Steering wheel double air bag protective system

• US 5,174,599 A
• Filed: 03/27/1992
• Issued: 12/29/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harold L. Hull, William A. Young
• Original Assignee: Harold L. Hull, William A. Young
• Inventors: Hull, Harold L., Young, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US07/858,875
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728, 280/731, 280/729, 280/750, 280/751, 280/753, 74/552
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0293 Additional pads or cushions in vehicle compartments, e.g. movably mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/02 Occupant safety arrangements or fittings , e.g. crash pads seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00

Abstract

Disclosed is a double air bag protective system to protect the driver of a vehicle from impact with the steering wheel of the vehicle upon light or severe collision, with the second air bag being filled upon installation and positioned between the steering wheel and the driver while the first air bag inflates upon severe collision for added protection. Both air bags may be inflated manually to check for position and leaks and the inflation system is replacable after a collision.

Claims

1. Apparatus for protective interposition between a vehicle operator and a vehicle steering wheel assembly under vehicle collision conditions, comprising;

a first and second air bag, a container for said first air bag, means to mount said container within a cavity of said steering wheel, first and second inflator means for said first air bag, releaseably retaining means to secure said first air bag within the confines of said container when said air bag is in a deflated condition, means to release said means to secure said first air bag within said container when said first inflator means inflates said first air bag, inflator means for said second air bag, means to releaseably secure said second air bag to said retaining means of said first air bag, and

means to activate said first inflator means of said first air bag when said vehicle is subject to a pre-determined impact force.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said container is a bag, said bag being of a size and shape to contain said inflator and said first air bag, when said first air bag is in a deflated condition.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means to mount said container within a cavity of said steering wheel is multiple straps cooperating with loop and pile fasteners.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said inflator means is a gas diffuser.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said releaseably retaining means to secure said first air bag within the confines of said container when said first air bag is in a deflated condition is a membrane, said membrane being of a size and thickness to sufficiently support and restrain said first air bag within said container.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means to release said means to secure said first air bag within said container is an elastic draw-string suitably mounted around a flexible opening in said container, said container, said flexible opening and said means to secure said first air bag within said container cooperating together to form a first and second position, said first position securing said first air bag within the confines of said container and

said second position allowing said first air bag to be released from said container.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said inflator means for said second air bag is a valve, said valve cooperating with an independent air source.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means to releaseably secure said second air bag to said retaining means of said first air bag is a loop and pile fastener.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means to activate said inflator means of said first air bag is by a first electrical circuit, said first electrical circuit including a battery, impact sensor means and an electrically activated switch, said switch cooperating with said inflator means to activate said inflator means when said first circuit is closed.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 including a second electrical circuit which when activated by the operator will activate said inflator means.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which said second electrical circuit includes multiple normally open switches, said switches working in conjunction with the brake system, ignition system of the host vehicle and a manually operated switch, whereby,

the brake circuit and ignition circuit must be energized before the manually operated switch can activate said second inflator circuit.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said second inflator means, is an open tube communicating from ambient air to the inside of said first air bag, said open tube allowing an operator to inflate and deflate said first air bag without energizing said first inflator means, said open tube allowing said first air bag to deflate after being energized by said first inflator means.

13. A method of assembling, installing, checking and positioning a first and second air bag and inflation means thereof on a steering wheel comprising the steps of;

a. attaching and securing said first air bag container within a cavity between the spokes of a steering wheel;

b. connecting appropriate electrical connectors to the proper circuits of the host vehicle;

c. placing and properly connecting a gas generator and activator switch within said first air bag container to said electrical circuits and the gas input of said first air bag;

d. folding said first air bag around said gas generator and said activator switch within said container;

e. placing a retaining membrane over said first air bag within a flexible opening in said container;

f. positioning a releaseable retaining means to hold said membrane in place within said container;

g. inflating a second air bag to a desired firmness;

h. releaseably affixing said second air bag on said membrane in a desired position;

whereby;

when the host vehicle of said steering wheel is subjected to a light collision in comparison to a heavy collision, said second air bag protects the vehicle operator from violent contact with said steering wheel and in the event of a heavy collision, said first air bag is activated automatically to further protect the operator from contact with said steering wheel.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 including;

installing at a location of choice, such as on the rim of the steering wheel, a manual switch;

whereby,

when said manual switch is activated by the vehicle operator with the ignition switch on and the brake system energized, said first air bag is activated providing further protection between the operator and said steering wheel.

15. The method as set forth in claim 13 including a method of re-loading and re-assembling, said first and second air bags and said inflation means comprising the steps of;

a. removing said first and second air bags from said apparatus;

b. unpluging and removing said inflation means from said first air bag container;

c. installing a new, unused inflation means into the first air bag container; and

following steps c through g of claim 13.