US5725265A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air bag system for vehicle bumpers
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1997-01-16
•
Granted: 1998-03-10
•
Expires: 2017-01-16
Abstract
Abstract A new Air Bag System For Vehicle Bumpers for absorbing the impact of a collision, thus minimizing damage and preventing serious injuries. The inventive device includes a containment member having a hollow interior and being securable to the front or the rear of a vehicle, and an air bag enclosed within the hollow interior of the containment member, wherein the air bag is inflatable and deployable when the containment member is impacted by an object, such as another vehicle. An inflation system is provided for inflating and deploying the air bag outwardly from the containment member and a triggering system is provided for triggering the inflation system when the containment member is impacted. A control system is operably connected to the triggering system, the inflation system, and the air bag for controlling inflation and deployment of the air bag.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeff Baber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 06:23
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R19/00; B60R19/02; B60R19/18; B60R19/20; B60R19/205; B60R19/56; B60R19/48; B60R19/483; B60R21/00; B60R2021/0065; B60R2021/0074
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
An air bag system for a bumper of a vehicle comprising: a containment member having a hollow interior, said containment member securable to at least one of the front and the rear of said vehicles, said containment member comprising a support member having an impact face having an opening therein, and an expellable panel fitted within said opening and releasably secured to said support member; and a deflated air bag enclosed within said hollow interior of said containment member, said deflated air bag inflatable and deployable outwardly from said containment member when said containment member is impacted whereby said deflated air bag expels said expellable panel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
An air bag system for a bumper of a vehicle comprising: a containment member having a hollow interior, said containment member securable to at least one of the front and the rear of said vehicles, said containment member comprising a support member having an impact face having an opening therein, and an expellable panel fitted within said opening and releasably secured to said support member; and a deflated air bag enclosed within said hollow interior of said containment member, said deflated air bag inflatable and deployable outwardly from said containment member when said containment member is impacted whereby said deflated air bag expels said expellable panel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
169 words
An air bag system for a bumper of a vehicle comprising. a containment member having a hollow interior, said containment member securable to at least one of the front and the rear of said vehicle, said containment member comprising a support member having an impact face, said impact face having an opening therein, and an expellable panel fitted within said opening in said impact face, said expellable panel releasably secured to said support member; a deflated air bag enclosed within said hollow interior of said containment member, said deflated air bag inflatable and deployable through said opening outwardly from said support member whereby said deflated air bag expels said expellable panel; an inflation means for inflating and deploying said deflated air bag outwardly from said containment member; a triggering means for triggering said inflation means when said containment member is impacted; and a control means operably connected to said triggering means, said inflation means, and said deflated air bag for controlling inflation and deployment of said deflated air bag.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
169 words
An air bag system for a bumper of a vehicle comprising. a containment member having a hollow interior, said containment member securable to at least one of the front and the rear of said vehicle, said containment member comprising a support member having an impact face, said impact face having an opening therein, and an expellable panel fitted within said opening in said impact face, said expellable panel releasably secured to said support member; a deflated air bag enclosed within said hollow interior of said containment member, said deflated air bag inflatable and deployable through said opening outwardly from said support member whereby said deflated air bag expels said expellable panel; an inflation means for inflating and deploying said deflated air bag outwardly from said containment member; a triggering means for triggering said inflation means when said containment member is impacted; and a control means operably connected to said triggering means, said inflation means, and said deflated air bag for controlling inflation and deployment of said deflated air bag.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The air bag system of claim 2, wherein said inflation means comprises: a compressed gas source operably connected to said deflated air bag and said control means, said compressed gas source dischargeable into said deflated air bag when said triggering means is actuated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The air bag system of claim 2, wherein said triggering means includes an impact switch operably connected to said control means and actuateable when said containment member is impacted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The air bag system of claim 2, wherein said containment member is securable to an existing bumper of said vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
191 words
An air bag system for a bumper of a vehicle comprising: a support member having an impact face and a hollow interior, said impact face having an opening therein, said support member securable to at least one of the front and the rear of said vehicle; an expellable panel fitted within said opening in said impact face and releasably secured to said support member; a deflated air bag enclosed within said hollow interior of said support member and enclosed by said expellable panel, said deflated air bag inflatable and deployable through said opening outwardly from said support member whereby said deflated air bag expels said expellable panel; a compressed gas source operably connected to said deflated air bag, said compressed gas source dischargeable into said deflated air bag, said compressed gas source inflating and deploying said deflated air bag outwardly from said support member; and an impact switch actuateable when said impact face of said support member is impacted, said impact switch operably connected to said compressed gas source whereby said impact switch triggers discharge of said compressed gas source into said deflated air bag when said impact face is impacted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
191 words
An air bag system for a bumper of a vehicle comprising: a support member having an impact face and a hollow interior, said impact face having an opening therein, said support member securable to at least one of the front and the rear of said vehicle; an expellable panel fitted within said opening in said impact face and releasably secured to said support member; a deflated air bag enclosed within said hollow interior of said support member and enclosed by said expellable panel, said deflated air bag inflatable and deployable through said opening outwardly from said support member whereby said deflated air bag expels said expellable panel; a compressed gas source operably connected to said deflated air bag, said compressed gas source dischargeable into said deflated air bag, said compressed gas source inflating and deploying said deflated air bag outwardly from said support member; and an impact switch actuateable when said impact face of said support member is impacted, said impact switch operably connected to said compressed gas source whereby said impact switch triggers discharge of said compressed gas source into said deflated air bag when said impact face is impacted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The air bag system of claim 6, wherein said impact switch includes a plunger actuator mounted within said support member adjacent said expellable panel whereby impact with said expellable panel causes said expellable panel to contact said plunger actuator thereby actuating said impact switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The air bag system of claim 7, wherein said support member is securable to an existing bumper of a vehicle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3588142A
Cited
DE2017465A1
Cited
US3656790A
Cited
US3656791A
Cited
US3708194A
Cited
US3822076A
Cited
US4176858A
Cited
JPS62168746A
Cited
US4869538A
Cited
WO1989003328A1
Cited
JPH02155854A
Cited
US5106137A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-09 | 2001-09-08 | 2002-03-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-09 | 2005-09-08 | 2006-03-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-09 | 2009-09-08 | 2010-03-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |