Passenger restraint system

• US 5,947,513 A
• Filed: 07/03/1997
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mark R. Lehto
• Original Assignee: Mark R. Lehto
• Inventors: Lehto, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/887,918
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/733
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement

Abstract

A passive inflatable restraining system for a vehicle including a concealed inflatable bag stored in the roof and B-pillar of the vehicle when in the inoperative condition and having one end attached at a central portion of the vehicle and having a second end attached to the B-pillar of the vehicle and further including a sealed tube from the inflatable bag to an inflator concealed at the top of the B-pillar. Upon impact determined by a sensor, the inflator discharges compressed gas through the tube to the inflatable bag which discharges the bag from its concealed portion as it is inflated and projects the inflatable bag over the occupant'"'"'s head and across his torso in the direction of the dashboard of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A passive restraint system for a vehicle including a roof, a floor, a front dashboard, a B-pillar and a seat for restricting movement of a passenger in the seat during rapid deceleration from a high impact crash comprising:

an inflatable bag stored in the roof;

belt means attached to opposing ends of said inflatable bag;

a first belt means fixedly secured to the roof and a second belt means fixedly secured to the B-pillar, and inflation means communicating to the inflatable bag for inflating the inflatable bag when deceleration of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined value, said inflatable bag and belt means deployable as a unit when deceleration of the vehicle exceeds the predetermined value.

2. The passive restraint system of claim 1 wherein said inflation means is stored at a top position of the B-pillar and directed toward the front dashboard.

3. The passive restraint system of claim 1, wherein a center portion of the belt means is disposed in the inflatable bag.

4. The passive restraint system of claim 3, wherein the inflatable bag and belt means are deployable in the direction of the front windshield and dashboard when deceleration of the vehicle exceeds the predetermined value.

5. A passive restraint system for a vehicle including a roof, a floor, a front dashboard, a B-pillar and a seat for restricting movement of a passenger in the seat during rapid deceleration from a high impact crash comprising:

an inflatable bag selectively releasably secured to the roof;

belt means attached to opposing ends of said inflatable bag;

a first belt means fixedly secured to the roof and a second belt means fixedly secured to the B-pillar. and inflation means communicating to the inflatable bag when deceleration of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined value wherein the second belt means is fixedly secured to the floor at a bottom position of the B-pillar and stored in the B-pillar.

6. The passive restraining system of claim 5, further including rupturable material covering the roof and B-pillar for concealing the inflatable bag and belt means therein.

7. The passive restraint system of claim 5, wherein the inflatable bag and belt means are deployable as a unit toward the direction of the front windshield and dashboard.

8. In combination with a vehicle including a roof, a floor, a front windshield and dashboard, a B-pillar, and a seat, a concealed occupant restraint system comprising:

an inflatable bag storable in the roof;

belt means attached to said inflatable bag and adaptable for anchoring to the roof and floor of the vehicle and stored in said roof and B-pillar;

rupturable material covering the roof and B-pillar for concealing said inflatable bag and belt means; and

means, responding to rapid deceleration of the vehicle, for inflating and deploying the inflatable bag through the rupturable material in the direction of the front windshield and dashboard.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the inflatable bag is stored at a position above the seat.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the belt means is anchored at one end on the floor adjacent the B-pillar and at the opposing end at a center location of the roof.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein a retractor is located on the floor.

12. The system in claim 8 herein the means for inflating and deploying the inflatable bag includes an inflator stored at an upper end of the B-pillar.

13. The system in claim 12, wherein a coated fabric inlet tube communicates gas from the inflator to the inflatable bag.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein a portion of the belt means is located in the inflatable bag.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the inflatable bag and belt means are deployable as a unit toward the direction of the front windshield and dashboard.