Airbag apparatus for small vehicles

• US 20060124376A1
• Filed: 12/06/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Goto, Hiroshi, Matsuo, Hisashi, Shigetomi, Tadatoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,740,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/271
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/018 inflatable automatically
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2600/102 Motorcycling
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 27/20 Airbags specially adapted for motorcycles or the like

Abstract

An airbag apparatus for a small vehicle for preventing an airbag from being inflated uselessly even when a rider is moved significantly on the vehicle. A first airbag module includes impact sensors, an electronic control unit for generating an output signal when an impact force is determined to be excessive from detection signals supplied from the impact sensors, an inflator which is activated by the output signal from the electronic control unit and an airbag which is inflated by gas generated from the inflator that is mounted on a small vehicle. A second airbag module includes an inflator and a wearing type airbag which is inflated by gas generated by the inflator that is mounted on a rider. The electronic control unit and the inflator of the second airbag module are connected by couplers that can input the output signal from the electronic control unit to the second airbag module.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a first airbag module adapted to be mounted on a vehicle comprising;

impact sensors for detecting an impact force;

an electronic control unit for generating an output signal when the impact force is determined to be excessive upon reception of a detection signal from the impact sensors;

an inflator which is activated by the output signal from the electronic control unit for generating a high-pressure gas; and

an airbag adapted to be inflated by gas generated from the inflator for alleviating an impact to a rider; and

a second airbag module adapted to be worn by a rider comprising;

an inflator; and

a wearing type airbag adapted to be inflated by gas generated by the inflator;

wherein the electronic control unit and the inflator of the second airbag module are connected by connecting means for inputting the output signal from the electronic control unit to the inflator of the second airbag module.

2. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, and further including delay means for transmitting the output signal from the electronic control unit to the inflator of the second airbag module with a certain time length of delay, said delay means being provided between the electronic control unit and the inflator of the second airbag module.

3. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first airbag module is operatively positioned in an instrument panel of a motorcycle.

4. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the impact sensors are operatively mounted relative to at, least one of a front fork and a front fender of a motorcycle.

5. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, and further including first and second signal conductors extending from said electronic control unit, the first signal conductor being operatively connected to the inflator of the first airbag and the second signal conductor being operatively connected to the inflator of the second airbag.

6. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein a signal outputted to the first signal conductor is immediately inputted to the inflator of the first airbag for deploying the first airbag.

7. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein a signal outputted to the second signal conductor is delayed for a predetermined time period and is then inputted to the inflator of the second airbag for deploying the second airbag.

8. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a rider operatively, manually connects the connecting means for actuating the inflator of the second airbag upon a positioning of the rider on the vehicle.

9. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the connecting means includes a first connection for connecting the rider and a second connection for connecting to a passenger for providing a delayed actuation of an inflator of an airbag worn by the passenger.

10. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a deployment of the inflator of the first airbag occurs first and a deployment of the inflator of the second airbag occurs second for providing sequential protection for the rider.

11. An airbag apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a first airbag module adapted to be mounted on a vehicle comprising;

at least one impact sensor for detecting an impact force;

an electronic control unit for generating an output signal when the impact force is determined to be excessive upon reception of a detection signal from the at least one impact sensor;

a first inflator activated by the output signal from the electronic control unit for generating a high-pressure gas; and

a first airbag adapted to be inflated by gas generated from the first inflator for alleviating an impact to a rider; and

a second airbag module adapted to be worn by a rider comprising;

a second inflator; and

a wearing type airbag adapted to be inflated by gas generated by the inflator;

wherein the electronic control unit and the second inflator of the second airbag module are connected by connecting means for inputting the output signal from the electronic control unit to the inflator of the second airbag module.

12. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 11, and further including delay means for transmitting the output signal from the electronic control unit to the second inflator of the second airbag module with a certain time length of delay, said delay means being provided between the electronic control unit and the second inflator of the second airbag module.

13. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the first airbag module is operatively positioned in an instrument panel of a motorcycle.

14. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the at least one impact sensor is operatively mounted relative to at least one of a front fork and a front fender of a motorcycle.

15. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 11, and further including first and second signal conductors extending from said electronic control unit, the first signal conductor being operatively connected to the first inflator of the first airbag and the second signal conductor being operatively connected to the second inflator of the second airbag.

16. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 15, wherein a signal outputted to the first signal conductor is immediately inputted to the first inflator of the first airbag for deploying the first airbag.

17. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 16, wherein a signal outputted to the second signal conductor is delayed for a predetermined time period and is then inputted to the second inflator of the second airbag for deploying the second airbag.

18. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein a rider operatively, manually connects the connecting means for actuating the second inflator of the second airbag upon a positioning of the rider on the vehicle.

19. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the connecting means includes a first connection for connecting the rider and a second connection for connecting to a passenger for providing a delayed actuation of an inflator of an airbag worn by the passenger.

20. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein a deployment of the first inflator of the first airbag occurs first and a deployment of the second inflator of the second airbag occurs second for providing sequential protection for the rider.