US3753576A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle safety device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-09-29
•
Granted: 1973-08-21
•
Expires: 1991-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle safety device comprising an expandible composite element provided with a mounting for location in a vehicle and which is expandible from an inoperative retracted position to an operative expanded position, and means for rapidly filling the element with a filler material to cause the expansion, the element including an outer shield which expands first and an inner shield which extends inwardly therefrom the expansion of which is commenced after expansion of the first shield has started.
Inventors
- 👤 J Gorman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:22
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/23; B60R21/231; B60R21/232; B60R21/20; B60R21/207; B60R2021/0002; B60R2021/0004; B60R2021/2074
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A vehicle safety device comprising an expandible composite element, mounting means for mounting said element in a vehicle in an inoperative retracted position relative to an occupant seat, said element including an expansible and projectable outer shield carried by said mounting means for projection therefrom, means connected to said outer shield for expanding said outer shield and projecting said outer shield to a shielding position in spaced relation to an occupant seat to provide for a initial shielding of an occupant, said element also including an inner shield carried by said outer shield for projection therefrom, and means for expanding said inner shield relative to said outer shield towards an occupant seat after expansion of said outer shield has been initiated to provide for a further shielding of an occupant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A vehicle safety device comprising an expandible composite element, mounting means for mounting said element in a vehicle in an inoperative retracted position relative to an occupant seat, said element including an expansible and projectable outer shield carried by said mounting means for projection therefrom, means connected to said outer shield for expanding said outer shield and projecting said outer shield to a shielding position in spaced relation to an occupant seat to provide for a initial shielding of an occupant, said element also including an inner shield carried by said outer shield for projection therefrom, and means for expanding said inner shield relative to said outer shield towards an occupant seat after expansion of said outer shield has been initiated to provide for a further shielding of an occupant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 1 in which the element is arranged to extend around an occupant to be protected to encapsulate him, the inner shield expanding inwardly to closely contact him.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said mounting means is rigidly secured to a vehicle seat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 3, said mounting means including a main structural member part of which extends above the back of the seat and which carries the expandible element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 4 in which the main structural member above the seat provides a safety structure for preventing the vehicle structure caving in around the seat.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 5 in which the main structural member is in the form of a hoop and from which the element expands forwardly around the seat to a part spherical shape, the inner surface of the inner shield being contoured to approximate to the frontal and side shape of a human body from the head down to waist level when the element is fully expanded.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 1 in which the fill material is a foam solution.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 1 including means for delaying expansion of the inner shield until the outer shield is at least partially expanded.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for expanding the inner and outer shields include a separate pressure source for each of said shields.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 9 in which the filler material is a gas carried in at least one capsule located in the mounting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 10 in which said mounting means include a head rest, and the capsule is carried in said head rest.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 1 in which the outer shield is made up from a series of tubes to which the inner shield which comprises a series of vesicles is connected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 1 including means for releasing the expandible element from said mounting means after it has been expanded.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 13 including means for operating the release means after a time delay.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 1 in which said mounting means includes a releaseable anchorage member carrying the expandible element, and said mounting means being reloadable with a replacement anchorage member and element after the original element has been operated and removed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 1 in which said mounting means includes a housing receiving the expandible element when in its retracted position, the housing being closed by a removeable cap, and means for pressurizing the interior of the housing prior to release of the cap.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 16 in which the housing is pressurised by filler material used to expand the outer shield.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 1 in which the outer shield has free edge areas and carries reinforcing bands at said edge areas.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 1 in which the mounting means carries an impact cushion which is expandible in the opposite direction to the projection of the element to provide protection for a person behind the safety device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 1 in which the safety device includes a sensor for effecting operation of the device, the sensor including a piezo crystal which is subjected to mechanical deformation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 1 in which the safety device includes a sensor for actuating a signal generator to effect operation of the device, and wherein the signal generator actuates a signal interrupter or chopper which performs a time delay in a sequence of signals for activating the operating means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vehicle safety device as claimed in claim 21 including a monitor which allows actuation of the device only at predetermined conditions of vehicle motion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2672628A
Cited
US2806737A
Cited
US2834606A
Cited
US3218103A
Cited
US3377082A
Cited
US3511519A
Cited
US3643972A
Cited
US3582107A
Cited
US3588142A
Cited
US3606377A
Cited
US3614127A
Cited
US3603430A
Cited
US3672699A
Cited
US3675942A
Cited
US3663037A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-20 | 1977-02-19 | 1977-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-20 | 1981-02-19 | 1981-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-20 | 1985-02-19 | 1985-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |