Air bag apparatus for a passenger seat

• US 5,636,864 A
• Filed: 11/03/1995
• Issued: 06/10/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Hori, Seiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/552,779
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 180/273
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01534 using electromagneticwaves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01562 by speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/415 with additional means allowing a permanent locking of the retractor during the wearing of the belt

Abstract

An air bag apparatus for a front or rear passenger seat includes a child restraining system detecting device for detecting whether a child restraining system is mounted on the passenger seat by detecting whether a webbing retractor is in an automatic locking retractor mode or an emergency locking retractor mode, and an inflator controller which prevents an inflator for expanding an air bag body from operating when it is detected by the child restraining system detecting device that the child restraining system is mounted on the passenger seat. Accordingly, the operation of the air bag apparatus is prevented when the child restraining system is used.

Claims

1. An air bag apparatus for a passenger seat, comprising:

child restraining system detecting means for detecting whether a child restraining system is mounted on a passenger seat; and

an inflator controller for preventing an inflator for an air bag body from operating when it is detected by said child restraining system detecting means that said child restraining system is mounted on said passenger seat, wherein said child restraining system detecting means comprises a retractor mode detecting switch which detects whether a webbing retractor for said passenger seat is in an automatic locking retractor mode or in an emergency locking retractor mode, and when it is detected by said retractor mode detecting switch that said webbing retractor is in the automatic locking retractor mode, it is detected that said child restraining system is mounted on said passenger seat.

2. An air bag apparatus for a passenger seat according to claim 1, further comprising:

an acceleration sensor for detecting an abrupt deceleration of the vehicle equal to or greater than a predetermined level and for outputting a signal to said inflator so as to operate said inflator; and

a switch circuit interposed between said acceleration sensor and said inflator and being opened and closed by said inflator controller,

wherein said inflator controller prohibits operation of said inflator by opening said switch circuit.

3. An air bag apparatus for a passenger seat according to claim 1, further comprising:

passenger detecting means for detecting whether a passenger occupies said passenger seat,

wherein operation of said inflator is prohibited by said inflator controller when it is detected by said passenger detecting means that no passenger occupies said passenger seat.

4. An air bag apparatus for a passenger seat according to claim 3, further comprising:

an acceleration sensor for detecting an abrupt deceleration of the vehicle equal to or greater than a predetermined level and for outputting a signal to said inflator so as to operate said inflator; and

a switch circuit interposed between said acceleration sensor and said inflator and being opened and closed by said inflator controller,

wherein said inflator controller prohibits operation of said inflator by opening said switch circuit.

5. An air bag apparatus for a passenger seat according to claim 3, wherein said passenger detecting means is one of an infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays emitted from a passenger, and a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure produced by said passenger.

6. An air bag apparatus for a passenger seat, comprising:

passenger detecting means for detecting whether a passenger occupies said passenger seat;

webbing application detecting means for detecting whether a webbing for said passenger seat is in an applied state;

child restraining system detecting means for detecting whether a child restraining system is mounted on said passenger seat;

a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed; and

an inflator controller for preventing an inflator for expanding an air bag body from operating in a state in which the vehicle speed detected by said vehicle speed sensor is lower than a predetermined speed when said passenger detecting means detects that a passenger occupies said passenger seat, said webbing application detecting means detects that said webbing is in the applied state, and said child restraining system detecting means detects that no child restraining system is mounted on said passenger seat, and for allowing said inflator to operate even in the state in which the vehicle speed detected by said vehicle speed sensor is lower than the predetermined speed when said passenger detecting means detects that a passenger occupies said passenger seat, said webbing application detecting means detects that said webbing is in an unapplied state, and said child restraining system detecting means detects that no child restraining system is mounted on said passenger seat, wherein said child restraining system detecting means comprises a retractor mode detecting switch which detects whether a webbing retractor for said passenger seat is in an automatic locking retractor mode or in an emergency locking retractor mode, and when it is detected by said retractor mode detecting switch that said webbing retractor is in the automatic locking retractor mode, it is detected that said child restraining system is mounted on said passenger seat.

