The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 02, 1993
Filed:
Aug. 07, 1991
Robert Hickling, Oxford, MS (US);
Other;
Abstract
An impact cushioning device is described for use in preventing direct contact between the terminal end portion of an elongated object and a person that may be driven toward the object for any reason. The cushioning device has application in a vehicle to protect an occupant from impacting an elongated object upon sudden deceleration of the vehicle and comprises an inflatable safety bag having a reservoir portion, a cushion portion, and an elongated inflatable duct portion which provides fluid communication between the reservoir and the cushion. The duct portion includes flow baffles and orifices for restricting free-flow of pressurized gas between the reservoir and the cushion until the duct portion is substantially fully inflated and providing a pressure gradient from the cushion to the reservoir through a period in which impact can occur. The cushion includes two complementary sections which abut each other in an axial direction when the cushion is fully inflated, in which condition the cushion engages the terminal end of the elongated object. The complementary cushion sections abut along an interface that is interlocked to prevent separation of the cushion sections in the event of impact with the cushion by an object moving axially towards the cushion. The complementary cushion sections may also have an inflatable cover portion to prevent cushion separation and provide a smoother surface for impact. The cushion is normally stowed at a position along the elongated object remote from the terminal end and, when inflated, moves over the terminal end and covers the latter.