Airbag sensor for airbag restraint system

• US 5,165,717 A
• Filed: 08/01/1991
• Issued: 11/24/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Tanaka, Manabu
• Primary Examiner(s): Hill, Mitchell J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DICKSON, PAUL N
• Application Number:
  US07/738,981
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 280/806, 280/734, 280/735, 180/282, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.45 M, 200/61.53, 102/252, 102/253, 102/272
• US Class Current: 280/734
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/33 Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

An airbag sensor for triggering the inflation of an airbag forming part of an airbag restraint system for an automotive vehicle, during a vehicle collision. The airbag sensor is arranged to be locked to disable the triggering function during maintenance and test run upon loosening a locking releasing bolt, and to be unlocked to normally function during norman driving of the vehicle upon tightening the bolt. A sufficient tightening of the locking releasing bolt provides closing of an electric circuit to operate a warning device which informs a mechanic of completion of the locking releasing.

Claims

1. A locking releasing device of an airbag sensor for an airbag restraint system, the airbag sensor including triggering means for enabling an airbag to inflate upon being released from a locked condition, said locking releasing device comprising:

a locking releasing pin movable to a predetermined position to release the triggering means from the locked condition, said locking releasing pin being made of a conductive material and moved upon rotation of a locking releasing bolt connected with said locking releasing pin;

a pin holder in which said locking releasing pin is movably disposed, said pin holder being made of a non-conductive material;

a locking releasing elongate member movable to drive said locking releasing pin to said predetermined position upon contact with said locking releasing pin, said locking releasing elongate member being made of a conductive material;

a conductive plate securely disposed within said pin holder and positioned such that said locking releasing pin is contactable with said conductive plate when said locking releasing pin is located at said predetermined position;

means for closing an electric circuit when said locking releasing pin is brought into contact with said locking releasing elongate member and said conductive plate; and

a warning device electrically connected with said conductive plate and adapted to operate in response to closing of said electric circuit.

2. An airbag sensor for an airbag restraint system, comprising:

means for triggering an inflation of an airbag;

locking means for locking said triggering means so as to disable said triggering means from triggering in a first state, and unlocking said triggering means so as to allow said triggering means to trigger in a second state; and

locking releasing means for putting said locking means into said second state, including;

a locking releasing pin movable to a predetermined position at which said locking means is put into said second state, said locking releasing pin being made of a conductive material,

a pin holder in which said locking releasing pin is movably disposed, said pin holder being made of a non-conductive material,

a locking releasing elongate member movable to drive said locking releasing pin to said predetermined position upon contact with said locking releasing pin, said locking releasing elongate member being made of a conductive material and moved upon rotation of a locking releasing bolt connected with said locking releasing elongate member,

a conductive plate securely disposed within said pin holder and positioned such that said locking releasing pin is contactable with said conductive plate when it is located at said predetermined position;

means for closing an electric circuit when said locking releasing pin is brought into contact with said locking releasing elongate member and said conductive plate, and

a warning device electrically connected with said conductive plate and adapted to operate in response to closing of said electric circuit.

3. An airbag sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pin holder includes a generally cylindrical wall section, and an end wall section closing an end of said cylindrical wall section and formed with a center hole, wherein said locking releasing pin includes a base section disposed inside said cylindrical wall section, and a pin section projecting outside said pin holder through said center hole, wherein said conductive plate is located between said pin holder end wall section and said locking releasing pin base section.

4. An airbag sensor as claimed in claim 3, wherein said locking releasing elongate member extends through said pin holder cylindrical wall section and is movable generally perpendicularly to the axis of said locking releasing pin.

5. An airbag sensor as claimed in claim 4, wherein said locking releasing elongate member has a tip end section locatable inside said pin holder and formed with an inclined surface, wherein said locking releasing pin is formed with a tapered surface which is slidably contactable with said inclined surface of said locking releasing elongate member in a manner that said locking releasing pin is moved toward said predetermined position when said locking releasing elongate member tip end section is moved over a longitudinal axis of said locking releasing pin.

6. An airbag sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said warning device is arranged to generate a warning signal when said electric circuit is opened and to stop generation of said warning signal when said electric circuit is closed.

7. An airbag sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said triggering means is adapted to trigger the airbag inflation when a collision occurs.