US3841654A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle safety system
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
•
Filing: 1972-09-21
•
Granted: 1974-10-15
•
Expires: 1992-09-21
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle safety system is provided which comprises a seat belt having an inflatable section which is normally maintained in an uninflated state and adapted to be positioned about a wearer when the wearer is seated in a seat within the vehicle, sensing means actuatable in response to the occurrence of a preselected condition of the vehicle, and inflating means responsive to actuation of the sensing means and capable of inflating the inflatable section prior to any substantial forward motion of the seat belt wearer relative to his seat as a result of the preselected condition.
Inventors
- 👤 D Lewis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:14
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A vehicle safety system comprising: a seat belt having an inflatable section thereof which is adapted to be positioned about a wearer when the wearer is seated in a seat in the vehicle, said inflatable section being in the form of a hollow tube normally longitudinally folded and maintained in an uninflated state, frangible fastening means normally maintaining said inflatable section in said uninflated state, said fastening means being breakable in response to inflation to permit unfolding of said inflatable section; sensing means responsive to a preselected condition of the vehicle; inflating means capable of inflating said inflatable section; electrical connecting means connecting said inflating means and said sensing means; said inflating means being responsive to actuation of said sensing means and capable of inflating said inflatable section prior to any substantial forward motion of the wearer relative to his seat as a result of said preselected condition; and said inflatable section upon inflation, expanding radially outward towards said wearer and contracting longitudinally, whereby said wearer is pressed rearwardly in his seat prior to any substantial forward motion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A vehicle safety system comprising: a seat belt having an inflatable section thereof which is adapted to be positioned about a wearer when the wearer is seated in a seat in the vehicle, said inflatable section being in the form of a hollow tube normally longitudinally folded and maintained in an uninflated state, frangible fastening means normally maintaining said inflatable section in said uninflated state, said fastening means being breakable in response to inflation to permit unfolding of said inflatable section; sensing means responsive to a preselected condition of the vehicle; inflating means capable of inflating said inflatable section; electrical connecting means connecting said inflating means and said sensing means; said inflating means being responsive to actuation of said sensing means and capable of inflating said inflatable section prior to any substantial forward motion of the wearer relative to his seat as a result of said preselected condition; and said inflatable section upon inflation, expanding radially outward towards said wearer and contracting longitudinally, whereby said wearer is pressed rearwardly in his seat prior to any substantial forward motion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A safety system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inflating means is located at a position remote from said inflatable section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A safety system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said frangible fastening means comprises stitching.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A safety system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inflating means comprises a gas source which introduces gas into said inflatable section in response to actuation of said sensing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A safety system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said gas source comprises a stored gas, a generated gas, or a combination of stored and generated gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A safety system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said inflating means is located internally of said inflatable section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A safety system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said seat belt includes lap and shoulder sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A safety system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said lap section and said shoulder sections each are provided with inflatable sections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A safety system in accordance with claim 8 including means to secure said lap and shoulder sections to said vehicle, said means including a tongue and a buckle adapted to lockably cooperate therewith, said buckle being attached to said vehicle and said tongue being attached to said lap and shoulder sections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A safety system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said lap section and said shoulder section are provided with a single inflatable section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A safetY system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inflatable section is normally longitudinally folded in a ''''W'''' shape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A safety system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hollow tube is formed of seat belt webbing material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A safety system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inflating means is located outside said inflatable section and includes a source of stored gas adapted to be released into said inflatable section upon actuation of said inflating means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A safety system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sensing means is actuatable in response to a collision of said vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A safety system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inflatable section is non-porous.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A safety system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inflating means is located within said inflatable section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1173482A
Cited
US1657467A
Cited
US2202415A
Cited
GB531962A
Cited
US2703891A
Cited
US3302973A
Cited
US3317243A
Cited
US3430979A
Cited
DE1902793A1
Cited
US3682498A
Cited
US3706463A
Cited
US3706462A
Cited
US3730551A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |