Member disengagement apparatus

• US 20070057563A1
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Taguchi, Katsuaki, Naito, Tadashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,784,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/463.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/01508 using quick release attachments
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42709 involving residual deformation or fracture of the structure
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/00 Nuts or like thread-engaging members specially shaped for rotations by a tool F16B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/0857 with the threaded portions of the nut engaging the thread of the bolt by the action of one or more springs or resilient retaining members F16B37/0821 and F16B37/0835 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/02 by means of fastening members using screw-thread F16B5/0004 takes precedence; construction of screw-threaded connections F16B25/00 - F16B39/00

Abstract

A member disengagement apparatus comprises fastening release parts for disengaging fastened members fastened by fastening parts, a release operation unit for releasing the fastening release parts, an operation-inhibiting unit for inhibiting a release operation of the release operation unit, and a control unit for controlling the operation-inhibiting unit. The control unit controls the operation-inhibiting unit so that the release operation is no longer inhibited when specific emergency signals are received.

Claims

1. A member disengagement apparatus for disengaging a plurality of fastened members fastened by fastening parts, the apparatus comprising:

fastening release parts for disengaging the fastened members;

a release operation unit for releasing the fastening release parts;

an operation-inhibiting unit for inhibiting a release operation of the release operation unit; and

a control unit for controlling the operation-inhibiting unit such that the release operation is no longer inhibited when specific emergency signals are received.

2. The release apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emergency signals include a signal that causes a vehicle airbag to expand and deploy;

and the fastened members are members of a vehicle that are disengaged during specific emergencies.

3. The release apparatus of claim 2, wherein the release operation unit and the operation-inhibiting unit are disposed in a widthwise middle of an instrument panel of the vehicle.

4. The release apparatus of claim 3, wherein the operation-inhibiting unit comprises:

a holding concavity that holds the release operation unit and that is formed in the instrument panel;

a lid for opening and closing the holding concavity;

a supporting pin for openably and closeably supporting one end of the lid;

an urging member for urging the lid in an opening direction; and

a lid opening part for opening the lid according to a determent release signal from the control unit.

5. The release apparatus of to claim 1, further comprising:

a dedicated power source for supplying electricity to the control unit, wherein the dedicated power source and the control unit are configured as one unit.

6. The release apparatus of claim 1;

wherein the release operation unit comprises a press-button switch for activating the release operation.

7. The release apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the fastening release parts comprises:

a heating part for generating heat according to a release operation of the release operation unit; and

a joining member composed of a low-melting material that melts when heated by the heating part;

wherein

the fastening parts are disengaged by melting of the joining member.

8. The releasing apparatus of claim 1, wherein each the fastening release parts comprises:

a heating part for generating heat according to a release operation of the release operation unit; and

an actuator composed of a shape-memory material that returns to an original length when heated to a specific temperature by the heating part; and

wherein

the fastening parts are disengaged as a result of the actuators returning to the original length.