Reusable safety apparatus for reducing the forward velocity of an occupant of a vehicle

• US 7,862,087 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Borislav Martinovic
• Original Assignee: Borislav Martinovic
• Inventors: Martinovic, Borislav
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US12/196,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20100045015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 280/805, 280/806, 297/470, 297/480
• US Class Current: 280/805
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/286 using deformation of material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/28 incorporating energy-absorbing devices belt anchors provided with energy-absorbing means for protecting the occupants in case of physical contact therewith B60R21/055; belt retractors comprising energy-absorbing means B60R22/341, B60R22/4676

Abstract

A reusable safety apparatus for reducing the forward velocity of an occupant of a vehicle involved in a collision or another event that imparts forward velocity to the occupant of a vehicle comprising essentially of a casing member, a piston member substantially housed in the casing member, a piston resistance mechanism, and a piston release mechanism; the apparatus is fixedly attached in between a seatbelt anchor of a vehicle and the webbing material of a seatbelt.

Claims

1. An apparatus for reducing the forward velocity of an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising;

a casing member having a longitudinal axis, the casing member is substantially cylindrical in shape, and the casing member further comprises at least one bore disposed about its longitudinal axis;

a piston member housed in the casing member in such a way that it can slide about the longitudinal axis of the casing member;

a piston resistance mechanism comprising at least one tooth, at least one bore and at least one spring, the piston resistance mechanism is operatively connected to the piston member; and

a piston release mechanism operatively connected to the piston resistance mechanism.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the piston resistance mechanism further comprises at least one tooth, the tooth may be engaged with the bore disposed on the casing member and the piston member, thereby impeding the piston member from sliding about the longitudinal axis of the casing member.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the piston resistance mechanism is arranged in such a manner that the second tooth provides more resistance than the first tooth, the third tooth provides more resistance than the second tooth, the fourth tooth provides more resistance than the third tooth, and so on.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the piston resistance mechanism further comprises a spring interposed between the piston member and the casing member in such a way as to impede the piston member from sliding about the longitudinal axis of the casing member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the piston release mechanism further comprises at least one arm member.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the arm member further comprises at least one hinge.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the casing member is made of a polycarbon or alloy material capable of withstanding the force generated by a vehicular collision.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the piston member is made of a polycarbon or alloy material capable of withstanding the force generated by a vehicular collision.

9. An apparatus for reducing the forward velocity of an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising;

a substantially cylindrical casing member having a longitudinal axis, the casing member further comprising at least one bore disposed about its longitudinal axis;

a piston member housed in the casing member in such a way that it can slide about the longitudinal axis of the casing member;

a piston resistance mechanism comprising at least one tooth, at least one bore and at least one spring whereby the piston resistance mechanism is operatively connected to the piston member and a tooth may be engaged with a bore disposed on the casing member and the piston member; and

a piston release mechanism operatively connected to the piston resistance mechanism whereby the piston release mechanism comprises at least one arm member.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the member further comprises at least one hinge.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the casing member is made of a polycarbon or alloy material capable of withstanding the force generated by a vehicular collision.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the piston member is made of a polycarbon or alloy material capable of withstanding the force generated by a vehicular collision.