Impact member with multiple concentric gas cushions inflated in sequence

Abstract

An impact or recoil member possessing a plurality of gas cushions which are arranged within each other, and which are activatable in sequence in response to a triggering sensor. A comparatively hard assumption of a load by the outer gas cushion is permitted up to a pressure rise beyond its bursting limit; with at least one inner gas cushion which is designed for the assumption of the residual energy of the mass which is to be caught under a hard or stiff spring characteristic. The individual gas cushions are activated staggered in time from the outside towards the inside over a period of time from a triggering apparatus which is centrally provided for all gas cushions either in or behind the mounting support for the inflation of the still folded-in cushion casings in a specified time sequence, whereby the actuation of the triggering apparatus is implemented through the triggering or tripping sensor which is correlated with the loading scenario.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.