7. An air bag apparatus for a passenger seat, comprising:

passenger detecting means for detecting whether a passenger occupies said passenger seat;

webbing application detecting means for detecting whether a webbing for said passenger seat is in an applied state;

child restraining system detecting means for detecting whether a child restraining system is mounted on said passenger seat;

a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed; and

an inflator controller for preventing an inflator for expanding an air bag body from operating in a state in which the vehicle speed detected by said vehicle speed sensor is lower than a predetermined speed when said passenger detecting means detects that a passenger occupies said passenger seat, said webbing application detecting means detects that said webbing is in the applied state, and said child restraining system detecting means detects that no child restraining system is mounted on said passenger seat, and for allowing said inflator to operate even in the state in which the vehicle speed detected by said vehicle speed sensor is lower than the predetermined speed when said passenger detecting means detects that a passenger occupies said passenger seat, said webbing application detecting means detects that said webbing is in an unapplied state, and said child restraining system detecting means detects that no child restraining system is mounted on said passenger seat, wherein said webbing application detecting means is one of a pull-out amount detecting means which detects an amount of said webbing which is pulled out from a webbing retractor for said passenger seat, and a buckle engagement detecting switch which detects whether a tongue plate coupled with said webbing is engaged with a buckle with which said tongue plate is to be engaged.

8. An air bag apparatus for a passenger seat according to claim 7, further comprising:

an acceleration sensor for detecting an abrupt deceleration of the vehicle equal to or greater than a predetermined level and for outputting a signal to said inflator so as to operate said inflator; and

a switch circuit interposed between said acceleration sensor and said inflator and being opened and closed by said inflator controller,

wherein said inflator controller prohibits operation of said inflator by opening said switch circuit.

9. An air bag apparatus for a passenger seat according to claim 7, wherein said passenger detecting means is one of an infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays emitted from a passenger, and a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure produced by said passenger.

10. An air bag apparatus for a passenger seat according to claim 7, wherein said child restraining system detecting means comprises a retractor mode detecting switch which detects whether a webbing retractor for said passenger seat is in an automatic locking retractor mode or in an emergency locking retractor mode, and when it is detected by said retractor mode detecting switch that said webbing retractor is in the automatic locking retractor mode, it is detected that said child restraining system is mounted on said passenger seat.

11. An air bag apparatus for a passenger seat according to claim 10, further comprising:

an acceleration sensor for detecting an abrupt deceleration of the vehicle equal to or greater than a predetermined level and for outputting a signal to said inflator so as to operate said inflator; and

a switch circuit interposed between said acceleration sensor and said inflator and being opened and closed by said inflator controller,

wherein said inflator controller prohibits operation of said inflator by opening said switch circuit.

12. An air bag apparatus for a passenger seat according to claim 11, wherein said passenger detecting means is one of an infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays emitted from a passenger, and a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure produced by said passenger.

13. An air bag apparatus for a passenger seat, comprising:

an air bag body which is expanded by an operation of an inflator;

an acceleration sensor for detecting an abrupt deceleration of a vehicle equal to or greater than a predetermined level and for outputting a signal to said inflator so as to operate said inflator;

switch means interposed between said acceleration sensor and said inflator and being opened and closed, said switch means stopping transmission of the signal from said acceleration sensor to said inflator in an opened state;

child restraining system detecting means for detecting whether a child restraining system is mounted on a passenger seat; and

an inflator controller for opening said switch means so as to prevent the inflator from operating when it is detected by said child restraining system detecting means that said child restraining system is mounted on said passenger seat, wherein said child restraining system detecting means comprises a retractor mode detecting switch which detects whether a webbing retractor for said passenger seat is in an automatic locking retractor mode or in an emergency locking retractor mode, and when it is detected by said retractor mode detecting switch that said webbing retractor for said passenger seat is in the automatic locking retractor mode, it is detected that said child restraining system is mounted on said passenger seat.

14. An air bag apparatus for a passenger seat according to claim 13, further comprising:

passenger detecting means for detecting whether a passenger occupies said passenger seat,

wherein said inflator controller opens said switch means when it is detected by said passenger detecting means that no passenger occupies said passenger seat.

15. An air bag apparatus for a passenger seat according to claim 14, wherein said passenger detecting means is one of an infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays emitted from a passenger, and a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure produced by said passenger.

16. An air bag apparatus for a passenger seat according to claim 14, further comprising webbing application detecting means for detecting whether said webbing for said passenger seat is in an applied state,

wherein said inflator controller closes said switch means to allow the signal from said acceleration sensor to be transmitted to said inflator when it is detected by said passenger detecting means that a passenger is present and it is detected by said webbing application detecting means that said webbing is in an unapplied state.

17. An air bag apparatus for a passenger seat according to claim 16, wherein said webbing application detecting means is one of a pull-out amount detecting means which detects an amount of said webbing which is pulled out from a webbing retractor for said passenger seat, and a buckle engagement detecting switch which detects whether a tongue plate coupled with said webbing is engaged with a buckle with which said tongue plate is to be engaged.