Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-30
2001-11-27
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S750000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322099
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a safety device for protecting rescue personnel at a vehicle accident site from being injured by an inadvertently deployed airbag. More particularly, it relates to a device for deflating and restraining an inadvertently deployed vehicle airbag.
2. Description of the Related Art
Self-inflating passenger restraints, commonly referred to as airbags are readily known in the art for use in protecting passengers of automobiles during frontal impact collisions. However, it is also known that, on occasion, an airbag will not deploy upon impact. And, an inadvertent, uncontrolled deployment of such an airbag during a rescue operation to remove an injured, or pinned, person from the vehicle poses a serious risk of injuring either the accident victim, the rescuer or both. As a result of the risk of this type of injury, various safety devices for restricting uncontrolled driver's side airbag deployment are known in the art. Typical of these devices are those disclosed in the following U.S. Letter Patents:
U.S. Pat. No.
Inventor Name
Issue Date
5,277,440
Jackson, Jr.
Jan. 11,
1994
5,911,435
Sablan, Sr.
Jun. 15,
1999
5,997,028
Lenz
Dec. 7,
1999
What is missing in the art is a safety device that can be affixed to any of the various sized automotive steering wheels presently marketed, that restrains and deflates an inadvertently deployed airbag, and that can be securely locked onto the steering wheel so as to prevent the safety device from being dislodged from the steering wheel.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for deflating and restraining an inadvertently deployed vehicle airbag that readily engages conventionally sized automobile steering wheels.
Another object of the present of the present invention is to provide a device that is securable to an automobile steering wheel in a manner that substantially reduces the possibility of the device from becoming dislodged from the steering wheel.
Other objects and advantages over the prior art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description together with the drawings as described as follows.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention a safety device for protecting rescue personnel, and/or accident victims, at a vehicle accident site from being injured by an inadvertently deployed airbag is provided. The safety device of the present invention is securable to a conventional steering wheel and provides a rigid barrier between the steering wheel and a rescuer or accident victim. The safety device restrains and deflates an inadvertently deployed vehicle airbag. In this regard, the safety device includes a rigid, shield member for restraining an inadvertently deployed airbag. At least one, and preferably a plurality of cutting members are disposed on a back side of the shield member for puncturing and deflating the airbag as it inflates. Further, brace members are disposed in spaced relation to one another on the back the shield member. A receptor cage member receives a portion of a steering wheel and cooperates with a locking device to fix the safety device to the steering wheel. In the preferred embodiment, the lock is defined by at least two extensions in close proximity to one another that are spaced apart so as to receive a second portion of the steering wheel there between. The extensions are adapted to receive a securement member that locks the second portion of the steering wheel in place within the space defined by the extensions.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5277440 (1994-01-01), Jackson, Jr.
patent: 5911435 (1999-06-01), Sablan, Sr.
patent: 5997028 (1999-12-01), Lenz
patent: 6203055 (2001-03-01), Mouws
Public Safety Product News, Bagbuster™, http://www.bagbuster.com.
Culbreth Eric
Lum L.
Pitts & Brittian P.C.
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