2,649,311
`Aug. 18, 1953
`J. w. HETRick
`SAFETY cushion ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES
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`ZZZZZZZZ
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`S $3
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`INVENTOR
`John W. Zietrich.
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`Page 1 of 5
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`KSS 1005
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`Patented Aug. 18,
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`2,649,311
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`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
`2,649,311
`
`SAFETY CUSHION ASSEMBLY FOR
`AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES
`
`John W. Hetrick, Newport, Pa.
`
`Application August 5, 1952, Serial No. 302,839
`5 Claims.
`(01. 280-150)
`
`1
`This invention relates to safety devices for
`automotive vehicles, and more particularly, has
`reference to an inflatable cushion assembly
`adapted to be mounted in the passenger com-
`partment of a vehicle, and arranged to be in-
`fiated responsive to sudden slowing of the for-
`ward motion of the vehicle.
`It is well appreciated that many persons suffer
`death or serious injury when hurled against an
`unyielding structural portion of an automotive
`vehicle, when the vehicle is involved in a collision
`or is braked suddenly and heavily to avoid a
`collision.
`in devising an inflatable
`My main object,
`cushion assembly for automotive vehicles,
`is to
`provide a means whereby death or injury can
`be prevented, when a situation such as that de-
`scribed above occurs.
`’
`To this end, the inflatable cushion assembly
`which I have devised includes one or more cush-
`ions which are normally deflated so as to occupy
`a minimum space within the passenger compart-
`ment of the vehicle. The cushions are adapted
`to be inflated from an air accumulator or reser-
`voir, which is mountedin the vehicle in the en-
`gine compartment or at some other location. A
`valve is interposed between the inflatable cush-
`ion or -cushions and the air accumulator, and is
`normally closed, so as to keep the cushions nor-
`mally deflated. However, means is associated
`with the valve which acts responsively to a sud-
`den slowing of the forward motion of the vehicle,
`such as that occurring when the vehicle is in-
`volved in a collision or is braked heavily. This
`means is adapted to cause the valve to be im-
`mediately opened under conditions such as those
`described, thus to cause an instantaneous infla-
`tion of the cushion or cushions, to cause said
`cushions to define yielding surfaces against which
`a passenger may be thrust without incurring se-
`rious injury.
`An important object of the present invention,
`in this connection,
`is to provide an inflatable
`cushion assembly of the type stated which will
`be so designed as to cause said cushions to be
`normally disposed out of the way, so that they
`will not
`interfere with normal operation of
`the vehicle or movement of the passengers with-
`in the vehicle.
`Another object of importance is to provide an
`assembly of the type stated wherein the cushions
`can be provided in any number or shape, thus
`to permit one cushion, for example, to be mounted
`upon the steering Wheel of the vehicle, another
`cushion to be mounted upon the glove compart-
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`Page 2 of 5
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`30
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`2
`ment of the vehicle, and a third cushion to be
`mounted upon the instrument panel of the ve-
`hicle. The construction, in this regard, permits
`additional cushions to be added wherever desired,
`as for example, along the back of the front seat.
`Another object of importance is to provide a
`device of the type stated which can be mount-
`ed upon a vehicle as a separate accessory or at-
`tachment, without involving the modification or
`redesigning of any important structural parts
`of said Vehicle.
`Still another object of importance is to provide
`a device as stated which can be reset in a nor-
`mally inoperative position from the interior of
`the passenger compartment, with maximum
`speed and ease.
`,
`Still another object is to provide a device of
`the type stated which, when manufactured in
`one form, can be used in any of various makes
`of vehicles, and -can be mounted upon the vehicle
`with little difficulty.
`A further object is to provide a safety cushion
`assembly which can be manufactured at low cost
`and from relatively inexpensive, readily avail-
`’ able materials.
`Other objects will appear from the following
`description,
`the claims appended thereto, and
`from the annexed drawing, in which like ref-
`erence characters designate like parts through-
`out the several views, and wherein:
`Figure 1
`is a longitudinal
`sectional View
`through a safety cushion assembly formed in ac-
`-cordance with the invention, some parts being
`broken away, other parts being shown in side
`elevation, and still other parts being illustrated
`somewhat diagrammatically;
`Figure 2 is a diagrammatic View showing the
`relationship of the several parts to structural
`parts of the vehicle disposed within the passenger
`compartment, said vehicle being illustrated frag-
`mentarily; and
`Figure 3 is a sectional View taken diametrical-
`ly through one of the cushions, said cushion be-
`ing adapted for mounting upon the steering
`wheel of the vehicle.
