Active pedestrian protection system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9586555-B2
Application number	US-201414588283-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2014
Priority date	Dec 31, 2013
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

A method for cushioning a pedestrian during contact with a moving vehicle. The method includes steps providing an energy-absorbing pedestrian interface structured to cushion the pedestrian during contact, providing an interface deployment mechanism operatively coupled to the interface and structured to move the interface between a stowed position and a deployed position, and moving the pedestrian interface to the deployed position when the vehicle is in motion and prior to contact between the pedestrian and the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for cushioning a pedestrian during contact with a moving vehicle, comprising steps of:
providing an energy-absorbing pedestrian interface structured to cushion the pedestrian during contact with the front of the vehicle, the energy-absorbing pedestrian interface is not coupled to a bumper of the vehicle;
providing an interface deployment mechanism operatively coupled to the interface and structured to move the interface between a stowed position and a deployed position; and
moving the pedestrian interface to the deployed position when the vehicle is in motion and prior to contact between the pedestrian and the vehicle such that the pedestrian interface extends beneath but not in front of the bumper of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of moving the pedestrian interface to the stowed position prior to stopping the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing an interface deployment mechanism comprises the step of providing at least one deployable arm.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the at least one deployable arm comprises at least one telescoping arm.

5. An active pedestrian protection system configured to implement a method in accordance with claim 1 .

6. A vehicle comprising a system in accordance with claim 5 .

7. A method for positioning an energy-absorbing pedestrian interface to receive energy from contact between a pedestrian and a front of a moving vehicle, comprising the steps of:
providing an interface deployment mechanism operatively coupled to the interface and structured to move the interface between a first position and a second position, the second position fixed beneath a bumper of the vehicle, but not forward of the bumper, wherein the energy-absorbing pedestrian interface is not coupled to the bumper, and wherein the energy-absorbing pedestrian interface is structured to cushion the pedestrian during contact with the front of the vehicle; and
moving the interface from the first position to the second position when the vehicle is moving at or above a first predetermined speed.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of moving the interface from the second position to the first position when the vehicle is moving below the first predetermined speed.

9. An active pedestrian protection system configured to implement a method in accordance with claim 7 .

10. A vehicle comprising a system in accordance with claim 9 .

11. An active pedestrian protection system comprising:
an energy-absorbent pedestrian interface structured to cushion a pedestrian during a collision event between the pedestrian and a front of a vehicle, said pedestrian interface extending beneath but not in front of a bumper of the vehicle, and said energy-absorbent pedestrian interface not being coupled to the bumper; and
a pedestrian interface deployment mechanism operatively coupled to the interface and configured to move the interface between a stowed position and a deployed position responsive to a speed of the vehicle.

12. The mechanism of claim 11 wherein the deployment mechanism comprises at least one deployable arm.

13. A vehicle comprising a system in accordance with claim 11 .

14. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first position is not forward of the bumper.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first position is a stowed position and the second position is a deployed position.

Assignees

• Tk Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Revankar Vidyakant C
• Wilmot Larry M

Classifications

• B60R21/34 Primary

  Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians {(B60R19/02 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R21/0134

  responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle {, e.g. using radar systems} · CPC title

• B60R19/38

  adjustably or movably mounted, e.g. horizontally displaceable for securing a space between parked vehicles {(adjustably mounted for compensating manufacturing tolerances B60R19/24, B60R19/26)} · CPC title

• B60R19/02

  Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects ({B60R19/56 takes precedence; initiating brake action by contact of bumper with an external object B60T7/22; for rail vehicles B61F19/04; safety equipment for cycles B62J27/00;} integral with waterborne vessels or specially adapted therefor B63B59/02) · CPC title

• B60R21/0136

  responsive to actual contact with an obstacle {, e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle (monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558)} · CPC title