AIR BAG SAFETY DEVICE FOR VEHICLE PASSENGERS

• US 3,703,702 A
• Filed: 05/07/1971
• Issued: 11/21/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hiroshi Arai
• Original Assignee: Hiroshi Arai
• Inventors: Arai, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Steube, George
• Application Number:
  US05/141,155
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 180/82,98,103 280/15AB 297/216,217 340/31,52R,58,62,258A,410 343/8
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems

Abstract

The disclosure concerns a safety device for a vehicle wherein a Doppler transmitter-receiver apparatus mounted on the vehicle and transmitting and receiving radiation from objects in the path of the vehicle forms a safety signal when the vehicle is about to crash into an object. The safety signal actuates a protective apparatus which blows up an air bag to restrain passengers in the vehicle. To test the safety device, a manual switch causes the transmitter-receiver apparatus to transmit radiation toward the vehicle'"'"''"'"'s radiator fan as the latter moves toward the radiation. The switch directs the resulting safety signal to energize an indicator lamp that shows the system to be operational.

Claims

1. In a vehicle having a moving part, a safety device for responding to the imminence of a crash between the vehicle and an object, comprising electromagnetic transmitter-receiver means mounted on the vehicle for transmitting electromagnetic radiation from the vehicle and sensing radiation reflected from the object, Doppler sensing means coupled to said transmitter-receiver means for producing a signal when the sensing means senses that a crash is imminent, collision protecting means in the vehicle actuable to furnish resilient protection to passengers in the vehicle in response to the signal, indicator means actuable by the signal for exhibiting one state when actuated by the signal and another state when not subject to actuation by the signal, said receiver-transmitter means being capable of transmitting electromagnetic energy toward and being responsive to energy from the moving part, and switch means alternately coupling said sensing means to said protecting means and said indicator means and coupled to said transMitter-receiver means for alternately rendering said indicator means responsive to said protecting means and said sensing means and resndering said transmitter-receiver means responsive to reflected energy from the moving part.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said transmitter-receiver means includes first radiation means for radiating and sensing the energy from the object and second radiation means for radiating and sensing energy from the moving part.

3. A device as in claim 1, wherein the vehicle has a cooling fan and wherein the moving part toward which the transmitter-receiver means radiates the energy is the cooling fan.

4. A device as in claim 3, wherein said transmitter-receiver means includes first radiating means for radiating and sensing the energy from the object and second radiating means for radiating and sensing the energy from the fan.

5. A device as in claim 1, wherein said switch means is manual and assumes an unactuated position in which the sensing means is coupled to the protecting means and the signal actuates the protecting means, and wherein said switch means in its actuated position couples said sensing means to said indicator means and renders said transmitter-receiver means responsive to reflected energy from the moving part.

6. A device as in claim 2, wherein said switch means is manual and assumes an unactuated position in which the sensing means is coupled to the protecting means and the signal actuates the protecting means, and wherein said switch means in its actuated position couples said sensing means to said indicator means and renders said transmitter-receiver means responsive to reflected energy from the fan.

7. A device as in claim 1, wherein said switch means includes delay means for delaying the rendering of the transmitter means responsive to radiation from the moving part a predetermined time after rendering the indicator means responsive to the signal from said sensing means.

8. A device as in claim 2, wherein said switch means renders the second radiation means inactive when said protecting means responds to the signal, and wherein said switch means includes delay means for delaying the rendering of the second radiation means responsive to radiation from the moving part a predetermined time after rendering said indicator means responsive to the signal.

9. An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said switch means includes a solenoid, and manual means for actuating the solenoid.

10. A vehicle, comprising a moving part, electromagnetic transmitter-receiver means mounted for transmitting electromagnetic radiation from the vehicle and sensing reflected radiation, Doppler sensing means coupled to said transmitter-receiver means for producing a signal when the sensing means determines that a crash is imminent, collision protecting means actuable to furnish resilient protection to passengers in the vehicle in response to the signal, indicating means actuable by the signal for exhibiting one state when actuated by the signal and another state when not subject to actuation by the signal, said receiver-transmitter means being capable of transmitting electromagnetic energy toward and being responsive to energy from the moving part, and switch means alternately coupling said sensing means to said protecting means and said indicating means and coupled to said transmitter-receiver means for alternately rendering said indicating means responsive to said protecting means and said sensing means and rendering said transmitter-receiver means responsive to reflected energy from the moving part.

11. A vehicle as in claim 10, wherein said transmitter-receiver means includes first radiation means for radiating and sensing the energy from the object and second radiation means for radiating and sensing energy from the moving part.

12. A vehicle as in claim 10, wherein said moving part includes a fan, and wherein said transmitter-receiver means radiates energy toward the fan and at least a portion of the fan moves towArd the oncoming radiation.

13. A vehicle as in claim 12, wherein said transmitter-receiver means includes first radiation means for radiating and sensing the energy from the object and second radiation means for radiating and sensing energy from the moving part.

14. A vehicle as in claim 10, wherein said switch means is manual and assumes an unactuated position in which the sensing means is coupled to the protecting means and the signal actuates the protecting means, and wherein said switch means in is actuated position couples said sensing means to said indicating means and renders said transmitter-receiver means responsive to reflected energy from the moving part.

15. A vehicle as in claim 10, wherein said switch means includes delay means for delaying the rendering of the transmitter means responsive to radiation from the moving part a predetermined time after rendering the indicating means responsive to the signal from said sensing means.

16. A vehicle as in claim 10, wherein said protecting means includes an inflatable gas bag and wherein said protecting means responds to the signal by inflating the gas bag.