Universal Propulsion Company, Inc.

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

The B. F. Goodrich Company

Simula, Inc.

Ford Motor Company Limited

Goodrich Corporation

David R Hammer

Deborah Lee Kalisz

Saeed David Barbat

Paul G Curry

Lance C Labun

Priyaranjan Prasad

Priya Prasad

Wesley Pack

Kenneth W Sego, Jr

Robert V McClenathan

Larry K Hansen

A Gary Smith

Deborah L Kalisz

A multi-chambered bumper airbag for deployment from the bumper of a vehicle in the event of a collision with another vehicle is provided. The airbag comprises a main inflatable portion that, when inflated, absorbs the energy from contact with a structural member of the struck vehicle. The airbag also has one or more secondary inflatable portions concentric with the main inflatable portion. Because the secondary inflatable portions have a lower gas pressure than the main inflatable portion, they are used to cushion the occupant of the struck vehicle should the occupants' head and neck be forced out of the window of the struck vehicle.

Bumper airbag with multiple chambers

An inflatable belt system and method of operation for a vehicle occupant restraint in which a lap belt section or torso belt section or both have dual load bearing portions with an inner portion being inflatable. During inflation of the inner portion the other outer belt portion ruptures along a frangible line. The outer belt portion is a woven cylindrical member.

Belt system with inflatable section within an outer belt section and method of restraint

A rollover cushion and system for a motor vehicle is fabricated from a lightweight, low denier material having its inside surface coated with a gas retention material. A gas generator responsive to a sensor generates an inflation fluid that fills the sealed curtain causing the curtain to deploy over the side windows of the vehicle. In this position, the head and upper torso of an occupant are protected from striking or going through an open window during a rollover or side impact collision. Several styles of tethers are used to maintain the desired shape of the cushion. A manifold system directs the flow of the inflation fluid from the gas generator to the gas inlets in each individual cylindrical tube of the curtain. The cushion is folded either in a &ldquo;Z&rdquo; fold or in a tuck fold and at one end fastened to the structure of the vehicle and at the other end extending in a direction down the window. A pair of curtain tethers secured to the cushion and to the pillars maintain the cushion taut when inflated.

Inflatable rollover cushion system

The present invention is an environmentally sealed storage and deployment system for inflatable aircraft escape slides which is comprised of an environmentally sealed vacuum bag and an inflatable escape slide. Environmentally sealing the slide protects the slide fabric and components from degradation due to moisture, oxygen, ozone, tobacco smoke, and other deleterious agents. By protecting the slide from degradation in this manner, the time period between routine inspections may be extended. The force generated by the opening of the aircraft door tears open the environmentally sealed bag, initiating the deployment of the inflatable escape slide. The sealed vacuum bag is equipped with air-tight disconnect fittings that make it unnecessary to repack the slide after the changing of the CO.sub.2 cylinder or the slide light batteries.

Vacuum packaged escape slide

Growing community of inventors

Glendale, AZ, United States of America

David R Hammer