Portable air bag

• US 5,794,971 A
• Filed: 06/28/1995
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Double Eagle, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Double Eagle, Ltd.
• Inventors: Wojdylak, George, Boydston, L. E. Bailey
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US08/495,929
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 280/733, 280/793.1, 280/735, 280/728.3
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2072 in children's seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/268 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas B60R21/26005 takes precedence

Abstract

A portable air bag device that can be connected to a person and/or vehicle. The portable air bag device includes an enclosure containing a pressurized gas cylinder, controllable gas release valve and control/sensor for activating the device during a crash.

Claims

1. A portable air bag device, comprising:

an enclosure;

an attachment associated with said enclosure for releasably connecting the air bag device to a vehicle restraint belt of a vehicle;

an air bag connected to said enclosure and stored within said enclosure prior to activation, said air bag including an envelope disposed within said air bag;

a pressurized gas container contained within said envelop disposed within said air bag;

a controllable release valve connected to said gas container;

a sensing device for sensing a deployment condition; and

a control device operatively connected to said sensing device, said control device controlling the operation of said controllable release valve for deploying said air bag.

2. A portable air bag device according to claim 1, wherein said envelope is provided with a sealable opening for securely enclosing said pressure cylinder inside said envelope.

3. A portable air bag device according to claim 1, wherein said sensor device is a separate remote sensor device mountable on a firewall of the vehicle.

4. A portable air bag device according to claim 3, wherein said control device is a discrete device and mounted inside said enclosure of the portable air bag device.

5. A portable air bag device according to claim 3, including a wiring harness with a releasable connector for connecting said remote sensor device to the portable air bag device.

6. A portable air bag device according to claim 5, wherein said control device is a discrete device and mounted inside said enclosure of the portable air bag device, and said wire harness electrically connects said remote sensor device to said control device.

7. A portable air bag device according to claim 1, wherein said control device is a discrete device and mounted inside said enclosure of the portable air bag device.

8. A portable air bag device according to claim 1, wherein said attachment is defined by a set of overlapping flaps connected to said enclosure that wrap around a vehicle restraint belt, and releasably connect together.

9. A portable air bag device according to claim 8, wherein said flaps are provided with Velcro fasteners for releasably connecting said flaps together.

10. A portable air ba device according to claim 8, wherein said control device and said sensor device are defined by a pressure sensor connected to a power source electrically connected to said controllable release valve defined by an electrical controllable release valve.

11. A portable air bag device according to claim 8, wherein said enclosure is provided with a tearable seam for egress of said air bag from the enclosure during inflation.