GB2619502A

GB2619502A - Motorcycle and bicycle crash bar and rash bag safety system

Info

Publication number: GB2619502A
Application number: GB2208228.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Muthu Pandian Saravanan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-06-06
Filing date: 2022-06-06
Publication date: 2023-12-13
Also published as: GB202208228D0

Abstract

The present invention is a motorcycle 14 safety system 1C with a crash bag and anti-rash bar comprising; a crash bar 2C, which is an engine guard, installed onto the motorcycle body frame, at least one CO2 gas tank 6C, 12C or gas generator and an air tube 7C, 15 connecting the tank to air bags which are located inside container box 3C, 13C mounted to the crash bar. The container box contains sensors including accelerometers, impact sensors, tilt sensors & wheel speed sensors, an air bag control unit (ACU) and an air bag with anti-wear fabric and reinforcing air tubes on the edges. The system may be used for a bicycle or other types of bike.

Description

MOTORCYCLE AND BICYCLE CRASH BAR AND RASH BAG SAFETY SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to devices which are used to protect motor cyclists and bicyclists during accidents.

Background

The use of motorcycles and bicycles is a world wide and common practice as they provide a less expensive and convenient way to travel, they do however have issues with safety as the rider is not protected by an outer shell as a motor vehicle driver would be.

The motor cyclist is far more exposed to injury even if they are wearing fully protective clothing such as motor cycle leathers and helmet but it is also common practice in some countries not to wear any protective clothing when riding and these are particularly vulnerable areas for injury and death.

Therefore, patents can be cited which show various ways of protecting a rider in the event of a crash and some examples of these follow: This is shown in patent US4227717 (BOUVIER) Disclosed herein is a safety apparatus for use with a motorcycle to aid the rider in avoiding serious injuries due to collisions. An inflatable upwardly extending cocoon envelops the rider either upon impact, or upon his actuation thereof, and dissociates from the motorcycle to travel with the rider should he be thrown off. A housing is provided which unobtrusively rides on the motorcycle and nests the inflatable shroud so that a rider can be protected without having to don any supplemental gear.

Patent US2014/0230135 (FENYVES) discloses a crash protection system which includes a base connectable to a support on an open vehicle or an animal. The base includes a front airbag module arranged proximate a front end of the base and a rear airbag module arranged proximate a rear end of the base. The front airbag module has a front airbag, and the rear airbag module has a rear airbag. The system further includes a belt system having a first belt connectable around a waist of a rider arid at least one strap connecting the first belt to the base. A control system includes sensors that are monitored to determine whether a crash situation is present and the control system actuates the front airbag module and the rear airbag module and releases the base from the support when the crash situation is present.

Patent US20070170704 (MIYATA) discloses a technique which is provided to be effective in improvina rider retraining performance of an airbag in a motorcycle airbag system to be mounted to a motorcycle. In a first form, an airbag system to be mounted to a motorcycle restricts the deployment of the airbag toward the rider's head in an early stage of the inflation of the airbag in the event of a head-on collision of the motorcycle using a webbing that tethers the airbag to the motorcycle.

Patent US7275762 (MIYATA) discloses an airbag which is provided and that is constructed to protect a rider of a vehicle in an accident. In one form, an airbag device mounted to a motor-bicycle, which is a motorcycle, and comprising an airbag 122 and a long webbing 130 for securing the airbag 122 to the vehicle body. When the motor-bicycle collides at a location that is situated in front of the motor-bicycle, the airbag 122 is deployed and inflated while protruding towards a rider protection area that is situated in front of a rider. One end 130a of the webbing 130 is inserted into the airbag 122 through a vent hole 127 passing through a wall surface of the airbag 122 in order to, when the deployment and inflation of the airbag 122 are completed, restrict movement of the airbag 122 in a forward direction of the vehicle body, and to, during the deployment and inflation of the airbag 122, allow movement of the airbag 122 in a protruding direction.

Patent US5938231 (YAMAZAKI) discloses an air bag device for a two-wheeled motor vehicle which is equipped with an air bag which restrains a rider upon occurrence of an accident without the rider feeling resistive or without trouble with regard to putting on and taking off the air bag device. An air bag provided on a vehicle body includes a front bag portion which is disposed to be opposed to the front side of a rider in an expanded state of the air bag and right and left side bags which are disposed to be opposed to both right and left sides of the rider in an expanded state of the air bag. The air bag when expanded twines around the rider.

Patent DE102004016364 (PFEIFER, KREITMEIER) discloses an arrangement which has an inflatable airbag (9) between a seat region and a handlebar region of the motor cycle (1) when inflated, whereby a region (9a) of the airbag closer to the handlebars is higher than a region (9b) closer to the sitting region and the inflated airbag has a stepped or staircase shaped rising region (10). The interior of the airbag is free of choke points so that gas flowing into the airbag can be distributed unchoked and uniformly within the airbag and the regions closer to the seat and to the handlebars are inflated essentially simultaneously and continuously.

The prior art therefore shows that there is a need for a more effective motorcycle safety device which is able to protect the rider from the sides on both the left and right and using a device which can be fitted to the existing crash bars as an aftermarket option.

The present invention aims to provide an improved motorcycle and bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety system.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a motorcycle and bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device which is fitted to the motorcycle, bicycle and scooter. The working process is arranged that during the moment of a motorcycle or bicycle accident a side airbag made from an anti-wear fabric opens up in milli-seconds from the crash bar (Engine guard) and remains on either side of the rider, thus preventing the rider from serious injuries. In this anti-rash bar example, the safety element (bag section) has two parts only; a flat fabric material with its periphery fixed to nylon air tubes, which with the pressurized gas makes the fabric to get into the position when the rider falls. This is provided for low-speed motorcycles and using a more low cost CO2 gas tank for inflation and uses a material for the side bags, which inflate, that has a layer of anti-wear fabric (material used in rider jackets) that is strengthened by air tubes, acting as a support skeleton for the air bags. This more basic version is suitable for motorcycles common in developing countries and where the environment condition is hot and humid. In a further example; a gas generator is used to inflate this using pressurized gas safety material (side bags) which is a bi-layer of nylon air-bag for inner air containment and anti-wear fabric as outer layer for motorcycles a premium product finish, for use in more developed countries.

Both examples share similar parts, a motorcycle specific crash bar which mounts onto the front of a motorcycle and in which the crash bar houses a CO2 gas tank or a gas generator with air-line tubes and a plastic box unit which contains the electronics ACU (Airbag Control Unit), sensors and the air-bags or the anti-wear fabric.

These are effective for accidents during high-speed incidents and also absorbs the accident impact which normally leads to bone fracture. The anti-rash bar system mainly is provided for reduction in the skin tissue wear due to low-speed accidents and the crash bags use air bag technology with higher quality improved materials.

These versions provide crash bags for developed countries where the roads are more consistently good and motorcycles are generally more powerful.

The anti-rash bar is for more developing countries with poor roads and where the average top speed of a commonly ridden motorcycle is often under 100 Kms/hr.

But both the examples can be fitted to any motorcycle, bicycle and scooter with the required modifications.

The first stage of the process is the accident / impact itself, wherein the sensors in the crash bar housing including; accelerometers, impact sensors, tilt sensors and wheel speed sensors react to the accident impact information. The sensors feed that information to the ACU (Airbag Control Unit), the very brain and computer of the safety system, the ACU then sends a signal to the gas generator system or compressed air system. The pressurised gas then inflates the aforementioned air bags / crash bags or the reinforcing tubes being supporting structure of the anti-rash bar unit, Thus the air bag or the anti-wear fabric forms a layer between the falling rider and the road surface when inflated instantly thereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved motorcycle or bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device which has all the advantages of the prior art crash air bag devices and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new motorcycle or bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved motorcycle or bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved motorcycle or bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour

S

and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a product available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved motorcycle or bicycle crash bag and anti--rash bar safety device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of figures

Figure 1 shows a dimensional view of the motorcycle and bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device Figure 2 shows a dimensional view of the motorcycle and bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device with the left hand side crash bag inflated.

Figure 3 shows a dimensional view of the motorcycle and bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device with both crash bags enclosed.

Figure 4 shows a dimensional view of the motorcycle and bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device fitted to a motorcycle.

Figure 5 shows a dimensional view of the motorcycle and bicycle crash bag and anti--rash bar safety device with alternately shaped plastic electrical component and air bag boxes.

Detailed description of figures

A typical embodiment of the motorcycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device is shown in Figure 1. It comprises the device 1, which has a shaped crash bar 2 that is an engine guard and is fixed onto the motorcycle body frame when installed. Attached to the crash bar upper horizontal section is a CO2 gas tank 6 which is held in place onto the crash bar by a valve piece 5. Connecting the CO2 gas tank 6 to the air bags (not shown) inside the container box 3 is an air tube line 7, this air tube sends compressed CO2 to the airbags located inside the container box 3 on the impact of an accident. This impact is noted and actioned via the sensors in the crash bar housing including; accelerometers, impact sensors, tilt sensors & wheel speed sensors which react to the accident impact information. The sensors feed that information to the ACU (Airbag Control Unit), the very brain and computer of the safety system, the ACU then sends a signal to the gas generator system or a compressed air system. The pressurised gas then inflates the aforementioned air bags / crash bags or the reinforcing tubes being the anti-rash bar unit. Thus, the air bag or the anti-wear fabric forms a layer between the falling rider and the road surface when inflated instantly thereto. 4 shows an example of the reinforcing air tube collapsed.

Figure 2 shows the device 1A with two CO2 tanks 6A and 12 with their valve pieces 5A and 11 which are feeding air through air tube lines inside the crash bar 2A tubing. The container boxes 3A and 13 are located on either frontal side of the crash bar 2A with the air tube lines entering them to connect to the internally disposed airbags (not shown). The air tube 9 forms a balloon when used fully with an inflating air bag 10, or forms a skeleton frame to support the guarding material when used with the anti-rash bar version.

Figure 3 shows the device 1B in the pre-actioned status, having the two CO2 tanks 6B and 12B with their valve pieces 5B and 11B presented and affixed onto the crash bar 2B. The container boxes 3B and 13B are located on either frontal side of the crash bar 2B.

When the device 1C is installed onto a motorcycle 14 it is located onto the frame at the front, as shown in Figure 4. Air tube lines 7C and 15 may be externally appointed (as shown) or deployed inside the upper tube of the crash bar 2C. The two CO2 tanks 6C and 12C are presented behind the frame and frontal wheel 18 and affixed onto the crash bar 2C thereto, as aforementioned. The container boxes 3C and 13C are located on either frontal side of the crash bar 2C with sufficient clearance around them to expand the air bags or anti-rash bar systems.

Figure 5 shows an alternative shape for the container boxes 3D and 13D having vertically opposed lower sections and with top sections 16 and 17 at right angles to them forming an inverted 1' shaped container for the air bags and working components of the accelerometers, impact sensors, tilt sensors and wheel speed sensors react to the accident impact information, feeding information to the ACU (Airbag Control Unit) on impact. A gas generator is used to inflate using pressurized gas if the CO2 pressure is not sufficient.

All air bags and anti-rash components can be re-instated inside the containers ready to be used again following deployment. This may have to be carried out by a professional service centre by replacing with a new CO2 canister or manually applied by the rider.

Claims

Claims 1) A motorcycle and bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device comprising; a shaped crash bar that is an engine guard and is fixed onto the motorcycle body frame when installed, in use having at least one attached CO2 gas tank or a gas generator which is held in place onto the crash bar by a valve piece and has an air tube connecting the gas tank to air bags inside an opposed mounted container box, which also contains all internally disposed sensors including; accelerometers, impact sensors, tilt sensors & wheel speed sensors and an air bag control unit (ACU) with an anti-wear fabric with reinforcing air tubes to their edges.
2) A motorcycle and bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the horizontally opposed air tubes send compressed CO2 from the gas tanks to the airbags located inside the container box, on the impact of an accident.
3) A motorcycle and bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the container boxes are located vertically on either frontal side of the crash bar.
4) A motorcycle and bicycle crash bag and anti--rash bar safety device as claimed in claim 3 wherein this impact is noted and actioned via the internally disposed sensors in the container boxes.
5) A motorcycle and bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the sensors feed impact information to the ACU (Airbag Control Unit), the brain and computer of the safety system, the ACU then sends a signal to the gas generator system or the compressed air system, the pressurised gas then inflates the aforementioned air bags or alternatively fitted anti-rash bags.
6) A motorcycle and bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the anti-rash bags have reinforcing tubes being the support of the anti-rash unit with an anti-wear fabric disposed within the perimeter of the air tubes, which form a layer between the falling rider and the road surface when inflated instantly on either side of the motorcycle thereto.
7) A motorcycle and bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the air tube forms a balloon when used with an inflating air bag.
8) A motorcycle and bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device as claimed in claim 7 wherein air tubes form a skeleton frame to support the guarding material when used with the anti-rash bar version.
9) A motorcycle and bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device as claimed in claim 8 wherein air tube lines may be externally appointed or deployed horizontally inside an upper horizontally opposed tube of the crash bar 10) A motorcycle and bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the two CO2 tanks are presented behind the frontal frame and frontal wheel of the motor cycle and affixed onto the crash bar.11) A motorcycle and bicycle crash bag and anti-rash bar safety device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the container boxes are located on either frontal side of the crash bar with sufficient clearance around them to expand the air bags or anti-rash bar systems.