Side impact energy absorber
AssigneeUnited States of America
InventorJoseph N. Kanianthra
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A shock absorbing pad, preferably for the interior of a vehicle, comprising a series of interconnected fluid reservoirs in the form of spheres partially filled with a fluid. Below a certain level of impact the shock is absorbed as the fluid is forced from one sphere into one or more of the other spheres. Above that level the spheres rupture, thereby absorbing the shock.
Claims9
An impact absorber for a vehicle comprising a plurality of fluid reservoirs formed of a relatively flexible material and fluidly communicating with one another;
- said reservoirs being arranged in a generally planar sheet and provided with at least one weakened portion on the periphery of each of said plurality of fluid reservoirs so that said reservoirs rupture upon a known impact pressure.
A method of using an impact absorber to absorb the force on the occupants of a vehicle upon an impact which comprises;
- providing a sheet of a plurality of fluid reservoirs;
- providing a weakened portion on the periphery of each of said plurality of reservoirs so that they rupture at a known impact pressure;
- interconnecting said reservoirs to allow fluid transfer between said reservoirs in the event of contact with said reservoirs by an occupant of the vehicle;
- partially filling said reservoirs with a fluid;
- providing said plurality of fluid filled reservoirs on at least a portion of the inside of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.