Control system for air bags in different vehicle locations

• US 6,293,582 B1
• Filed: 03/03/1998
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Universal Propulsion Company Incorporated (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Lewis, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US09/033,739
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/735, 280/728.1, 280/733, 244/121
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0067 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0093 Aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves
• 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 22/14 incorporating enlarged restraint areas, e.g. vests, nets , crash pads, optionally for children crash pads for occupants' safety on vehicles in general B60R21/02

Abstract

A vehicle restraint system for a seated occupant including a lap belt system and an inflatable member mounted on the lab belt and restrained by the belt when inflated. The restraint system is applicable to multi-row seated vehicles in which a control system controls air bag deployment in rows located at first, second and other vehicle locations. Further, the system may include a device for detecting an impending collision of the vehicle and an object and deploy bags in anticipation of such collision.

Claims

1. A vehicle restraint system for restraining during rapid deceleration occupants in a vehicle having first and second vehicle portions in which deceleration occurs in the first portion prior to deceleration in the second portion and in which first and second occupants are positioned in the first and second portions, respectively, comprising

a) a first inflatable member mounted to be deployed to protect the first occupant;

b) a second inflatable member mounted to be deployed to protect the second occupant;

c) an inflation means for inflating each of said inflatable members; and

d) a crash detector firing system for controlling the inflation means which serve each of the inflatable members which firing system includes a deceleration detection detector which detector transmits a separate signal to each inflation means so that the first inflatable member inflates prior to the second inflatable member.

2. The vehicle restraint system of claim 1 in which occupant seats are positioned in a row in the first vehicle portion and in which occupant seats are positioned in a row in the second vehicle portion.

3. The vehicle restraint system of claim 1 in which the vehicle is an airplane.

4. The vehicle restraint system of claim 1 in which the vehicle is a bus.

5. The vehicle restraint system of claim 1 in which the vehicle is a train.

6. The vehicle restraint system of claim 1 in which the vehicle is an automobile.