SAFETY DEVICE

• US 3,586,347 A
• Filed: 06/05/1969
• Issued: 06/22/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: David P. Hass, William R. Carey
• Inventors: Carey, William R., Hass, David P.
• Application Number:
  US04/830,837
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23332 using independent bags, one within the other
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence

Abstract

A safety device comprises an inflatable confinement. The inflatable confinement has a contracted position and an expanded position and is inflated to its expanded position by the flow of fluid into the confinement. The kinetic energy of the initial fluid flow into the confinement is absorbed by energy-absorbing means. The absorption of the initial kinetic energy of the fluid flowing into the confinement minimizes the impact of the fluid on a forward portion of the confinement, and thus minimizes the impact of the confinement against an occupant of the vehicle during the initial stages of the inflation of the confinement.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety device for protecting an occupant of a vehicle during an accident comprising an expandable confinement having a contracted condition and an expanded condition, said confinement in its unrestricted expanded condition having a first portion for projecting between the occupant of the vehicle and a structural part of the vehicle and a second portion for connection with the vehicle and to extend from the vehicle to a position beyond said structural part of the vehicle, a source of fluid, and means providing for fluid flow from said source of fluid to effect expansion of said confinement without interference from said structural part, and said second portion of said confinement being inflated prior to said first portion of said confinement.

2. A vehicle safety device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second portions of said confinement are separated by a burstable partition member, said partition member bursting upon a predetermined pressure being created in said second portion of said confinement.

3. A vehicle safety device as defined in claim 1 wherein said confinement when expanded has a generally L-shaped configuration.

4. A vehicle safety device for protecting an occupant of a vehicle during an accident comprising an expandable confinement having a contracted condition having a first portion for projecting between the occupant of the vehicle and a first structural portion of the vehicle which is located forwardly of the occupant, said confinement when expanded also having a second portion for connection with a second structural portion of the vehicle which is located forwardly of the occupant and spaced from the occupant a distance greater than the first structural portion, said second portion of said confinement having an extent to extend from said second structural portion and terminating adjacent said first structural portion when expanded, a fluid source, means providing for fluid flow from said fluid source to effect expansion of said confinement so that said second portion of the confinement extends from the second structural portion to adjacent said first structural portion and said first portion of the confinement extends between the occupant and said first structural portion.

5. The vehicle safety device of claim 4 wherein the first structural portion is the vehicle steering wheel and the second structural portion is the dashboard of the vehicle, and said confinement when expanded has a generally L-shaped configuration.