`Referring to the drawings in detail, the refer-
`ence numeral H) has been applied to_a cylinder,
`said cylinder being adapted for mounting upon a
`selected structural member, not shown, of an
`automotive vehicle. The cylinder, for example,
`can be mounted within the engine compartment
`of the vehicle, so as to be disposed in an out-of-
`the-way location.
`_
`>
`’
`M
`I
`The cylinder It is formedywith a, longitudinal
`bore I2 closed at one end by an end wall I4, said
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`40
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`45
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`50
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`2,649,311
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`end wall merging into a thickened side wall por-
`tion I6 extending from end to end of the cylin-
`der at the underside thereof.
`The cylinder II) can be mounted upon a suit-
`able bracket H, which bracket would be con-
`nected fixedly to said structural part of
`the
`vehicle.
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`At its otl1._eren.d,the bore 12. is closed by a re-
`movable cap. 18, said cap being connected to the
`side wall of the cylinder by screws 20 or equiva-
`lent fastening means.
`Mounted within the bore I2, to shift longitudi-
`nally thereof, is a rollable weight ""22, said weight
`being provided with rollers 24 contacting ‘the side
`wall of the bore I2, thus to permit free move-
`ment of the weight 22 from end to end of the
`bore.
`In that end of the weight 22 disposed adjvacent
`. the end wall [4 of the cylinder, thereis‘ formed
`a recess 26 receiving one end of a spring 28, the
`other end of which is engaged-against a flanged
`plate 30 -spaced selected distances from the endThe
`-wan I4 by a tension—adjusting screw 32.
`tension-‘adjusting screw 532 is threadable in the
`end wall~I4, and is retained in selected positions
`of adjustment by means’ of a lock nut 34.
`3 Formed in the thickened side wall portion I6
`of the cylinder
`I9’ is ‘a transversely extended
`opening -36, said opening. communicating at one
`end with'the bore'!2, and communicating at its
`other end with a counterbore 38. A threaded
`plug 40is engaged in the counterbore, the coun-
`terbore having complementary threads, and car.-
`ried slidably within theopening 36 is a detenl‘:
`42, urged inwardly of the bore I2 by means of a
`spring 44. The spring -44 is circumposed about
`a stem secured to the detent, said stem being
`integrallyformed as the inner end of an elon-
`gated, ‘flexible cable 46 slidably mounted within
`a cable housing 48.
`.»At its outer .end, the cable
`46 has a knob 50 which, as shown in Figure 2,
`can be mounted upon the instrument panel of a
`vehicle V.
`It will thus be seen that if the knob 50 is
`pulled, the detent 42 will be retracted within the
`opening. 36, ‘against the action of the spring 44.
`The weight 22.has .a recess 5| formed in its
`side —wall,.and if the weight 22 is shifted toward
`the right
`in Eigure 1,
`the detent 42 will be
`cammed downwardly by the weight, and Will
`then be urged intothe recess 5| by the spring 44.
`Thus, the weight 22, when shifted to the right
`in Figure 1, will be releasably held in the position
`to which it is shifted by. the detent. When, how-
`ever, it is desired that the weight be returned to
`its normal position shown in Figure 1, the knob
`50 is pulled, as a result of Which the detent 42
`is disengaged from the recess 5|. The spring 28
`will then urge the weight 22 to the left in Fig-
`, ure 1.
`Formed in the cap I 8 is a relatively large open-
`ing 5.2,, and extending through said opening is a
`connecting rod 5,4, said connecting rod being
`fixedly attached at one end to the weight 22.
`The connecting rod 54 extends through a rod
`housing 5.6. and cilc-ou_mpo.sed about one end of
`said housing is the smaller end of a flexible, cup-
`like boot 58, of soft rubber or similar material.
`The larger end of {tlie_ boot 58 is engaged about
`the adj acent end of the cylinder I0.
`At its other end_,'th_e cable housing 56 is at-
`tached to a. boss, 69 formed upon a plate 6.2 spaced
`away from the valve block by a gasket 64, fas-
`tening elements 66 being extended through the
`slate 6% and gaslsgt 6.4 for attaching the same. to
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`TO C21
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`30
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`45
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`the valve block. The valve block has been desig-
`nated by the reference numeral 68 and is of rela-
`tively elongated formation, said block having an
`end to end, longitudinal bore 70.
`slid-ably mounted in the bore 10 is a valve
`member '12, said valve member being formed as
`an elongated cylindrical piston connected at one
`end to the rod 54. It will thus be seen that when
`the weight 22 is"‘shifte,d‘"to'7,tl‘ie r'i”ght,’in"1§“igure 1,
`it will carry "with it the ‘valve member 12.
`Circurnposed about the valve member 72, and
`spaced longitudinally of the valve member, are
`annular gsealiiig rings 14, said rings having wiping
`enga ernent with the wall of the bore 10. The
`sealing rings 74 are disposed at opposite sides of
`a passage" 16 communicating with the bore 10,
`w-hen the valve rnember is in the normal, closed
`position ‘thereof ‘shown in Figure 1. The pas-
`sage'76 is counterbored and threaded for a. part
`of its length, for engagement therein of one end
`of a conduit portion 18, said conduit portion ex-
`-tending from an air accumulator 80 adapted to
`be charged with a supply of air pressure through
`a conventional valve 82.
`Integral with the valve mer_n_ber '12 is a reduced
`extension 84, said extension merging into -an
`outer end portion 86. The end portion 83. nor-
`mally projects beyond one end of the valve block
`68, as shown in Figure 1, and is provided with an
`annular sealing gaske,t.8,8_.
`At its outer, projecting end, theend portion
`36 is flanged as at 9.0, and engaged over said
`flange is the smaller end of a flexible,
`r.ub_b_.e,r
`boot 92, the larger end of which is fitted about
`the adjacent end of the valve block 5.8.
`Also. formed in the valve b1o,C.K 6.3 is an gutlet
`passage 94, offset
`longitudinally of the block
`from the passage 16. The..o,,ut1e.t passage 9.4 is
`co.unter.bor.e;d‘ and:thre.a;ded, to. receive a fitting
`Drovidedat the inlet end of a second conduit por-
`tion 96. The conduit. portion 96 is pI:ovid.ed, in-
`tern_1e_diate its ends, with a relief valve, _desig-
`natcd genera1ly_.b.vt11e. reference numeral 9,8,.
`Considering the. c.ons.truc.tio.n of the relief or
`safety valve 19.8.,
`it. will be noted from Figure 1
`that said valve is provided with a tubular 1o.o.dy
`!.;4!3. integral, intermediate. its ends, with a lat-
`e1:al.,p,roi,e.otlon l~9;2- An inlet opening 104.
`is
`formed in the. p.roie,.ction H12, coixi.municatin.g
`with the bore oi; tl_1.e.bo.dy 10.0.-
`po-
`-A valve disc I05, is generally disposed in
`sition to close the. opening 1.04., b.e.in,g urged
`%2‘e’9«..i.Tl»$.‘? .9.11!.‘« 91.151 Of. 12.1.19 0_1?.¢1.1.i1,1_3 by. a spring IE8-
`The string lid is ?«1“1.“'<l«I!z‘.§€.l.3.
`for adiustment. of
`the t.en.§i0I_1t,l,iere.ei, by» a tension-adi_usting screw
`Ht. tlligaded
`the. outer ?!1.d,-0ff.’t1T1§ 1o.r.o1e<.:t.io.r.1
`lid.» and _..e.l.,cl, in selected positions. to which it is
`threaded by a 1.99.1; net I I2...
`
`R61"
`, Cit U4 gift f.9rII.ie.<i in. the p.i?9l.ec;t,io;n
`iii: ictgrigcdiatg tlieJ9r.199.si_tie ends of said pro.-
`jection, a pair of said relief ports being provided
`in ’°_1.1..¢.«l.%.1”°E‘$>”?1.1E instance: wvith the torts. ,of7 said
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`pairbeing. diametrically cppc,s_'te'
`'
`"
`V ,
`The pjurpose of 'the rel-i'e‘f~’dr§ s"
`31. valve 33 T15
`to preyent rupture, ojfthe conduit §;Xi§e;1.ding from
`the ac.cu_Inu,lator.'tc,thesafety cush
`M“
`i
`' V
`,
`of t1:i,eide_v,ice,
`the event’ the
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`Charsé.d’With afitféésslve ar.no-.iin_t"’oi
`“e,
`pressi.ire’within the conduitexceesgls
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`H?-ined, amount: the relief valve, will_7Iop7e”xi ai
`,,
`’
`the a.c.ti_on=<.>r t.he.'s.p“ring its
`‘
`"i
`A139. DlfQVi_qed_
`tI_1,é c¢i1d,u_it..bet. een the air
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`acoi,ilnu1iator.iand"the sevei’a_1"iii6ote"
`_
`"
`is main valve lit $?}ii2l~iI1F5liI1Tilgi1Tvéé'l9eilig Qfléhe
`H.%ggu....ilY:.0l9§.rgl9le tree aI.i.r.l;. being adapted to
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`2,649,311
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`permit the entire device to be disposed in an
`inoperative position, whenever desired.
