Air bag system incorporated into motor vehicle bumper

An air bag safety system for motor vehicles comprising at least one bumper designed to house a plurality of airbags within blow away compartments that allow for the individual air bags to be deployed. Further comprising said invention are a plurality of pressure sensors as actuating means for discharging the gas cartridges, which are further coupled to the air bags of said invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to motor vehicles and more specifically, to collision safety equipment for motor vehicles encompassing the incorporation of a plurality of air bags into the body of the vehicle that will automatically deploy under impact by predetermined pressure. Preferably, the bags are situated in or near the front and rear bumper with the intent of absorbing some of the force encountered in a collision with static or dynamic objects.

The present invention further relates, to an air bag system incorporated into a vehicle's bumper having gas cartridges that are actuated by pressure sensors housed within the bumper, that are triggered when the vehicle is in a collision that exceeds a set velocity. The gas cartridges are designed as not to explode upon vehicle collision, but to respond to the pressure sensors that gauge the impact and trigger said gas cartridges. The gas cartridges further release their pressurized load into the plurality of air bags that they are associated with, thus preventing extensive harm or injury to the operator of the vehicle.

The present invention comprises a bumper designed to house a plurality of airbags within blow away compartments that allow for the individual air bags to be deployed. Further comprising said invention are a plurality of pressure sensors as actuating means for discharging the gas cartridges, which are further coupled to the air bags of said invention. The bumper is then affixed by fastening means to the front and rear of the intended vehicle of use.

The present invention ensures that all aspects of a collision are covered by placing a plurality of pressure sensors equidistantly positioned within the bumper housing. As well as absorbing the effects of a collision the bumper airbags may also assist in deflecting all unwanted energy of the collision.

The present invention is robust in the nature in the means that it may be affixed to any vehicle make or size and perform with the same accuracy at all times.

Presently there are, air bag systems incorporated into a vehicle's interior to absorb forces imparted to the vehicle's occupants through inertia of the vehicle.

These systems have proven to be very successful in dissipating occupant inertia during collision, but have not addressed vehicle inertia other than incorporating collapsible components.

Therefore, it is felt that a need exists for additional means of dissipating inertial forces during vehicular impact by incorporating deployable airbags within a motor vehicle's exterior, specially the front and/or rear bumpers.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an air bag deployment system for motor vehicles incorporated into one or more bumper.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air bag deployment system having a plurality of air bags arranged within a front and/or rear bumper.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an air bag deployment system having a bumper with a plurality of designated sections that break away upon deployment of the airbags.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an air bag deployment system having a plurality of pressurized gas filled cartridges

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an air bag deployment system having a plurality of pressure sensors in communication with the pressurized gas cartridges.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air bag deployment system that upon a predetermined pressure applied to any portion of a bumper incorporating said pressure sensors, causes said sensors to trigger the release of the gas into one or more airbags that deploy through one or more of the bumper's break away sections thereby absorbing some portion of the bumper.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air bag deployment system that can be affixed to any standard motor vehicle.

The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing an air bag deployment system incorporated within a vehicles bumpers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several view, the figures illustrate the Air bag system for motor vehicle bumpers of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.10Air bag system for motor vehicle bumpers12auto14prior art16front bumper18rear bumper20air bag22air bag compartment24breakaway panel26pressure sensor28sensor signal30gas cartridge32vehicle134vehicle236vehicle3

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1is an illustrative view of the prior art14. Vehicle collisions can be costly, cause injury and increase insurance costs. The present invention overcomes front and rear collision damage by providing an air bag system comprising an air bag compartment, housing said air bag, integrally incorporated within a vehicle bumper having pressure sensor (sensors) in communication with a gas cartridge.

FIG. 2is an illustrative view of the present invention10. Shown is the present invention10an air bag system for front vehicle bumpers10comprising an air bag compartment22, housing a plurality of air bags20, integrally incorporated within a vehicle bumper16having pressure sensors26communication with gas cartridges30. Shown are the air bags20within the airbag compartment22positioned in the ideal location in order to perform the function required. Also shown is the interrelation between the pressure sensors26, the break away panels24as well as the bumper16as they relate to the airbags20within the air bag compartment22and the overall vehicle12.

FIG. 3is a side sectional view of the present invention10. Shown is a side sectional view of the present invention10an air bag system for front vehicle's bumpers16. Shown is the correlation of parts that comprise said invention.

FIG. 4is a side sectional view of the present invention10activated. Shown is a side sectional view of the present invention10with air bag system for front vehicle bumpers16activated. Also shown is the functioning relation of the pressure sensor26as it activates the gas cartridge30, the gas cartridge30releases its pay load into the air bag20that dislodges the break away panel24thus performing as it was designed to.

FIG. 5is a top view of a vehicle equipped with the present invention10. Shown is a top view of a vehicle12equipped with the present invention10. Shown are the locations of the pressure sensors26and gas cartridges30as they relate to the front and top of the vehicles12hood. Also shown is the linear displacement of the air bags and the break away panels24as they interrelate with the bumper16of the vehicle12.

FIG. 6is a top view of two vehicles, with vehicle234equipped with the present invention10. Shown is a rear-end collision where the velocity of the collision with vehicle132was enough to set off the front air bag system of vehicle234. Also shown is the plurality of air bags20designed to absorb the impact of the various regions of the bumper. Further shown is the response of all of the pressure sensors26as they are to react in unisons with each other to deploy all air bags20for their intended purpose.

FIG. 7is a top view of the present invention10, incorporated within a vehicle's rear bumper18. Shown is a top view of the present invention10an air bag system for rear vehicle bumpers. Shown is a similar set up for the rear bumper18of a vehicle12having the air bag system10incorporated therein. Also shown is the ideal setup of such a system to perform within its intended functionality.

FIG. 8is a top view of the present invention, incorporated within a vehicles rear bumper18involved in a collision. Shown is a top view of the present invention incorporated within s vehicle's rear bumper18. Shown is the functioning relation of the pressure sensors26as they respond to a rear end collision from vehicle234and deploy the rear airbags20of vehicle132. Also shown is the intended response of all of the airbags20as they react as a single unit to ensure that all areas of the rear of the vehicle are covered.

FIG. 9is a top view of the present invention incorporated in vehicles12front16and rear bumpers18. Shown is the present invention an air bag system for front and rear vehicle bumpers. Shown is a complete over view of the entire system as it is incorporated into a motor vehicle. Also shown is the typical arrangement, location and functioning positions of the components that comprise said invention. Further shown are a plurality of break away panels24, air bags20, gas cartridges30and pressure sensors26in both rear18and front bumper16, each component is grouped with the other components to form integrated sections all designed to respond and react in a similar manner in order to have the intended and desired response of said invention.

FIG. 10is a top view of the present invention incorporated in a vehicle's front16and rear18bumpers and involved in a collision with vehicle132in the front and vehicle236in the rear. Shown is the intended response of the present invention as it reacts to a multiple impact collision on both of the vehicles bumpers on vehicle234. Also shown are all of the airbags20responding in unison to the impact thus shielding the operator of the vehicle from impending harm and injury.

FIG. 11is a detailed view of the present invention10comprising a plurality of bumper air bags20. Shown is the present invention an air bag system for rear of vehicle's bumpers comprising of a plurality of air bag compartments22, each housing a single air bag20, integrally incorporated within a vehicle's bumper18having pressure sensors26in communication with gas cartridges.

FIG. 12is a detailed view of the present invention comprising a plurality of bumper air bags20. Shown is the present invention an air bag system for front of vehicle bumpers16comprising of a plurality of air bag compartments22, each housing a single air bag20, integrally incorporated within a vehicles bumper16having pressure sensors26in communication with gas cartridges.