US5490691A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle safety arrangement for positioning a vehicle occupant
Assignee: Volkswagen AG
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Filing: 1994-05-23
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Granted: 1996-02-13
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Expires: 2014-05-23
Abstract
Abstract To protect a vehicle occupant from injury by a safety airbag activated in the event of a collision when the occupant's actual position is different from a normal occupant restraint position, an occupant-moving arrangement is provided to move the occupant into the normal restraint position prior to full activation of an airbag. The occupant-moving arrangement is effected by inflation of the airbag with an initially limited pressure or by a movable cushion or a pivoted flap driven by a gas generator.
Inventors
- 👤 Ruprecht Sinnhuber
- 👤 Bernd Richter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:38
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/013; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/213; B60R21/26; B60R21/268; B60R2021/0002; B60R2021/0006; B60R2021/0206; B60R2021/0253; B60R2021/165; B60R2021/26058; B60R21/0134
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A vehicle safety arrangement for protecting an occupant comprising airbag means arranged to be activated in the event of a collision and connected to a collision sensor arranged to cause full activation of the airbag means, a precollision sensor for detecting an impending collision, and occupant-moving means separate from the airbag means and activatable in response to the precollision sensor prior to full activation of the airbag means for moving the occupant of a vehicle seat into a normal restraint position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A vehicle safety arrangement for protecting an occupant comprising airbag means arranged to be activated in the event of a collision and connected to a collision sensor arranged to cause full activation of the airbag means, a precollision sensor for detecting an impending collision, and occupant-moving means separate from the airbag means and activatable in response to the precollision sensor prior to full activation of the airbag means for moving the occupant of a vehicle seat into a normal restraint position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle safety arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the occupant-moving means comprises a flap and means for moving the flap in the direction of the normal occupant restraint position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle safety arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the occupant-moving means comprises a cushion and means for moving the cushion in the direction of the normal occupant restraint position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vehicle safety arrangement according to claim 1 including a pressure reservoir connectable to the airbag means to supply gas thereto to activate the airbag means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vehicle safety arrangement according to claim 1 including a negative pressure source connectable to the airbag means for restoring the airbag means to its original condition after inflation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle safety arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the precollision sensor is an integral part of the collision sensor.
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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) | 1999-02-12 | 1999-08-14 | 2000-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-12 | 2003-08-14 | 2004-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-12 | 2007-08-14 | 2008-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |