Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
  • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
  • B60N2/42—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats
  • B60N2/4207—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats characterised by the direction of the g-forces
  • B60N2/4214—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats characterised by the direction of the g-forces longitudinal
  • B60N2/4221—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats characterised by the direction of the g-forces longitudinal due to impact coming from the front
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
  • B60N2/02—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable
  • B60N2/04—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable
  • B60N2/06—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable slidable
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
  • B60N2/02—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable
  • B60N2/04—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable
  • B60N2/06—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable slidable
  • B60N2/062—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable slidable transversally slidable
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
  • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
  • B60N2/245—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles for handicapped persons
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
  • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
  • B60N2/42—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats
  • B60N2/4207—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats characterised by the direction of the g-forces
  • B60N2/4214—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats characterised by the direction of the g-forces longitudinal
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
  • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
  • B60N2/42—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats
  • B60N2/4207—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats characterised by the direction of the g-forces
  • B60N2/4235—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats characterised by the direction of the g-forces transversal
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
  • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
  • B60N2/42—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats
  • B60N2/427—Seats or parts thereof displaced during a crash
  • B60N2/42727—Seats or parts thereof displaced during a crash involving substantially rigid displacement
  • B60N2/42736—Seats or parts thereof displaced during a crash involving substantially rigid displacement of the whole seat
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
  • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
  • B60N2/42—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats
  • B60N2/427—Seats or parts thereof displaced during a crash
  • B60N2/42772—Seats or parts thereof displaced during a crash characterised by the triggering system
  • B60N2/4279—Seats or parts thereof displaced during a crash characterised by the triggering system electric or electronic triggering
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D21/00—Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted
  • B62D21/15—Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body
  • B62D21/157—Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body for side impacts
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
  • A61G2203/00—General characteristics of devices
  • A61G2203/70—General characteristics of devices with special adaptations, e.g. for safety or comfort
  • A61G2203/72—General characteristics of devices with special adaptations, e.g. for safety or comfort for collision prevention
  • A61G2203/723—Impact absorbing means, e.g. bumpers or airbags
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R19/00—Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions
  • B60R19/02—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects
  • B60R19/18—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects characterised by the cross-section; Means within the bumper to absorb impact
  • B60R19/20—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects characterised by the cross-section; Means within the bumper to absorb impact containing mainly gas or liquid, e.g. inflatable
  • B60R19/205—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects characterised by the cross-section; Means within the bumper to absorb impact containing mainly gas or liquid, e.g. inflatable inflatable in the direction of an obstacle upon impending impact, e.g. using air bags
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
  • B60R2021/0002—Type of accident
  • B60R2021/0006—Lateral collision

Definitions

• a related issue is that of passenger comfort in the evolution of passenger vehicles that have evolved from animal drawn carriages .
• the second claim provides a new paradigm for passenger vehicles that allows passengers to mount and dismount easily with ejectors.
• FIG. 1A illustrates the structure in the first independent claim.
• the Tndoskeltal Frame is constituted by the Central members and possibly the floorboard of the vehicle (Items 1) .
• Lateral rigidity is provided by the Safety Beam elements that may or may not be a part of the slide mechanism (Items 2) .
• Impact protection is provided by the side impact shock absorbers (Items 3) which may include External Airbags (Items 4) which in turn may require perforation shields (Items 5) .
• FIG. IB illustrates the Easy Ejector with Indo-Skeletal Crash Safety Beam with the positioning of passengers.
• Item 1 represents the Protector shield and the external airbags.
• Item 2 represents the Shock Absorbers and the Slide Beam and Easy Ejector slide in the locked position.
• Item 3 is an auxiliary Safety Beam mounted on the Ejector Slide and locked into position with the Ejector Slide in the operating position. In other embodiments this Safety Beam can be a part of the fixed structure with the outside end of the beam engaging the Shock Absorbers and the Protector Shield.
• the Passenger seat is represented by Item 4 and the Central body frame represented by Item 5.
• Figure 1C illustrates the effect of impact on Figure IB.
• the impact side seat decouples from the ejector slide (Items 5) , and the Ejector Slide and the Auxiliary Safety beam along with the Shock Absorber and the Protector Shield on the further side of the vehicle (Items 1 and 2) unlock and both the seats are free to eject to the extent necessary to avoid crushing injury.
• the bulk of the Impact is borne by the compressed shock absorbers, the Slide and Safety Beam Items 4, and the main body elements of the vehicle Items 3.
