Vehicle safety system

• US 5,984,350 A
• Filed: 08/31/1998
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Meister, Jack B., Zollinger, Lindsay P., Hagan, Willard F., Riley, Michael C., Adkisson, Rick A., Coleman, Daniel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/143,756
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 280/795, 280/806, 280/728.1, 280/733, 280/801.1, 297/480, 701/405, 244/122 AG, 244/122 R, 244/122 B
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

A vehicle passenger safety system for use where independent power is required. The system includes as cooperating elements: an independent source of power; a passenger restraining belt; an inflatable bag stored in the belt; crash event sensors; belt orientating structure; a source of inflating gas; and, in the preferred embodiment programmed electronics that control functioning of the safety system and prolong the service life of the independent power source.

Claims

1. A restraint system for protecting vehicle passengers during a crash event comprising:

(a) a vehicle seat including a substructure frame attached to the vehicle;

(b) a safety belt having a first non-extensible part and a second extensible part, wherein one end of each belt part is attached to the vehicle seat sub-structure for extension from the points of attachment to the substructure frame across a passenger'"'"'s lap;

(c) fastening structures on ends of the belt parts non-attached to the substructure for uniting the parts over the passenger'"'"'s lap;

(d) an inflatable member mounted on the non-extensible part of the belt on that side facing away from the passenger'"'"'s lap;

(e) belt position orienting means operatively associated with the non-extensible belt part for maintaining the inflatable member mounted thereon facing away from the passenger'"'"'s lap;

(f) a restraint system battery power supply which is independent of any other vehicle power source;

(g) an electrical switching combination contained in the belt part fastening structures that permit activation of the inflatable member only when the inflatable member is positioned facing away from the passenger'"'"'s lap;

(h) a source of inflating gas operably joined to the inflatable member;

(i) a crash event sensor, and

(j) system electronics mounted on the seat substructure frame for electrically interconnecting the crash event sensor, the source of inflating gas, the battery power supply and the electrical switching combination.

3. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 1 or 2 wherein the system electronics, is contained within a radiant energy shielding housing supported by the vehicle seat frame.

4. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 1 wherein the system electronics includes switching means connected between the system battery power supply and the source of inflating gas for rendering the system electronics operable when it is mounted on the substructure frame.

5. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 4 wherein a switching means operator separate from the switching means is supported by the seat frame in position for activating the system electronics when the electronics are mounted on the seat frame.

6. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 1 wherein the electrical switching combination in the belt fastening structures comprises at least one reed switch mounted on one belt part and a reed switch operator mounted on the other belt part.

7. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 6 wherein the restraint system includes an extra belt part for disabling connected between the reed switch and the reed switch operator attached to the extensible and non-extensible belt parts, the system electronics.

8. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 6 wherein the reed switch operator is a magnet.

9. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 6 wherein:

the fastening structures include a coupling tang and a buckle and the reed switch is mounted on the coupling tang secured to the end of the first belt part and the reed switch operator is carried in the buckle secured to the end of the second belt part.

10. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 6 wherein at least two reed switches are mounted on the one belt part.

11. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 1 wherein the source of inflating gas and the system electronics include structure for enabling introduction of gas into the inflatable member at predetermined controlled rates.

12. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 1 wherein the restrained system battery power supply comprises at least two individual batteries connected for providing the system electronics with at least two levels of voltage.

13. A system as defined in claim 12 in which the batteries are connected in series.

14. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 1 wherein multiple sources of inflating gas are provided and the system electronics includes a firing program for effecting release of gas into the inflatable member in a preselected manner.

15. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 1 wherein the belt position orienting means comprises a torsion resisting element which is attached to the non-extensible belt part carrying the inflatable member.

16. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 15 wherein the belt position orienting means is a gas supply tube shaped for maintaining the belt part in position with the inflatable member facing away from the user'"'"'s lap.

17. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 15 wherein the torsion resisting element is a substantially flat strap.

18. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 1 wherein the fastening structures on the ends of the belt parts non-attached to the substructure include physical means permitting connection therebetween only when the inflatable member is facing away from the passenger'"'"'s lap.

19. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 18 wherein the physical means comprises an extension on one fastening structure for reception into a position orienting opening on the other fastening structure.

20. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 1 wherein belt position orienting means comprise the electrical switch combination contained in the belt part fastening structures.

21. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 1 wherein the crash event sensor is an accelerometer for generating a crash event output signal proportional to the rate of change in vehicle speed.

22. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 21 wherein the accelerometer incorporates a Hall effect device.

23. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 21 in which the accelerometer produces a signal only in response to changes in speed occurring along a single axis substantially parallel to the path of travel of the vehicle.

24. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 21 in which at least two accelerometers are used for producing the crash event output signal.

25. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 1 in which the system electronics include a gas firing circuit and a separate system control circuit.

26. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 25 in which the gas firing circuit and the system control circuit operate at different voltages received from the battery power supply.

2. A vehicle restraint system for protecting vehicle passengers during a crash event comprising:

(a) a vehicle seat including a substructure frame attached to the vehicle;

(b) a safety belt having a first non-extensible and a second extensible part, each attached at one end to the vehicle seat substructure frame and across a passenger'"'"'s lap;

(c) fastening structures on ends of the belt parts non-attached to the substructure for uniting the parts about the passenger'"'"'s lap;

(d) an electrical switching combination contained in the belt part fastening structures;

(e) an inflatable member attached to the belt;

(f) a source of inflating gas operably joined to the inflatable member;

(g) a restraint system battery power supply which is independent of any other vehicle power source;

(h) a crash event sensor;

(i) system electronics electrically interconnecting the crash event sensor, the source of inflating gas and the battery power supply and regulating the supply of power from the battery to the event sensor to discrete pulses of preselected duration.

27. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 2 wherein the system electronics includes a microprocessor that is programmed to poll the crash event sensor, recognize a crash event and initiate deployment of the inflatable member.

28. A vehicle restraint system as defined in claim 2 in which the system electronics include a gas firing circuit and a separate system control circuit.

29. An apparatus for controlling the operation of passive vehicle passenger restraint systems utilizing an inflatable cushion and a source of inflating gas, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a sensor responsible for transmission of a signal output reflecting the occurrence of a crash event;

(b) a restraint system battery power supply which is independent of any other vehicle power source;

(c) system electronics electrically interconnecting the crash event sensor and the battery power supply, which system electronics includes logic means programmed for regulating the supply of power from battery to the event sensor to discrete pulses of preselected duration; and

(d) a housing enclosing at least the sensor, battery power supply and system electronics for shielding out radiant energy.

30. An apparatus as define in claim 29 wherein the system electronics includes a microprocessor and an oscillator circuit connected for providing a timed energizing pulse to the sensor.

31. An apparatus as defined in claim 30 wherein a source of inflating gas is located within the radiant energy shielding housing.

32. An apparatus as define in claim 29 wherein switching means is operably connected between the system battery power supply and the source of inflating gas, for rendering the gas source inoperative when desired.

33. A vehicle safety restraint system for passenger protection during a vehicle crash event comprising:

(a) an inflatable body restraint member extendable across a user'"'"'s body (b) a source of inflating gas operatively connected to the body restraint member;

(c) a crash event sensor to initiate inflation of the body restraint member;

(d) a restraint system battery power supply which is independent of any other vehicle power source; and

(e) power supply control elements operably connected between the battery power supply and the event sensor, whereby power is pulsed from the battery power supply to the event sensor to sample the condition thereof at preselected discrete intervals.

34. A restraint system as defined in claim 33 wherein a safety switch is electrically connected to the battery power supply for selectively controlling its connection to the remainder of the power supply control elements.

35. A restraint system as defined in claim 33 or claim 34 wherein the power supply control elements for pulsing power to the sensing means comprise a microprocessor.

36. A restraint system as defined in claim 33 wherein the event sensor comprises a Hall effect device.

37. A restraint system as defined in claim 33 wherein the inflatable body restraint member comprises:

a first, non-extensible belt part having an inflatable bag mounted thereon for expansion in the direction away from a user'"'"'s body.

38. A restraint system as defined in claim 37 wherein the first belt part includes a belt position orienting element for orienting a preselected side of the first belt away from the user'"'"'s body.

