Protection device for occupant of aircraft ejection seat

Claim 2

In an aircraft having an ejection seat adapted to be propelled along a defined substantially vertical path relative to the aircraft during ejection, and manually actuatable means for initiating seat ejection, said aircraft having a structural portion spaced to one side of said path but which overlies a zone normally occupied by a limb of an occupant of the ejection seat and from which zone said limb should be displaced prior to ejection so that said limb will clear a laterally inner edge of said structural portion, means for effecting such displacement of the seat occupant''s limb, comprising: a. an inflatable bladder of supple substantially gastight material in said zone, normally collapsed and, when inflated, being of a size and shape to fill said zone and to have a wall portion extending vertically downwardly from a line closely adjacent to said edge of said structural portion; B. means providing a source of gas under pressure; C. means connected with said manually actuatable means providing for rapid flow of pressure gas from said source to said inflatable cushion promptly upon actuation of said manually actuatable means; and D. means connected with said manually actuatable means for interposing a delay interval between actuation of said manually actuatable means and the commencement of seat ejecting motion to insure that the seat occupant''s limb is out of said zone before the seat begins to move.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that when collapsed the inflatable bladder flatwise overlies a surface defining part of said zone.

Claim 4

The structure of claim 2 wherein said surface which the collapsed inflatable bladder overlies is horizontal and is at an elevation such that the collapSed bladder provides a comfortable arm rest for the occupant of the seat.

Claim 5

In an aircraft having an ejection seat and having cabin structure that defines a shelf at one side of the normal position of the ejection seat, which shelf has a lengthwise extending inner edge laterally adjacent to the ejection seat and is normally overlain by a forearm of the occupant of he ejection seat, said cabin structure also having a wall portion that extends upwardly from the outer edge of the shelf and laterally inwardly thereover to terminate at an edge of an opening through which the seat is ejectable, means for displacing the seat occupant''s forearm off of said shelf in the event of seat ejection, to prevent its encounter with said wall portion, aid displacing means comprising; A. an inflatable bladder of supple, substantially gastight material, normally in collapsed condition and overlying a portion of said shelf, said bladder having a shape and size, when inflated, to fill the space above the shelf and to have a wall portion thereof extending substantially vertically from near said inner edge of the shelf to near said edge of the opening; B. means comprising a source of gas under pressure for rapidly inflating said bladder; C. a supple but substantially tough cover member flatwise overlying and secured to said wall portion of the bladder and having opposite marginal edge portions which extend beyond the same; D. means anchoring one of said marginal edge portions of the cover member to the structure of the aircraft along the inner edge of the shelf; and E. means normally readily releasably securing the other of said marginal edge portions of the cover member to said wall portion, along a portion thereof directly above the collapsed bladder, so that upon inflation of the bladder such securement is released and the cover member is moved upwardly and laterally inwardly.

Claim 6

In an aircraft having an ejection seat and having cabin structure that defines a shelf at one side of the normal position of the ejection seat, which shelf has a lengthwise extending inner edge laterally adjacent to the ejection seat and is normally overlain by a forearm of the occupant of he ejection seat, said cabin structure also having a wall portion that extends upwardly from the outer edge of the shelf and laterally inwardly thereover to terminate at an edge of an opening through which the seat is ejectable, means for displacing the seat occupant''s forearm off of said shelf in the event of seat ejection, to prevent its encounter with said wall portion, aid displacing means comprising; A. an inflatable bladder of supple, substantially gastight material, normally in collapsed condition and overlying a portion of said shelf, said bladder having a shape and size, when inflated, to fill the space above the shelf and to have a wall portion thereof extending substantially vertically from near said inner edge of the shelf to near said edge of the opening; B. means comprising a source of gas under pressure for rapidly inflating said bladder; C. a supple but substantially tough cover member flatwise overlying and secured to said wall portion of the bladder and having opposite marginal edge portions which extend beyond the same; D. means anchoring one of said marginal edge portions of the cover member to the structure of the aircraft along the inner edge of the shelf; and E. means normally readily releasably securing the other of said marginal edge portions of the cover member to said wall portion, along a portion thereof directly above the collapsed bladder, so that upon inflation of the bladder such securement is released and the cover member is moved upwardly and laterally inwardly.