Abstract:
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.

Description:
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&#39;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&#39;s interior to absorb forces imparted to the vehicle&#39;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&#39;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&#39;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. 
   The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
   The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the prior art. 
       FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a side sectional view of the present invention activated. 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of a vehicle equipped with the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of a vehicle equipped with the present invention involved in a collision. 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of the present invention incorporated within a vehicle&#39;s rear bumper. 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of the present invention incorporated within a vehicle&#39;s rear bumper involved in a collision. 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of the present invention incorporated in a vehicle&#39;s front and rear bumper. 
       FIG. 10  is a top view of the present invention incorporated in a vehicle&#39;s front and rear bumper and involved in a collision. 
       FIG. 11  is detail view of the present invention comprising a plurality of bumper air bags. 
       FIG. 12  is a detail view of the present invention comprising a plurality of bumper air bags. 
   

   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.
           10  Air bag system for motor vehicle bumpers     12  auto     14  prior art     16  front bumper     18  rear bumper     20  air bag     22  air bag compartment     24  breakaway panel     26  pressure sensor     28  sensor signal     30  gas cartridge     32  vehicle  1       34  vehicle  2       36  vehicle  3         

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
     FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the prior art  14 . 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. 2  is an illustrative view of the present invention  10 . Shown is the present invention  10  an air bag system for front vehicle bumpers  10  comprising an air bag compartment  22 , housing a plurality of air bags  20 , integrally incorporated within a vehicle bumper  16  having pressure sensors  26  communication with gas cartridges  30 . Shown are the air bags  20  within the airbag compartment  22  positioned in the ideal location in order to perform the function required. Also shown is the interrelation between the pressure sensors  26 , the break away panels  24  as well as the bumper  16  as they relate to the airbags  20  within the air bag compartment  22  and the overall vehicle  12 . 
     FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of the present invention  10 . Shown is a side sectional view of the present invention  10  an air bag system for front vehicle&#39;s bumpers  16 . Shown is the correlation of parts that comprise said invention. 
     FIG. 4  is a side sectional view of the present invention  10  activated. Shown is a side sectional view of the present invention  10  with air bag system for front vehicle bumpers  16  activated. Also shown is the functioning relation of the pressure sensor  26  as it activates the gas cartridge  30 , the gas cartridge  30  releases its pay load into the air bag  20  that dislodges the break away panel  24  thus performing as it was designed to. 
     FIG. 5  is a top view of a vehicle equipped with the present invention  10 . Shown is a top view of a vehicle  12  equipped with the present invention  10 . Shown are the locations of the pressure sensors  26  and gas cartridges  30  as they relate to the front and top of the vehicles  12  hood. Also shown is the linear displacement of the air bags and the break away panels  24  as they interrelate with the bumper  16  of the vehicle  12 . 
     FIG. 6  is a top view of two vehicles, with vehicle  2   34  equipped with the present invention  10 . Shown is a rear-end collision where the velocity of the collision with vehicle  1   32  was enough to set off the front air bag system of vehicle  2   34 . Also shown is the plurality of air bags  20  designed to absorb the impact of the various regions of the bumper. Further shown is the response of all of the pressure sensors  26  as they are to react in unisons with each other to deploy all air bags  20  for their intended purpose. 
     FIG. 7  is a top view of the present invention  10 , incorporated within a vehicle&#39;s rear bumper  18 . Shown is a top view of the present invention  10  an air bag system for rear vehicle bumpers. Shown is a similar set up for the rear bumper  18  of a vehicle  12  having the air bag system  10  incorporated therein. Also shown is the ideal setup of such a system to perform within its intended functionality. 
     FIG. 8  is a top view of the present invention, incorporated within a vehicles rear bumper  18  involved in a collision. Shown is a top view of the present invention incorporated within s vehicle&#39;s rear bumper  18 . Shown is the functioning relation of the pressure sensors  26  as they respond to a rear end collision from vehicle  2   34  and deploy the rear airbags  20  of vehicle  1   32 . Also shown is the intended response of all of the airbags  20  as they react as a single unit to ensure that all areas of the rear of the vehicle are covered. 
     FIG. 9  is a top view of the present invention incorporated in vehicles  12  front  16  and rear bumpers  18 . 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 panels  24 , air bags  20 , gas cartridges  30  and pressure sensors  26  in both rear  18  and front bumper  16 , 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. 10  is a top view of the present invention incorporated in a vehicle&#39;s front  16  and rear  18  bumpers and involved in a collision with vehicle  1   32  in the front and vehicle  2   36  in 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 vehicle  2   34 . Also shown are all of the airbags  20  responding in unison to the impact thus shielding the operator of the vehicle from impending harm and injury. 
     FIG. 11  is a detailed view of the present invention  10  comprising a plurality of bumper air bags  20 . Shown is the present invention an air bag system for rear of vehicle&#39;s bumpers comprising of a plurality of air bag compartments  22 , each housing a single air bag  20 , integrally incorporated within a vehicle&#39;s bumper  18  having pressure sensors  26  in communication with gas cartridges. 
     FIG. 12  is a detailed view of the present invention comprising a plurality of bumper air bags  20 . Shown is the present invention an air bag system for front of vehicle bumpers  16  comprising of a plurality of air bag compartments  22 , each housing a single air bag  20 , integrally incorporated within a vehicles bumper  16  having pressure sensors  26  in communication with gas cartridges. 
   It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
   While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
   Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various application without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.