Force and deceleration delimiting devices and methods for operating the same

• US 7,775,583 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2008
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Aase, Jan H., Browne, Alan L., Johnson, Nancy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan; Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US12/102,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20080190684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 296/187.01, 296/187.02, 296/187.09, 296/187.11, 296/187.12, 296/193.05, 296/193.06, 296/203.01, 296/204, 296/205, 296/209, 296/203.02, 296/203.03, 188/371, 188/372, 188/377
• US Class Current: 296/187.02
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0421 using honeycomb structures
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/04 Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/045 associated with the instrument panel or dashboard

Abstract

Force and deceleration delimiting methods for operating the same in a vehicle generally include an open celled material expandable from a non-expanded to an expanded state, wherein the material is sandwiched between first and second end cap members; an optional support surface cooperatively positioned with the material to cover a surface of the material in the expanded and non-expanded states; an optional shield cooperatively positioned with the material to cover a surface of the material in the expanded and non-expanded states; and an activation mechanism adapted to regulate selective expansion of the material from the non-expanded to the expanded state in response to a triggering event, wherein the support surface and/or shield have a compact shape when the material is in the non-expanded state and an expanded state when the material is in the expanded state.

Claims

1. A method for absorbing an impact energy of an object in a vehicle environment, comprising:

sensing an impact event;

triggering a force and deceleration delimiting device, wherein the force and deceleration delimiting device comprises an open celled material expandable from a non-expanded state to an expanded state, 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; and

expanding the open celled material to the expanded state,

wherein triggering the force and deceleration delimiting device comprises activating an activation mechanism, wherein the activation mechanism comprises a compression spring in biased communication with first and second end cap members when the open celled material is in the non-expanded state;

an opening in the first end cap member corresponding to a first shape; and

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.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising resetting the force and deceleration delimiting device comprising compressing the open celled material from the expanded state to the non-expanded state.