Airbag system

• US 5,324,074 A
• Filed: 11/07/1991
• Issued: 06/28/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald A. Christian, Steven D. Smith
• Original Assignee: Ronald A. Christian, Steven D. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Steven D., Christian, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyson, Karin L.
• Application Number:
  US07/788,738
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728, 280/730, 280/732, 280/743, 280/735, 280/728 R, 280/730 R, 180/282, 307/10.1, 340/525, 340/815.12, 340/815.15, 116/28 R, 116/279, 200/61.50, 200/61.49, 200/314, 200/307
• US Class Current: 280/728.1
• 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 21/01564 Manually or key-actuated inhibition switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components

Abstract

An airbag system for a vehicle having a plurality of seats, each having a respective support structure fixedly disposed forward of each of the seats; a plurality of inflatable airbags; hook-and-pile or snap fasteners disposed between each airbag and a respective support structure; at least one impact sensor in the vehicle, and a plug-and-jack for connecting at least a selected one of the inflatable airbags with the impact sensor upon an impact to the vehicle.

Claims

1. An airbag system for a vehicle having a plurality of seats, comprising a respective support structure fixedly disposed forward of each of said seats;

a plurality of inflatable airbags;

respective releasable attachment means disposed between each airbag and a respective support structure;

at least one impact sensor in said vehicle;

selective airbag connection means for selectively connecting at least a selected one of said inflatable airbags with said impact sensor for inflating at least said selected one of said airbags upon an impact of said vehicle;

wherein said releasable attachment means include at least one of a plurality of hook-and-pile fasteners disposed between said airbags and said respective support structure, and a plurality of snap fasteners disposed between said airbags and said respective support structure;

said releasable attachment means further including an electrical plug and jack connection for said airbag.

2. An airbag system according to claim 1, including a selector switch in said selective airbag connection means, said selector switch having a plurality of manually operable switches and an input terminal connected to said impact sensor, each manually operable switch having a first contact pair, each first contact pair having a contact connected to said input terminal, and an output contact connected to a respective airbag.

3. An airbag system according to claim 2 including a visual indicator coupled to each manually operable switch for indicating the switch being in its set position.

4. An airbag system according to claim 1 including an airbag activating circuit, wherein said impact sensor includes a pair of sensor contacts for closing said airbag activating circuit, said pair of sensor contacts including a fixed contact and a movable contact having a set and a reset position, and an inertia mass in engagement with said movable contact for moving said movable contact into said set position in engagement with said fixed contact on impact.

5. An airbag system according to claim 4 including sensor resetting means, wherein said sensor resetting means include over-center holding means in engagement with said movable contact for holding said movable contact in one of said set and reset positions, and a reset pushbutton in engagement with said movable contact for manually pushing said movable contact into said reset position.

6. An airbag system according to claim 3, wherein each manually operable first contact pair includes a double-throw toggle coupled to said manually operable first contact pair.

7. An airbag system according to claim 2, wherein each of said manually operable contact pair includes a push-on-push-off button coupled to each first manually operable contact pair.

8. An airbag system according to claim 3, including a second contact pair in each manually operable switch connected to said visual indicator for energizing said visual indicator in operated position of said manually operable switch.

9. An airbag system according to claim 8, wherein said visual indicator is a light-emitting diode.