Ford consistently scores high on various car safety ratings. This result of constant innovation to make cars more safe.
This week they have patented a unique system to protect passengers during oblique impacts. These are the impacts that occur at an angle of 10-50 degrees relative to the vehicle’s trajectory.
During an oblique impact, occupants of the vehicle typically move forward and laterally with respect to a length of the vehicle. The patented system absorbs crash energy during an oblique impact, thereby reducing the damage.
During an oblique impact, an impact sensing system deploys a flexible sheet which is then positioned to receive an occupant moving both forward and laterally with respect to a longitudinal axis of the car. The flexible sheet absorbs the impact energy from the occupant.
Publication number: US 9333931
Patent Title: Passenger protection system
Publication date: 10 May 2016
Filing date: 28 Jan 2015
Inventors: James Chih Cheng; Parakrama V. Weerappuli; Raed Essa El-Jawahri; Mohammed Omar Faruque;
Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC