US 5,895,088 AGranted

Full width side impact barrier

OwnerRonald W. Knottinventor

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Abstract

An impact barrier extending along the entire length of one side of a cabin of a motor vehicle. The impact barrier includes plural constituent barrier segments each protecting a door or a body panel. Barrier segments interlock or interengage neighboring barrier segments or, alternatively, engage fixed anchorage components of the barrier during an impact. Barrier segments remain free of interengagement when no impact occurs, so that doors and hatches may be opened. Each barrier segment connects to its neighboring segment or, alternatively, to an anchorage component of the barrier by hooks. As an alternative to hooks, any suitable male and female interengaging devices may be employed. Anchorage components are permanently fixed to structural elements of the cabin, such as a doorpost or pillar, for anchoring barrier segments during an impact. Barrier segments, which may be rigid or non-rigid, may either be permanently anchored at one end to an anchorage component or alternatively may engage the anchorage component by a hook or an equivalent coupling.

Claims4

Dependent claims

An impact barrier for use in a door of a vehicle where the vehicle door is surrounded by a structural frame comprising:

a barrier member disposed inside of and attached to the interior wall of the door of the vehicle having a first, front end and a second, rear end;
said barrier member including a generally straight longitudinal portion attached to the interior wall of the vehicle door and an angled portion, said generally straight longitudinal portion extending between said first, front end and said angled portion and said angled portion generally extending away from the interior wall of the door and terminating in said second, rear end distal from said generally straight longitudinal portion;
a first barrier hook located on said first, front end of said barrier member and a cooperating first doorframe hook mateable with said first barrier hook located on and extending from the surrounding structural frame proximate said first barrier hook;
and
a second barrier hook located on said second, rear end of said barrier member and a cooperating second doorframe hook mateable with said second barrier hook located on and extending from the surrounding structural frame proximate said second barrier hook;
whereby
said first and said second barrier hooks are proximate to, but not engaged by, said first and said second doorframe hooks in normal vehicle operating conditions and that in the case of a side impact said barrier member is pushed inwards against the interior door of the vehicle, said first and said second barrier hooks are pulled into engagement with said first and said second doorframe hooks, thus transferring a portion of the impact force to the structural frame.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.