Air bag system for an automotive vehicle

• US 5,466,001 A
• Filed: 06/28/1994
• Issued: 11/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Nomura, Yoshinbu, Gotomyo, Yasuo, Muramoto, Hisao, Hirashima, Isao, Kore, Haruhisa, Kohno, Shigefumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hill, Mitchell J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LARSON, LOWELL A
• Application Number:
  US08/226,720
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728 R, 280/730 R, 280/735, 280/748, 280/751, 280/731, 280/732, 297/216.1, 297/216.12, 297/216.13, 297/216.14
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02 the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable adjustable arm-rests B60N2/75; adjustable head-rests B60N2/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/879 with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2074 in head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2173 the module or part thereof being movably mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01508 detecting forces or pressure in bags or modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239

Abstract

The head rest is detachably mounted to the seat back of the front seat and the air bag unit with an air bag mounted therein is mounted to the head rest. The air bag is expanded toward the passenger seated on the rear seat in response to an explosion signal from the control unit into which signals are entered from impact sensors. The air bag is so disposed as to expand only when the passenger is seated on the rear seat. The posture and position of the air bag unit is adjusted in association with the movement or displacement of the front seat to which the air bag is mounted, thereby improving the ability of the expanded air bag to confine the passenger seated on the rear seat and protecting the passenger in a more safe fashion. Further, the air bag unit is mounted to the head rest of the front seat, so that the air bag can be exchanged with ease and at cheap costs without exchanging the front seat itself.

Claims

1. An air bag system for an automotive vehicle having an air bag unit disposed on a front seat so as to expand an air bag accommodated in the air bag unit toward a passenger seated on a rear seat upon impact of the automotive vehicle, comprising:

front seat status adjusting means for adjusting a seat status of the front seat;

passenger determining means for determining if the passenger is seated on the rear seat; and

inhibition means for inhibiting alteration of the seat status of the front seat beyond a predetermined range by controlling the front seat status adjusting means in response to a signal from the passenger determining means, when it is determined by the passenger determining means that the passenger is seated on the rear seat.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front seat status adjusting means is a seat sliding device.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said air bag system includes at least one of a forward and rearward position detecting sensor, and said inhibition means is arranged to inhibit the front seat from being adjusted beyond a predetermined range in at least one of a forward and rearward direction.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front seat status adjusting means is a seat reclining device.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said air bag system includes a reclining angle detecting sensor for the seat back of the front seat;

and said inhibition means is arranged to inhibit the reclining angle from being adjusted beyond a predetermined range.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front seat status adjusting means is a vertically adjusting device of the seat back.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said air bag system includes a height detecting sensor for the front seat;

and said inhibition means is arranged to inhibit the seat height from being adjusted beyond the predetermined range.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air bag is located in a front seat head rest.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said front seat status adjusting means is at least one of forward and rearward reclining device of the head rest.

10. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said air bag system includes an inclining angle detecting sensor;

and said inhibition means is arranged to inhibit the inclining angle of the head rest from being adjusted beyond the predetermined range.

11. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said front seat status adjusting means is a vertically adjusting device in the head rest.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said air bag system includes a vertical head-rest position detecting sensor;

and said inhibition means is arranged to inhibit the vertical position of the head rest to be adjusted beyond the predetermined range.