Vehicle crash protective system

• US 6,142,521 A
• Filed: 07/15/1998
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mark E. Shephard
• Original Assignee: Mark E. Shephard
• Inventors: Shephard, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUM VANNUCCI, LEE SIN YEE
• Application Number:
  US09/116,326
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/730.1, 280/736, 280/738.2, 280/751, 280/748, 296/198
• US Class Current: 280/748
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/00 Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions reinforcement elements for side doors B60J5/0412; mudguards B62D
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0293 Additional pads or cushions in vehicle compartments, e.g. movably mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23161 specially adapted for protecting at least two passengers, e.g. preventing them from hitting each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

Crash protective surrounds for a vehicle passenger. Permanently inflated cushions are mounted within the fenders and behind the rear seat. A rear seat cushion and a front seat cushion are expandable in a vertical direction and then across the passenger seats. The front cushion and rear cushion tilt forward away from the passenger limiting bag expansive forces against the passenger.

Claims

1. Crash protective surrounds for a vehicle having a front with fenders, a rear, a passenger compartment with a seat and a vehicle longitudinal axis extending in a direction through the compartment from the front toward the rear comprising:

a front cushion for front impact crash protection mountable to the vehicle forward of the passenger compartment;

a rear cushion for rear impact crash protection mountable to said vehicle aft of said passenger compartment;

a source of pressurized fluid mountable in said vehicle;

a first seat interior cushion mountable to said vehicle and connected to said source of pressurized fluid being expandable first upwardly within said passenger compartment adjacent the seat and then in a forward direction away from the seat limiting expansion of said interior cushion toward a passenger sitting upon the seat,

said interior cushion when inflated by said source of pressurized fluid includes a vertically extending portion and a horizontally extending portion connected together, said horizontally extending portion extending forwardly across the seat in front of a passenger sitting upon the seat; and

wherein said front cushion includes;

a pair of front cushions mounted within said fenders, said cushions include metal frames mounted thereto with said frames mountable forwardly of the passenger compartment within the fenders and extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis to absorb a front impact crash toward the seat.

2. The surrounds of claim 1 wherein:

said rear cushion is inflated at all times and extends across aft of the seat to absorb a rear impact crash toward the seat.

3. The surrounds of claim 2 and further comprising:

a rear seat interior cushion mountable to said vehicle and connected to said source of pressurized fluid being expandable first upwardly within said passenger compartment and then in a forward direction limiting expansion of said rear seat interior cushion in a rearward direction, said first seat interior cushion located forwardly in the passenger compartment and said rear seat interior cushion located rearwardly in the passenger compartment.

4. Crash protective surrounds for a vehicle having a front with fenders, a rear, a passenger compartment with a seat and a vehicle longitudinal axis extending in a direction through the compartment from the front toward the rear comprising:

a front cushion for front impact crash protection mountable to the vehicle forward of the passenger compartment;

a rear cushion for rear impact crash protection mountable to said vehicle aft of said passenger compartment;

a source of pressurized fluid mountable in said vehicle;

a first seat interior cushion mountable to said vehicle and connected to said source of pressurized fluid being expandable first upwardly within said passenger compartment adjacent the seat and then in a forward direction away from the seat limiting expansion of said interior cushion toward a passenger sitting upon the seat; and

wherein said front cushion includes;

a pair of front cushions mounted within said fenders, said front cushions mountable forwardly of the passenger compartment within the fenders and extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis to absorb an impact crash.