Seat-occupant restraining apparatus

• US 6,109,647 A
• Filed: 12/14/1998
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Akaba, Hiroshi, Okazaki, Hidetsugu, Utsumi, Hidetoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/210,371
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 280/733, 280/734, 280/735
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/026 at least two ends of the belt being retractable after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01558 monitoring crash strength
• 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 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• 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

A seat-occupant restraining apparatus for a vehicle is provided that includes both an air bag and air bag inflator and an air belt and air belt inflator. An ignition controller controls the ignition of both the air bag and air belt inflators. An acceleration sensor is included. The ignition controller calculates the magnitude of the shock of collision, based on input from the acceleration sensor at the time of a collision of the vehicle by integrating the acceleration over a preset time, and the magnitude of the shock is compared with a first and second threshold, both of which are stored in advance. If the calculated shock is less than the first threshold, the ignition controller does not output an ignition signal to either the air bag or the air belt. For shocks between the two threshold values, the air belt assembly is operated. For shocks greater than the second threshold, both the air belt and the air bag are activated.

Claims

1. A seat-occupant restraining apparatus comprising:

an air bag inflator, which produces a high-pressure gas;

an air bag, which is expanded by said high-pressure gas produced by said air bag inflator, and expands in front of a seat occupant sitting in a seat;

an air belt inflator which produces a high-pressure gas;

an air belt, which is expanded by said high-pressure gas produced by said air belt inflator in the state of restraining said seat occupant in said seat;

shock detecting means for detecting a shock of a collision of a vehicle; and

control means for controlling an operation of said air bag inflator and an operation of said air belt inflator on a basis of an output of said shock detecting means,

wherein if a shock, detected by said shock detecting means, is less than a first threshold, said control means does not operate any one of said air bag inflator and said air belt inflator,

wherein if said shock is not less than said first threshold and is less than a second threshold, greater than said first threshold, said control means does not operate said air bag inflator, but does operate said air belt inflator, and

wherein if said shock is not less than said second threshold, said control means operates both said air bag inflator and said air belt inflator.