Air bag safety device for vehicles

• US 5,788,271 A
• Filed: 02/21/1996
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rudy Sotelo
• Original Assignee: Rudy Sotelo
• Inventors: Sotelo, Rudy
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US08/603,604
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/735, 280/743.1, 297/112, 297/216.1, 297/216.13, 297/216.14, 297/464, 297/488
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats

Abstract

An air bag safety device made up of a collision sensing system and an air bag deployment system. The air bag deployment system is activated by the collision sensing system and is positioned within a vehicle seat. An air bag having a shape corresponding to a lumbar spine and shoulder blade region of a human is deployed by the air bag deployment system into the region between the vehicle seat and a lumbar and shoulder blade region of an occupant of the vehicle seat following an impact.

Claims

1. An air bag safety device for a vehicle comprising:

a collision sensing system including;

at least two collision sensing sensors each having a deployment control output,

a safety sensor having a safety control output, and

a weight sensor having a weight control output; and

an air bag deployment system, positioned within a vehicle seat, having at least one deployment control input in electrical connection with said deployment control outputs of said at least two collision sensing sensors, a safety control input in electrical connection with said safety control output of said safety sensor, a weight sensor input in electrical connection with weight control output of said weight sensor, and a gas deployable contoured air bag having a shape corresponding to a lumbar spine and shoulder blade region of a human;

said air bag deployment system being oriented with respect to said vehicle seat in a manner such that, when said contoured air bag deploys, said contoured air bag deploys into a region between said vehicle seat and a lumbar and shoulder blade region of an occupant of said vehicle seat, said air bag deployment system deploying said contoured air bag upon detection by said air bag deployment system of a first safety control output signal from said safety sensor safety control output, a second weight control output signal from said weight sensor weight control output, and at least one third deployment control signal from one of said collision sensor deployment control outputs.

2. The air bag safety device for vehicles of claim 1, wherein:

said contoured air bag has about a five inch thick central portion that tapers to about a two inch thickness at upper and lower ends.

3. The air bag safety device for vehicles of claim 1, wherein:

said air bag deployment system further includes an auxiliary power input, and said air bag safety device further includes a battery back up in electrical connection with said auxiliary power input.

4. The air bag safety device for vehicles of claim 3, wherein:

said contoured air bag has about a five inch thick central portion that tapers to about a two inch thickness at upper and lower ends.