Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-29
2001-07-31
DePumpo, Daniel G. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S730200, C280S743100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267407
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a restraint assembly and more particularly, to a selectively expandable restraint assembly which may be deployed within a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Selectively expandable and/or inflatable restraint assemblies, commonly referred to as “air bags” or “curtains”, are typically deployed within a vehicle and selectively and inflatably expand into the passenger compartment when the vehicle is struck by or collides with another vehicle or object, or “rolls over”. These expanded assemblies substantially protect the vehicle occupants from injury by substantially preventing the occupants from impacting or “crashing into” the dashboard and/or various other portions of the vehicle. These expanded assemblies therefore reduce the probability that the vehicle occupants will be seriously injured in a vehicle collision. While these assemblies are effective in protecting the vehicle occupants, they must be carefully positioned and/or placed within the vehicle.
That is, these selectively inflatable assemblies must not be mounted or placed behind any other member or vehicle assembly which may undesirably interfere with and/or substantially prevent, obstruct, or “block” the desired and selective expansion of these inflating restraint assemblies, thereby preventing the restraint assemblies from desirably entering the passenger compartment and protecting the vehicle occupants.
Many vehicles employ a relatively complex array of structural support or “frame” members, air conditioning or vent type members, and various other mechanical and/or electronic and/or electromechanical assemblies. All of these members and assemblies require some mounting space. The available mounting space is constrained by the structure of the vehicle and by the desire and/or goal to create a comfortable occupant or passenger compartment. Hence, it is highly desirable to efficiently utilize all of the available mounting space in order to allow the passenger compartment to be relatively large.
As the use of expandable restraint assemblies, or airbags, has increased, especially the use of additional “side type air bags” or “curtains”, increased amounts of mounting space has been required, thereby further restricting the space which is available in which to mount all of the necessary and desired members and assemblies.
There is therefore a need for a selectively expandable and/or inflatable vehicle restraint assembly which may be mounted and/or hidden behind a vehicle member in order to efficiently utilize the available mounting space, and which may selectively expand within the vehicle passenger compartment to protect the vehicle occupants.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a first object of the invention to provide a selectively expandable vehicle restraint assembly which overcomes at least some of the drawbacks of prior vehicle restraint assemblies.
It is a second object of the invention to provide a selectively expandable vehicle restraint assembly which overcomes at least some of the drawbacks of prior vehicle restraint assemblies and which is adapted to be mounted behind a vehicle member and which selectively and desirably expands into the vehicle passenger compartment in the event of a vehicle collision.
According to a first aspect of the present invention a vehicle restraint assembly is provided. The vehicle restraint assembly is adapted for use within a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a member. The vehicle restraint assembly includes a first portion which is removably placed within the member; and a second portion which is mounted in close proximity to the first portion and which is selectively movable from a first stored position to a second expanded position in which the second portion causes the first portion to be dislodged from the member, thereby allowing the second portion to expand into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
According to a second aspect of the present invention a member is provided for use within a vehicle of the type having a selectively expandable restraint assembly which expands along a certain path. The member includes first and second end portions which are coupled to the vehicle and a central portion which is removably connected to the first and second end portions and which is positioned within said certain path.
According to a third aspect of the present invention a method is provided for mounting a selectively expandable restraint assembly within a vehicle of the type having a least one member. The method includes the steps of removing a portion of the at least one member; replacing the removed portion of the at least one member with a second member; and mounting the selectively expandable restraint assembly proximate to the second member.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, by reference to the subjoined claims, and by reference to the following drawings.
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Howells Thomas Walter
Hrynik Thomas F.
Powell Gerald Martin
Zychowicz Julie Ann
Bottorff Christopher
DePumpo Daniel G.
Ford Global Technolgies, Inc.
Kelley David B.
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