US3810668A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Energy absorbing bumper system
Assignee: Safety Consultants
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Filing: 1971-03-19
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Granted: 1974-05-14
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Expires: 1991-03-19
Abstract
Abstract An energy absorbing bumper system for protection of moving vehicles. The system comprising a storage tank and an impact bag, each containing compressed air, and means for controlling the flow of air between the bag and the tank. The bag is contoured for a generally flat impact surface to provide efficient operation and compact size, and to yield an aesthetically pleasing shape, and is held in shape by dividing the bag into a large number of compartments lying adjacent to each other along the direction of the surface to be protected, and by introducing compressed air into each compartment. Each one of the compartments of the bag is connected to the tank by means of an orifice.
Inventors
- 👤 M Kornhauser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:21
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/26; B60R21/26005; B60R19/00; B60R19/02; B60R19/18; B60R19/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A bumper apparatus for a vehicle comprising: a. a flexible bag structure having a flexible impact wall forming a cavity for containing a gas compressed under substantial pressure to absorb the energy of a collision of said vehicle applied over said impact wall, b. and means for attaching said bag structure to a vehicle with said impact wall in a generally upright orientation; said bag structure including means for forming the surface of said impact wall to have a substantially planar interior surface in opposition to said gas pressure, said impact surface forming means including load bearing means connected along said impact wall and between a plurality of spaced fixed parts of said bag attaching means, and having an uprightly oriented and substantially catenary shaped load distribution between said interior surface and said spaced fixed parts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A bumper apparatus for a vehicle comprising: a. a flexible bag structure having a flexible impact wall forming a cavity for containing a gas compressed under substantial pressure to absorb the energy of a collision of said vehicle applied over said impact wall, b. and means for attaching said bag structure to a vehicle with said impact wall in a generally upright orientation; said bag structure including means for forming the surface of said impact wall to have a substantially planar interior surface in opposition to said gas pressure, said impact surface forming means including load bearing means connected along said impact wall and between a plurality of spaced fixed parts of said bag attaching means, and having an uprightly oriented and substantially catenary shaped load distribution between said interior surface and said spaced fixed parts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said impact surface forming means includes load bearing means connected between the upper and lower surfaces of said bag structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A bumper apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said load bearing means is flexible.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A bumper apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said load bearing means includes a Web connected to the interior surface of said impact wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A bumper apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said web has an opening therein forming a substantially catenary shaped edge to the web.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A bumper apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein the gas pressure is greater than 10 psi.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
A bumper apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said flexible bag structure includes a plurality of flexible webs separating said bag structure along its length into a plurality of enclosed compartments, and said load bearing means includes a plurality of flexible intermediate webs having gas passageways therethrough to form sub-compartments within said compartments, said intermediate webs being connected to the inner surface of said bag structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said flexible bag structure includes means for limiting a substantial extension of said impact wall along the length of said wall, whereby impact against said impact wall for one of said flexible compartments is distributed to an adjacent one of said compartments.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said limiting means includes means for preventing movement of said impact wall along the length thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A bumper structure as recited in claim 3 wherein the gas passageway of each of said intermediate webs forms a substantially catenary shaped edge to the web.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the spacing between adjacent ones of said flexible intermediate webs is small compared to the height of said bag structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A bumper structure as recited in claim 11 wherein the exterior surface of said impact is formed to an ornamental shape.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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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) | 1977-05-13 | 1977-11-12 | 1978-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-13 | 1981-11-12 | 1982-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-13 | 1985-11-12 | 1986-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |