Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-15
2001-08-14
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S731000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273459
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of automobile occupant safety devices, and more particularly to an instrument panel safety device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
While air bags have proven to increase the overall survival rate of average-sized, properly restrained occupants, others are being injured or killed by air bags because the devices that inflate air bags are too powerful. Upon deployment, the bags “punch” occupants at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour, and because small stature individuals, children and babies in car seats are usually closer to the instrument panel at the time the air bag is deploying, they are suffering severe injury and death as a result.
Air bags are typically mounted within the instrument panel and concealed by a hard plastic cover that is ejected when the bag explodes out of its stowed position. Additionally, air bags are constructed so as to include a tough abrasive liner. The liner is necessary to maintain the bag's integrity during inflation because tremendous force and heat are generated by present inflators. Statistics maintained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that unrestrained and improperly restrained individuals are also suffering injury, because their momentum during preimpact braking also places them close to the air bag when it deploys. Therefore, small stature individuals, children, infants and unrestrained or improperly restrained individuals, are all especially vulnerable to injury or death as a result of current air bag designs. This is unacceptable.
Air bag deactivation and manual cutoff switches for passenger side air bags are two interim solutions NHTSA and the Congress have considered. The problem, however, requires a permanent solution.
Therefore, it is highly desirable to provide a new instrument panel safety device.
It is also highly desirable to provide a new instrument panel safety device that collapses the instrument panel away from the occupant during deployment of the air bag.
It is also highly desirable to provide a new instrument panel safety device that is capable of inflating an air bag without generating tremendous force and heat like present air bag inflators.
It is also highly desirable to provide a new instrument panel safety device that operates in conjunction with any type of existing inflator.
It is finally highly desirable to provide a new instrument panel safety device that meets all of the above desired features.
SUMMARY
It is an object of the invention to provide a new instrument panel safety device.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a new instrument panel safety device that collapses the instrument panel away from the occupant during deployment of the air bag.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a new instrument panel safety device that is capable of inflating an air bag without generating tremendous force and heat like present air bag inflators.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a new instrument panel safety device that operates in conjunction with any type of existing inflator.
It is finally an object of the invention to provide a new instrument panel safety device that meets all of the above desired features.
In the broader aspects of the invention there is provided an instrument panel safety device and valve head combination for use in a motor vehicle that has a collision sensing means for sensing a collision operably mounted on the vehicle. The device has a hollow cylinder with a top end and a bottom end. The top end is adapted to be connected to the instrument panel. A piston resides within the cylinder. The hollow cylinder is axially slidable on the piston between an extended position and a collapsed position. An elongated rod with one end secured to the piston and its other end connected to the vehicle is provided. The piston and the rod are substantially immovable relative to the hollow cylinder. Sealing means for sealing the hollow cylinder is provided in order to define an air-tight cavity within the hollow cylinder. The air-tight cavity contains pressurized gas prior to collision. Opening means to rapidly open the sealing means is provided. A signal generated by the collision sensing means actuates the opening means, thereby permitting movement of the hollow cylinder from the extended position to the collapsed position. An air bag for capturing the pressurized gas released from the cavity is positioned within the instrument panel.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5623756 (1997-04-01), Yanagidate et al.
patent: 5640884 (1997-06-01), Fujiu et al.
patent: 5791686 (1998-08-01), Moriyama
patent: 5826901 (1998-10-01), Adomeit
patent: 5893580 (1999-04-01), Hoagland et al.
patent: 6170862 (2001-01-01), Hoagland et al.
Dickson Paul N.
Unique Technologies, L.C.
Winner Tony
Woodard Emhardt Naughton Moriarty & McNett
LandOfFree
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