Force and deceleration delimiting devices and methods for operating the same
First Claim
1. A force and deceleration delimiting device for a vehicle, the device comprising:
- an open celled material expandable from a non-expanded state to an expanded state, wherein the open celled material is sandwiched between a first end cap member and a second end cap member;
a support surface cooperatively positioned with the open celled material to cover a surface of the open celled material in the expanded and the non-expanded states;
an activation mechanism adapted to regulate selective expansion of the open celled material from the non-expanded state to the expanded state in response to a triggering event;
a protection shield cooperatively positioned with the open celled material to cover a surface of the open celled material in the expanded and non-expanded states;
said protection shield being characterized by a compact shape when the open celled material is in the non-expanded state;
said protection shield being characterized by a coiled or folded configuration in said compact shape;
wherein the activation mechanism comprises;
a compression spring in biased communication with the first end cap member and the second end cap member when the open celled material is in the non-expanded state;
an opening in the first end cap member corresponding to a first shape;
a disk rotatably engaged with the opening of the first end cap member, wherein the disk is lockingly engaged with the first end cap member in the non-expanded state and is coaxially aligned with the opening in the expanded state; and
a trigger in operative communication with the disk adapted to effect rotation of the disk in response to the triggering event.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Force and deceleration delimiting devices and methods for operating the same in a vehicle. The devices generally include an open celled material expandable from a non-expanded state to an expanded state, wherein the open celled material is sandwiched between a first end cap member and a second end cap member; an optional support surface cooperatively positioned with the open celled material to cover a surface of the open celled material in the expanded and the non-expanded states; and an optional shield cooperatively positioned with the open celled material to cover a surface of the open celled material in the expanded and the non-expanded states; and an activation mechanism adapted to regulate selective expansion of the open celled material from the non-expanded state to the expanded state in response to a triggering event, wherein the support surface and/or shield have a compact shape when the open celled material is in the non-expanded state and an expanded state when the open celled material is in the expanded state.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A force and deceleration delimiting device for a vehicle, the device comprising:
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an open celled material expandable from a non-expanded state to an expanded state, wherein the open celled material is sandwiched between a first end cap member and a second end cap member; a support surface cooperatively positioned with the open celled material to cover a surface of the open celled material in the expanded and the non-expanded states; an activation mechanism adapted to regulate selective expansion of the open celled material from the non-expanded state to the expanded state in response to a triggering event; a protection shield cooperatively positioned with the open celled material to cover a surface of the open celled material in the expanded and non-expanded states; said protection shield being characterized by a compact shape when the open celled material is in the non-expanded state;
said protection shield being characterized by a coiled or folded configuration in said compact shape;wherein the activation mechanism comprises; a compression spring in biased communication with the first end cap member and the second end cap member when the open celled material is in the non-expanded state; an opening in the first end cap member corresponding to a first shape; a disk rotatably engaged with the opening of the first end cap member, wherein the disk is lockingly engaged with the first end cap member in the non-expanded state and is coaxially aligned with the opening in the expanded state; and a trigger in operative communication with the disk adapted to effect rotation of the disk in response to the triggering event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A force and deceleration delimiting device for a vehicle, the device comprising:
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an open celled material expandable from a non-expanded state to an expanded state, wherein the open celled material is sandwiched between a first end cap member and a second end cap member; a support surface cooperatively positioned with the open celled material to cover a surface of the open celled material in the expanded and the non-expanded states; an activation mechanism adapted to regulate selective expansion of the open celled material from the non-expanded state to the expanded state in response to a triggering event; a protection shield cooperatively positioned with the open celled material to cover a surface of the open celled material in the expanded and non-expanded states; said protection shield being characterized by a compact shape when the open celled material is in the non-expanded state;
said protection shield being characterized by a coiled or folded configuration in said compact shape;wherein the support surface has a compact shape when the open celled material is in the non-expanded state and an expanded state when the open celled material is in the expanded state; and wherein the support surface is spooled and has one end fixedly attached to the first end cap member and an other end fixedly attached to the second end cap member. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification