DESC:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

Title of invention:
VEHICULAR OCCUPANT SAFETY SYSTEM

Applicant:
Tata Motors Limited
A company Incorporated in India under the Companies Act, 1956
Having address:
Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street,
Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400001,
Maharashtra, India

The following specification describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY
[0001] The present application claims priority from Indian patent application no. 201821012252, filed on 31st March, 2018 the complete disclosure of which, in its entirety is herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates in general to the field of automobiles. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a vehicular occupant safety system. Further, embodiments of the present disclosure discloses the vehicular occupant safety system for protecting vehicular occupants during a vehicular crash.

BACKGROUND

[0003] In recent years, vehicle accidents are increasing due to insufficient maintenance of road network and lack of efficient and systematic enforcement of traffic safety regulations. Vehicles may catch fire after the accident or may get drowned by falling in water bodies.
[0004] In many such cases, especially in cases where passenger vehicles are involved, evacuating passengers from the vehicle becomes a primary and the most important task for rescue teams. Systems are known which must be activated manually by the passengers in the vehicle, in cases of emergencies. In an example, headrests for a driver and a co-driver are provided with rods for breaking a windshield or windows of the vehicle so as to come out of the vehicle as quickly as possible.
[0005] However, such systems have the drawback that the passengers of the vehicle involved in the accident are often unable to activate such systems within the short time required for the purpose. The passengers may panic or be unfamiliar with the systems, whereby they do not know how the system has to be activated.
[0006] An object of the invention is to obviate or alleviate the above stated problems and to provide a reliable and effective vehicular occupant safety system.
[0007] The information disclosed in this background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the present subject matter and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.
[0008] The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations stated above or any other limitations associated with the conventional systems.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0009] One or more shortcomings of the conventional device are overcome by the device as claimed and additional advantages are provided through the provision of device as claimed in the present disclosure.
[0010] Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.
[0011] In one non-limiting embodiment of the disclosure, a vehicular occupant safety system is disclosed that comprises a frame to receive a windshield, a bi-metallic strip disposed between the frame and the windshield, and a controlling unit to dislocate said windshield from the frame after receiving a signal from a sensor. The controlling unit heats the bimetallic strip based on the signal received from the sensor, thereby dislocating the windshield from the frame.
[0012] In another embodiment of the disclosure, the controlling unit includes a bi-metallic strip circuit to receive the signal from the sensor to heat and bend the bi-metallic strip.
[0013] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the sensor includes a smoke sensor to detect smoke in the vehicle.
[0014] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the sensor includes a crash sensor to detect impact on the vehicle.
[0015] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the sensor includes a water level sensor to detect water level in and around the vehicle.
[0016] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the controlling unit includes a balloon opening circuit to blow balloons with pressurized air to let the vehicle float on water.
[0017] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the controlling unit includes a power supply to heat said bi-metallic strip.
[0018] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the bi-metallic strip is sealed between the windshield and the frame of the vehicle. The bimetallic strip and a sealant are disposed between the windshield and the frame.
[0019] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

[0020] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a vehicular occupant safety system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 2A illustrates a side view of a vehicle elaborating a placement of sensors of a vehicular occupant safety system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 2B illustrates a top view of a vehicle elaborating a placement of sensors of a vehicular occupant safety system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0024] The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure.
[0026] It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent processes do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and make part of this disclosure.
[0027] As described above with respect to background of the present subject matter, in cases where passenger vehicles are involved, evacuating passengers from the vehicle becomes a primary and the most important task for rescue teams. Systems are known which must be activated manually by the passengers in the vehicle, in cases of emergencies. In an example, headrests for a driver and a co-driver are provided with rods for breaking a windshield or windows of the vehicle to come out of the vehicle as quickly as possible.
[0028] However, such systems have the drawback that the passengers of the vehicle involved in the accident are often unable to activate such systems within the short time required for the purpose. The passengers may be unfamiliar with the systems, whereby they do not know how the systems have to be activated or operated.
[0029] The present subject matter provides a reliable and effective vehicular occupant safety system, wherein various sensors are deployed for sensing events during the accident of the vehicle. In an example implementation of the present subject matter, crash sensors are used to detect any impact on the vehicle. The crash sensors provide signals to operate a bimetallic strip circuit, which in turn operates a bimetallic strip.
[0030] The bimetallic strip is a temperature-sensitive electrical contact comprising of two bands of different metals joined lengthwise. When heated, the metals expand at different rates, causing the strip to bend. The bimetallic strip may be secured to front and rear windshields of the vehicle. The bimetallic strip may be placed between the windshield and a frame of the vehicle with the help of a sealant. Electric signals received from the bimetallic strip circuit causes the bimetallic strip to heat and bend. The bending action dislocates the windshield from a normal position. The passengers may evacuate themselves by pushing the dislocated windshield.
[0031] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the specification, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an assembly that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or method. In other words, one or more elements in an assembly proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the assembly.
[0032] Henceforth, the present disclosure is explained with the help of one or more figures of exemplary embodiments. However, such exemplary embodiments should not be construed as limitation of the present disclosure.
[0033] The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to FIGS.1-2. In the figures, the same element or elements, which have similar functions are indicated by the same reference signs.
[0034] Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic block diagram of a vehicular occupant safety system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure is described. As depicted in FIG. 1, a system 100 may comprise various sensors for detecting events or changes in an environment and send information to other electronics. In an example implementation, the system 100 may comprise a crash sensor 102, a smoke sensor 104, and a water sensor 106. It is to be appreciated that any number of such sensors may be employed in the system 100. The crash sensor 102, the smoke sensor 104, and the water sensor 106 may provide signals to a respective processing circuits, such as a bimetallic strip circuit 108 and a balloon opening circuit 110.
[0035] In an example, when an accident takes place, the crash sensor 102 may get activated with the receipt of an impact to the vehicle. Upon activation, the crash sensor 102 may send a signal to operate the bimetallic strip circuit 108. The bimetallic strip circuit 108 may further operate a bimetallic strip 112 to dislocate a windshield from its normal position.
[0036] In another example implementation of the present subject matter, when the vehicle falls into water, the water sensor 106 may detect the presence of water in and around the vehicle. The water level sensor 106 sends signals to the balloon opening circuit 110, which in turn blows up balloons with pressurized air to let the vehicle float on water. The signals from the water sensor 106 may also be provided to the bimetallic strip circuit 108 to operate the bimetallic strip 112. Therefore, in case of the vehicular accidents where the vehicle falls into water, the passengers can easily get out of the vehicle by applying a little force to the dislocated windshield.
[0037] In yet another example implementation of the present subject matter, the smoke sensor 104 may get activated in case of fire inside the vehicle. Upon activation, the smoke sensor 104 may send a signal to operate the bimetallic strip circuit 108. The bimetallic strip circuit 108 may further operate the bimetallic strip 112 to dislocate the windshield from its normal position.
[0038] The bimetallic strip 112 comprises at least two strips of different metals which expand at different rates as they are heated. The metal strips are joined together throughout their length by at least one of riveting, brazing, and welding. The different expansions of the metals strips force the bimetallic strip 112 to bend one way if heated. The bending of the bimetallic strip 112 pushes the windshield away from a frame of the vehicle, so that the passengers can easily and quickly get out of the vehicle.
[0039] In an example implementation, the windshield may be made of a laminated glass that comprises of two separate pieces of glass bonded together with a layer of poly-vinyl-butyral (PVB) sandwiched between them. The windshield may be fitted in the frame of the vehicle using a rubber, neoprene seal, or any appropriate sealant known in the art. According to the advantageous embodiment of the present disclosure, the bimetallic strip 112 is placed between the windshield and the frame. The bimetallic strip 112, upon heating, dislocates the windshield from the frame.
[0040] In an embodiment, a battery unit 114 may be used to supply power to the bimetallic strip 112. The power supplied to the bimetallic strip heats the at least one strip to dislocate it from its original position. In an example, the battery unit 114 may comprise of a plurality of battery cells, each operating at fixed voltage output. It is to be understood that the voltage rating of the battery unit 114 may be decided based upon the Voltage-Current (V-I) requirement of the bimetallic strip 112.
[0041] In an embodiment of the present subject matter, the vehicular occupant safety system 100 is powered by using the battery of the vehicle (not shown). In an advantageous embodiment of the present subject matter, the vehicular occupant safety system 100 may also comprise a capacitor (not shown) for supplying power to the different sensors and sensor circuits. This achieves that the vehicular occupant safety system 100 may also be activated in reliable manner in the case that an accumulator or battery of the vehicle no longer functions due to the vehicle falling into water.
[0042] Referring to Fig. 2A and 2B, the crash sensors 102 may be placed on either sides of the vehicle door, a front side of the vehicle, or a backside of the vehicle. In another embodiment, the smoke sensor 104 may be mounted at a roof of the vehicle. In another embodiment, the bi-metallic strip 112 is placed between the frame and the windshield. In another embodiment, the battery unit 114 is situated in the vehicle. In another embodiment, the air balloons are located near wheels of the vehicle.
[0043] Advantages of the present subject matter may be summarized as below:
1. Rapid activation of the bimetallic strip circuit to dislocate the windshield in case of crash or fire or drowning
2. System also works in case of battery failure
3. Air balloons ensure that the vehicle floats on the water without endangering the life of the passengers

Equivalents

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding the description may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope being indicated in the description.

Referral Numerals:
Description Reference Number
Vehicular occupant safety system 100
Crash Sensor 102
Smoke sensor 104
Water sensor 106
Bimetallic strip circuit 108
Balloon opening circuit 110
Bimetallic strip 112
Battery Unit 114
Air Balloon 202

,CLAIMS:

1. A vehicular occupant safety system (100) comprising:
a frame to receive a windshield;
a bi-metallic strip (112) disposed between the frame and the windshield; and
a controlling unit to dislocate said windshield from said frame after receiving a signal from at least one sensor (102, 104, 106),
wherein said controlling unit heats said bimetallic strip (112) based on said signal received from said at least one sensor (102, 104, 106), thereby dislocating said windshield from said frame.

2. The vehicular occupant safety system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controlling unit includes a bi-metallic strip circuit (108) to receive the signal from the sensor to heat and bend said bi-metallic strip (112).

3. The vehicular occupant safety system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a smoke sensor (104) to detect smoke in the vehicle.

4. The vehicular occupant safety system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a crash sensor (102) to detect impact on the vehicle.

5. The vehicular occupant safety system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a water level sensor (106) to detect water level in and around the vehicle.

6. The vehicular occupant safety system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controlling unit includes a balloon opening circuit (110) to blow air balloons (202) with pressurized air to let the vehicle float on water.

7. The vehicular occupant safety system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controlling unit includes a battery unit (114) to heat said bi-metallic strip (112).

8. The vehicular occupant safety system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bi-metallic strip (112) is sealed between the windshield and the frame of the vehicle, wherein said bimetallic strip (112) and a sealant are disposed between said the windshield and said frame.