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Reversibly deployable energy absorbing assembly and methods for operating the same

  • US 7,264,271 B2
  • Filed: 08/13/2004
  • Issued: 09/04/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An interior vehicle surface assembly, comprising:

  • an energy absorbing assembly comprising a rigid support structure having at least one inlet and at least one outlet;

    a flexible covering that defines an interior vehicle surface sealingly engaged with the rigid support structure to form an expandable interior region, wherein the interior vehicle surface is configured to inflatably and flexibly expand outward relative to the rigid support structure;

    a gas source in fluid communication with the at least one inlet;

    an inlet control valve positioned intermediate the gas source and the at least one inlet, wherein the inlet control valve is a binary valve and is adapted to responsively open and close the valve within 1 millisecond; and

    an actively controlled pressure relief valve in variable controlled fluid communication with the at least one outlet.

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