Dynamically deployed device anchor and assembly

• US 6,378,897 B1
• Filed: 08/02/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Automotive US, Inc.
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Simula, Inc. (Safariland LLC)
• Inventors: Mowry, Gregory A., Butters, Nathan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SY, MARIANO ONG
• Application Number:
  US09/630,606
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.2, 280/730.1, 280/749, 280/753, 188/5, 188/4.R, 188/4.B, 188/7, 188/8
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23184 Tubular air bags connected to the vehicle at their two extremities
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

A dynamically deployed device (“DDD”) assembly comprising a DDD, an anchor, and a mechanical stop, a vehicle member, a tether, or any other device that stops the rotation of the anchor. The anchor can be pivotally fastened to and stowed inside a vehicle structure member, with a DDD cord fastened to the end of the DDD anchor opposite the pivot attachment point. Upon deployment, the inflating DDD pulls the DDD cord tight. The DDD cord in turn pulls the anchor down such that the anchor rotates around its pivot attachment point and comes to rest against the stop, member, tether, or other similar device that stops the rotation. In this secured, locked position, the anchor provides a DDD attachment point offset from the vehicle structure member to which the anchor is fastened. Embodiments of the anchor include a link or cam.

Claims

1. A dynamically deployed device assembly for protecting an occupant in a vehicle, wherein the dynamically deployed device assembly is adapted to be pulled taut by a deploying dynamically deployed device, the assembly comprising:

(a) a dynamically deployed device having a first cord and a second cord, the first cord attached to a first vehicle member;

(b) an anchor pivotally attached at a first point to a second vehicle member and attached at a second point to the second cord of the dynamically deployed device; and

(c) a means for stopping rotation that prevents the anchor from rotating past a predetermined angle.

2. The dynamically deployed device assembly of claim 1, wherein when the anchor pivots against the means for stopping rotation, the anchor provides a fixed attachment point at the second point.

3. The dynamically deployed device assembly of claim 2, wherein the fixed attachment point is offset from the second vehicle member.

4. The dynamically deployed device assembly of claim 2, wherein the fixed attachment point is offset from the first point.

5. The dynamically deployed device assembly of claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle is approximately 90°

.

6. The dynamically deployed device assembly of claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle is between 0°

-270°

, inclusive.

7. The dynamically deployed device assembly of claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle is between approximately 85°

and 95°

, inclusive.

8. The dynamically deployed device assembly of claim 1, wherein the anchor is a link, the second vehicle member is a roof rail, and the means for stopping rotation is a stop.

9. The dynamically deployed device assembly of claim 8, wherein the link comprises

(i) a member containing a slot formed longitudinally from near the first point of the anchor to near the second point of the anchor; and

(ii) a sliding fastener contained in the slot, wherein the sliding fastener is the second point to which the second cord is attached, and wherein the sliding fastener moves within the slot.

10. The dynamically deployed device assembly of claim 1, wherein the anchor is a link, the second vehicle member is a roof rail, and the means for stopping rotation is a tether.

11. The dynamically deployed device assembly of claim 1, wherein the second vehicle member is a roof rail, the means for stopping rotation is the roof rail, and the anchor is a cam of substantially a wedge shape, and wherein the first point is located near an apex corner of the cam and the second point is at a location on the cam farther from the dynamically deployed device than the first point, when the cam is stowed.

12. The dynamically deployed device assembly of claim 11, wherein the apex corner is between approximately 85°

and 95°

, inclusive.

13. The dynamically deployed device assembly of claim 11, wherein the apex corner is approximately 45°

-135°

.

14. The dynamically deployed device assembly of claim 1, wherein the second vehicle member is a roof rail, the means for stopping rotation is a stop affixed to the roof rail, and the anchor is a cam of substantially a wedge shape, and wherein the first point is located near an apex comer of the cam and the second point is at a location on the cam farther from the dynamically deployed device than the first point, when the cam is stowed.