`A reset cable I I8 is provided, for resetting the
`control valve '12 whenever desired, said reset
`cable being connected to the end portion 86 and
`being extended through a housing I20. The reset
`cable H3 is provided with a knob adapted to be
`mounted upon the instrument panel of
`the
`vehicle,
`in close proximity to the knob 50.
`Should the device be accidentally tripped, caus-
`ing inflation of the cushions, the reset knobs pro-
`vided on cables 46,
`I18 can be pulled to return
`the parts to their normally inoperative position.
`Additionally,
`these knobs are pulled whenever
`the device has gone into operation under emer-
`gency conditions, -and is to be reset for further
`use.
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`40
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`I provide, on the conduit extending from the
`air accumulator to the safety cushions, a plu-
`rality of branches, the number of said branches
`depending upon the number of cushions to be
`inflated. One branch has been designated by
`the reference numeral
`I22, and as shown in
`Figure 2, extends from the air conduit
`to an
`inflatable, generaly circular cushion I2v4 (Figures
`2 and 3).
`The cushion I24 has at its inner end an end
`wall
`I26 secured to the base of a cup-like re-
`ceptacle I28, said receptacle having a peripheral
`flange I3!) circumposed about the inner end por-
`tion of the cushion I24. Provided upon the base
`of the receptacle I28 are spaced clips I32, adapted
`to engage the conventional horn ring of
`the
`vehicle steering wheel.
`t will thus be seen that the cushion I24 will be
`normally deflated, but when inflated under
`emergency conditions, will extend outwardly
`from the steering wheel toward the operator of
`the vehicle, to cushion the force with which said
`operator is thrown against the steering wheel in
`a collision.
`V
`I also provide a second branch I34, extending
`to an elongated,
`tapered safety cushion I36
`mounted upon the instrument panel of
`the
`vehicle, to protect one seated next to the vehicle
`operator. A third branch I38 extends to a rec-
`tangular cushion Itlfl mounted upon the glove
`compartment door of the vehicle.
`it will be readily appreciated that any number
`of branches can be provided upon the conduit,
`with said branches leading to cushions located
`at desired places within the vehicle, and formed
`to appropriate shapes.
`When a collision occurs, or when it is necessary
`to brake the vehicle suddenly, the weight 22 will
`tend to continue its forward motion, despite the
`fact that the forward motion of the Vehicle has
`been stopped or greatly slowed. As a result, the
`weight 22 will shift to the right in Figure 1,
`against the action of the spring 28, and this will
`cause the valve member 12 to move out of its
`normal position,
`in which normal position it
`closes the passage ‘I6. When the valve member
`is moved from its normal position, the reduced
`portion 34‘: will be disposed above the passage
`l5, and will permit the free movement of air
`from the air accumulator 80 to one or more safety
`cushions provided in the device.
`When the weight 22 has been shifted to the '
`70
`right in Figure 1, it will be held in the position
`to which it is shifted ‘by the detent 42, until such
`time as the device is to be reset for further use.
`At that time, the knobs provided on cables 46,
`I I8 are pulled and the valve member and weight
`22 will be returned to‘ their proper locations
`
`6
`within the valve block and cylinder I0, respec-
`tively.
`It will also be understood that the air accumu-
`later 80 will be normally charged with a suitable
`5 quantity of air under pressure, and it is obvious
`that the air accumulator can be readily filled
`from the ordinary air pumps provided in a. service
`station.
`It is believed apparent that the invention is
`not necessarily confined to the specific use or
`uses thereof described above, since it may be
`utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited.
`Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to
`the specific construction illustrated and de-
`scribed, since such construction is only intended
`to be illustrative of the principles of operation
`and the means presently devised to carry out
`said principles, it -“being considered that the in-
`vention comprehends any minor change in con-
`struction that may be permitted within the scope
`of the appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A safety cushion assembly for automotive
`vehicles comprising: normally stationary means
`arranged to shift in position responsive to a pre-
`determined deceleration of a vehicle; a normally
`closed valve connected to said means to move to
`open position on shifting of said means; an air
`accumulator; at
`least one inflatable cushion
`adapted for mounting within a vehicle; and a
`conduit extending between said accumulator and
`cushion and normally closed by the valve, for
`,passage of air from the accumulator to the
`cushion for inflating the same responsive to
`35 opening of the valve.
`2. A safety cushion assembly for automotive
`vehicles comprising: a cylinder adapted to be
`mounted upon a vehicle; a weight within the
`cylinder and shiftable longitudinally thereof re-
`sponsive to deceleration of said vehicle; a nor-
`mally closed valve connected to said weight to
`move to open position on shifting of said weight;
`an air accumulator; at
`least one inflatable
`cushion adapted for mounting within said ve-
`hicle; and a conduit extending between said ac-
`cumulator and cushion and normally closed by
`the valve, for passage of air from the accumu-
`lator to the cushion for inflating the same re-
`sponsive to opening of the valve.
`3. A safety cushion assembly for automotive
`vehicles comprising: a cylinder adapted to be
`fixedly mounted on a vehicle; a weight within
`the cylinder and shiftable longitudinally thereof .
`in one direction responsive to sudden slowing of
`the forward motion of said vehicle; yielding
`means interposed between the weight and one
`end of the cylinder and arranged to normally
`urge the weight in an opposite direction; a nor-
`mally closed valve connected to said weight to
`move to open position on shifting of the weight
`in said one direction; an air accumulator; at
`least one inflatable cushion adapted for mount-
`ing within said vehicle in the passenger com-
`partment thereof; and a conduit extending be-
`tween said accumulator and cushion and nor-
`mally closed by the valve, for passage of air
`from the accumulator to the cushion for inflating
`the same responsive to opening of the valve.
`4. A safety cushion assembly for automotive
`vehicles comprising: a cylinder adapted to be
`fixedly mounted on a vehicle; a weight mounted
`within the cylinder to shift longitudinally there-
`of in one direction responsive to sudden slowing
`of the forward motion of said vehicle; yielding
`75 means interposed between the weight and one
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`50
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`60
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`65
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`2,649,311
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`end of the cylinder and arranged to normally
`urge the weight in an opposite direction; a man
`ually releasable lateh in the cylinder adapted to
`engage the weight after movement thereof in
`Said. One direction; a normally closed valve con
`nected to said weight to move to an open posi
`tion on shifting of the weight in Said one di
`rection; an air accumulator; at least one in
`flatable cushion adapted for mounting within
`said vehicle in the passenger compartment there
`10
`of; and a conduit extending between Said ac
`cumulator and cushion and normally closed by
`the valve, for passage of air from the accumu
`lator to the cushion to inflate the same respon
`sive to opening of the valve.
`5. A safety cushion assembly for automotive
`vehicles comprising: a cylinder adapted to be
`fixedly mounted on a vehicle; a weight mounted
`Within the cylinder to shift longitudinally there
`of in one-direction responsive to sudden slowing
`of the forward motion of Said vehicle; yielding
`means interposed between the weight and one
`end of the cylinder and arranged to normally
`urge the weight in an opposite direction; a man
`ually releasable latch in the cylinder adapted to
`25
`engage a weight, after movement, thereof in said
`One direction; a valve block adapted to be
`mounted in said vehicle adjacent the cylinder
`and having a longitudinal bore; a valve member
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`5
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`15
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`20
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`8
`connected to Said weight and mounted in the
`bore of the valve block to shift longitudinally
`thereof in one direction on shifting of the weight
`in Said one direction, Said block having a pas
`Sage communicating with Said bore and normally
`closed by the valve, said valve being arranged to
`Open said passage on shifting of the valve in
`Said one direction within its associated bore; an
`air accumulator; at least one inflatable cushion
`adapted for mounting within Said vehicle in the
`passenger compartment thereof; and a conduit
`extending between said accumulator and cushion
`and including said passage, Said conduit being
`normally closed by the valve and being adapted
`when opened to permit passage of air from the
`accumulator to the cushion for inflating the
`cushion responsive to opening of the valve.
`JOHN W. HETRICK.
`
`Nui raher
`2,181,161
`2,560,009
`
`References Cited in the file of this patent
`TJNITED STATES PATENTS
`Name
`Date
`Wolf -------------- Nov. 28, 1939
`Straith ------------ July 10, 1951
`FOREIGN PATENTS
`Date
`Country
`France ------------ June 18, 1934
`
`INumber
`769,903
`
`Page 5 of 5
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