Monitoring system for detent connections

• US 20040119582A1
• Filed: 12/09/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Schutz, Dominik, Scherer, Ralf
• Granted Patent: US 7,114,745 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2037 the module or a major component thereof being yieldably mounted, e.g. for actuating the horn switch or for protecting the driver in a non-deployment situation horn switches integrated in steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21658

Abstract

A monitoring system in a motor vehicle, for detecting an incorrectly locked detent connection between a gas bag module and a vehicle-fixed component, includes first and second detent elements complementary to each other. A signal circuit is provided, having first and second contact elements which are part of a switch arranged in the signal circuit, a monitoring signal being generated when the switch is closed. The contact elements are in electrical contact with each other, with the switch being closed, only in an incorrectly locked state of the first and second detent elements only.

Claims

1. A monitoring system in a motor vehicle, for detecting an incorrectly locked detent connection between a gas bag module (10) and a vehicle-fixed component,

comprising first and second detent elements (14, 16) complementary to each other,

characterized in that a signal circuit (24) is provided, having first and second contact elements (26, 28) which are part of a switch (30) arranged in said signal circuit (24), a monitoring signal being generated when said switch (30) is closed and

said contact elements (26, 28) being in electrical contact with each other, with said switch (30) being closed in an incorrectly locked state of said first and second detent elements (14, 16) only.

2. The monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that said monitoring signal is an acoustic signal.

3. The monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that said signal circuit (24) is part of a horn circuit.

4. The monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that said signal circuit (24) is supplied by a battery (34) of said vehicle.

5. The monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that said first detent element (14) is a metal part fastened on one of said vehicle-fixed component and said gas bag module (10), said metal part being partially surrounded by an electrical insulation (150).

6. The monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that said second detent element (16) is formed by at least one detent hook fastened on one of said gas bag module (10) and said vehicle-fixed component.

7. The monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that said first contact element (26) is formed by said first detent element (14).

8. The monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that said first contact element is formed by a metal sheet fastened on one of said gas bag module (10) and said vehicle-fixed component (13).

9. The monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that said second contact element (28) is a metal sheet fastened on one of said gas bag module (10) and said vehicle-fixed component.

10. A monitoring system in a motor vehicle, for detecting an incorrectly locked detent connection between a gas bag module (10) and a vehicle-fixed component,

comprising first and second detent elements (14, 16) complementary to each other,

characterized in that a signal circuit (124) is provided, having first and second contact elements (126, 128) which are part of a first switch (130) arranged in said signal circuit (124),

said signal circuit (124) comprising a second switch (36) which is open in a basic state and is connected in series with said first switch (130),

said contact elements (126, 128) being in electrical contact with each other in a correctly locked state of said detent elements (14, 16) only, so that said first switch (130) is closed and said signal circuit (124) can be closed by closing said second switch (36).

11. The monitoring system according to claim 10, characterized in that said signal circuit (124) is part of a horn circuit and said second switch (36) is formed by horn contacts (128, 38).

12. The monitoring system according to claim 10, characterized in that said first contact element (126) is formed by a metal sheet fastened on one of said gas bag module (10) and said vehicle-fixed component.

13. The monitoring system according to claim 10, characterized in that said first contact element (126) is formed by said first detent element (14).

14. The monitoring system according to claim 10, characterized in that said first detent element (14) is a metal part fastened on one of said vehicle-fixed component and said gas bag module (10).

15. The monitoring system according to claim 10, characterized in that said second contact element (128) is a metal sheet fastened on one of said gas bag module (10) and said vehicle-fixed component.

16. The monitoring system according to claim 10, characterized in that said signal circuit (124) is supplied by a battery (34) of said vehicle.