Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-04
2001-04-10
Ellis, Christopther P. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C180S271000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213505
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a vehicle collision. In particular, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for moving the feet of a vehicle occupant off the floor of the vehicle in the event of a vehicle collision.
2. Description of the Prior Art
During a vehicle collision, particularly a frontal collision, it is possible for portions of the vehicle body to deform and penetrate the footwell of the vehicle where an occupant's lower legs and feet (lower extremities) are located. Contact between the deformed portions of the vehicle body and the occupant's feet can cause injury to the occupant.
The footwell typically includes a layer of carpet over the metal floor of the vehicle. It is known to place an inflatable device under the carpet. The inflatable device inflates, in the event of a vehicle collision, to move the carpet upward and thereby to move the occupant's feet away from portions of the vehicle floor which may be deforming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a vehicle safety apparatus for helping to protect the lower extremities of an occupant of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a sheet member for extending along the floor of the vehicle. The sheet member has a surface extending under the occupant's lower extremities between opposite first and second end portions of the sheet member. The sheet member has a first condition in which the sheet member is spaced from the vehicle floor by a first distance. The apparatus includes an actuatable power source for pulling at least the first end portion of the sheet member to tension the sheet member between the first end portion and the second end portion. The apparatus further includes a vehicle crash sensor for actuating the power source in the event of a vehicle collision to tension the sheet member and move the sheet member from the first condition to a second condition. In the second condition, the sheet member is spaced from the vehicle floor by a second distance that is greater than the first distance.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3782756 (1974-01-01), Brown
patent: 4198075 (1980-04-01), Kob et al.
patent: 4923211 (1990-05-01), Klose
patent: 5178434 (1993-01-01), Krebs
Haland, Y. Hjerpe, E. Lovsund, P., “An Inflatable Carpet to Reduce the Loading of the Lower Extremeties-Evaluation by a New Sled Test Method with Toepan Intrusion”, Paper No. 98-S1-P-18 16thESV Conference, Windsor, Canada, Jun. 1-4, 1998.
Al-Amin Ahmad K.
Cuevas Jess A.
Shirk Bryan W.
Swann Timothy A.
Van Wynsberghe Roy D.
Ellis Christopther P.
Fleming Faye M.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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