Leg restraint device for side-facing seated vehicle occupants

• US 8,894,095 B1
• Filed: 10/22/2013
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Meister, Pete C., Farvet, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Condra, Darlene P
• Application Number:
  US14/060,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20140353951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/734, 280/735, 280/743.1, 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/730.3, 297/244, 297/245, 297/107, 244/121
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42727 involving substantially rigid displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0053 Legs
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0093 Aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01231 control of expansion timing or sequence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0273 automatically movable to an operative position, e.g. in case of collision or impending collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23146 seat mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23176 specially adapted for foot protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/02 Occupant safety arrangements or fittings , e.g. crash pads seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0428 associated with the side doors or panels, e.g. displaced towards the occupants in case of a side collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06 Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats crew seat constructions for emergency purposes B64D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0619 with energy absorbing means specially adapted for mitigating impact loads for passenger seats, e.g. at a crash
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06205 Arrangements of airbags
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0621 Airbag initiation or activation means
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/00 Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for parachutes B64D17/00, B64D19/00; jettisoning of fuel tanks or fuel per se B64D37/00; specially adapted for protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems B64D45/0015 ; safety belts or body harnesses in general A62B35/00; safety belts or body harnesses for land vehicles B60R22/00; jettisonable parts of fuselage facilitating emergency escape B64C

Abstract

A leg restraint for side-seated vehicle occupants that includes a leg-restraining member for being mounted in proximity to a side-facing vehicle seat and selectively moveable between a deployed, laterally-extending leg-protecting position and a retracted, non-leg interfering position, and a sensor for detecting abrupt movement in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle incident to an abrupt deceleration of the vehicle and outputting a signal. A gas-inflatable bag is positioned operatively proximate the leg-restraining member and is responsive to the signal output by the sensor for inflating and deploying the leg-restraining member upon the occurrence of the abrupt deceleration of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A leg restraint for side-seated vehicle occupants, and comprising:

(a) a leg-restraining member adapted for being mounted in proximity to a side-facing vehicle seat and selectively moveable between a deployed, outwardly-extending leg-protecting position and a retracted, non-leg interfering position;

(b) a gas-inflatable air bag positioned operatively proximate the leg-restraining member and responsive to a signal output by a sensor for inflating the air bag and deploying the leg-restraining member upon the occurrence of an abrupt deceleration of the vehicle sensed by the sensor; and

(c) wherein the air bag is adapted for being positioned for deployment between the leg-restraining member and the legs of the seat occupant to cushion the legs against direct impact against the deployed leg-restraining member.

2. A leg restraint according to claim 1, and including a biasing member cooperating with the leg-restraining member to move the leg-restraining member into the retracted position after impact of an occupant'"'"'s leg against the leg-restraining member.

7. A leg restraint according to claim 1, wherein the leg-restraining device comprises a restraint panel having relatively upright side walls.

8. A leg restraint according to claim 1, and including a sensor for detecting abrupt movement of the vehicle in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle incident to an abrupt deceleration and outputting a responsive signal to a trigger responsive to the signal from the sensor for activating the air bag.

3. A leg restraint for side-seated vehicle occupants, and comprising:

(a) a leg-restraining member adapted for being mounted in proximity to a side-facing vehicle seat and selectively moveable between a deployed, outwardly-extending leg-protecting position and a retracted, non-leg interfering position;

(b) a gas-inflatable air bag positioned operatively proximate the leg-restraining member and responsive to a signal output by a sensor for inflating the air bag and deploying the leg-restraining member upon the occurrence of an abrupt deceleration of the vehicle sensed by the sensor; and

(c) wherein the air bag inflates during a first phase to deploy the leg-restraining member and further inflates during a second phase into a position between the leg-restraining member and the legs of the seat occupant to cushion the legs against direct impact against the deployed leg-restraining member.