15. The dynamically deployed device assembly of claim 1, wherein the second vehicle member is a roof rail, the means for stopping rotation is a tether, and the anchor is a cam of substantially a wedge shape, and wherein the first point is located near an apex comer of the cam and the second point is at a location on the cam farther from the dynamically deployed device than the second point, when the cam is stowed.

16. A dynamically deployed device assembly for protecting an occupant in a vehicle, wherein the dynamically deployed device assembly is adapted to be pulled taut by a deploying dynamically deployed device, the assembly comprising:

(a) a dynamically deployed device having a forward cord and a rearward cord;

(b) a first anchor having a first end pivotally fastened to a vehicle and a second end attached to the forward cord;

(c) a second anchor having a first end pivotally fastened to the vehicle and a second end attached to the rearward cord;

(d) a first means for stopping rotation that prevents the first anchor from rotating past a first predetermined angle; and

(e) a second means for stopping rotation that prevents the second anchor from rotating past a second predetermined angle.

17. The dynamically deployed device assembly of claim 16, wherein when the first anchor pivots against the first means for stopping rotation the first anchor provides a first fixed attachment point for the forward cord,

and wherein when the second anchor pivots against the second means for stopping rotation, the second anchor provides a second fixed attachment point for the rearward cord.

18. The dynamically deployed device assembly of claim 16, wherein the first fixed attachment point and the second fixed attachment point are offset from the vehicle.

19. The dynamically deployed device assembly of claim 16, wherein the first means for stopping rotation prevents the first anchor from rotating past a first predetermined angle in a direction toward the second anchor,

and wherein the second means for stopping rotation prevents the second anchor from rotating past a second predetermined angle in a direction toward the first anchor.

20. A dynamically deployed device anchor for securing a dynamically deployed device in a vehicle, wherein the dynamically deployed device pulls the dynamically deployed device anchor upon deployment, the dynamically deployed device anchor comprising:

a longitudinal member having a forward point and a rearward point, wherein the forward point is pivotally attached to the vehicle and the rearward point is attached to the dynamically deployed device, and wherein the forward point is closer to the dynamically deployed device than the rearward point when the longitudinal member is stowed.

21. The dynamically deployed device of claim 20, further comprising a means for stopping rotation that prevents the longitudinal member from rotating toward the dynamically deployed device past a predetermined angle.

22. The dynamically deployed device anchor of claim 21, wherein when the dynamically deployed device inflates and pulls the rearward point, the longitudinal member rotates around the forward point and comes to rest against the means for stopping rotation.

23. The dynamically deployed device anchor of claim 21, wherein the predetermined angle is between 0°

-270°

, inclusive.

24. The dynamically deployed device anchor of claim 21, wherein the longitudinal member further comprises a slot having a first end proximate the forward point and a second end farther from the forward point than the first end when the longitudinal member is stowed,

wherein the rearward point is a sliding fastener that moves within the slot, wherein the rearward point is proximate the forward point when the longitudinal member is stowed, and wherein the rearward point moves within the slot radially away from the forward point as the longitudinal member rotates around the forward point.

25. The dynamically deployed device anchor of claim 24, wherein the slot is configured such that the second end of the slot is closer to the dynamically deployed device than the first end when the longitudinal member rests against the means for stopping rotation.

26. The dynamically deployed device anchor of claim 21, wherein the forward point of the longitudinal member does not rotate and the longitudinal member bends around the forward point until the longitudinal member rests against the means for stopping rotation.

27. A method for anchoring a dynamically deployed device comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching the dynamically deployed device to a first vehicle member and an anchor;

(b) pivotally attaching the anchor to a second vehicle member through a pivot end of the anchor;

(c) stowing the dynamically deployed device;

(d) stowing the anchor in the second vehicle member with the pivot end closest to the dynamically deployed device;

(e) deploying the dynamically deployed device such that the deploying dynamically deployed device pulls the anchor around the pivot end; and

(f) stopping the anchor with a means for stopping rotation.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the anchor is a link.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the anchor is a cam.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the means for stopping rotation stops the anchor at substantially 90°

from the second vehicle member.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the means for stopping rotation is one of a block, a pin, and a tether.