NATHANIEL H PULLING
Engineering in East Orleans, MA
License number
Massachusetts 9007
Issued Date
Mar 6, 1959
Expiration Date
Jun 30, 2008
Type
Mechanical Engineer
Address
Address
East Orleans, MA 02643
Professional information
Vehicle Restraint System
US Patent:
3981518, Sep 21, 1976
Filed:
May 5, 1975
Appl. No.:
5/574285
Inventors:
Nathaniel H. Pulling - East Orleans MA
Assignee:
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company - Boston MA
International Classification:
B60R 2108
US Classification:
280730
Abstract:
A restraint system for preventing injury to passengers occupying seats in a transportation vehicle. The restraint system comprises a plurality of individually inflated bags, one pair straddling each of a plurality of seats linearly aligned between side walls of the vehicle. A collision detector activates the restraint system to inflate the bags in a linear array adjacent the abdomens of the seats' occupants. Because of their storage locations directly adjacent each seat, the individual pairs of bags can be deployed rapidly at the outset of a collision into positions wherein they obstruct forward movement of an occupant and thereby prevent injury-producing contact thereof with potentially dangerous portions of the vehicle. Belt stays extending between the bags and the vehicle are provided to exert restraining forces that prevent separation of the bags by an occupant who has been propelled foward after a frontal collision of the vehicle. Additional positional stability for the deployed bags is provided by inflating the bags into a linear array that exerts a substantial longitudinal thrust against the side walls of the vehicle.