Patent US6415883B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6415883B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Deployable A-pillar covers for pedestrian protection
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
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Filing: 2002-01-24
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Granted: 2002-07-09
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Expires: 2022-01-24
Abstract
Abstract A pedestrian protection apparatus for a motor vehicle includes left and right A-pillar covers hingingly attached to respective A-pillars. The A-pillar covers have a retracted condition wherein they lie close to respective vehicle A-pillars, and are movable to a deployed condition wherein they are spaced forwardly from the respective A-pillars. In the deployed condition, the A-pillar covers are able to deform and/or move rearward when struck by a pedestrian so as to absorb impact energy and thereby lessen the likelihood and/or severity of injury, as compared with direct impact with a conventional, stationary A-pillar. An actuator system includes a contact or non-contact sensor for indicating an actual or imminent collision with a pedestrian, and pyrotechnic devices that urge the A-pillar covers to the deployed condition prior to a pedestrian impact with the A-pillar covers. The hood and/or windshield may also deploy to a pedestrian-friendly position in conjunction with deployment of the A-pillar covers.
Inventors
- 👤 Helge Myrholt
- 👤 Mattias Ericsson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 07:35
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/34; B60R21/38; B62; B62D; B62D25/00; B62D25/04; B60R2021/346
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A pedestrian protection apparatus for a motor vehicle having a hood, a windshield, and left and right A-pillars disposed adjacent left and right ends of the windshield respectively, the apparatus comprising: a left A-pillar cover and a right A-pillar cover, the A-pillar covers having a retracted condition wherein they are in front of and adjacent the respective A-pillars, and are moveable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle to a deployed condition wherein the A-pillar covers are directly in front of and spaced from the respective A-pillars; and an actuator system operative to move the A-pillar covers from the retracted condition to the deployed condition prior to a pedestrian impact with the A-pillar covers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A pedestrian protection apparatus for a motor vehicle having a hood, a windshield, and left and right A-pillars disposed adjacent left and right ends of the windshield respectively, the apparatus comprising: a left A-pillar cover and a right A-pillar cover, the A-pillar covers having a retracted condition wherein they are in front of and adjacent the respective A-pillars, and are moveable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle to a deployed condition wherein the A-pillar covers are directly in front of and spaced from the respective A-pillars; and an actuator system operative to move the A-pillar covers from the retracted condition to the deployed condition prior to a pedestrian impact with the A-pillar covers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein upper ends of the A-pillar covers are hingingly attached to the respective A-pillars, the A-pillar covers rotating about the upper ends to move from the retracted condition to the deployed condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the A-pillar covers when in the deployed condition are deformable in response to a pedestrian impact with the A-pillar covers, said deformation absorbing impact energy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising at least one damper operatively connected with the A-pillar covers to resist movement of the A-pillar covers from the deployed condition toward the retracted condition in order to absorb impact energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the actuator system comprises a pyrotechnic device for generating gas pressure that urges the A-pillar covers to the deployed condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the actuator system comprises a contact sensor for detecting a pedestrian impact with a front section of the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the actuator system comprises a remote sensor for detecting an impending pedestrian impact with a front section of the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a hood deployment mechanism operative to move the hood to a raised position substantially simultaneously with movement of the A-pillar covers to the deployed condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the windshield moves along with the A-pillar covers to the deployed condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
128 words
A pedestrian protection apparatus for a motor vehicle having a hood, a windshield, and left and right A-pillars disposed adjacent left and right ends of the windshield respectively, the apparatus comprising: a left A-pillar cover and a right A-pillar cover, the A-pillar covers having a retracted condition wherein they are adjacent the respective A-pillars, and movable to a deployed condition wherein the A-pillar covers are spaced forwardly from the respective A-pillars; an actuator system operative to move the A-pillar covers from the retracted condition to the deployed condition prior to a pedestrian impact with the A-pillar covers; at least one damper operatively connected with the A-pillar covers to resist movement of the A-pillar covers from the deployed condition toward the retracted condition in order to absorb impact energy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
128 words
A pedestrian protection apparatus for a motor vehicle having a hood, a windshield, and left and right A-pillars disposed adjacent left and right ends of the windshield respectively, the apparatus comprising: a left A-pillar cover and a right A-pillar cover, the A-pillar covers having a retracted condition wherein they are adjacent the respective A-pillars, and movable to a deployed condition wherein the A-pillar covers are spaced forwardly from the respective A-pillars; an actuator system operative to move the A-pillar covers from the retracted condition to the deployed condition prior to a pedestrian impact with the A-pillar covers; at least one damper operatively connected with the A-pillar covers to resist movement of the A-pillar covers from the deployed condition toward the retracted condition in order to absorb impact energy.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of lessening the degree of injury suffered by a pedestrian when struck by a motor vehicle having a hood, a windshield, and left and right A-pillars disposed adjacent left and right ends of the windshield respectively, the method comprising the steps of: predicting an impact of the pedestrian with the vehicle; and moving a left A-pillar cover and a right A-pillar cover in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle from a retracted position wherein the A-pillar covers are in front of and adjacent the respective A-pillars to a deployed condition wherein the A-pillar covers are directly in front of and spaced from the respective A-pillars.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of lessening the degree of injury suffered by a pedestrian when struck by a motor vehicle having a hood, a windshield, and left and right A-pillars disposed adjacent left and right ends of the windshield respectively, the method comprising the steps of: predicting an impact of the pedestrian with the vehicle; and moving a left A-pillar cover and a right A-pillar cover in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle from a retracted position wherein the A-pillar covers are in front of and adjacent the respective A-pillars to a deployed condition wherein the A-pillar covers are directly in front of and spaced from the respective A-pillars.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 11 wherein the step of moving the A-pillar covers from the retracted condition to the deployed condition comprises rotating the A-pillar covers about hinges attaching upper ends of the A-pillar covers to the A-pillars.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of allowing the A-pillar covers when in the deployed condition to deform when struck by a pedestrian.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of allowing movement of the A-pillar covers from the deployed condition toward the retracted condition when struck by the pedestrian, said movement absorbing impact energy.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 14 wherein the step of allowing movement of the A-pillar covers toward the retracted condition involves at least one damper providing resistance to the movement of the A-pillar covers toward the retracted condition.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 11 wherein the step of moving the A-pillar covers from the retracted condition to the deployed condition comprising activating a pyrotechnic device to generate gas pressure that urges the A-pillar covers to the deployed condition.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 11 wherein the step of predicting the impact is accomplished by a contact sensor for detecting a pedestrian impact with a front section of the vehicle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 11 wherein the step of predicting the impact is accomplished by a remote sensor for detecting an impending pedestrian impact with a front section of the vehicle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of moving the hood to a raised position substantially simultaneously with movement of the A-pillar covers to the deployed condition.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of moving the windshield along with the A-pillar covers to the deployed condition.
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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) | 2005-07-08 | 2006-01-07 | 2006-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-07-08 | 2010-01-07 | 2010-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-07-08 | 2014-01-07 | 2014-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |