Impact actuated safety apparatus for a vehicle
AssigneeAudi AG
InventorFerdinand Piech
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle for activating a safety device in response to an impact force exceeding a predetermined level. The apparatus includes elongated structure mounted to the body of a vehicle with one end recessed from the periphery of the body and movable relative thereto in response to such an impact force. The elongated structure is operatively connected, as by a cable, with the safety device to activate the latter in response to movement.
Claims11
An apparatus for activating a safety device for the protection of a passenger in a vehicle comprising body means defining a predetermined periphery and a front axle, a rear axle and drive means mounted adjacent said rear axle, comprising:
- means mounted to said vehicle for movement relative thereto in response to an impact exceeding a predetermined force and comprising at least one elongated member having at least one end section positioned inwardly of said periphery and substantially facing said impact, said elongated member comprising a drive shaft connecting said drive means with said front axle and including a section extending forwardly of said front axle and inwardly of said periphery;
- means for substantially preventing physical distortion of said mounted means in response to said impact thereby to assure its movability;
- and
- means operatively connected to said mounted means for activating said safety device in response to said movement.
An apparatus for activating a safety device for the protection of a passenger in a vehicle comprising body means defining a predetermined periphery, comprising:
- means mounted on said vehicle for movement relative thereto in response to an impact exceeding a predetermined force and comprising a substantially V-shaped member having two arms positioned inwardly of said periphery at least one of which faces in the direction of said impact;
- and
- means operatively connected to said mounted means for activating said safety device in response to said movement.
An apparatus for activating a safety device for the protection of a passenger in a vehicle comprising body means defining a predetermined periphery, comprising:
- means mounted on said vehicle for movement relative thereto in response to an impact exceeding a predetermined force and comprising two elongate members positioned parallel to each other inwardly of said periphery and mounted for slidable movement in elongate frame support members and having first sections protruding from said frame support members in facing relationship with said impact and second end sections operatively connected to said safety device for the actuation thereof, each of said frame support members comprising means for forming an opening, said second end sections being connected to said safety device by cable means leading through each of said openings, said cable means being harnessed in a common cable extending through tunnel means having flared open ends for the reduction of friction with said cable means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.