Side-impact electro-mechanical accelerometer to actuate a vehicular safety device
First Claim
1. A side-impact electro-mechanical accelerometer for use in a vehicle to close a first electric circuit when a lateral acceleration force greater than a first predetermined threshold level is sensed and to close a second electric circuit when a lateral acceleration force greater than a second predetermined threshold level is sensed, comprising:
- a hollow housing having an actuator means including a member having an aperture formed therein to selectively receive an actuator therein;
a chamber cooperatively formed by said hollow housing and said member wherein said actuator means is selectively operable in a first, second and third actuator configuration such that said actuator is at least partially disposed in said housing when in said first actuator; and
a switch means including a first conductive switch element movable between a first, second and third position disposed to engage said actuator in a first configuration, a second conductive switch element movable between a first, second and third position disposed in spaced relationship relative to said actuator means and said first conductive switch element in said first configuration and disposed to engage said first conductive switch element in a second configuration when a lateral acceleration force greater than the first predetermined threshold level is exerted on the side-impact electro-mechanical accelerometer to close said first electric circuit and a third conductive switch element movable between a first and second position disposed in spaced relationship relative to the second conductive switch element in said first configuration and disposed to engage the second conductive switch element in said second configuration when a lateral acceleration force greater than the second predetermined threshold level is exerted on the electro-mechanical accelerometer to close said second electric circuit.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A side-impact electro-mechanical accelerometer is used in a vehicle to selectively actuate a vehicular safety device such as an airbag when a lateral acceleration force greater than a predetermined threshold level is sensed. A hollow housing is configured to retain an actuator element movable between a first, second and third position at least partially disposed therein when in the first position and a switch assembly including a first flexible conductive switch element movable between a first, second and third position disposed to engage and normally retain the actuator element when in the first position, a second conductive switch element disposed in spaced relationship relative to the actuator element and the first flexible conductive switch element when each is in the first position to engage the first flexible conductive switch element when the actuator element moves from the first position to the second position when the lateral acceleration force greater than a first predetermined threshold level is exerted on the side-impact electro-mechanical accelerometer to close a first electric circuit and a third flexible conductive switch element disposed in spaced relationship relative to the actuator element and the first and second flexible conductive switch elements when each is in the first or second positions to engage the second flexible conductive switch element when the actuator element moves from the first position to the third position when the lateral acceleration force greater than a second predetermined threshold level is exerted on the side-impact electro-mechanical accelerometer to close a second electric circuit.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A side-impact electro-mechanical accelerometer for use in a vehicle to close a first electric circuit when a lateral acceleration force greater than a first predetermined threshold level is sensed and to close a second electric circuit when a lateral acceleration force greater than a second predetermined threshold level is sensed, comprising:
- a hollow housing having an actuator means including a member having an aperture formed therein to selectively receive an actuator therein;
a chamber cooperatively formed by said hollow housing and said member wherein said actuator means is selectively operable in a first, second and third actuator configuration such that said actuator is at least partially disposed in said housing when in said first actuator; and
a switch means including a first conductive switch element movable between a first, second and third position disposed to engage said actuator in a first configuration, a second conductive switch element movable between a first, second and third position disposed in spaced relationship relative to said actuator means and said first conductive switch element in said first configuration and disposed to engage said first conductive switch element in a second configuration when a lateral acceleration force greater than the first predetermined threshold level is exerted on the side-impact electro-mechanical accelerometer to close said first electric circuit and a third conductive switch element movable between a first and second position disposed in spaced relationship relative to the second conductive switch element in said first configuration and disposed to engage the second conductive switch element in said second configuration when a lateral acceleration force greater than the second predetermined threshold level is exerted on the electro-mechanical accelerometer to close said second electric circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
- a hollow housing having an actuator means including a member having an aperture formed therein to selectively receive an actuator therein;
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28. A side-impact electro-mechanical accelerometer for use in a vehicle to close a first electric circuit when a lateral acceleration force greater than a first predetermined threshold level is sensed and to close a second electric circuit when a lateral acceleration force greater than a second predetermined threshold level is sensed comprising a hollow housing having an actuator means including an actuator and a track guiding means having a body with a recess formed therein to selectively receive said actuator therein;
- a chamber cooperatively formed by said hollow housing and said body wherein said actuator means is selectively operable in a first, second and third actuator configuration when said actuator is in a first, second and third position, respectively, such that said actuator is at least partially disposed in said housing when in said first position; and
a switch means including a first conductive switch element movable between a first, second and third position disposed to engage said actuator in said first position, a second conductive switch element movable between a first, second and third position disposed in spaced relationship relative to said actuator means and said first conductive switch element in said first position and disposed to engage said first conductive switch element in said second position when the lateral acceleration force greater than the first predetermined threshold level is exerted on the side-impact electro-mechanical accelerometer to close said first electric circuit and a third conductive switch element movable between a first and second position disposed in spaced relationship relative to the second conductive switch element in said first position and to engage the second conductive switch element in said second position when a lateral acceleration force greater than the second predetermined threshold level is exerted on the electro-mechanical accelerometer to close said second electric circuit. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
- a chamber cooperatively formed by said hollow housing and said body wherein said actuator means is selectively operable in a first, second and third actuator configuration when said actuator is in a first, second and third position, respectively, such that said actuator is at least partially disposed in said housing when in said first position; and
Specification