• Figure 2A illustrates the "Safety Zones" that the design of the vehicle will meet. These safety zones (Item 1) will target the profiles of the passengers. Other regions will have minimal protection to reduce vehicle weight.
• Figure 2B illustrates an embodiment of the seats.
• a side sectional view and a Plan view of the seat is provided with a safety harness that is unique to this invention.
• Items 1 represent the mounting brackets for the safety harness .
• the mount on the internal side may be hinged to open upwards while the mount on the external side may be locked in the operating position. It may also be installed on the fixed members of the vehicle so that the seat slides in under the harness and locks in place.
• Item 2 is the safety harness that may be of a semi rigid material that provides support for the entire upper body in a head on collision.
• the seat may include contoured armrests (Item 3) and body cavity
• Figure 3A is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention.
• Figures 3 B&C in the Appendix illustrates the sectional elevation the structural design of this invention in its preferred embodiment.
• the Body of the vehicle Item 1 and Item 2 is shown along with an embodiment of the device in schematic section both in the mounting position and the operating position.
• the "B” figure illustrates the device in the extended position.
• the “C” figure illustrates the operating position.
• these figures illustrate the ejector mechanism that may be a slide structure Items 4 and 5 in Figures 3 B & C, on which is mounted the passenger seat - item 7 in figures 3 B & C.
• Item 3 represents the main structural member of the skeletal frame.
• Item 4 is the lower slide for the ejector seat - the Slide Beam
• Item 5 is the upper slide of the ejector seat - The Ejector Slide. In the operating position these slide together and the Safety Beam 1 - Item 6, locks with the Skeletal Frame with the locking device - Items 13.
• the seat - Item 7 is contoured for comfort and will have all the movement and positioning capabilities of a conventional vehicle seat in the operating position. It is
• the Safety Beam can be a fixed member of the Skeletal Frame that locks into the Shock Absorber and the Protector Shield in the operating position. connected to cne Ejeccor Siida through l;upao ⁇ ec upiers ⁇ ZG ⁇ S 8.
• These decouplers may in some embodiments be designed as secondary slides that when decoupled under impact, guide the seats and passengers out of the vehicle.
• the Shock Absorbers -Item 14 are fixed to the Ejector Slide and the Safety Beam on one side and the Protector Shield -Item 9.
• the External Air Bags are located between the Protector Shield and the Perforation Shield - Item 10 and are activated with the velocity detectors - Item 12.
• the Indo Skeletal Structure in the first claim of the invention is an innovation that pioneers a new paradigm in automobile and other passenger vehicle design using a safety driven "Indo-skeletal" (internal skeleton) frame rather than present day "exo-skeletal" or shell based bodies that are inherently weaker under compressive loads encountered in collisions. It is distinct from early period automobile design in that the skeletal structures are safety oriented rather than focussed on the mechanical functioning of the vehicle. It is notable that the Safety Endo-skeletal design captures the evolution in structural priorities in the more developed living organisms.
• the Easy Ejector claim - the second independent claim in the invention provides an ergonomically utilitarian, easy and comfortable approach to mount and dismount from motor vehicles.
• the passenger seats are ejected outside the body of the vehicle for ease of mounting and dismounting with slides or extension arms, and moved into the operating or travelling position when desired. Moreover in the event of a lateral collision it provides the mechanism to eject passengers if necessary to prevent crush injuries.
• the Easy Ejector is particularly suitable for automobiles and smaller passenger vehicles . Its utilitarian value in this regard is particularly notable for the elderly, the disabled, and infants .
• the First Independent Claim provides a new paradigm for vehicle design structures - The Safety Indo-Skeletal structure or internal skeletal structure.
• the Internal structural members are designed principally for safety of the passengers, and together form a protective structure particularly tor lateral impact.
• ne design of the structure will transfer the impact in collisions directly through compressive members and compressive shock absorbers of the structure to the components of the vehicle with high mass, and thereby protect the passengers.
• the structure uses members that will be under compressive rather than under shear loads permitting the use of lighter material requirements to withstand the same forces as in conventional designs on impact.
• conventional shock absorbers and air bags will be used in conjunction with the rigid members in compression to absorb the energy of impact .
• the shock absorbers and air bags may be proactively fired (with strategically placed sensors) or reactive as in conventional designs. Overall this will provide greater safety for passengers for the same vehicle weight.
• the Safety Indo-Skeletal structure for passenger vehicle design identifies targeted "impact zones" (Please refer to Figure 2A) that could affect passengers and provides a path for transferring the energy of such encountered impact directly to the high mass components of the vehicle through compression bearing rigid and shock absorbing elements, thereby protecting the passengers from the impact and compressive loads of such collisions .
• Passengers while a part of the inertial mass of the vehicle are decoupled from the transfer of the energy to the remainder of the vehicle.
• the transfer of energy takes place through structural members under compressive load in the skeletal structure.
• the design will have shock absorbers placed at locations where impact affecting passengers is likely to occur. Shock absorbers in some embodiments may be proactive (with suitable lateral velocity and distance sensors) or reactive (as in conventional design) .
• the design of the structure targets safety of passengers in lateral or side impact collisions.
• the structure has the following characteristics:
• the second independent Claim provides a new paradigm for access to motor vehicles.
• the customary approach for mounting and dismounting contemporary motor vehicles is by entering a door and then easing ones self into a seat that is fixed (such seats may allow limited forward and backward adjustments but no significant lateral movement) .
• This Invention - The Easy Ejector, slides or extends the seat out of the vehicle allowing the passenger (s) to sit comfortably in the seat and then be moved into the travelling or operating position, automatically or with minimal manual effort. The reverse process is followed to dismount from the vehicle.
• the structure permits the design of passenger seats that provide support on all sides of the passenger (including the exit side) . This is not available in contemporary motor vehicles. Moreover this facilitates provision of rigid protective sides to the seat that will protect the passenger in a collision.
• the door of the vehicle may or may not be a part of the integrated device or structure.
• the device includes Shock absorbers at the outer extreme of each Ejector Beam coupled with the rigid structure of the Easy Ejector Beam Slide (locked with the chassis when the vehicle is in motion) .
• the outer face of the shock absorber Protector shield
• This Protector Shield may be hinged to exit the vehicle if desired without using the ejector mechanism.
• the seat is mounted on the Easy Ejector Beam Slide with mechanical decoupling in the event of impact. This slide also provides the Indo-Skeletal member that protects the passenger. This dual role reduces required mass of the vehicle to perform these functions.
• the function of the vehicle door will in most embodiments be reduced to a "Perforation Shield” ( as noted below) , its cosmetic value in the design of the vehicle, and its weather protection attributes. Lateral velocity and distance detectors may be mounted on the Perforation shield (and the Safety shield) to detect possible side collisions to activate external airbags Such airbags may be mounted between the safety shield and the Perforation shield.
• a Perforation Shield as noted below
• Lateral velocity and distance detectors may be mounted on the Perforation shield (and the Safety shield) to detect possible side collisions to activate external airbags
• Such airbags may be mounted between the safety shield and the Perforation shield.
• Ejector provides protection by withstanding compressive loads through the
• the Slide Beam has the dual characteristics of providing a utilitarian approach for mounting and dismounting motor vehicles, and providing protection in side impact or lateral collisions because of its strength under compression.
• the Slide Beam supports the ejector Slide which has freedom in lateral motion.
• the slide provides the lateral movement for the seat at the time of mounting and dismounting from the vehicle. It may be used in conjunction with ball bearing or roller mechanisms.
• the locked position it provides the dual function of side impact protection. This protection is enhanced with an Auxiliary Safety Beam 2 which is mounted on the Ejector Slide possibly behind the passenger seat, In the operating position, it is locked to the frame as is the Slide.
• the Easy ejector seat will have all the movement and cushioning features of conventional vehicle seats . However in addition it may be contoured to provide integrated lumbar and side support on both sides of the body - a feature that is not possible in conventional seats as free access on the door side is required m such designs. In conventional designs the door surface provides the only support on the external side surface which are usually limited to arm rests.
• the lower cost embodiments may have only the lower seat with the lumbar side supports ejecting, whereas more expensive embodiments may have the entire seat ejecting.
• Safety Beam may also be a fixed element of the Skeletal Structure that is locked to the shock absorbers and the protector shield in the operating position
• the "Custom contoured seats" customized for each passenger may be created with surround inserts to cradle the entire lower body in the ejector seat.
• child seats may be designed to protect children (see below) . Changes in this structure may be made without departing from the invention. Safety features of the seat
• the seat will be mechanically decoupled from the Easy Ejector Slide for impact protection. While the decoupled seat will remain rigidly supported by the locked slide under normal operation conditions significant shocks - normally unsustainable by the human body -- will decouple the slide from the seat to allow the slide to convey the impact energy to the main structural members of the vehicle while allowing the seats independent movement that could result in ejection on the further side of the vehicle (away from the impact) .
• the seat decouplers may be designed as secondary slides on the Ejector Slide.
• the easy Ejector may have conventional seat belts or a safety harness that locks over the lap after mounting. This can be manually locked in place with a hinged structure that locks over the lap or may be part of the fixed anchor of the Easy ejector such that the seat positions itself under and locks into the harness.
• the harness may be constructed of pliable but semirigid material (such as high strength nylon) to provide support in a head on collision.
• the door of the vehicle may be rear hinged and provide support for the slide.
• the clearance on the side of the vehicle for the Easy Ejector in the extended position will usually be in the range of about 20 inches to 30 inches. This could be substantially less than the clearance required for opening a conventional car door. This is particularly useful for parking in areas with limited clearance.
• the shock absorber provides the energy absorbing capability between the inertial mass of the vehicle and the impacting body in a side collision. It may be mounted on the ejector slide with the external face locked to or fixed to he Protector shield (below) . In addition in the operating position the shock absorber will be locked to the sliding beam.
• Figure 3 B & C Items 13 Notably, the internal end of the ejector slide will be locked to the vehicle frame during operation.
• the impact shield that is directly connected to the shock absorber. In most embodiments of the invention it will cover much of the side profile of the passenger. As an option the face of the Protector Shield may be hinged out to allow mounting the seat without extending or sliding out Easy Ejector for designs that use conventional doors.
• This provides perforation protection from sharp objects in a collision both for the passenger and the external air bag (below) . It would in most embodiments of the invention be the vehicle door or the outer skin thereof.
• some embodiments of the invention may have several functions for the door.
• the door may have double skins particularly for the Perforation shield function and the Slide Support Function.
• the Door may be designed to provide support for the Easy Ejector Slide particularly for larger vehicles with multiple seats on each Easy Ejector Slide.
• a rear hinge will avoid obstruction to the passenger at the time of mounting and dismounting from the vehicle.
• the door may function as Mount for Side impact velocity detectors. This safety feature provides early warning to deploy the side impact external air bags.
• the door will have lateral velocity and distance detectors (possibly infrared) to detect lateral velocity at close proximity to fire external airbags from the Protector Shield to protect the vehicle and the passengers .
• Most embodiments of the invention will have a firm mechanical coupling of the Ejector Slide with the main structural frame of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle. This locks into the chassis and the high mass components of the vehicle to transfer the energy of impact.
• the vehicle while in operation should have the Safety Beam and the Ejector Slide retracted and locked.
• the ignition lock may be used in some embodiments of the invention to ensure this practice.
• the easy ejector Protector Shield may have a fixed or retractable "Safety Cage" structure that surrounds the passenger in a vertical plane, thereby protecting the passenger in a roll over situation.
• the Safety Cage may be simply a retractable roll bar.
• Some embodiments of the invention may have internal side impact airbags that "unfurl" upwards on impact thereby protecting the passenger's body.
• the Safety harness may also have an attachment for providing greater support for infants and small children.
• This embodiment of the invention - the Ejector and Crash Safety Beam -- provides the dual role of an Easy Ejector device (as defined in Independent Claim 2) with the Safety Indo- Skeletal Structure (as defined in Independent Claim 1) that provides utilitarian access to passenger vehicles and provides Safety characteristics using the Indo-Skeletal structure as noted herein.
• the elements of this embodiment are as follows:
• the Slide Beam and the Easy Ejector Slide The Slide Beam - Item 4 in Figures 3, serves the dual role of both a structural member that provides compressive strength and also the support for the Easy Ejector Slide.
• the Easy Ejector Slide - Item 5 in Figures 3 B and C, sides over the Slide beam and in the operating position is locked to the main body of the vehicle Item 3 in Figures 3 B and C. In this position it provides structural strength under compression as well.
• the Easy Ejector Slide supports the seat (Item 7 in Figures 3 B and C) through mounts (Items 8 in Figures 3) that decouple at the time of impact.
• a secondary sliding design of the decoupler facilitates sliding of the seat over the Ejector Slide.
• the Slide Beam/Easy Ejector Slide combination may have multiple elements with multiple sets of slides and/or roller mounts .
• the Slide Beam/Easy Ejector Slide combination may have several elements that collapse together in the Operating position.
• the Easy Ejector Seat for the passenger - Item 7 in Figures 3 B and C is firmly mounted through decouplers (Items 8 in Figure 3 B and C) to the Easy Ejector Slide. At the time of impact the decouplers will disengage the seat to permit limited lateral movement or sliding on the Easy ejector Slide (away from the impact point) .
• the Easy Ejector Seat may be designed to have multi directional movement and position adjustments for comfort as in conventional motor vehicle saats with mechanisms mounted on the decouplers .
• the Easy Ejector seat In some embodiments may be constructed to have both sides of the seat reinforced to prevent crushing injuries to passengers in collisions.
• Some embodiments may have the "Pop-Out Ejector" feature that allows under impact on one side, the unlocking of the Easy Ejector Slide on the other side and the limited movement of the seats on the decouplers, to allow the seats to slide out to a limited extent, thereby preventing the entrapment of passengers in a collision and minimizing the maximum acceleration under impact that the passengers encounter. Moreover this feature will reduce the likelihood of the body of the vehicle under impact, crushing the passengers.
• Some embodiments may have the Safety Beam - Item 6 in Figures 3 B and C, a structural member that provides compressive strength. It is mounted on the Easy Ejector Slide and in the operating position locks into the frame of the vehicle (Item 3 in Figures 3 B and C) .
• the shock absorber (see below) is mounted at its outside end.
• Some embodiments may have the Shock Absorber - Item 14 in Figures 3 B and C, which is mounted on the end of the Easy Slide Beam and the Safety Beam, and may support a Protector Shield.
• Some embodiments may have a Protector Shield - Item 9 in Figures 3 B and C, provides the cover for much of the side profile of the passenger to provide impact protection at different possible contact points on impact .
• Some embodiments may have the External Airbag - Item 11 in Figures 3 B and C, that may be fired proactively with velocity/ distance sensors on the side of the vehicle. (Items 12 in Figure 3 B and C) These airbags will reduce the maximum acceleration of the passengers under impact.
• Some embodiments may have the Perforation shield which is a thin skin that is on the outside of the vehicle protecting the external airbag from perforation and providing the cosmetic functions of the outside of the vehicle. Velocity/distance sensors may be mounted on these perforation shields.
• Some embodiments may have the Skeletal Locks - Items 13 in Figures 3 B and C, provide the locking mechanism for the Easy ejector Slide, the Safety 3eam and the Slide Beam.
• a unique characteristic of the Easy Ejector Structure in this invention is that there can be ergonomic passenger seat support on both sides of the lo er oody as veil as behind and belo , as in conventional seats
• the Multi -element contour seat may be customized to fit the lower Dody (either with manual inserts or with computer controlled elements that can be preset for each passenger) .
• mull -element contour seats ma/ provide lateral support in addition to what conventional passenger seats provide This is of particular value m reducing driver fatigue on winding roads and rough terrain
• the Gravity Slide Drive operates as follows
• the slide has two inclinations' - the "operating inclination” and the "loading inclination”
• the operating inclination has a slight incline upwards from the center of the vehicle. This is the incline of the slide that will D ⁇ locked into position during the operation of the vehicle.
• the weight of the passenger will draw the passenger towards the operating position m the operating inclination despite the resistance of the "loader spring" to be defined below.
• the Loading inclination has a slight downward inclination so that the passenger's weight will slide out the seat and the slide to the extended position.
• the inclination refers to the slide mechanism that in some embodiments will be rollers It does not refer to the inclination of the Slide Beam or the Easy Ejector Slide These would normally be horizontal in the operating position to maximize the impact resistance the seat the body weight of this passenger slide the seat and the Slide to the Operating Position. IF there is no new passenger, the empty seat may be allowed to slide under gravity to the operating position. A spring mechanism will retard this motion so that while it is easy to slide in it is not automatic.
• the passenger will operate the Outside-Open button. This will allow the slide to be drawn out assisted by the Spring mechanism.
• the Slide will be in the Operating Inclination during this movement, however the spring action will ease the movement of the slide to the extended position as there is no weight of a passenger in the seat to counter.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Seats For Vehicles (AREA)
• Air Bags (AREA)
• Vibration Dampers (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
• Window Of Vehicle (AREA)
• Extrusion Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
• Building Environments (AREA)

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Citations (16)

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• 1997
  • 1997-09-24 US US08/936,626 patent/US6059354A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1998
  • 1998-09-17 AT AT98948260T patent/ATE309121T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-09-17 KR KR1020007003153A patent/KR20010015619A/ko not_active Withdrawn
  • 1998-09-17 WO PCT/US1998/019260 patent/WO1999015379A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1998-09-17 ES ES98948260T patent/ES2252860T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-09-17 EP EP98948260A patent/EP1021320B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-09-17 AU AU94871/98A patent/AU772852B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1998-09-17 DE DE69832295T patent/DE69832295T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-09-17 JP JP2000512716A patent/JP4144661B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1999
  • 1999-09-24 US US09/404,475 patent/US6547315B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-11-08 US US09/435,830 patent/US6609749B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (16)

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