. during rescue operations or use of rear-facing children seats
• 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

An air bag guard for children and infants having support posts and support bars that form a partial cage for placement over a child or infant for protection against air bag deployment. The air bag guard includes a strap for securing the guard in position with a first embodiment accommodating both forward and rearward facing child seats a second embodiment directed to forward facing children. Each embodiment is collapsible for ease of storage and includes straps for securing the guard in position with adjustments available to accommodate diverse floor positions as well as angular placement of seat backs.

Claims

1. An air bag guard for a vehicle for use in protecting a child during the inflation of a vehicle air bag, said air bag guard comprising:

a pair of adjustable vertical support posts, each support post having a top end and a bottom end;

a pair of horizontal support bars having a first end and a second end, said first ends coupled to said top ends of said support posts;

at least one flexible strap for securing said vertical support posts to a vehicle seat; and

at least one cross brace for maintaining said vertical support posts in a spaced apart position;

whereby said apparatus is positioned in the front passenger seat of a vehicle by placement of said vertical support posts in an upright position directly in front of said passenger seat with said second ends of said horizontal support bars positioned against the seat back of said vehicle passenger seat wherein said air bag guard forms a cage for placement over a child to prevent air bag deployment from impacting a child seating on said passenger seat.

2. The air bag guard according to claim 1 wherein each said support bar is independently adjustable in length.

3. The air bag guard according to claim 1 including a flexible strap for coupling said support bars to a vehicle seat.

9. The air bag guard according to claim 3 including a padding to encompass at least a portion of said guard.

4. An air bag guard for a vehicle for use in protecting a child during the inflation of a vehicle air bag, said air bag guard comprising:

a pair of tubular shaped vertical support posts, each support post having a top end and a bottom end and a means for adjusting the overall length of each support post;

a pair of tubular shaped horizontal support bars having a first end and a second end, said first ends pivotedly coupled to said top ends of said support posts and a means for adjusting the overall length of each support post;

at least one cross brace for maintaining said vertical support posts in a spaced apart position;

a flexible strap for coupling said support bars to a vehicle seat;

whereby said apparatus is positioned in the front passenger seat of a vehicle by placement of said vertical support posts in an upright position directly in front of said passenger seat with said second ends of said horizontal support bars positioned against the seat back of said vehicle passenger seat wherein said air bag guard forms a cage for placement over a child to prevent air bag deployment from impacting a child seating on said passenger seat.

5. The air bag guard according to claim 4 wherein each said support post is independently telescopically adjustable, a first section of each support post having a length and a diameter size so that a second section of each support post having a length and a smaller diameter than said first section will fit slidably therein allowing for an adjustment in height through the extension or contraction of the first section in relation to said second section, said first section and said second section locked in position by an interlocking means.

6. The air bag guard according to claim 4 wherein each said support bar is independently telescopically adjustable, a first section of each support bar having a length and a diameter size so that a second section of each support bar having a length and a smaller diameter than said first section will fit slidably therein allowing for an adjustment in overall length, said first section and said second section locked in position by an inter locking means.

7. The air bag guard according to claim 4 including a means for coupling said vertical support posts to a vehicle seat.

8. The air bag guard according to claim 4 wherein said means for adjusting is further defined as a spring loaded button operatively associated with said posts and said bars, whereby said button means is depressed and a smaller diametric part of said posts and said bars is inserted into a larger diametric part of a corresponding post and bar and said parts releasably interlock when said button means springs forward upon encountering and penetrating an aperture.

13. The air bag guard according to claim 8 including a means for coupling said support bars to the back support of a vehicle seat.

16. The air bag guard according to claim 13 wherein said interlocking means includes a spring loaded button means in the second section and said first section includes apertures, whereby said button means is depressed and said second section is inserted into said first section and said sections releasably interlock when said button means springs forward upon encountering and penetrating one of said apertures.

17. The air bag guard according to claim 13 including a padding to encompass at least a portion of said guard.

10. An air bag guard for a vehicle for use in protecting a child during the inflation of a vehicle air bag, said air bag guard comprising:

a pair of support posts, each support post having a top end and a bottom end;

a pair of horizontal support bars, each support bar having a first end and a second end, said first ends coupled to said top ends respectively;

whereby said horizontal support bars are positionable beneath a child'"'"'s car seat and said support posts are positionable over said child'"'"'s car seat wherein said air bag guard provides a cage to prevent contact between air bag deployment and the child.

11. The air bag guard according to claim 10 including at least one cross brace for maintaining said support posts in a spaced apart position.

12. The air bag guard according to claim 10 wherein said support posts are independently adjustable, a first section of each support post having a length and a diameter size so that a second section of each support post having a length and a smaller diameter than said first section will fit slidably therein allowing for an adjustment in height through the extension or contraction of the first section in relation to said second section, said first section and said second section being lockable.

15. The air bag guard according to claim 12 wherein said support posts are independently telescopically adjustable, a first section of each support post having a length and a diameter size so that a second section of each support post having a length and a smaller diameter than said first section will fit slidably therein allowing for an adjustment in height through the extension or contraction of the first section in relation to said second section, said first section and said second section having interlocking means.

14. An air bag guard for a vehicle for use in protecting a child during the inflation of a vehicle air bag, said air bag guard comprising:

a pair of tubular shaped vertical support posts, said support posts each having a top end and a bottom end;

a pair of tubular horizontal support bars, each support bar having a first end and a second end, said first end pivotedly coupled to said bottom end of each support post;

at least one cross brace for maintaining said vertical support posts in a spaced apart condition;

a means for coupling said support bars to the back support of a vehicle seat;

whereby said horizontal support bars are positionable beneath a child'"'"'s car seat and said support posts are positioned over said child'"'"'s car seat wherein said air bag guard provides a cage to prevent contact between air bag deployment and the child.