Portable air bag

• US 5,242,193 A
• Filed: 03/19/1992
• Issued: 09/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard J. Humpal
• Original Assignee: Richard J. Humpal
• Inventors: Humpal, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyson, Karin L.
• Application Number:
  US07/854,404
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 280/733, 280/728, 251/66, 222/3
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/33 Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

A self-contained inflatable air bag apparatus that can be effectively used in virtually any vehicle having seat belts. The apparatus includes a base connected to the restraining belt; an inflatable air bag carried by the base; a source of pressurized gas; and a trigger responsive to a predetermined tensile loading of the belt for connecting the source of gas to the air bag, the air bag being expansively deployed for crash-protection of the occupant upon occurrence of the predetermined tensioning of the belt. The base can form a spaced pair of belt contacting surfaces for contacting a first side of the belt, the trigger including a post for contacting an opposite, second side of the belt between the belt contacting surfaces of the base, the belt pressing against the post in response to the tensile loading, the post being moved in response to a predetermined magnitude of the tensile loading; and a valve connected between the gas source and the air bag and responsive to movement of the post for pressurizing the air bag. Preferably the apparatus includes a detent member that can biasing engage with the post, the post not being moved when the tensile loading is less than the predetermined magnitude. An indicator can display an estimated mass of the occupant, and a preload adjustment coupled to the indicator can set the preloading in correspondence with the indicator, whereby the predetermined magnitude of the tensile loading is directly related to the estimated mass.

Claims

1. The apparatus wherein the base forms a spaced pair of belt contacting surfaces for contacting a first side of the belt, and the trigger means comprises:

(a) a post for contacting an opposite, second side of the belt between the belt contacting surfaces of the base, the belt pressing against the post in response to the tensile loading;

(b) means for permitting movement of the post in response to a predetermined magnitude of the tensile loading; and

(c) a valve connected between the source and the bag member and responsive to movement of the post for pressurizing the bag member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a detent member and biasing means for biasingly engaging the detent member with the post, the biasing means having a predetermined preloading for preventing movement of the, post when the tensile loading is less than the predetermined magnitude.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising indicator means for displaying an estimated of the occupant, and preload adjustment means coupled to the indicator means for setting the preloading correspondence with the indicator means, whereby the predetermined magnitude of the tensile loading is direct to the estimated mass.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the post extends on a post axis from a post platform, the post platform being movably connected to the base, the detent member releasably engaging an end discontinuity of the post, the biasing means urging the detent member the platform.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, at least one of the belt contacting surfaces is formed b column member, the column member being movably con to the base for engagement of the apparatus with t by access to one side only of the trigger means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises:

(a) a valve body having a feed extending between an inlet and an outlet of the body, passage intersecting the feed passage;

(b) a gate member slidably engaging support passage and extending between opposite sides the feed passage, the gate member being connected to post for movement from the feed passage in response to movement of the post; and

(c) a closure member sealingly blocking the feed passage proximate the support passage, the closure member being supported against the pressurized gas of the source by the gate member, the gas pressure moving the closure member for at least partially unblocking the feed passage when the gate member moves from the feed passage.

7. A portable inflatable air bag apparatus for use in a vehicle having a restraining belt for an occupant of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a base for connection to the restraining belt, the base forming a spaced pair of belt contacting surfaces for contacting a first side of the belt;

(b) an inflatable air bag member carried by the base;

(c) a source of pressurized gas;

(d) trigger means responsive to a predetermined tensile loading of the belt for connecting the source of gas to the air bag member, the trigger means comprising;

(i) a post for contacting an opposite, second side of the belt between the belt contacting surfaces of the base, the belt pressing against the post in response to the tensile loading, the post extending on a post axis from a post platform, the post platform being movably connected to the base;

(ii) means for permitting movement of the post in response to a predetermined magnitude of the tensile loading; and

(iii) a valve connected between the source and the bag member and responsive to movement of the post for pressurizing the bag member;

(e) a detent member and biasing means for biasingly engaging the detent member with the post, the biasing means having a predetermined preloading for preventing movement of the post when the tensile loading is less than the predetermined magnitude, the detent member releasably engaging an end discontinuity of the post, the biasing means urging the detent member toward the platform;

(f) indicator means for displaying an estimated mass of the occupant, and preload adjustment means coupled to the indicator means for setting the preloading in correspondence with the indicator means,

whereby the predetermined magnitude of the tensile loading is directly related to the estimated mass, the air bag member being expansively deployed for crash-protection of the occupant upon occurrence of the predetermined tensioning of the belt.