1. A vehicle closure lift mechanism comprising:
a vehicle closure having one end pivotably attached to a stationary structure and a free end extensive from the pivotably attached end;
an active material in operative communication with the free end, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, an ionic polymer metal composite, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials; and
an activation device in operative communication with the active material, wherein the activation device is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a reversible change in at least one property of the active material, wherein the reversible change results in an increased clearance distance between the vehicle closure and an underlying component by directly exerting a force on the free end.
2. The vehicle closure lift mechanism of claim 1, wherein the vehicle closure and the underlying component form a vehicle passenger door and jam, an engine lid and vehicle body, a storage compartment lid and jam, a fuel tank filler lid and vehicle body, a cargo hatch and vehicle body, a tail gate and vehicle body, trunk lid and vehicle body, and a lift gate and vehicle body.
3. The vehicle closure lift mechanism of claim 1, wherein the at least one property undergoing reversible change comprises a dimension, a shape, a shear force, a shape orientation, a flexural modulus, a phase of matter, or combinations comprising one or more of the foregoing properties.
4. The vehicle closure lift mechanism of claim 1, wherein the increased clearance distance comprises a change in closure geometry, a change in closure location, a change in closure orientation, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing changes.
5. The vehicle hood lift mechanism of claim 1, wherein the active material directly acts on the vehicle hood to provide the increased clearance distance.
6. The vehicle hood lift mechanism of claim 1, wherein the vehicle hood comprises the active material.
7. The vehicle hood lift mechanism of claim 1, wherein the active material indirectly acts on the vehicle hood to provide the increased clearance distance.
8. The vehicle hood lift mechanism of claim 7, further comprising a leveraging material to indirectly provide the increased clearance distance.
9. The vehicle hood lift mechanism of claim 1, wherein the active material releases a stored energy to provide the increased clearance distance.
10. The vehicle closure lift mechanism of claim 1, wherein the vehicle closure lift mechanism comprises a linear rod active closure lift mechanism, a buckling active closure lift mechanism, a bowing outer surface active closure lift mechanism, a spring sandwich active closure lift mechanism, a lever active closure lift mechanism, a wedge active closure lift mechanism, a cam active closure lift mechanism, a coil spring passive closure lift mechanism, a leaf spring passive closure lift mechanism, or an end latch passive closure lift mechanism.
11. A method comprising:
providing a vehicle closure in a rest position having one end pivotably attached to a stationary structure and a free end extensive from the pivotably attached end, wherein the rest position comprises a minimum clearance distance between a vehicle closure and an underlying component;
applying an activation signal to an active material and causing a change in at least one property of the active material, wherein the active material is in operative communication with the free end; and
changing a closure geometry, orientation, location, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing changes by the change in the at least one property of the active material effective to move the free end from the rest position to a lift position, wherein the clearance distance between the vehicle closure and an underlying component is increased by directly exerting a force on the free end.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle closure has an increased energy absorption capability when in the lift position.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein applying the activation signal comprises sensing an impact event.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensing is accomplished with a pre-impact sensor.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensing is accomplished with an impact sensor.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein applying the activation signal comprises manual activation, electronic activation by a built-in logic system, or turning on or off the ignition.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein the activation signal comprises a thermal activation signal, a magnetic activation signal, an electric activation signal, a chemical activation signal, a mechanical load, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing activation signals.
18. The method of claim 11, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials.
19. The method of claim 11, wherein the change in the at least one property comprises a dimension, a shape, a shear force, a shape orientation, a flexural modulus, a phase of matter, or combinations comprising one or more of the foregoing properties.
20. The method of claim 11, wherein the change is reversible.
21. The method of claim 11, wherein applying the activation signal comprises activating more than one active material.
22. The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle closure may return to the rest position upon discontinuation of the activation signal.
