Air bag apparatus

• US 5,092,628 A
• Filed: 08/18/1989
• Issued: 03/03/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Muraoka, Tsutomu, Tamura, Keiichi, Sakaguchi, Sumio, Koide, Teruhiko, Shinto, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tyson, Karin
• Application Number:
  US07/395,522
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 116/203, 200/61.5, 200/61.44, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.53, 280/734, 280/735, 280/731, 180/282, 73/514, 102/252, 102/253, 102/272, 102/274
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2035 using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21656; assembling of modules B60R21/217
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/33 Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

An air bag apparatus is disclosed having a locking device which is adapted to prevent the inflation of a bag accommodated in an air bag body before the air bag body is mounted on a chassis, the bag being adapted to be inflated in front of a seat occupant when a predetermined acceleration has acted on the air bag body. This locking device is arranged such that an actuating member is driven by an operator'"'"'s operation after mounting the air bag body on the chassis to release the locking device, thereby canceling a locked state and making the air bag body operable.

Claims

1. An air bag apparatus for inflating an air bag of an air bag body when an acceleration exceeding a predetermined value has acted on said air bag body, comprising:

mechanically movable locking means for preventing said air bag from being inflated when said acceleration on said air bag body exceeds said predetermined value;

mounting means for mounting said air bag body on a chassis; and

unlocking means having an actuating member which is pushed into said air bag body by an operation of an operator for releasing said locking means, and a stopper for preventing the movement of said actuating member in an opposite direction after being pushed in, for canceling the actuation of said locking means by an operation after the mounting of said air bag body on said chassis by said mounting means and permitting subsequently the inflation of said bag when said acceleration on said air bag body exceeds said predetermined value,

whereby the inflation of said air bag is prevented prior to the mounting of said air bag body on said chassis and after the mounting of said air bag body on said chassis until said operation is performed.

2. An air bag device according to claim 1, further comprising a cam means provided on said actuating member, and said actuating member is arranged to impart an operating force in a pushing direction of said actuating member through said cam means to said unlocking means, said air bag body is mounted on a steering wheel, and said actuating member is operably pushed in the radial direction of said steering wheel.

3. An air apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said actuating member is mounted on said air bag body.

4. An air bag apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cam means provided on said actuating member, and said actuating member is operably moved in a longitudinal direction thereof, said actuating member is adapted to drive a release pin through said cam means, said release pin is adapted to unlock a lock of said locking means, said air bag is mounted on a steering wheel, and said actuating member is arranged in the longitudinal direction of said steering wheel.

5. An air bag apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said release pin is accommodated in a holder in such a manner as to be movable in an axial direction thereof, said holder is mounted in such a manner as to be movable in a radial direction of said steering wheel, and an engaging portion for engaging with said holder at the time of mounting on said steering wheel is provided in said air bag body, thereby permitting positioning between said holder and said steering wheel in the radial direction of said steering wheel.

6. An air bag apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said holder has a flange portion projecting in a radial direction from a part of a trunk for accommodating said release pin, said flange portion is clamped between the steering wheel and a support plate fixed to said steering wheel so as to be adjustable in the radial direction of said steering wheel, an opening for allowing said trunk to pass therethrough is formed in said support plate, and a gap is formed between said opening portion and an outer periphery of said holder so as to permit adjustment and movement of said holder.

7. An air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said actuating member is capable of imparting to said unlocking means a moving force in a longitudinal direction applied by an operator so as to release a lock of said locking means, said actuating member being formed of a flexible material which is bent at a longitudinally intermediate portion thereof.

8. An air bag apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an end of said actuating member to which an operating force is applied by an operator is disposed in a radial direction of said steering wheel or in a tangential direction thereto.

9. An air bag apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said stopper includes pawls permitting longitudinally unidirectional movement of said flexible actuating member effected by the operator'"'"'s operating force but preventing reverse movement thereof engaged with said flexible actuating member.

10. An air bag apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said end of said flexible actuating member located on the locking means side is disposed in the same direction as or parallel with the axial direction of said steering wheel.

