System for collision damage reduction
First Claim
1. A method for minimizing damage and injury to a vehicle, to occupants of said vehicle, and to collidants of said vehicle, during a collision comprising the steps of:
- a. detecting the imminence of a collision by radar or driver'"'"'s sight,b. inflating long air bags on an exterior surface of said vehicle before contacting said collidants,c. keeping a portion of said air bags on the ground before and after contacting said collidant, andd. compressing said air bags between said vehicle and said collidant to reduce the velocity of said collision,whereby reducing velocities of said collision of said vehicle and said collidant will reduce damage and injury to said vehicle, said collidant, and said occupants.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A collision damage reduction system to reduce contact velocities between a vehicle and a collidant by use of air bags on the exterior of the vehicle. The vehicle operator or an automatic collision imminence detection system e.g. radar, sonar, or an accelerometer and controller actuates a switch that actuates the air bag inflators when a collision is perceived imminent. The switch or controller can also interrupt vehicle motive power and actuate the brakes. The air bag has vents and shapes to steer it and its collidants. The controller can also actuate vehicle horns and lights to warn collidants when imminent collisions are detected.
103 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for minimizing damage and injury to a vehicle, to occupants of said vehicle, and to collidants of said vehicle, during a collision comprising the steps of:
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a. detecting the imminence of a collision by radar or driver'"'"'s sight, b. inflating long air bags on an exterior surface of said vehicle before contacting said collidants, c. keeping a portion of said air bags on the ground before and after contacting said collidant, and d. compressing said air bags between said vehicle and said collidant to reduce the velocity of said collision, whereby reducing velocities of said collision of said vehicle and said collidant will reduce damage and injury to said vehicle, said collidant, and said occupants. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A collision damage reduction system for a vehicle comprising:
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a. air bags and inflators adapted to inflate outside said vehicle, b. a slant on a portion of the front face of said air bags to deflect oncoming air upward and thereby provide a thrust force to keep a portion of said air bags on the ground after inflation but before said air bags contact a collidant, and c. a manual switch in the driver'"'"'s compartment to actuate said inflators before a collision, said manual switch actuated by an occupant of said vehicle, whereby the inflated air bags will compress between said vehicle and the collidant and reduce the velocity of said collision and thereby reduce damage and injury. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20)
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18. A long exterior air bag system for collision cost reduction for a vehicle comprising:
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a. substantially cylindrical air bags with substantially flat ends with major axes longer than two feet and substantially normal to an exterior surface of said vehicle b. inflators adapted to inflate said air bags outside said vehicle, c. a slant on a portion of the front face of said air bags to deflect oncoming air upward and thereby provide a thrust force to keep said air bags on the ground after inflation but before said air bags contact a collidant, and d. a switch to initiate inflation of said air bags before a collision, whereby the inflated air bags will compress between said vehicle and the collidant and thereby reduce damage and injury.
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Specification