Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-21
2001-11-20
Rice, Kenneth R. (Department: 2167)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S743200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318753
ABSTRACT:
THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a safety device, and more particularly a safety device in the form of an inflatable element provided in a motor vehicle such as a motor car in order to afford protection for the occupants of the vehicle in the event of a side impact or roll-over.
It has previously been proposed to provide an inflatable element or air bag in a motor vehicle in a position such that in the event of an accident involving a side impact the inflated element is disposed between the side of the vehicle and the head of a vehicle occupant in order to protect against the occupant's head coming into contact with or passing through a window in the side of the vehicle.
It has been proposed to divide the inflatable element into a plurality of interconnected “cells” by forming the element from two woven layers of fabric with selected regions of the two fabric layers being woven together in order to interconnect the two layers and thereby define the periphery of each of the cells. The interwoven regions which define the periphery of each of the cells may be relatively large thereby reducing the overall volume of the inflatable cells and the volume of gas which is required to inflate the element such that the element may be inflated more quickly. Dividing these inflatable elements into a plurality of cells prevents the element from “ballooning” when inflated, thereby enabling the inflated shape of the element to be controlled.
However, dividing the inflatable element into a plurality of cells by weaving together the two layers of fabric which form the element in selected regions also has certain disadvantages. It is not as easy to control the inflation of a large number of small cells as it is to control the inflation of one or two larger chambers. Thus, whilst the volume of gas required to inflate the element may be reduced, the regions where the two layers of fabric are woven together present “obstructions” to the natural flow of gas into the inflatable element during inflation and these interwoven regions may therefore “impede” the flow of gas and result in the element inflating in a manner which is not exactly as desired.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved safety device of the type described above.
The present invention provides a safety device in a motor vehicle, the device comprising an inflatable element adapted to be disposed between an occupant of the vehicle and the side of the vehicle when inflated to afford protection in the event of a side impact or a roll-over, means for inflating the inflatable element and means for sensing a side impact or a roll-over and for activating the inflating means, the inflatable element being formed from two layers of fabric which define a front part and a rear part of the inflatable element, wherein the inflatable element is formed with a seam or region where the two layers of fabric forming the inflatable element are secured together such that the inflatable element comprises two inter-connected chambers selected regions of the two layers of fabric being interconnected by means of straps disposed internally within the inflatable element, the inflatable element having an edge portion secured to part of the door frame of the vehicle, the said part of the door frame being non-linear.
The regions of the two layers of fabric which are interconnected by the straps may comprise a plurality of “spots” or relatively small regions, which may be arranged in lines. Alternatively the regions may comprise lines or relatively large elongate regions.
Preferably the straps are formed from a material which does not shrink or which shrinks to a lesser degree than the material from which the inflatable element is formed. The straps may be formed of an aramid fibre, such as Kevlar.
Conveniently the inflatable element is formed with a seam or region where the two layers of material forming the inflatable element are secured together such that the inflatable element comprises two interconnected chambers.
Advantageously the inflatable element comprises a forward chamber and a rear chamber, the rear chamber being connected to the means for inflating the inflatable element and being disposed adjacent the B-post of the vehicle chassis when inflated.
The edge portion of the inflatable element which is secured to part of the door frame of the vehicle may be secured directly thereto. Alternatively it may be secured thereto over at least part of its entire length via an intermediate web or sheet.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3801126 (1974-04-01), Knight, IV et al.
patent: 5333898 (1994-08-01), Stutz
patent: 5358273 (1994-10-01), Onishi et al.
patent: 5464250 (1995-11-01), Sato
patent: 5566977 (1996-10-01), Wipasuramonton
patent: 5730464 (1998-03-01), Hill
patent: 5788270 (1998-08-01), Haland et al.
patent: 5797621 (1998-08-01), Ono
patent: 5884937 (1998-08-01), Yamada
patent: 6000715 (1999-12-01), Tschaeschke
patent: 6032977 (2000-03-01), Reh et al.
patent: 41 34 995 (1993-03-01), None
patent: 43 29 275 (1995-03-01), None
patent: 44 26 848 (1996-02-01), None
patent: 29605896 (1996-07-01), None
patent: 196 47 679 (1997-06-01), None
patent: 0 687 596 (1990-02-01), None
patent: 0 701 930 (1996-03-01), None
patent: 2 252 083 (1992-07-01), None
patent: 2 261 636 (1993-05-01), None
patent: 2 277 719 (1994-11-01), None
patent: 2 297 950 (1996-08-01), None
patent: 09/09295 (1990-08-01), None
patent: 94/19215 (1994-09-01), None
patent: 96/26087 (1996-08-01), None
Autoliv Development AB
Jasmin Lynda
Kinberg Robert
Rice Kenneth R.
Shannon John P.
LandOfFree
Safety device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Safety device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Safety device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2593551