Patent US3768833A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3768833A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flow control valve
Assignee: ZF Passive Safety Systems US Inc
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Filing: 1971-11-26
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1991-11-26
Abstract
Abstract An improved safety apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle during the occurrence of a collision includes an expandable confinement having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition for restraining movement of an occupant of a vehicle during a collision and means for expanding the confinement to the operative condition during a collision. The means for expanding the confinement includes a fluid supply which is actuatable to supply fluid for expanding the confinement, means for actuating the fluid supply in response to a collision, a diffuser means in fluid communication with the confinement for receiving fluid from the fluid supply and for distributing the fluid to the confinement for expanding the confinement, and means cooperating with the diffuser for controlling an initial portion of fluid distribution from the diffuser to the confinement. In a preferred embodiment, the means cooperating with the diffuser means includes a member slidable along a surface of the diffuser under the influence of fluid pressure from the fluid supply to sequentially uncover a series of openings in the diffuser thereby controlling the flow of fluid from the diffuser to the confinement.
Inventors
- 👤 R Broucksou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:09
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/26; B60R21/261; B60R2021/26094; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/1624; Y10T137/1632; Y10T137/1782; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7837; Y10T137/7904; Y10T137/7922; Y10T137/7925; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86268; Y10T137/86493; Y10T137/86718; Y10T137/86734
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
260 words
In a safety apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle and which safety apparatus comprises a confinement having a collapsed inoperative condition and an expanded operative condition for restraining movement of the occupant during a collision, and means for expanding said confinement to the operative condition during a collision, said means for expanding said confinement including a fluid supply actuatable to supply fluid for expanding said confinement, means for actuating said fluid supply in response to a collision, and diffuser means in fluid communication with said confinement and connected to receive fluid from said fluid supply upon actuation thereof and for distributing and directing said fluid to said confinement for expanding said confinement, the improvement comprising means movable along a surface of said diffuser means, said movable means including a member disposed in the flow path between said fluid supply and said diffuser member, wherein said diffuser means includes an elongated tubular member with a plurality of openings disposed along the longitudinal axis thereof, said openings providing fluid communication between the interior of said diffuser and the interior of said confinement, said member being disposed in the flow path and having an orifice therein to allow a portion of the initial flow of fluid from said fluid supply to pass therethrough before movement of said member and said movable member engages the interior surface of said diffuser and is slidable along said surface under the influence of fluid pressure from said fluid supply to sequentially uncover said openings, for controlling the fluid flow from said diffuser to said confinement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
260 words
In a safety apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle and which safety apparatus comprises a confinement having a collapsed inoperative condition and an expanded operative condition for restraining movement of the occupant during a collision, and means for expanding said confinement to the operative condition during a collision, said means for expanding said confinement including a fluid supply actuatable to supply fluid for expanding said confinement, means for actuating said fluid supply in response to a collision, and diffuser means in fluid communication with said confinement and connected to receive fluid from said fluid supply upon actuation thereof and for distributing and directing said fluid to said confinement for expanding said confinement, the improvement comprising means movable along a surface of said diffuser means, said movable means including a member disposed in the flow path between said fluid supply and said diffuser member, wherein said diffuser means includes an elongated tubular member with a plurality of openings disposed along the longitudinal axis thereof, said openings providing fluid communication between the interior of said diffuser and the interior of said confinement, said member being disposed in the flow path and having an orifice therein to allow a portion of the initial flow of fluid from said fluid supply to pass therethrough before movement of said member and said movable member engages the interior surface of said diffuser and is slidable along said surface under the influence of fluid pressure from said fluid supply to sequentially uncover said openings, for controlling the fluid flow from said diffuser to said confinement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises means engaging said member and said diffuser for restraining relative movement therebetween until a predetermined pressure exists in the flow path between said member and said fluid supply.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means comprises a shear pin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the effective flow area of said orifice is smaller than the cumulative effective flow areas of the slots in said diffuser to thereby prevent a pressure build up in said diffuser which would restrain movement of said member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
196 words
In a safety apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle and which safety apparatus comprises a confinement having a collapsed inoperative condition and an expanded operative condition for restraining movement of an occupant during a collision, a fluid supply, and means for directing and controlling fluid flow from the supply to the confinement and which means provides for an initial lower volume rate of fluid flow to the confinement and a subsequent larger volume rate of fluid flow into the confinement so that an occupant who may be leaning toward the collapsed confinement is moved by a small force applied to the occupant by the confinement during initial inflation thereof, the improvement wherein said means for directing flow comprises diffuser means having flow passage means in fluid communication with the confinement and connected to receive fluid from said fluid supply, and a control member disposed in the fluid path between said fluid supply and said diffuser cooperating with the diffuser and having an orifice therein for providing said initial fluid flow when in an initial position and movable relative to the diffuser from its initial position to effect said larger fluid flow from the diffuser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
196 words
In a safety apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle and which safety apparatus comprises a confinement having a collapsed inoperative condition and an expanded operative condition for restraining movement of an occupant during a collision, a fluid supply, and means for directing and controlling fluid flow from the supply to the confinement and which means provides for an initial lower volume rate of fluid flow to the confinement and a subsequent larger volume rate of fluid flow into the confinement so that an occupant who may be leaning toward the collapsed confinement is moved by a small force applied to the occupant by the confinement during initial inflation thereof, the improvement wherein said means for directing flow comprises diffuser means having flow passage means in fluid communication with the confinement and connected to receive fluid from said fluid supply, and a control member disposed in the fluid path between said fluid supply and said diffuser cooperating with the diffuser and having an orifice therein for providing said initial fluid flow when in an initial position and movable relative to the diffuser from its initial position to effect said larger fluid flow from the diffuser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said control member is disposed in a fluid flow path between said fluid supply and said diffuser, and is movable relative to said diffuser in response to the existence of a predetermined pressure iN said flow path to control the flow of fluid from said diffuser to said confinement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein said diffuser comprises an elongated configuration having a plurality of openings communicating with said confinement disposed along a longitudinal axis thereof and wherein said control member is movable along the longitudinal axis of said diffuser in response to said predetermined pressure to sequentially uncover said openings thereby controlling the flow of fluid through said openings to said confinement.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |