US3865433A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Energy absorbing restraint for passengers
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-04-04
•
Granted: 1975-02-11
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Expires: 1993-04-04
Abstract
Abstract A deformable safety device upon which a seated passenger in a violently decelerating conveyance can loose kinetic energy by doing mechanical work. The device includes a horizontal portion across the passenger''s lap, extending upwardly in front of his upper torso and head, which can bend transversely under load like a straight beam. The device, secured by a conventional vehicle lap belt, is permanently self supporting but contains no rigid structure. Alternate embodiments of the device further include vertical portions to each side of the passenger''s torso which can bend under load like flat plates.
Inventors
- 👤 David F Stafford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:27
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/24; B60N2/26; B60N2/28; B60N2/2857; B60N2/286; B60N2/2839
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
288 words
A vehicle occupant restraint for restraining movement of a vehicle occupant seated on a vehicle seat assembly having a substantially horizontal seat and an upright seat back in conjunction with a flexible seat belt extending forward along both sides of the seated occupant and transversely across in front of the occupant, comprising: side panels adapted to straddle the occupant, said side panels adapted to rest on the horizontal vehicle seat with exterior side surfaces adapted to engage the seat belt as the seat belt extends forward; a substantially straight bending beam section extending between the side panels and adapted to extend across the lap of the seated vehicle occupant with the ends of the beam connected with the side panels; said bending beam section having a forward substantially straight longitudinal surface, said longitudinal surface adapted to support the seat belt in normally rectangular configuration in conjunction with the surfaces of the side panels; said bending beam member having a rear surface adapted to oppose the occupant and adapted to be forcibly contacted by the occupant during sudden forward deceleration of the vehicle associated with a vehicle crash; said bending beam section being formed entirely of selfsupporting material free of internal or external rigid reinforcement elements and being of sufficient tensile strength to enable the bending beam section to progressively significantly bend outwardly into an arcuate displacement configuration between the side panels and against the seat belt, placing the forward surface of said beam in longitudinal tension and the rear surface of said beam in longitudinal compression and thereby progressively absorbing the kinetic energy of the occupant as the bending beam is being deflectively bent into the arcuate configuration without forcibly rebounding the occupant against the upright back seat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
288 words
A vehicle occupant restraint for restraining movement of a vehicle occupant seated on a vehicle seat assembly having a substantially horizontal seat and an upright seat back in conjunction with a flexible seat belt extending forward along both sides of the seated occupant and transversely across in front of the occupant, comprising: side panels adapted to straddle the occupant, said side panels adapted to rest on the horizontal vehicle seat with exterior side surfaces adapted to engage the seat belt as the seat belt extends forward; a substantially straight bending beam section extending between the side panels and adapted to extend across the lap of the seated vehicle occupant with the ends of the beam connected with the side panels; said bending beam section having a forward substantially straight longitudinal surface, said longitudinal surface adapted to support the seat belt in normally rectangular configuration in conjunction with the surfaces of the side panels; said bending beam member having a rear surface adapted to oppose the occupant and adapted to be forcibly contacted by the occupant during sudden forward deceleration of the vehicle associated with a vehicle crash; said bending beam section being formed entirely of selfsupporting material free of internal or external rigid reinforcement elements and being of sufficient tensile strength to enable the bending beam section to progressively significantly bend outwardly into an arcuate displacement configuration between the side panels and against the seat belt, placing the forward surface of said beam in longitudinal tension and the rear surface of said beam in longitudinal compression and thereby progressively absorbing the kinetic energy of the occupant as the bending beam is being deflectively bent into the arcuate configuration without forcibly rebounding the occupant against the upright back seat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
273 words
A vehicle occupant restraint for restraining movement of a vehicle occupant seated on a vehicle seat assembly having a substantially horizontal seat and an upright seat back in conjunction with a flexible seat belt extending forward along both sides of the seated occupant and transversely across in front of the occupant, comprising: a substantially straight bending beam section adapted to extend across the lap of the seated vehicle occupant; said bending beam section having a forward substantially straight longitudinal surface, said longitudinal surface extending between ends of the beam section and adapted to support the seat belt in a normally straight configuration transversely across in front of the occupant; side panels supporting the bending beam section by its ends and adapted to straddle the occupant and support the bending beam section across the lap of the occupant; said bending beam member having a rear surface adapted to oppose the occupant and adapted to be forcibly contacted by the occupant during sudden forward deceleration of the vehicle associated with a vehicle crash; and said bending beam section being formed entirely of self-supporting material free of internal or external rigid reinforcement elements and being of sufficient tensile strength to enable the bending beam section to progressively significantly bend outwardly into an arcuate displacement configuration between the side panels and against the seat belt, placing the forward surface of said beam in longitudinal tension and the rear surface of said beam in longitudinal compression and thereby progressively absorbing the kinetic energy of The occupant as the bending beam is being deflectively bent into the arcuate configuration without forcibly rebounding the occupant against the upright back seat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
273 words
A vehicle occupant restraint for restraining movement of a vehicle occupant seated on a vehicle seat assembly having a substantially horizontal seat and an upright seat back in conjunction with a flexible seat belt extending forward along both sides of the seated occupant and transversely across in front of the occupant, comprising: a substantially straight bending beam section adapted to extend across the lap of the seated vehicle occupant; said bending beam section having a forward substantially straight longitudinal surface, said longitudinal surface extending between ends of the beam section and adapted to support the seat belt in a normally straight configuration transversely across in front of the occupant; side panels supporting the bending beam section by its ends and adapted to straddle the occupant and support the bending beam section across the lap of the occupant; said bending beam member having a rear surface adapted to oppose the occupant and adapted to be forcibly contacted by the occupant during sudden forward deceleration of the vehicle associated with a vehicle crash; and said bending beam section being formed entirely of self-supporting material free of internal or external rigid reinforcement elements and being of sufficient tensile strength to enable the bending beam section to progressively significantly bend outwardly into an arcuate displacement configuration between the side panels and against the seat belt, placing the forward surface of said beam in longitudinal tension and the rear surface of said beam in longitudinal compression and thereby progressively absorbing the kinetic energy of The occupant as the bending beam is being deflectively bent into the arcuate configuration without forcibly rebounding the occupant against the upright back seat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The vehicle occupant restraint as defined in claim 2 wherein the bending beam section is formed of closed cell polyethylene foam material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vehicle occupant restraint as defined in claim 2 wherein the bending beam section has a constant cross section between the side panels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
The vehicle occupant restraint as defined in claim 2 wherein the side panels extend rearwardly from the bending beam section to enclose the occupant and wherein the bending beam section is affixed to the side panels at said beam section end so that as the bent beam section is bent into the arcuate displacement configuration, the side panels automatically deflect inward toward each other to engage the occupant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vehicle occupant restraint as defined in claim 2 wherein the side panels are constructed entirely of a self-supporting material free of internal or external rigid reinforcement elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vehicle occupant restraint as defined in claim 6 wherein the side panels are formed of the same material as the bending beam section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The vehicle occupant restraint as defined in claim 6 wherein the side panels are composed of closed cell polyethylene foam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The vehicle occupant restraint as defined in claim 2 wherein the side panels have recessed slots formed therein adapted to receive the forward extension of the seat belt to limit the vertical movement of the seat belt.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The vehicle occupant restraint as defined in claim 2 wherein the forward substantially straight longitudinal surface of the beam section is inclined with respect to the horizontal seat to receive the transverse extension of the seat belt.
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) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |