Apparatus for selectively enabling or disabling an actuatable occupant protection device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for selectively enabling or disabling an actuatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
- a cylindrical housing mountable to a vehicle, said housing having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis extending through said first and second ends of said housing, said housing having an inner sidewall portion, said inner sidewall portion having an annular ledge adjacent said first end with a locking rib extending a predetermined distance axially from said ledge toward said second end of said housing, said inner sidewall portion having a pair of spaced apart locking channels along opposed sides of said locking rib;
an elongated shaft member having first and second end portions, said shaft member disposed within and rotatable relative to said housing, said first end portion of said shaft member positioned adjacent said first end of said housing and engaging said ledge, said shaft member having at least one slot extending axially from said first end portion of said shaft member and terminating at a location intermediate said first and second end portions of said shaft member;
a blade member disposed within and axially moveable relative to said shaft member and to said housing, said blade member having at least one arm extending radially through said at least one slot of said shaft member, said at least one arm extending into one of said locking channels and being movable between said locking channels through rotation of said shaft member;
a biasing element urging said blade member toward said first end of said shaft member, thereby biasing said at least one arm toward said ledge and into one of said locking channels; and
a switch element having two states operatively associated with said locking channels, said switch element changing states in response to said at least one arm moving between said locking channels, said switch element providing a signal indicative of the state of said switch element for disabling or enabling the actuatable protection device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus (10) for selectively enabling or disabling an actuatable vehicle occupant protection device (18). The apparatus (10) includes a cylindrical housing (80) having an inner sidewall portion (88), which has an annular ledge (90) adjacent the first end (82). A locking rib (102) extends axially a predetermined distance from the ledge (90) toward the second end (84) of the housing (80). The inner sidewall portion (88) has a pair of spaced apart locking channels (104 and 106) along opposed sides of the locking rib (102). An elongated shaft member (40) is disposed within and rotatable relative to the housing (80). The shaft member (40) has at least one slot (50) extending axially from a first end (42) portion of the shaft member (40). A blade member (56) is disposed within and axially movable relative to the shaft member (40). The blade member (56) has at least one arm (60) extending radially through the slot (50) and into one of the locking channels (104 or 106). The arm (60) is moveable between locking positions through rotation of the shaft member (40) with an appropriate key (32). Selective movement of the arm (60) from one locking position to another results in enabling or disabling the protection device (18).
14 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus for selectively enabling or disabling an actuatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
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a cylindrical housing mountable to a vehicle, said housing having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis extending through said first and second ends of said housing, said housing having an inner sidewall portion, said inner sidewall portion having an annular ledge adjacent said first end with a locking rib extending a predetermined distance axially from said ledge toward said second end of said housing, said inner sidewall portion having a pair of spaced apart locking channels along opposed sides of said locking rib; an elongated shaft member having first and second end portions, said shaft member disposed within and rotatable relative to said housing, said first end portion of said shaft member positioned adjacent said first end of said housing and engaging said ledge, said shaft member having at least one slot extending axially from said first end portion of said shaft member and terminating at a location intermediate said first and second end portions of said shaft member; a blade member disposed within and axially moveable relative to said shaft member and to said housing, said blade member having at least one arm extending radially through said at least one slot of said shaft member, said at least one arm extending into one of said locking channels and being movable between said locking channels through rotation of said shaft member; a biasing element urging said blade member toward said first end of said shaft member, thereby biasing said at least one arm toward said ledge and into one of said locking channels; and a switch element having two states operatively associated with said locking channels, said switch element changing states in response to said at least one arm moving between said locking channels, said switch element providing a signal indicative of the state of said switch element for disabling or enabling the actuatable protection device. - 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, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An apparatus for selectively enabling or disabling an actuatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
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a key plate having an opening dimensioned and configured for receiving a length of a vehicle key, an elongated shaft member having first and second ends and an axis extending through said first and second ends, said key plate attached at said first end of said shaft member, said shaft member having an elongated cylindrical sidewall portion with a pair of diametrically opposed slots extending axially along said cylindrical sidewall portion from said first end of said shaft member and terminating at a location intermediate said first and second ends of said shaft member; a blade member having a body portion positioned coaxially within said shaft member and a pair of arms extending radially from said body portion through said slots for axial movement within said slots of said cylindrical sidewall portion of said shaft member, said key plate opening providing a passage to said body portion of said blade member; biasing means for biasing said blade member toward said first end of said shaft member; an elongated cylindrical housing mountable to a vehicle, said housing having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis extending through said first and second ends of said housing coaxial with said shaft member axis, said housing having an inner sidewall portion, said inner sidewall portion comprising locking guide means for guiding axial movement of at least one of said arms into one of a first and second locking position, said sidewall portion of said shaft member being positioned concentrically within and rotatable relative to said housing, said first end of said housing positioned adjacent said first end of said shaft member, said second end of said shaft member extending beyond said second end of said housing; an actuating member attached to said second end of said shaft; and a switch element positioned adjacent and operatively connected to said actuating member, said switch element having at least two states operatively associated with said first and second locking positions, said switch element changing states upon movement of said at least one arm between said first and second locking positions and providing a signal indicative of the state of said switch element. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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Specification