US3922002A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Occupant restraint system
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1972-11-24
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Granted: 1975-11-25
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Expires: 1992-11-24
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle includes a frame having a pair of forward hollow frame rails, each of which has one or more peripheral beads providing for controlled collapse of the frame rails under higher level impact forces to thereby absorb such forces by mechanical deformation. An energy absorbing strut is received within each of the frame rails. Each strut includes inner and outer telescopic members. The inner members are secured to the bumper or impact bar of the vehicle and the outer members are fixed to the frame rails forwardly of the beads. The inner and outer members cooperatively provide a chamber filled with a pressurized fluid medium. A piston on each inner member is movable within the chamber upon telescoping movement of the inner and outer members. A flexible bladder containing pressurized gas is enclosed within each frame rail rearwardly of the energy absorbing strut. The bladder has an outlet closed by a rupturable diaphragm and communicating by means of a passage with an inflatable occupant restraint cushion. The outer member of each strut mounts a piercing rod which is received within the bladder. Lower level impact forces applied to the impact bar are absorbed by the struts upon telescoping movement of the inner members within the outer members and flow of the medium from one side of the pistons to the other. Under higher level impact forces, the struts bottom out and the forward frame rails collapse at the beads thereof to absorb such impact forces by mechanical deformation. During such mechanical deformation, the piercing rods engage and mechanically rupture the diaphragms to permit the pressurized gas within the bladders to flow through the passages to the cushion and inflate the cushion.
Inventors
- 👤 Brook A Lindbert
- 👤 Edward H Mertz
- 👤 Wesley L Mccollum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:31
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/33; B60R21/26; B60R21/26005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle having a frame including a controlled mechanically deformable frame portion for absorbing high range impact forces, an impact member, low range energy absorbing means mounting the impact member on the deformable portion of the frame, the frame portion remaining undeformed during absorption of low range impact forces by the energy absorbing means, the energy absorbing means transferring high range impact forces to the deformable portion of the frame to initiate deformation thereof and absorption of such high range forces, a self contained source of pressure fluid within the deformable portion of the frame, an inflatable occupant restraint, mechanically rupturable means normally blocking communication of the source with the restraint, and mechanical rupturing means operable by the low range energy absorbing means during mechanical deformation of the frame portion to rupture the rupturable means and establish communication of the source with the restraint to inflate the restraint.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle having a frame including a controlled mechanically deformable frame portion for absorbing high range impact forces, an impact member, low range energy absorbing means mounting the impact member on the deformable portion of the frame, the frame portion remaining undeformed during absorption of low range impact forces by the energy absorbing means, the energy absorbing means transferring high range impact forces to the deformable portion of the frame to initiate deformation thereof and absorption of such high range forces, a self contained source of pressure fluid within the deformable portion of the frame, an inflatable occupant restraint, mechanically rupturable means normally blocking communication of the source with the restraint, and mechanical rupturing means operable by the low range energy absorbing means during mechanical deformation of the frame portion to rupture the rupturable means and establish communication of the source with the restraint to inflate the restraint.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
177 words
The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle having a frame including a controlled mechanically collapsible frame portion for absorbing high range impact forces, an impact member, low range energy absorbing means mounting the impact member on the collapsible portion of the frame, the frame portion remaining uncollapsed during absorption of low range impact forces by the energy absorbing means, the energy absorbing means transferring high range impact forces to the deformable portion of the frame to initiate collapse thereof and absorption of such high range forces, the low range energy absorbing means moving with the collapsible portion of the frame during mechanical collapse thereof, a source of pressure fluid, an inflatable occupant restraint, mechanically rupturable means normally blocking communication of the source with the restraint, and mechanical rupturing means mounted on the low range energy absorbing means and engageable with the rupturable means to rupture the rupturable means and establish communication of the source with the restraint to inflate the restraint upon mechanical collapse of the frame portion and movement of the low range energy absorbing means therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
177 words
