US3894750A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Crash protector for passenger vehicles
Assignee: ROBERT ECKELS FAMILY TRUST
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Filing: 1973-11-19
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Granted: 1975-07-15
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Expires: 1993-11-19
Abstract
Abstract An overhead energy attenuating panel in a vehicle moves from an inactive position above the occupants, on the inside of the roof of the vehicle, to a position in front of the front seat passengers upon a generally headon crash, and a mound of soft material formed by the overhead protector receives and protects a person projected against it on such a crash. In one form of the invention, the mound of soft material is an air bag which inflates as the overhead panel moves between the passengers and the vehicle windshield.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E Eckels
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:16
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/214; B60R21/06; B60R21/08; B60R21/33
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
In a crash protector for roofed vehicles in which an articulated, shock attenuating multi-segment panel means is mounted on tracks and is mounted generally flat adjacent the inside roof of the vehicle and is slidable forwardly and downwardly along the tracks to a position between passengers and the vehicle windshield on impact of the vehicle, the improvement of means including a gas bag inflatable on the sliding deployment of said panel means on impact of the vehicle whereby said panel and said inflated bag are positioned between the vehicle windshield and passengers to receive passengers and attenuate their impact energy, and at least one container for inflating gas mounted in said panel means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a crash protector for roofed vehicles in which an articulated, shock attenuating multi-segment panel means is mounted on tracks and is mounted generally flat adjacent the inside roof of the vehicle and is slidable forwardly and downwardly along the tracks to a position between passengers and the vehicle windshield on impact of the vehicle, the improvement of means including a gas bag inflatable on the sliding deployment of said panel means on impact of the vehicle whereby said panel and said inflated bag are positioned between the vehicle windshield and passengers to receive passengers and attenuate their impact energy, and at least one container for inflating gas mounted in said panel means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said at least one container is frangible.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein said at least one container is mounted with breaking means interconnected with the roof of said vehicle arranged to break said at least one container and inflate said gas bag during the sliding deployment of said panel means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein said breaking means is hammer means interconnected with the roof of the vehicle to break said at least one container on initial movement of said panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein two gas containers are mounted in said panel and both connected to said bag.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement of claim 5 wherein the capacity of each of said containers is sufficient to fill said bag sufficiently to attenuate the impact energy of a passenger.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US2854281A
Cited
US3423121A
Cited
US3706462A
Cited
US3664682A
Cited
US3749282A
Cited
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Cited
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Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-14 | 1979-01-13 | 1979-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-14 | 1983-01-13 | 1983-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-14 | 1987-01-13 | 1987-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |