DEPLOYABLE SIDE PROTECTOR FOR VEHICLES

摘要

A deployable side protector device (hereinafter, “side protector”) for protecting a subject vehicle from side impacts is disclosed and described. In various exemplary embodiments, the subject vehicle may have two side protectors mounted to the subject vehicle, one side protector for protecting the subject vehicle's left side and one side protector for protecting the subject vehicle's right side. Each respective side protector, right and left, may be controllable by a single controller. Additionally, each respective side protector, right and left, may be either in a deployed configuration, a retracted stored configuration, or in a state of transition between one of those two configurations. Further when deployed, a horizontal vehicle side protection bar may be located at an optimal height for protecting against side impacts.

主权项

1. A side protector for protecting a subject vehicle from side impacts, wherein the side protector comprises:
at least one mounted-extension-rotation-subassembly; wherein the at least one mounted-extension-rotation-subassembly comprises: a mounting structure, an extension actuator, an extension arm, and a rotator; wherein the mounting structure is mounted to an undercarriage of the subject vehicle between a front wheel and a rear wheel of a same side of the subject vehicle; wherein the extension actuator provides deployment away from the subject vehicle or retraction towards the subject vehicle of the extension arm in a horizontal direction substantially parallel with a plane of the undercarriage; wherein the extension arm is a first elongate member; wherein one portion of the extension arm is mounted to the extension actuator such that the extension arm translates in the horizontal direction; wherein a portion of the extension actuator is attached to the mounting structure; at least one vertical-support-strut-subassembly; wherein the at least one vertical-support-strut-subassembly is a second elongate member; wherein the at least one vertical-support-strut-subassembly comprises a bottom terminal end disposed opposite of a top terminal end; wherein the bottom terminal end is pivotally attached to a disposed terminal end of the extension arm; wherein the rotator is axially connected to the extension arm opposite of the disposed terminal end, such that the rotator causes the extension arm to rotate, which in turn causes the at least one vertical-support-strut-subassembly to transition from a horizontal configuration substantially parallel to the plane to a vertical configuration with the top terminal end disposed away from a ground; and at least one horizontal-vehicle-side-protection-bar-subassembly pivotally attached to the top terminal end of the at least one vertical-support-strut-subassembly; wherein the at least one horizontal-vehicle-side-protection-bar-subassembly is a third elongate member;
wherein the at least one vertical-support-strut-subassembly provides structural linkage between the at least one horizontal-vehicle-side-protection-bar-subassembly and the at least one mounted-extension-rotation-subassembly; wherein the side protector exists in two operational configurations: a fully retracted configuration with the extension arm retracted and the at least one vertical-support-strut-subassembly in the horizontal configuration, and a fully deployed protection configuration with the extension arm fully horizontally deployed, the at least one vertical-support-strut-subassembly is in the vertical configuration, lifting the at least one horizontal-vehicle-side-protection-bar-subassembly into a height off of the ground that permits the at least one horizontal-vehicle-side-protection-bar-subassembly to receive side impacts and protect the subject vehicle.