Patent · US Expired

Means for expandable objects, preferably shock-absorbing protective means for passengers in vehicles

US3960386A · kind A · utility

35Cited by
8References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 20, 1973
Grant dateJun 1, 1976
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 20, 1993

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R2021/23115
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A safety bag formed of a flexible foldable material occupying a small volume when collapsed and expandable to form a hollow enclosure substantially completely surrounding an interior space by means of interconnected channels arranged along the surface of the shell and adapted to receive and retain a pressurized gas. The interior is filled with ambient air during the expansion process and its volume is preferably at least five times and, in some cases, of the order of forty times greater than the total interior volume of the inflatable channels. Means, including the shell itself, serve to limit the extent of inflation of the channels.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.