The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle having a frame including a controlled mechanically collapsible frame portion for absorbing high range impact forces, an impact member, low range energy absorbing means mounting the impact member on the collapsible portion of the frame, the frame portion remaining uncollapsed during absorption of low range impact forces by the energy absorbing means, the energy absorbing means transferring high range impact forces to the deformable portion of the frame to initiate collapse thereof and absorption of such high range forces, the low range energy absorbing means moving with the collapsible portion of the frame during mechanical collapse thereof, a source of pressure fluid, an inflatable occupant restraint, mechanically rupturable means normally blocking communication of the source with the restraint, and mechanical rupturing means mounted on the low range energy absorbing means and engageable with the rupturable means to rupture the rupturable means and establish communication of the source with the restraint to inflate the restraint upon mechanical collapse of the frame portion and movement of the low range energy absorbing means therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
167 words
The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle having a frame including a controlled mechanically collapsible linear frame portion for absorbing high range impact forces, an impact member receptive of low range and high range impact forces, low range energy absorbing means mounting the impact member on the linear portion of the frame and absorbing low range impact forces, the linear frame portion remaining uncollapsed during absorption of low range impact forces by the energy absorbing means, the low range energy absorbing means transferring high range impact forces to the linear portion of the frame to initiate mechanical collpase thereof and absorption of such high range forces, a source of pressure fluid, an inflatable occupant restraint, mechanically rupturable means normally blocking communication of the source with the restraint, and rigid rupturing means mounted on the low range energy absorbing means and moved into rupturing engagement with the rupturable means upon mechanical collapse of the frame portion to establish communication of the source with the restraint and inflate the restraint.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
167 words
The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle having a frame including a controlled mechanically collapsible linear frame portion for absorbing high range impact forces, an impact member receptive of low range and high range impact forces, low range energy absorbing means mounting the impact member on the linear portion of the frame and absorbing low range impact forces, the linear frame portion remaining uncollapsed during absorption of low range impact forces by the energy absorbing means, the low range energy absorbing means transferring high range impact forces to the linear portion of the frame to initiate mechanical collpase thereof and absorption of such high range forces, a source of pressure fluid, an inflatable occupant restraint, mechanically rupturable means normally blocking communication of the source with the restraint, and rigid rupturing means mounted on the low range energy absorbing means and moved into rupturing engagement with the rupturable means upon mechanical collapse of the frame portion to establish communication of the source with the restraint and inflate the restraint.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
183 words
The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle having a frame including a hollow frame portion having means controlling mechanical collapse thereof for absorbing high range impact forces, an impact member, low range energy absorbing means mounting the impact member on the frame portion, the frame portion remaining uncollapsed during absorption of low range impact forces by the energy absorbing means, the energy absorbing means transferring high range impact forces to the frame portion to initiate collapse thereof and absorption of such high range forces, the low range energy absorbing means moving as a unit with the frame portion during collapse thereof, a self contained source of pressure fluid within the hollow frame portion, an inflatable occupant restraint, mechanically rupturable means normally blocking communication of the source with the restraint, and rigid means mounted on the low range energy absorbing means and projecting within the hollow frame portion for rupturing engagement with the rupturable means to communicate the source with the restraint and inflate the restraint upon collapse of the frame portion and movement of the low range energy absorbing means as a unit therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
183 words
The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle having a frame including a hollow frame portion having means controlling mechanical collapse thereof for absorbing high range impact forces, an impact member, low range energy absorbing means mounting the impact member on the frame portion, the frame portion remaining uncollapsed during absorption of low range impact forces by the energy absorbing means, the energy absorbing means transferring high range impact forces to the frame portion to initiate collapse thereof and absorption of such high range forces, the low range energy absorbing means moving as a unit with the frame portion during collapse thereof, a self contained source of pressure fluid within the hollow frame portion, an inflatable occupant restraint, mechanically rupturable means normally blocking communication of the source with the restraint, and rigid means mounted on the low range energy absorbing means and projecting within the hollow frame portion for rupturing engagement with the rupturable means to communicate the source with the restraint and inflate the restraint upon collapse of the frame portion and movement of the low range energy absorbing means as a unit therewith.
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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) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |