Padding to reduce injuries in automobile accidents
AssigneeAutomotive Technologies International, Inc.
InventorsDavid S. Breed, Ferevdoon Shokoohi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Padding for use on vehicle doors for protection of occupants in side impact accidents is composed of a plurality of cells. Each cell is filled with air and sealed except for an orifice. The flow of the air through the orifice provides the damping required to absorb the energy of the impacting occupant. Each cell contains a spring, usually in the form of foam rubber, to maintain the cell in its inflated shape. The plurality of cells provides for better control over the motion of the occupant. The padding can also be used on any surface of the passenger compartment including knee bolsters, headrests, A and B pillars, roofs structures, roof and seats.
Claims19
A padding for cushioning and absorbing energy from an object which impacts against it, said padding comprising a plurality of padding cells arranged substantially side by side to form a cushion surface, each padding cell including:
- (a) an enclosed chamber containing a gas and having side walls formed of substantially impervious flexible material and an end wall having a flow restrictor means for controlling the flow of said gas therethrough, said chamber being adapted to be collapsed from an initial position with full internal volume to a final, collapsed position with substantially less internal volume;
- and (b) means for restoring said chamber to its initial position, said means being disposed away from said flow restrictor means to permit the unimpeded flow of said gas to and through said flow restrictor means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.