US3632136A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety apparatus
Assignee: ZF Passive Safety Systems US Inc
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Filing: 1969-10-08
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Granted: 1972-01-04
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Expires: 1989-10-08
Abstract
Abstract An improved safety apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle includes a pre-pressurized confinement which is expandable from a partially collapsed condition to an expanded condition under the influence of pressure applied to the confinement by a fluid medium contained within the confinement. A housing constrains the confinement in the partially collapsed condition against the influence of pressure applied to the confinement by the fluid medium. Upon the occurrence of an accident, a sensor detonates an explosive lock device to enable the housing to be opened by the confinement as it expands outwardly from the partially collapsed condition under the influence of the fluid medium within the confinement. A liner of sheet material advantageously encloses the confinement when it is in the partially collapsed condition to protect the confinement against obtrusions which may be located within the housing. An inert gas advantageously surrounds the confinement when it is in the partially collapsed condition to tend to minimize the effects of aging on the confinement.
Inventors
- 👤 Ramon Doyle Foltz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:50
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
Safety apparatus for use in a vehicle to protect an occupant of the vehicle during a collision, said apparatus comprising a pre-pressurized confinement defining an envelope containing a fluid medium under pressure, said confinement being expandable under the influence of the fluid medium within said confinement from a partially collapsed condition to an expanded condition to restrain movement of an occupant of the vehicle, housing means for holding said preinflated confinement in the partially collapsed condition, said housing means being operable from a closed condition holding said confinement in the partially collapsed condition to an open condition in which said confinement is free to expand to the expanded condition under the influence of the fluid medium within said confinement, liner means between said confinement and interior surfaces of said housing means for protecting said confinement, said liner means including overlapping flap portions which are moved outwardly by said confinement upon initiation of expansion of said confinement to the expanded condition to thereby at least partially protect said confinement as it is expanded, and sensor means for detecting the occurrence of a collision and initiating expansion of said confinement from said partially collapsed condition to the expanded condition in response to the occurrence of a collision.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
Safety apparatus for use in a vehicle to protect an occupant of the vehicle during a collision, said apparatus comprising a pre-pressurized confinement defining an envelope containing a fluid medium under pressure, said confinement being expandable under the influence of the fluid medium within said confinement from a partially collapsed condition to an expanded condition to restrain movement of an occupant of the vehicle, housing means for holding said preinflated confinement in the partially collapsed condition, said housing means being operable from a closed condition holding said confinement in the partially collapsed condition to an open condition in which said confinement is free to expand to the expanded condition under the influence of the fluid medium within said confinement, liner means between said confinement and interior surfaces of said housing means for protecting said confinement, said liner means including overlapping flap portions which are moved outwardly by said confinement upon initiation of expansion of said confinement to the expanded condition to thereby at least partially protect said confinement as it is expanded, and sensor means for detecting the occurrence of a collision and initiating expansion of said confinement from said partially collapsed condition to the expanded condition in response to the occurrence of a collision.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including inert gas means within said housing means when said housing means is in said closed condition to tend to minimize the effects of the passage of time on said confinement while said confinement is in said partially collapsed condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing means includes a panel movable from a first position to a second position to effect operation of said housing means from said closed condition to said open condition and explosive lock means for retaining said panel in said first position, said sensor means being operatively connected with said explosive lock means and being operable to effect detonation of said explosive lock means upon the occurrence of an accident to thereby free said panel for movement from said first position to said second position under the influeNce of said confinement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said movable panel comprises an energy-absorbing material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
93 words
Safety apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle during a collision, said safety apparatus comprising a pre-pressurized confinement expandable from an initial condition to an expanded condition to restrain an occupant of the vehicle during a collision, housing means for containing said pre-pressurized confinement in the initial condition, said housing means including an energy absorbing, movable section and releasable locking means for normally maintaining said pre-pressurized confinement in said initial condition and movable upon release of said locking means to a position enabling expansion of said pre-pressurized confinement to the expanded condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
Safety apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle during a collision, said safety apparatus comprising a pre-pressurized confinement expandable from an initial condition to an expanded condition to restrain an occupant of the vehicle during a collision, housing means for containing said pre-pressurized confinement in the initial condition, said housing means including an energy absorbing, movable section and releasable locking means for normally maintaining said pre-pressurized confinement in said initial condition and movable upon release of said locking means to a position enabling expansion of said pre-pressurized confinement to the expanded condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said releasable locking means includes a fastener means normally preventing movement of said energy absorbing, movable section and explosive means associated with said fastener means for releasing said energy absorbing, movable section upon occurrence of a collision.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 6, including sensing means for detecting the occurrence of a collision and effecting activation of said explosive means to release said fastener means and permit expansion of said confinement from said initial condition to said expanded condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said confinement in said initial condition is partially expanded by a fluid medium under pressure within said confinement and is constrained against expansion to said expanded condition by said housing means, said confinement being released for expansion to said expanded condition under the influence of said fluid medium upon activation of said explosive means in response to said sensor means detecting the occurrence of a collision and effecting activation of said explosive means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further including a layer of sheet material surrounding said confinement and disposed between said confinement and said housing means when said confinement is in the initial condition to thereby protect said confinement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further including an inert fluid medium in said housing means and engaging an outer surface area of said confinement to tend to minimize the effect of the passage of time on said confinement when said confinement is in the initial condition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB953312A
Cited
US3506281A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-03 | 1975-07-05 | 1976-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-03 | 1979-07-05 | 1980-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-03 | 1983-07-05 | 1984-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |