Vehicle safety device

Claim 2

A safety device for vehicles comprising: a frame member mounted on said vehicle adjacent an outer edge thereof for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis; a deformable body portion enclosing said frame member and extending across substantially the entire width of said vehicle, said body portion thereby being adapted to generate a moment acting on the frame member tending to pivot the frame member about said vertical axis upon the existence of a force on any part of the body portion due to a vehicle collision; and means responsive to pivotal movement of the frame member to initiate deceleration of said vehicle.

Claim 3

A safety device as defined in claim 1 further comprising: means operatively associated with the body Portion for dissipating a portion of the energy generated as a result of a vehicle collision.

Claim 4

A safety device for vehicles comprising: two frame members mounted on said vehicle and each frame member including a pivotal attachment to said vehicle at an opposite outer edge thereof for pivotal movement about generally vertical axes; a deformable body portion coextensive with and operatively interconnecting the frame members for generating a moment in one of the frame portions tending to pivot the frame portion about one of the vertical axes upon the existence of a force anywhere in the body position due to a vehicle collision; and means responsive to pivotal movement of the frame portion to initiate deceleration of said vehicle.

Claim 5

A safety device for vehicles comprising: two frame members mounted on said vehicle and each frame member including a pivotal attachment to said vehicle at an opposite outer edge thereof for pivotal movement about generally vertical axes; a deformable body portion coextensive with and operatively interconnecting the frame members for generating a moment in one of the frame portions tending to pivot the frame portion about one of the vertical axes upon the existence of a force anywhere in the body position due to a vehicle collision; and means responsive to pivotal movement of the frame portion to initiate deceleration of said vehicle.

Claim 6

The safety device of claim 3 wherein: the deformable body portion and the frame portions cooperate to define a chamber of substantial volume for absorbing energy during the occurrence of said collision.

Claim 7

The safety device of claim 3 wherein the means responsive to pivotal movement of the frame portion comprises: actuating means mounted on said vehicle and responsive to pivotal movement of the frame portion; switch means operatively associated with the actuating means for actuation thereby; a vehicle control circuit, in which the switch is included, for controlling operation of said vehicle upon actuation of the switch.

Claim 8

The safety device of claim 5 wherein the vehicle control circuit comprises: means for initiating deceleration of said vehicle upon actuation of the switch.

Claim 9

The safety device of claim 3 wherein said deformable body portion is hollow and extends a substantial distance forwardly of said frame portions, and further includes a web member within said hollow deformable body portion adapted to transmit a force anywhere on the exterior surface of said deformable body portion to said frame members at a position spaced from said pivot axes whereby the moment tending to pivot said frame members is generated.

Claim 10

A safety device for vehicles comprising: a frame member mounted on said vehicle for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis; a deformable body portion operably associated with the frame member adapted to generate a moment acting on the frame portion tending to pivot the frame member about said vertical axis upon the existence of a force in the body portion due to a vehicle collision; means responsive to pivotal movement of the frame member to initiate deceleration of said vehicle; and means operatively associated with the body portion for dissipating a portion of the energy generated as a result of a vehicle collision, wherein said body portion cooperates with the frame member for defining a fluid chamber therein and includes an orifice communicating with said chamber and the atmosphere, said orifice being of such a size as to restrict fluid flow from said chamber upon deformation of the body portion during a collision.

Claim 11

A safety device for vehicles comprising: a frame member mounted on said vehicle for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis; a deformable body portion operably associated with the frame member adapted to generate a moment acting on the frame portion tending to pivot the frame member about said vertical axis upon the existence of a force in the body portion due to a vehicle collision; means responsive to pivotal movement of the frame member to initiate deceleration of said vehicle; and means operatively associated with the body portion for dissipating a portion of the energy generated as a result of a vehicle collision, wherein said body portion cooperates with the frame member for defining a fluid chamber therein and includes an orifice communicating with said chamber and the atmosphere, said orifice being of such a size as to restrict fluid flow from said chamber upon deformation of the body portion during a collision.

Claim 12

A safety device for vehicles comprising: two frame members mounted on said vehicle and each frame portion including a pivotal attachment to said vehicle for pivotal movement about generally vertical axes; a deformable body portion coextensive with and operatively interconnecting the frame members for generating a moment in one of the frame portions tending to pivot the frame portion about one of the vertical axes upon the existence of a force in the body portion due to a vehicle collision; said deformable body portion comprising an elongate member of relatively soft energy-absorbing material having a front wall portion, a top wall portion, a bottom wall portion and an intermediate vertical wall portion interconnecting the front wall portion, the top wall portion and the bottom wall portion, each of the wall portions being connected to the frame members and the intermediate wall portion further interconnecting the frame members; and means responsive to pivotal movement of the frame portion to initiaTe deceleration of said vehicle.

Claim 13

A safety device for vehicles comprising: two frame members mounted on said vehicle and each frame portion including a pivotal attachment to said vehicle for pivotal movement about generally vertical axes; a deformable body portion coextensive with and operatively interconnecting the frame members for generating a moment in one of the frame portions tending to pivot the frame portion about one of the vertical axes upon the existence of a force in the body portion due to a vehicle collision; said deformable body portion comprising an elongate member of relatively soft energy-absorbing material having a front wall portion, a top wall portion, a bottom wall portion and an intermediate vertical wall portion interconnecting the front wall portion, the top wall portion and the bottom wall portion, each of the wall portions being connected to the frame members and the intermediate wall portion further interconnecting the frame members; and means responsive to pivotal movement of the frame portion to initiaTe deceleration of said vehicle.