Vehicle safety apparatus including movable inflatable occupant protection device
US6305711A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 3, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 23, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 3, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R2021/2175
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vehicle safety apparatus (10) includes a vehicle steering column (40) connected to a vehicle steering wheel (42) to turn rotatable steerable vehicle wheels. A module (32) has an inflatable device (34) for helping to protect an occupant (36) of a vehicle (11) and an inflator (30) is connected with the inflatable device to provide inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device. The apparatus (10) also includes at least one actuatable fastener (20) connected between the steering column (40) and a vehicle part (52). The actuatable fastener (20) has an unactuated condition blocking movement of the steering column (40) in a forward direction (58) in the vehicle (11) relative to the vehicle part (52). The actuatable fastener (20) has an actuated condition releasing the steering column (40) for movement in the vehicle (11) relative to the vehicle part (52) under load applied to the inflatable device (34) by the vehicle occupant (36). The forward movement of the steering column (40) effects forward movement of the inflatable device (34). The actuatable fastener (20) is preferably a pyrotechnic fastener.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.