Inertial mass safety system activation of an air bag in personal vehicles
AssigneeAmerigon Incorporated
InventorLon Bell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dense mass centrally located in a personal vehicle acts as an inertial analog computer for predicting and compensating motion of an occupant of the vehicle during crashes. Acceleration and motion of the mass is converted into motion of impact prevention or impact velocity reduction systems to reduce likelyhood of severe injury to the occupant. Power disconnection in alternatively powered vehicles through disconnection of electrical systems by motion of the mass provides additional safety during the crash.
Claims5
A safety system activation and energy supply device for personal vehicles, the device responsive to crash accelerations imparted on the vehicle and comprising:
- a means for mounting one or more vehicle system components having high mass as a common movable structure, said mounting means movable, under crash acceleration, in at least one axis from a constrained first position through a range of motion to a displaced second position, the mounting means acquiring kinetic energy through said acceleration;
- means for constraining the mounting means in the first position;
- means responsive to the motion of the mounting means for converting motion and kinetic energy of the mounting means to secondary motion in the safety system;
- and
- wherein the safety system is an impact prevention device and the responsive means comprises interconnection means for translating the motion of the mounting means to motion of the impact prevention device bringing the impact prevention device into contact with an occupant of the vehicle and supplying a restraining force thereby avoiding impact by the occupant on elements of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.