ACTUATING MEANS FOR INFLATING A VEHICULAR CRASH-PAD
First Claim
1. An actuating means for inflating an inflatable crash pad by releasing high pressure from a tank, said crash pad being attached to said tank comprising means responsive to the speed of a vehicle for releasing said high pressure to fill said inflatable crash pad, said actuating means being located within said tank, a cover member for covering said tank provided with a throughbore, a rotatable release member eccentrically connected within said throughbore and normally being in a closed position blocking air pressure in said tank from inflating said crash pad, said release member being rotated to an open position when the vehicle experiences a predetermined amount of deceleration, a support lever having two ends, one of said two ends of said support lever being connected to said release member, a connecting lever member having two ends, a notch being formed on one of said two ends of said connecting lever member, the other of said two ends of said lever resting in said notch when said release member is in said closed position, a trip block connected to the other of said two ends of said connecting lever member being in an initial position when said release member is in said closed position and being displaced when said predetermined amount of deceleration is experienced by said vehicle, said lever member being released from said notch and said release member moving to an open position when said trip block is displaced.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An actuating means for inflating an inflatable crash pad by releasing high pressure from a tank, the crash pad being attached to the tank comprises a means responsive to the speed of the vehicle for releasing the high pressure to fill the inflatable crash pad, the actuating means being located within the tank. An eccentrically connected rotatable release member is provided between the tank and crash pad and is moved from a normally closed position when the vehicle experiences a predetermined amount of deceleration.
1 Citation
13 Claims
-
1. An actuating means for inflating an inflatable crash pad by releasing high pressure from a tank, said crash pad being attached to said tank comprising means responsive to the speed of a vehicle for releasing said high pressure to fill said inflatable crash pad, said actuating means being located within said tank, a cover member for covering said tank provided with a throughbore, a rotatable release member eccentrically connected within said throughbore and normally being in a closed position blocking air pressure in said tank from inflating said crash pad, said release member being rotated to an open position when the vehicle experiences a predetermined amount of deceleration, a support lever having two ends, one of said two ends of said support lever being connected to said release member, a connecting lever member having two ends, a notch being formed on one of said two ends of said connecting lever member, the other of said two ends of said lever resting in said notch when said release member is in said closed position, a trip block connected to the other of said two ends of said connecting lever member being in an initial position when said release member is in said closed position and being displaced when said predetermined amount of deceleration is experienced by said vehicle, said lever member being released from said notch and said release member moving to an open position when said trip block is displaced.
-
2. An actuating means as set forth in claim 1 comprising a threaded pin, said tank including a body having a threaded recess in the bottom of said body, said threaded pin communicating with said threaded recess to maintain said pin abutting against said trip block for fixing said trip block in said initial position.
-
3. An actuating means as set forth in claim 2 comprising a spriNg member axially aligned around said pin, said pin being provided with a shoulder and said spring member being located between said shoulder and the bottom of said body of said tank, said pin being removed from communication with said threaded recess after said tank is installed in said vehicle, said spring member exerting a predetermined amount of force against said trip block to maintain said trip block in said initial position until said vehicle experiences said predetermined amount of deceleration.
-
4. An actuating means as set forth in claim 3, wherein said pin is movable outwardly from said body responsive to the amount of pressure within said tank after said pin is removed from communicating with said threaded recess.
-
5. An actuating means as set forth in claim 1, wherein said connecting lever member is disposed substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of said vehicle.
-
6. An actuating means as set forth in claim 1, wherein said crash pad is secured to the top of said tank by means of a connecting strap.
-
7. An actuating means as set forth in claim 1, wherein said release member is secured eccentrically by a screw.
-
8. An actuating means as set forth in claim 1, comprising a valve communicating with said tank to maintain a predetermined amount of pressure within said tank.
-
9. An actuating means according to claim 1 wherein said crash pad, at a side thereof facing away from said tank, is padded with a material selected from the group consisting of foam or fiber materials.
-
10. An actuating means according to claim 1, including force-limiting means for bracing said trip block against said tank in addition to the bracing thereof by means of said notch.
-
11. An actuating means according to claim 10 wherein said force-limiting means comprises a spring.
-
12. An actuating means according to claim 1 wherein said trip block is displaceable approximately 10 mm relative to said tank until it is tripped.
-
13. An actuating means according to claim 1 wherein said tank is located entirely within said crash pad.
Specification