11. An air bag apparatus having locking means for preventing a bag accommodated in an air bag body from inflating prior to mounting said air bag body which is mounted on a steering wheel, comprising:

an actuating member having one end disposed in the vicinity of an axis of a steering wheel and the other end disposed in the radial direction of said steering wheel, said other end being adapted to move longitudinally upon application thereto of an operating force exerted by an operator;

a release pin disposed in the axial direction of said steering wheel or parallel therewith and adapted to unlock said locking means through axial movement of said release pin and to set said air bag body in an operable state at the time when an acceleration has acted on said air bag body; and

conversion means for converting a longitudinally moving force of said actuating member into an axially moving force of said release pin whereby an operating force to said actuating member is imparted to said release pin via said converting means after mounting said air bag body on said steering wheel, thereby permitting the operation of said air bag body.

12. An air bag apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said conversion means is cam means interposed between said actuating member and said release pin.

13. An air bag apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said actuating member and said release pin are mounted on said steering wheel, positioning means being provided in such a manner as to effect an accurate positioning of said release pin relative to said locking means when said air bag body is mounted on said steering wheel.

14. An air bag apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said release pin is guided to a predetermined position by a guide groove provided in said air bag body.

15. An air bag apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said release pin is accommodated in a holder in such a manner as to be movable in an axial direction thereof, said holder is mounted in such a manner as to be movable in a radial direction of said steering wheel, and an engaging portion, provided in said air bag body, for engaging with said holder at the time of mounting on said steering wheel thereby permitting positioning between said holder and said steering wheel in the radial direction of said steering wheel.

16. An air bag apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said holder has a flange projecting radially from a part of a trunk for accommodating said release pin, said flange is clamped between steering wheel and a support plate fixed to said steering wheel so as to be adjustable in the radial direction of said steering wheel, an opening for allowing said trunk to pass therethrough being formed in said support plate, and a gap being formed between said opening and an outer periphery of said holder so as to permit adjustment and movement of said holder.

17. An air bag apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said actuating member comprises a threaded portion which is moved in the longitudinal direction thereof by a rotating operation.

18. An air bag apparatus for inflating a bag accommodated in an air bag body when an acceleration exceeding a predetermined value has acted on said air bag body, comprising:

locking means for preventing said bag from being inflated when said acceleration exceeding said predetermined value has acted on said air bag body;

mounting means for mounting said air bag body on a chassis; and

a flexible actuating member having one end corresponding to said locking means, a bent intermediate portion, and the other end led in a direction moving away from the axis of a steering wheel and serves an inputting portion for inputting an operating force of an operator, said locking means being unlocked by a longitudinally operating force exerted by the operator.

19. An air bag apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a stopper for preventing reverse movement of said actuating member after cancellation of said operating force exerted on said actuating member.

20. An air bag apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said actuating member is provided with a threaded portion for moving in the axial direction by a rotating operation force exerted thereby by the operator.

21. An air bag apparatus according to claim 18, wherein an end of said actuating member to which an operating force is applied by the operator is disposed in a radial direction of said steering wheel or in a tangential direction thereto.

22. An air bag apparatus for inflating an air bag of an air bag body when an acceleration exceeding a predetermined value has acted on said air bag body, comprising:

mechanically movable locking means for preventing said air bag from being inflated when said acceleration on said air bag body exceeds said predetermined value;

mounting means for mounting said air bag body on a chassis;

unlocking means having an actuating member for releasing said locking means, and for canceling the actuation of said locking means by an operation after the mounting of said air bag body on said chassis by said mounting means and permitting subsequently the inflation of said bag when said acceleration on said air bag body exceeds said predetermined value; and

a thread member provided on said actuating member having threads to enable said thread member to be screwed so as to push said actuating member for unlocking said locking means,

whereby the inflation of said air bag is prevented prior to the mounting of said air bag body on said chassis and after the mounting of said air bag body on said chassis until said operation is performed.