Collision air bag and flotation system

• US 20060043712A1
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A-Hamid Hakki, Sam Hakki
• Original Assignee: A-Hamid Hakki, Sam Hakki
• Inventors: Hakki, A-Hamid, Hakki, Sam
• Granted Patent: US 7,232,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/205 inflatable in the direction of an obstacle upon impending impact, e.g. using air bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0016 Fall in water
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0088 Cycles, e.g. motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0093 Aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/138 using external airbags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23332 using independent bags, one within the other
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/36 using airbags

Abstract

A pre-impact inflation air bag system for a vehicle having a preselected decreasing distance between the vehicle and an object is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of nested inflatable air bags. A plurality of inflators are provided for inflating the plurality of nested inflatable air bags, respectively. A collision sensor produces a collision sensor output upon detecting the object with the preselected decreasing distance between the vehicle and the object. A controller receives the collision sensor output for simultaneously inflating each of the plurality of nested inflatable air bags between vehicle and an object. A plurality of pressure relief members are connected to the plurality of nested inflatable air bags for sequentially deflating the plurality of nested inflatable air bags upon sequential impact of the plurality of nested inflatable air bags with the object.

Claims

1. A pre-impact inflation air bag system for a vehicle having a preselected decreasing distance between the vehicle and an object, comprising:

a plurality of nested inflatable air bags;

an enclosure located on the vehicle for containing said plurality of nested inflatable air bags;

a plurality of inflators for inflating said plurality of nested inflatable air bags, respectively;

a collision sensor for producing a collision sensor output upon detecting the object with the preselected decreasing distance between the vehicle and the object;

a controller receiving said collision sensor output for simultaneously inflating each of said plurality of nested inflatable air bags between vehicle and an object; and

a plurality of pressure relief members connected to said plurality of nested inflatable air bags for sequentially deflating said plurality of nested inflatable air bags upon sequential impact of said plurality of nested inflatable air bags with the object.

2. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of nested inflatable air bags comprises a second and a third inflatable air bag being located within a first inflatable air bag and with said third inflatable air bag being located within said second inflatable air bag.

3. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said collision sensor for detecting the object comprises a radar sensor for sensing a preselected decreasing distance between the vehicle and the object.

4. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said collision sensor for detecting the object comprises a laser sensor for sensing a preselected decreasing distance between the vehicle and the object.

5. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said collision sensor for detecting the object comprises an ultrasonic sensor for sensing a preselected decreasing distance between the vehicle and the object.

6. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said collision sensor for detecting the object comprises a mechanical sensor for sensing a preselected decreasing distance between the vehicle and the object.

7. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said collision sensor for detecting the object comprises a road proximity sensor for detecting a preselected increasing distance between the vehicle and a road surface.

8. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said collision sensor for detecting the object comprises a tilt sensor for sensing a preselected increasing distance between the vehicle and the object.

9. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 1, wherein including an immersion sensor for producing an immersion sensor output upon detecting the immersion of a portion of the vehicle within water;

and

said controller receiving said immersion sensor output for simultaneously inflating each of said plurality of nested inflatable air bags to provide flotation for the vehicle.

10. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of nested inflatable air bags are individually and simultaneously inflated by each of said plurality of inflators, respectively upon receipt of said sensor output from said controller.

11. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of pressure relief members comprise a plurality of rupture devices cooperating with said plurality of nested inflatable air bags, respectively;

and

each of said rupture devices rupturing at predetermined differential pressures for deflating said plurality of nested inflatable air bags upon impact of each of said plurality of nested inflatable air bags with the object, respectively.

12. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of pressure relief members comprises each of said plurality of nested inflatable air bags having a specifically designed burst pressure for rupturing said plurality of nested inflatable air bags at a predetermined differential pressure, respectively.

13. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of pressure relief members comprise a plurality of rupture devices cooperating with said plurality of nested inflatable air bags, respectively;

and

each of said rupture devices rupturing at differential pressure less than 18 times the force of gravity (18 g) for deflating said plurality of nested inflatable air bags upon impact of each of said plurality of nested inflatable air bags with the object, respectively.

14. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of pressure relief members comprise a plurality of rupture devices cooperating with said plurality of nested inflatable air bags, respectively;

each of said rupture device rupturing at predetermined differential pressures for deflating said plurality of nested inflatable air bags upon impact of each of said plurality of nested inflatable air bags with the object, respectively; and

an outer inflatable air bag of said plurality of nested inflatable air bags rupturing prior to an inner inflatable air bag of said plurality of nested inflatable air bags for providing a sequential deflation of said plurality of nested inflatable air bags upon sequential impact of said plurality of nested inflatable air bags with the object.

15. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of pressure relief members comprises a frangible seam in each of said plurality of nested inflatable air bags.

16. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of pressure relief members comprises a frangible region in each of said plurality of nested inflatable air bags.

17. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of pressure relief members comprises a frangible closure in each of said plurality of nested inflatable air bags.

18. A pre-impact inflation air bag system for a vehicle having a preselected decreasing distance between the vehicle and an object, comprising:

a plurality of nested inflatable air bags comprising a first inflatable air bag, a second inflatable airbag and a third inflatable air bag;

said plurality of inflatable air bags being disposed in a nested relationship with said second and third inflatable air bags being located within said first inflatable air bag and with said third inflatable air bags being located within said second inflatable air bag;

an enclosure located on the vehicle for containing said plurality of nested inflatable air bags;

a plurality of inflators comprising a first through fourth inflator for inflating said first through fourth inflatable air bag, respectively;

a sensor for producing a sensor output upon detecting the object with the preselected decreasing distance between the vehicle and the object;

a controller receiving said sensor output for enabling said first through fourth inflator to individually and simultaneously inflate said first through fourth inflatable air bags, respectively, between vehicle and an object; and

a plurality of pressure relief members deflating said plurality of nested inflatable air bags upon impact of each of said plurality of nested inflatable air bags with the object, respectively wherein said first inflatable air bag deflates prior to said second inflatable air bag and said second inflatable air bag deflates prior to said third inflatable air bag.

19. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 18, wherein each of said plurality of pressure relief members is actuated as the deceleration force of the vehicle less than eighteen time the force of gravity (18 g).

20. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 18, wherein including a fourth inflatable air bag being disposed within said third inflatable air bag;

and

said fourth inflatable air bag being void of a pressure relief member for enabling said fourth inflatable air bag to provide flotation for the vehicle.

21. A pre-impact inflation air bag system as set forth in claim 18, including an immersion sensor for producing an immersion sensor output upon detecting the immersion of a portion of the vehicle within water;

and

said controller receiving said immersion sensor output for simultaneously inflating each of said plurality of nested inflatable air bags to provide flotation for the vehicle in the water.

22. A process for deploying a plurality of pre-impact inflation air bags for reducing an impact to a vehicle upon an imminent collision with an object, comprising the steps of:

simultaneously inflating a plurality of nested inflatable air bags between the vehicle and the object for decreasing a velocity of the vehicle; and

sequentially deflating a plurality of nested inflatable air bags to limit the maximum deceleration of the vehicle to be under eighteen-times the force of gravity (18 g).

23. A process for deploying a plurality of pre-impact inflation air bags for reducing an impact to a vehicle upon an imminent collision with an object, comprising the steps of:

simultaneously inflating a plurality of nested inflatable air bags between the vehicle and the object for decreasing a velocity of the vehicle; and

sequentially deflating the plurality of nested inflatable air bags starting with a deflation of an outer most inflatable air bag to an inner most inflatable air bag of said plurality of nested inflatable air bags to limit the maximum deceleration of the vehicle to be under eighteen-times the force of gravity (18 g) during the sequentially deflating the plurality of nested inflatable air bags.

24. A pre-impact inflation air bag system for a vehicle having a preselected decreasing distance between the vehicle and an object, comprising:

an inflatable air bags;

an enclosure located on the vehicle for containing said inflatable air bags;

an inflator for inflating said inflatable air bag;

a camera for imaging a region about the vehicle;

a collision sensor for producing a collision sensor output upon detecting the object with the preselected decreasing distance between the vehicle and the object;

a controller receiving said collision sensor output for providing a controller output to inflate said inflatable air bag between vehicle and an object; and

said controller output connected to actuate said camera for imaging a region about the vehicle.