39. A restraint system as defined in claim 38 wherein the first belt part position orienting element comprises a torsion resisting element that maintains an initial, preferred first belt part orientation.

40. A restraint system as defined in claim 39 wherein the torsion resisting element extends substantially the entire length of the first belt part.

41. A restraint system as defined in claim 37 wherein the first belt part has two ends, one end being attached to selected substructure and the second end having a tang for connecting to a buckle, whereby the first belt part is secured at both ends over the lap of the user'"'"'s body.

42. A restraining system as provided in claim 41 comprising a second belt part having two ends, one end being attached to selected substructure, and a buckle attached to the second belt part for releasable engagement with the first belt part tang, the second belt part being adjustable in length.

43. A restraint system as defined in claim 42 which includes an electrical switching combination in the tang and buckle which activates the safety restraint system when the tang and buckle are mutually engaged with the inflatable bag away from the user'"'"'s body.

44. A restraint system as defined in claim 43 wherein the electrical switching combination comprises a reed switch and a magnet.

45. A restraint system as defined in claim 44 wherein the reed switch is mounted on the tang and the magnet is mounted on the buckle.

46. In a vehicle safety restraint system having an inflatable member attached to a safety belt, a source of gas, a crash event sensor and a source of battery power that is independent of any other vehicle power source, the combination comprising:

electronic control means operably connecting the battery power source to the crash event sensor for regulating the supply of power from the source to the sensor into discrete pulses of preselected duration.

47. In a process for operating a vehicle safety restraint system having an airbag, a battery power source which is independent of any other vehicle power source and a crash event sensor, the steps comprising:

(a) providing a microprocessor programmed to control system operation, wherein the microprocessor;

(i) applies power to the sensor for a time effecting stabilization thereof;

(ii) energizes the sensor with a discrete power input to determine the condition of the sensor;

(iii) powers down the system when no crash event is sensed and powers up the system when a crash event is sensed; and

(iv) cyclically repeats the energizing and powering down of the sensor for as long as no crash event is sensed.

48. A process as defined in claim 47 wherein the microprocessor continues energizing the crash event sensor when it identifies a crash event.

49. A process as defined in claim 48 wherein the airbag is deployed after the event is identified.

50. A restraint system for protecting vehicle passengers during a crash event comprising:

(a) a vehicle seat including a substructure frame attached to the vehicle;

(b) a safety belt having a first non-extensible part and a second extensible part, wherein one end of each belt part is attached to the vehicle seat sub-structure frame for extension from the points of attachment to the sub-structure frame across a passenger'"'"'s lap;

(c) a substantially flat stiffening element extending substantially the entire length of the non-extensible belt part for establishing a substantially fixed orientation of the belt part with respect to the passenger'"'"'s lap;

(d) an inflatable member mounted on the non-extensible part of the belt on that side facing away from the passenger'"'"'s lap;

(e) a belt position orienting means operatively associated with the non-extensible belt part for maintaining the inflatable member mounted thereon facing away from the passenger'"'"'s lap;

(f) a restraint system battery power supply which is independent of any other vehicle power source;

(g) an electrical switching combination contained in the belt part fastening structures that permit activation of the inflatable member only when the inflatable member is positioned facing away from the passenger'"'"'s lap;

(h) a source of inflating gas operably joined to the inflatable member;

(i) a crash event sensor; and

(j) system electronics mounted on the seat substructure frame for electrically interconnecting the crash event sensor, the source of inflating gas, the battery power supply and the electrical switching combination.

51. An apparatus for controlling the operation of passive vehicle passenger restraint systems utilizing an inflatable cushion and a source of inflating gas, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a sensor responsible for transmission of a signal output reflecting the occurrence of a crash event;

(b) a restraint system battery power supply which is independent of any other vehicle power source;

(c) system electronics including (i) a microprocessor, (ii) and an oscillator and a firing circuit connected to the microprocessor, whereby discrete pulses of pre-selected duration are supplied to the event sensor; and

(d) a housing enclosing at least the sensor, battery power supply and system electronics for shielding out radiant energy.