23. The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle closure and the underlying component form a vehicle passenger door and jam, an engine lid and vehicle body, a storage compartment lid and jam, a fuel tank filler lid and vehicle body, a cargo hatch and vehicle body, a tail gate and vehicle body, trunk lid and vehicle body, and a lift gate and vehicle body.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A head protecting airbag device in a vechicle comprising:
an airbag folded and housed above an intermediate pillar portion arranged between a front pillar portion and a rear pillar portion of a vehicle, for covering, when inflated, the interior side of said intermediate pillar portion and windows to the front and rear of said intermediate pillar portion; and
a gas feeder member formed in a rigid rod member to be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and having a gas discharge port formed near one end for discharging airbag inflating gas,
wherein said airbag includes: a main portion having a gas receiving portion to be inflated by admitting the inflating gas; an inlet port connected to said gas feeder member; and a plurality of mounting portions for mounting said airbag to a body of the vechicle,
wherein said main portion can cover, when completely inflated, the interior side of said intermediate pillar portion and said windows,
wherein said inlet port is arranged above said intermediate pillar portion and on the upper edge of said main portion when it is inflated, protruding upward so as to introduce the inflating gas downward into said gas receiving portion,
wherein said mounting portions are arranged by the upper edge of said main portion when it is inflated, protruding upward,
wherein said mounting portions in said airbag include a vicinity mounting portion arranged close to said inlet port, and other general mounting portions,
wherein a downward recess is formed between said vicinity mounting portion and said inlet port, and
wherein said recess substantially can enlarge the length of the outer peripheral edge of said vicinity mounting portion facing said inlet port and the outer peripheral edge of said inlet port facing said vicinity mounting portion, thereby to increase the possible separation of said vicinity mounting portion and said inlet port apart from each other.
2. A head protecting airbag device comprising:
an airbag folded and housed above an intermediate pillar portion arranged between a front pillar portion and a rear pillar portion of a vehicle, for covering, when inflated, the interior side of said intermediate pillar portion and windows to the front and rear of said intermediate pillar portion; and
a gas feeder member formed in a rigid rod member to be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and having a gas discharge port formed near one end for discharging airbag inflating gas,
wherein said airbag includes: a main portion having a gas receiving portion to be inflated by admitting the inflating gas; an inlet port connected to said gas feeder member; and a plurality of mounting portions for mounting said airbag to a body of the vehicle,
wherein said main portion can cover, when completely inflated, the interior side of said intermediate pillar portion and said windows,
wherein said inlet port is arranged above said intermediate pillar portion and on the upper edge of said main portion inflated, protruding upward so as to introduce the inflating gas downward into said gas receiving portion,
wherein said mounting portions are so arranged on the side of the upper edge of said main portion inflated, as to protrude upward,
wherein said mounting portions in said airbag include a vicinity mounting portion arranged adjacent to said inlet port, and other general mounting portions, and wherein an edge of the vicinity mounting portion nearest to the inlet port and an edge of the inlet port nearest to the vicinity mounting portion are both located in an area that is directly above the intermediate pillar portion, and
wherein said vicinity mounting portion, said inlet port and said gas feeder member are offset from the center of the intermediate pillar portion in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
3. An hollow-woven airbag folded and housed in a vehicle for being inflated by admitting inflating gas from an inflator, comprising:
a gas receiving portion, two wall portions of which are constructed to seperate from each other by admitting the inflating gas; and
a non-inlet portion constructed by joining the two wall portions, allowing no inflating gas to pass,
wherein said non-inlet portion comprises the outer peripheral edge of said airbag arranged on the peripheral edge of said gas receiving portion,
wherein said outer peripheral edge portion includes an inner corner portion having a recessed shape for receiving tension in a expanding direction when said airbag is inflated, and
wherein said inner corner portion is formed of a woven texture by which it is more extendible than the other portions of said outer peripheral edge portion.
4. An airbag according to claim 3,
wherein said gas receiving portion includes an inlet port fixed on a body of the vehicle, and a main portion which is inflated by admitting the inflating gas from said inlet port, and
wherein said inner corner portion is arranged at a boundary portion between said inlet port and said main portion.
5. An airbag according to claim 4,
wherein said inlet port is formed to bend as it protrudes from said main portion, and
wherein said inner corner portion is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the bent portion.
6. An airbag according to claim 3, wherein a generally arc shaped cut-away portion is formed in the recessed outer peripheral edge in said inner corner portion.