Impact sensing apparatus

• US 5,483,846 A
• Filed: 11/01/1993
• Issued: 01/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Kawamura, Tateki, Kondoh, Yutaka, Sakamoto, Kazunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonck, Rodney H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRABOW, TROY E
• Application Number:
  US08/143,882
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 280/734, 280/806, 180/282, 74/2, 102/252, 137/45, 137/46
• US Class Current: 74/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/33 Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/11 Tripping mechanism

Abstract

An impact sensing apparatus includes a container, a weight swingably supported in the container and which is swung by an impact exceeding a predetermined value, an output member rotatably supported in the container and which engages the weight, the output member disengages the weight by the swing movement of the weight. A spring member is disposed between the container and the output member, which biases the output member so as to be rotated, and urges the weight so as not to swing. The weight includes a stopper portion for contacting the container so as to hold the weight at an initial position. The stopper portion is disposed at an outside edge of the weight and spaced from the pivotal axis of the weight so that the spring member presses against the container in an upwardly direction substantially vertical to a surface of the container.

Claims

1. An impact sensing apparatus comprising:

a container;

a weight swingably supported in the container to swing in a first direction about a pivotal axis n response to an impact exceeding a predetermined value;

an output member rotatably supported in the container in engagement with the weight, the output member disengaging the weight upon the swinging of the weight a predetermined distance about said pivotal axis in said first direction;

the weight having a perimetrical edge that includes a stopper portion in contact with a surface of an interior section of the container to hold the weight at an initial position;

a spring member disposed between the container and the output member biasing the output member in a direction to disengage the weight upon the swinging of the weight said predetermined distance in the first direction, the spring member biasing the weight in a second direction via the output member urging the stopper portion of the weight against the surface of the interior section of the container to hold the weight in said initial position, the spring member and the pivotal axis and the stopper portion and the interior section being spaced from one another and oriented relative to one another to cause the spring member to press the stopper portion against the surface of the interior section of the container in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the interior section of the container when the weight is held in said initial position lock lever rotatably disposed exteriorly of the container, and a lock cam rotatably supported in the container, the lock cam being connected to and rotatable with the lock lever to selectively engage and disengage the weight in response to rotation of the lock lever, the weight remaining fixed in the initial position upon disengagement of the lock cam from the weight.

2. An impact sensing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the stopper portion is a flat surface.

3. An impact sensing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the stopper portion is an integral part of the weight.

4. An impact sensing apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a stopper member disposed exteriorly of the container, the stopper member being engageable with the lock lever to limit rotation of the lock lever when disengaging the weight.

5. An impact sensing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the weight includes an engaging portion on the perimetrical edge and the lock cam engages the weight at the engaging portion and the lock cam being spaced from the pivotal axis of the weight.

6. An impact sensing apparatus, comprising

a container:

a weight swingably supported in the container to swing in a first direction about a pivotal axis n response to an impact exceeding a predetermined value;

an output member rotatably supported in the container in engagement with the weight, the output member disengaging the weight upon the swinging of the weight a predetermined distance about said pivotal axis in said first direction;

the weight having a perimetrical edge that includes a stopper portion in contact with a surface of an interior section of the container to hold the weight at an initial position;

a spring member disposed between the container and the output member biasing the output member in a direction to disengage the weight upon the swinging of the weight said predetermined distance in the first direction, the spring member biasing the weight in a second direction via the output member urging the stopper portion of the weight against the surface of the interior section of the container to hold the weight in said initial position, the spring member and the pivotal axis and the stopper portion and the interior section being spaced from one another and oriented relative to one another to cause the spring member to press the stopper portion against the surface of the interior section of the container in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the interior section of the container when the weight is held in said initial position, a lock lever rotatably disposed exteriorly of the container;

a lock cam rotatably supported in the container and engagable directly with the weight, the lock cam being connected to and rotatable with the lock lever when the lock cam is disengaged from the weight.

7. An impact sensing apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising a stopper member disposed exteriorly of the container, the stopper member engaging the lock lever so as to restrict a rotational angle of the lock lever.

8. An impact sensing apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the weight and the lock cam engage each other at a pair of engaging portions, each of the engaging portions being respectively disposed on the weight, and the lock cam being spaced from the pivotal axis of the weight, the engaging portions being parallel to each other.