DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADVANCED PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FOR SUBCOMPACT CAR DRIVERS. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The report summarizes the analyses, design, and testing that were conducted to develop an air bag restraint system for the subcompact car capable of protecting the driver in frontal and frontal oblique crashes up to 50 mph. The result of this work has been the development of a small, rapidly inflating dual air bag (inner and outer bags) mounted to a stroke efficient energy absorbing steering column. The lower body energy is absorbed by a crushable knee restraint fabricated of styrofoam. The system ultimately proved capable of protecting subcompact car drivers throughout the adult anthropometric size range at velocities exceeding 50 mph. In addition, the finalized restraint system is constructed of components that are oriented toward eventual mass production.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • See also PB-241 640.
• Corporate Authors:

  Minicars, Incorporated

  35 La Patera Lane
  Goleta, CA  United States  93017

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Fitzpatrick, M
• Publication Date: 1975-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 28 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air bags; Analysis; Anthropometry; Automobiles; Compact automobiles; Crash injury research; Crash tests; Crashes; Design; Design standards; Drivers; Inflatable structures; Passive restraint systems; Performance; Protection; Research; Safety engineering; Safety equipment; Structural design; Testing; Velocity
• Old TRIS Terms: Passive protection devices
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00091577
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-HS-113-3-742
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 13 1975 12:00AM