Safety external air bag system for a variety of conveyances

• US 6,227,325 B1
• Filed: 06/07/2000
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reza H. Shah
• Original Assignee: Reza H. Shah
• Inventors: Shah, Reza H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US09/588,679
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: 180/271, 180/274, 280/728.1
• US Class Current: 180/274
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/205 inflatable in the direction of an obstacle upon impending impact, e.g. using air bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0016 Fall in water
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0088 Cycles, e.g. motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0093 Aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0095 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 27/20 Airbags specially adapted for motorcycles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 59/02 Fenders integral with waterborne vessels or specially adapted therefor, e.g. fenders forming part of the hull or incorporated in the hull; Rubbing-strakes fenders on coasts, in harbours or on other fixed marine structures E02B3/26
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/32 characterised by elements which contact the ground or similar surface arrester hooks B64C25/68
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/56 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2201/00 Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/00 Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for parachutes B64D17/00, B64D19/00; jettisoning of fuel tanks or fuel per se B64D37/00; specially adapted for protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems B64D45/0015 ; safety belts or body harnesses in general A62B35/00; safety belts or body harnesses for land vehicles B60R22/00; jettisonable parts of fuselage facilitating emergency escape B64C

Abstract

External inflatable safety bags are provided in this system which is adaptable for a variety of conveyances. A sensing means determines the speed and distance between the conveyance and an obstacle or another conveyance for selectively providing a warning signal to the driver to avoid a collision or to deploy the safety bags automatically when collision is imminent. The safety bags provide impact absorption as well as aerodynamic breaking of the speed of the conveyance.

Claims

1. An external safety inflatable air bag system for a conveyance, deployable in a collision accident, comprising,

at least one inflatable air bag adapted on said conveyance and having a substantially large size comparing to physical size of said conveyance, upon deployment,

a plurality of aerodynamic breaking openings formed in said inflatable air bag for reducing rebounce of said conveyance when impacting upon said air bag during said an accident,

said air bag having a rough front surface.

2. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 1 wherein said rough front surface includes a plurality of ruffles formed therein adapted to squelch aerodynamic air flow over said air bag for slowing forward motion of said conveyance, and said air bag being made of a transparent material.

3. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 2 wherein said air bag includes a second portion without openings formed therein.

4. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 3 including at least one speed sensor means mounted on said conveyance and adapted to detect the speed of an object moving towards said conveyance and adapted selectively to provide a warning signal indicating potential danger of said conveyance in colliding with said object, and to deploy said air bag automatically when collision with said object is imminent.

5. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 4 said sensor means comprising an elongated tube having a concave reflective mirror mounted at a rear end therein, said mirror being adjustable and adapted to provide a light image of said object at a predetermined location within said tube corresponding to a selected distance of said object from said conveyance, and a light filter mounted at a front end therein, said light filter being adapted to reduce ambient light entering into said tube.

6. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 5 including a transparent disc mounted at said predetermined location within said tube, a transducer means mounted on said disc and adapted to generate an electrical signal responding to said light image.

7. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 6 including an electrical circuit means coupled to said transducer means and adapted selectively to generate said warning signal and to deploy said air bag automatically when collision with said object is imminent.

8. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 7 wherein said conveyance is an automobile and said air bag includes a front top portion extending forwardly adapted to cover over said object impacting on said front surface and said object is a second automobile and said air bag includes a front lower portion extending forwardly adapted to slide under a front end of said second automobile.

9. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 7 wherein said conveyance is a water craft, and a front inflatable air bag being provided at a bow portion of said water craft, and two side inflatable air bags being provided at both sides of said water craft.

10. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 9 including a separate sensor means for said front inflatable air bag and each one of said side inflatable air bags.

11. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 10 including a rear inflatable air bag adapted at a stern portion of said water craft, and an additional sensor means mounted at said stern portion adapted for deploying said rear inflatable air bag when said stern portion collides with another object.

12. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 3 wherein said conveyance is a helicopter and said inflatable air bag being adapted at an underside of said helicopter.

13. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 12 wherein said inflatable air bag has a relatively large physical size and adapted to maintain said helicopter afloat when said helicopter falls into a body of water.

14. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 3 wherein said conveyance is an air plane, and said inflatable air bag including a front inflatable air bag adapted at a front end of said air plane, a lower inflatable air bag adapted to deploy over the entire underside of said air plane, and a plurality of side inflatable air bags adapted at both sides of said air plane.

15. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 14 wherein said front inflatable air bag has a substantially large physical size upon deployment and adapted to wrap over the entire front end of said front end of said air plane.

16. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 15 wherein said side inflatable air bags are adapted to act as parachutes for supporting descend of said air plane when said air plane is falling to ground in an accident.

17. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 16 wherein said lower inflatable air bag includes a relatively large portion adapted to maintain said air plane afloat when said air plane falls onto a body of water.

18. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 3 wherein said conveyance is a motorcycle, and said air bag, upon deployment, includes a top portion covering over said motorcycle and a rider located thereon, and two side portions covering over both sides of said motorcycle.

19. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 3 wherein said conveyance is a snowmobile, and said at least one air bag including a front air bag deployable over a front end of said snowmobile and a lower air bag deployable over the entire underside of said snowmobile.

20. An external safety inflatable air bag system according to claim 19 wherein said lower air bag is adaptable for maintaining said snowmobile afloat in a body of water when said snowmobile falls into said body of water.