Air bag assembly for motor vehicles

• US 5,348,340 A
• Filed: 01/25/1993
• Issued: 09/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Humphreys, Gerard J., Breed, Allen K., Thuen, Torbjorn
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US08/008,689
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728 A, 280/728 B, 280/731, 280/734, 180/282, 220/261, 220/266
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• 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 system designed for mounting on a steering wheel or other member of a motor vehicle passenger compartment includes an air bag assembly, an open housing for the same and a cover. The air bag assembly while separated from its housing is disarmed to prevent accidental deployment. The air bag is armed during its installation in the housing. The housing and assembly are constructed so that the cover cannot be installed if the air bag assembly is missing or it has been installed improperly so that it is not armed. When the air bag assembly is removed from the housing, it is automatically disarmed.

Claims

1. An air bag system for mounting on a motor vehicle comprising:

an air bag assembly including a gas generator having an armed and a disarmed state;

housing means disposed in said motor vehicle for housing said gas generator, said housing means including mounting means for mounting said gas generator and securing said gas generator to said housing means, said mounting means cooperating with said gas generator for automatically arming said gas generator when said gas generator is secured to said housing means;

cover means for closing said housing means; and

cover prevention means for preventing said cover means from being installed on said housing means if said gas generator is in said disarmed state.

2. The air bag assembly of claim 1 with said mounting means further including arming means for arming said gas generator.

3. The air bag assembly of claim 2 wherein said arming means is arranged to disarm said gas generator when said air bag assembly is removed from said housing means.

4. The air bag assembly of claim 1 wherein said cover prevention means includes means for preventing said cover means from being installed on said housing means when said air bag assembly is missing from said housing means.

5. An air bag system for mounting on a motor vehicle comprising:

an air bag assembly including a gas generator having an armed and a disarmed state;

housing means disposed in said motor vehicle for housing said air bag assembly;

mounting means for mounting said gas generator in said housing means, said gas generator having a first position with respect to said mounting means in which said gas generator is in said disarmed state and said gas generator is removable from said housing means, said gas generator being movable into a second position in which said gas generator and said mounting means are interengaged to retain said gas generator in said housing means, said gas generator and said mounting means cooperating to arm said gas generator automatically to said armed state when said gas generator is in said second position.

6. The air bag system of claim 5 further comprising a cover for closing said housing means.

7. The air bag system of claim 6 further comprising cover prevention means for preventing the installation of said cover over said housing means if said sensor is not armed by said arming means.

8. The air bag system of claim 7 wherein said air bag is disposed within said cover.

9. The air bag assembly of claim 8 wherein said air bag is formed with an opening with said gas generator being fit into said opening.

10. The air bag assembly of claim 5 further comprising an acceleration sensor disposed in said gas generator.

11. An air bag system for a motor vehicle with a passenger compartment, said system comprising:

an air bag assembly including a gas generator having an accelerator sensor, and an inflatable air bag disposed around said gas generator;

an open housing formed in said passenger compartment and shaped to receive said air bag assembly, and including mounting means for mounting said gas generator and securing said generator to said

arming means for arming said sensor when said gas generator is inserted into said housing., said arming means cooperating with said mounting means for automatically arming said sensor when said gas generator is secured to said open housing; and

cover means for covering said open housing.

12. The air bag system of claim 11 wherein said arming means includes a rotary member and a fixed member.

13. The air bag system of claim 12 wherein said rotary member is disposed in said sensor, and said fixed member is affixed to said housing and arranged to engage said rotary member.

14. The air bag system of claim 11 wherein said gas generator includes a shell and a tongue extending from said shell, and wherein said housing includes a plate for engaging said tongue for securing said gas generator in said housing.

15. The air bag system of claim 11 further including cover prevention means for preventing the installation of said cover when said gas generator is missing.

16. The air bag system of claim 11 further including cover prevention means for preventing the installation of said cover when said gas generator is not armed.

17. The air bag system of claim 16 wherein prevention means comprises a protrusion member and a hole for said protrusion member.

18. The air bag system of claim 17 wherein said protrusion member is disposed on said cover and said hole is formed on said housing.

19. The air bag system of claim 18 wherein said housing means includes a plate movable to selectively cover said hole.

20. The air bag system of claim 19 wherein said plate is movable by said gas generator.

21. The air bag system of claim 11 further including disarming means for disarming said air bag when said air bag is removed from said housing.

22. An air bag system for a motor vehicle with a passenger compartment, said system comprising:

an air bag assembly including a gas generator having an accelerator sensor, and an inflatable air bag disposed around said gas generator;

an open housing formed in said passenger compartment and shaped to receive said gas generator;

arming means for arming said sensor when said gas generator is inserted into said open housing, wherein said arming means includes a rotary member and a fixed member, said rotary member being disposed in said sensor, and said fixed member being affixed to said open housing and arranged to engage said rotary member to arm said sensor when said sensor is rotated with respect to said housing; and

cover means for covering said open housing.

23. An air bag system for a motor vehicle with a passenger compartment, said system comprising:

an air bag assembly including a gas generator having an accelerator sensor, and an inflatable air bag disposed around said gas generator, said gas generator including a shell and a tongue extending from said shell;

an open housing formed in said passenger compartment and shaped to receive said gas generator, said open housing including a plate for engaging said tongue for securing said gas generator to said open housing;

arming means for arming said sensor when said gas generator is inserted into said open housing;

cover means for covering said open housing; and

cover prevention means for preventing the installation of said cover when said gas generator is not armed, wherein said cover prevention means includes a protrusion member and a hole for said protrusion member.

24. The air bag system of claim 23 wherein said protrusion member is disposed on said cover and said hole is formed on said housing.

25. The air bag system of claim 24 wherein said housing includes a plate movable to selectively cover said hole.

26. The air bag of system of claim 25 wherein said plate is movable by said gas generator.