4. A leg restraint for side-seated vehicle occupants, and comprising:

(a) a leg-restraining member adapted for being mounted in proximity to a side-facing vehicle seat and selectively moveable between a deployed, outwardly-extending leg-protecting position and a retracted, non-leg interfering position;

(b) a gas-inflatable air bag positioned operatively proximate the leg-restraining member and responsive to a signal output by a sensor for inflating the air bag and deploying the leg-restraining member upon the occurrence of an abrupt deceleration of the vehicle sensed by the sensor; and

(c) wherein the air bag inflates during a first phase to deploy the leg-restraining member and further inflates during a second phase to a position between the leg-restraining member and the legs of the seat occupant and beyond an outermost extent of the deployed leg-restraining member to cushion the legs against direct impact against the deployed leg-restraining member.

5. A leg restraint for side-seated vehicle occupants, and comprising:

(a) a leg-restraining member adapted for being mounted in proximity to a side-facing vehicle seat and selectively moveable between a deployed, outwardly-extending leg-protecting position and a retracted, non-leg interfering position;

(b) a gas-inflatable air bag positioned operatively proximate the leg-restraining member and responsive to a signal output by a sensor for inflating the air bag and deploying the leg-restraining member upon the occurrence of an abrupt deceleration of the vehicle sensed by the sensor; and

a retractor for returning the leg-restraining member back into its retracted position upon the leg-restraining member reaching its fully deployed position, wherein the retractor comprises a spring having a bias that is initially overpowered by the operation of the air bag as the leg-restraining member is deployed, and is biased to return the leg-restraining member to its retracted position as the air bag deflates.

6. A leg restraint according to claim 5, wherein the air bag is adapted to inflate into a shape having its widest extent at its distal end.

9. A leg restraint adapted for being mounted on a side-facing aircraft seat for protecting the legs of the seat occupant, and comprising:

(a) a restraint panel mounted in proximity to the side-facing aircraft seat and selectively moveable between a deployed, laterally-extending leg-protecting position and a retracted, non-leg interfering position;

(b) a sensor for detecting abrupt movement of the vehicle in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle incident to an abrupt deceleration and outputting a responsive signal;

(c) an air bag mounted on the restraint panel in a normally deflated configuration and in a position wherein, upon inflation, the air bag propels the restraint panel into the deployed position and then deflates;

(d) a trigger responsive to the signal output by the sensor for inflating the air bag; and

(e) a biasing member comprising a spring that is initially overpowered by the operation of the air bag as the restraint panel is deployed, and is biased to return the restraint panel to its retracted position as the air bag deflates.

10. A leg restraint according to claim 9, wherein the restraint panel is mounted in a housing adapted for being positioned under the seat bottom of the side-facing aircraft seat.

11. A leg restraint according to claim 10, wherein the restraint panel comprises a slide mounted in the housing for movement on at least one stationary guide shuttle mounted on an inner surface of the housing.

12. A leg restraint according to claim 11, wherein the spring has a bias that is initially overpowered by the operation of the air bag as the leg-restraining member is deployed, and is biased to return the leg-restraining member to its retracted position as the air bag deflates.

13. A leg restraint according to claim 10, wherein the air bag is adapted for being positioned for deployment between the restraint panel and the legs of the seat occupant to cushion the legs against direct impact against the deployed leg-restraining member.

14. A leg restraint according to claim 10, wherein the air bag is adapted to inflate during a first phase to deploy the restraint panel and to further inflate during a second phase to a position between the restraint panel and the legs of the seat occupant to cushion the legs against direct impact against the deployed restraint panel.

15. A leg restraint according to claim 10, wherein the air bag is adapted to inflate during a first phase to deploy the restraint panel and to further inflate during a second phase to position the air bag between the restraint panel and the legs of the seat occupant and beyond the outermost extent of the deployed restraint panel to cushion the legs against direct impact against the deployed restraint panel.

16. A leg restraint according to claim 10, and including a spring for returning the leg-restraining member back into its retracted position upon the leg-restraining member reaching its fully deployed position.

17. A leg restraint according to claim 10, wherein the air bag has a shape that is adapted to inflate into a shape having its widest extent at its distal end and to project outwardly beyond the distal end of the restraint panel at its fullest deployed extent.

18. A leg restraint according to claim 10, wherein the restraint panel includes a recess extending along a length of the restraint panel, and a guide shuttle mounted on the housing and having wheels engaging opposing top and bottom sides of the recess to guide the restraint panel between its retracted and deployed positions.