Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-28
2001-07-24
Rice, Kenneth R. (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C296S182100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264238
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a reactive countermeasure for use in a vehicle, and more particularly, to a reactive countermeasure for use on discontinuous surfaces which are associated with vehicle hard trim.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently, automobiles and other vehicles are equipped with safety devices designed to protect the vehicle driver and passengers from injury in the event that the vehicle undergoes a crash. Such equipment includes impact absorbing material mounted to the interior of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. This impact absorbing material is positioned around the A-pillar, B-pillar, rear pillar and roof panel of the vehicle and is designed to absorb the impact of a vehicle occupant's head during a vehicle crash. The Federal Government has set specific requirements on the allowable impact energy which this equipment must be designed to absorb.
While this equipment has provided adequate impact absorption when positioned on planar surfaces, it has failed to address a variety of positioning concerns particularly with respect to being mounted on discontinuous surfaces such as that associated with weld access holes, lap joints or uneven surfaces. Specifically, with regard to foam, the equipment lacks structural rigidity and must, instead, rely on a rigid surface for support. As a result, this material is unable to, by itself, bridge discontinuous surfaces and still provide structural support for impact absorption.
In addition, conventional impact absorption equipment is difficult, or impossible, to install onto open and exposed surfaces during assembly. Specifically, with regard to foams, they must be injected into assembled equipment, using the walls of the enclosed space formed by the assembled components for support.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the relevant art to provide impact absorbing equipment which provides for both ease of attachment and the ability to bridge discontinuous surfaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a reactive countermeasure that includes a uniform reactive surface for bridging discontinuities in a surface.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a reactive countermeasure which has at least one cavity formed in the uniform reactive surface which provides a passage to the mounting surface to allow attachment of the uniform reactive surface to the mounting surface.
In accordance with the broad teachings of this invention, a reactive countermeasure having an advantageous construction and method of assembly is provided. Accordingly, the present invention provides a reactive countermeasure for use in an interior compartment of a vehicle which uses a reactive surface rib cartridge to absorb impact energy. The reactive surface rib cartridge comprises a uniform reactive surface constructed as a one-piece unit which has a plurality of ribs attached to and extending perpendicularly from the uniform reactive surface. Each one of the ribs has a contact surface distally located from the uniform reactive surface and is tuned to manage impact energy from a FMH (free motion head form) at a rate of fifteen MPH.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
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Jovan Dragi
MacDonald Stewart M.
Okray Kenneth J.
Swailes Steven R.
Calcaterra Mark P.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Jasmin Lynda
Rice Kenneth R.
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