Adjustable grip steering wheel safety system to protect hands and upper extremities in low impact collisions
First Claim
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1. A safety system for protecting the upper extremities of a driver, the safety system comprising:
- a bladder disposed on or in a handgrip of a steering wheel of a vehicle;
at least one inflation device in fluid communication with the bladder;
a controller adapted to detect a collision involving the vehicle and cause the inflation device to inflate the bladder with a fluid when the collision is detected; and
at least one sensor disposed on the vehicle, said at least one sensor measuring at least one vehicle parameter, wherein said controller uses said vehicle parameter to detect the collision and to calculate a volume of fluid and a rate of inflation with which said inflation device inflates said bladder.
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Abstract
A safety system for protecting the fingers, hands, wrists, elbows, arms and shoulders of a driver includes a bladder disposed on or in a handgrip of a steering wheel of a vehicle, at least one inflation device in fluid communication with the bladder, and a controller adapted to detect a collision involving the vehicle and cause the inflation device to inflate the bladder with a fluid when the collision is detected.
19 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A safety system for protecting the upper extremities of a driver, the safety system comprising:
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a bladder disposed on or in a handgrip of a steering wheel of a vehicle; at least one inflation device in fluid communication with the bladder; a controller adapted to detect a collision involving the vehicle and cause the inflation device to inflate the bladder with a fluid when the collision is detected; and at least one sensor disposed on the vehicle, said at least one sensor measuring at least one vehicle parameter, wherein said controller uses said vehicle parameter to detect the collision and to calculate a volume of fluid and a rate of inflation with which said inflation device inflates said bladder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A safety system for protecting the upper extremities of a driver, the safety system comprising:
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a bladder disposed on or in a handgrip of a steering wheel of a vehicle; at least one inflation device in fluid communication with the bladder; and a controller adapted to detect a collision involving the vehicle and cause the inflation device to inflate the bladder with a fluid when the collision is detected; wherein the bladder has a plurality of inflatable compartments, each compartment having fluid communication with said at least one inflation device, said controller causing said at least one inflation device to provide inflation to each compartment. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A safety system for protecting the upper extremities of a driver, the safety system comprising:
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at least one bladder disposed on or in a handgrip of a steering wheel of a vehicle, said steering wheel having at least two spokes connecting said handgrip to a steering hub; at least one of inflation device in fluid communication with the bladder; at least one sensor disposed on said vehicle, said sensor measuring at least one vehicle parameter; and a controller adapted to detect a collision involving the vehicle using said vehicle parameter and cause said inflation device to inflate the bladder with a fluid; wherein the bladder is positioned between the spokes, the bladder comprising a plurality of independent inflatable compartments, each compartment having independent fluid communication with the at least one inflation device; wherein each of the inflatable compartments is adapted to be inflated with a volume of fluid by said at least one inflation device; and wherein the controller determines a position on the bladder where hands of the driver are gripping, and causes said inflation device to inflate the inflatable compartments disposed substantially at the position of the driver'"'"'s hands before inflating other inflatable compartments.
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17. A safety system for protecting the upper extremities of a driver, the safety system comprising:
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at least one bladder disposed on or in a handgrip of a steering wheel of a vehicle, said steering wheel having at least two spokes connecting said handgrip to a steering hub; at least one of inflation device in fluid communication with the bladder; at least one sensor disposed on said vehicle, said sensor measuring at least one vehicle parameter; and a controller adapted to detect a collision involving the vehicle using said vehicle parameter and cause said inflation device to inflate the bladder with a fluid; wherein the bladder is positioned between the spokes; and wherein said at least one sensor comprises at least one pressure sensor positioned on at least one of the handgrip and bladder, said pressure sensor measuring an external pressure exerted on said at least one of the handgrip and bladder, wherein said controller is adapted to detect the collision when at least one of a magnitude and rate by which the external pressure changes is greater than a threshold.
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18. A safety system for protecting the upper extremities of a driver, the safety system comprising:
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a bladder disposed on or in a handgrip of a steering wheel of a vehicle; at least one inflation device in fluid communication with the bladder; and a controller causing the inflation device to partially inflate the bladder with a volume of fluid sufficient to dampen pressure and vibrations transmitted through the steering wheel during normal operation of the vehicle; wherein the controller is adapted to detect a collision involving the vehicle and cause the inflation device to rapidly inflate the bladder with an additional volume of fluid sufficient to cushion the upper extremities when the collision is detected. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A safety system for protecting the upper extremities of a driver, the safety system comprising:
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at least one bladder disposed on or in a handgrip of a steering wheel of a vehicle, said steering wheel having at least two spokes connecting said handgrip to a steering hub; at least one of inflation device in fluid communication with the bladder; at least one sensor disposed on said vehicle, said sensor measuring at least one vehicle parameter; and a controller adapted to detect a collision involving the vehicle using said vehicle parameter and cause said inflation device to inflate the bladder with a fluid; wherein the bladder is positioned between the spokes the bladder includes plurality of independent inflatable compartments, each compartment having independent fluid communication with the at least one inflation device; and wherein each of the inflatable compartments is adapted to be inflated with a volume of fluid by said at least one inflation device. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A safety system for protecting the upper extremities of a driver, the safety system comprising:
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a bladder disposed on or in a handgrip of a steering wheel of a vehicle; at least one inflation device in fluid communication with the bladder; a controller adapted to detect a collision involving the vehicle and cause the inflation device to inflate the bladder with a fluid when the collision is detected; and at least one sensor disposed on the vehicle, said at least one sensor measuring at least one vehicle parameter, wherein said controller uses said vehicle parameter to detect the collision, said at least one sensor including at least one pressure sensor positioned on at least one of the handgrip or bladder, said at least one pressure sensor measuring an external pressure exerted on said at least one of the handgrip and bladder, wherein said controller is adapted to detect the collision when at least one of a magnitude and rate by which the external pressure changes is greater than a threshold.
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Specification