Passenger-side airbag apparatus activation control system

• US 6,371,516 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyagawa, Toshihito
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/568,976
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 701/45, 307/10.1, 297/256.16, 200/61.58 R, 200/43.04, 200/43.07, 200/43.08, 200/43.09
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2821 having a seat and a base part
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2893 coupled to the seat sub-frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems

Abstract

A child seat is an International Standard-compliant CRS. The CRS has right and left-side fastening attachments that are spaced from each other by a predetermined interval in a direction of a width of the CRS. CRS switch mechanisms are disposed at sites in a seat cushion at which anchor bars are disposed. At least one of the CRS mechanisms has a key cylinder. By turning the key cylinder through the use of an ignition key, a CRS detection switch can be switched between an ON state and an OFF state.

Claims

1. A system for controlling an activation of a passenger-side airbag apparatus, comprising:

an anchor device disposed in a passenger seat for attaching a child restraint seat to the passenger seat, said anchor device further comprising a child restraint seat switch mechanism that automatically interrupts an activation allowed state of a passenger-side airbag apparatus activating circuit upon attachment of the child restraint seat to the anchor device and automatically recovers said activation allowed state of the activating circuit upon detachment of the child restraint seat from the anchor device; and

manual switch operation means disposed in said anchor device for allowing the child restraint seat switch mechanism to be manually switched between an on state and an off state, said on state corresponding to said activation allowed state and said off state corresponding to an activation prevented state that prevents said activation allowed state.

2. A system for controlling an activation of a passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the child restraint seat switch mechanism includes a mechanical switch that is operable by a fastening attachment provided on the child restraint seat, and switches the passenger-side airbag apparatus between the activation-allowed state and the activation-prevented state upon the mechanical switch being switched on and off.

3. A system for controlling an activation of a passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the manual switch operation means is connected to the mechanical switch, and allows the mechanical switch to be manually switched on and off.

4. A system for controlling an activation of a passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the mechanical switch is a push switch that is capable of being pushed by the fastening attachment.

5. A system for controlling an activation of a passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the manual operation means includes a manually operable key cylinder, and an arm cooperable with the key cylinder, and

wherein the push switch is pushed by the arm.

6. A system for controlling an activation of a passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the child restraint seat is attached to the anchor device, the fastening attachment pushes and moves the arm to a position where the arm is out of a contact with the push switch.

7. A system for controlling an activation of a passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the key cylinder is operated by an ignition key.

8. A system for controlling an activation of a passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the key cylinder has an operating knob.

9. A system for controlling an activation of a passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cancel mechanism that removes the activation prevented state of the passenger-side airbag apparatus activating circuit established by the manual switch operation means, when the child restraint seat is attached to the anchor device after the child restraint seat switch mechanism has been caused to interrupt the passenger-side airbag apparatus activating circuit by the manual switch operation means.

10. A system for controlling an activation of a passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second anchor device disposed in the passenger seat;

said second anchor device including a second manual switch operation means for allowing a second child restraint switch mechanism to be manually switched between an on state and an off state and warning means for outputting a warning when only one of the pair of manual switch operation means is switched off.

11. A system for controlling an activation of a passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when the pair of manual switch operation means are both off, the warning means indicates that the passenger-side airbag apparatus is in an activation-prevented state.

12. A system for controlling an activation of a passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the warning means includes an indicator that lights when the pair of manual switch operation means are both off, and that blinks when only one of the pair of manual operation means is off.

13. A system for controlling an activation of a passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second anchor device disposed in the passenger seat;

said second anchor device including a second manual switch operation means for allowing a second child restraint seat switch mechanism to be manually switched between an on state and an off state, wherein the passenger-side airbag apparatus is switched to the activation-prevented state when only one of the pair of manual switch operation means is switched off.

14. A system for controlling an activation of a passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second manual switch operation means for allowing the child restraint seat switch mechanism to be manually switched between an on state and an off state;

and cooperation means for causing the first manual switch operation means to cooperate with the second manual switch operation means when the second manual switch operation means is operated.

15. A system for controlling an activation of a passenger-side airbag apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the cooperation means includes a wire that mechanically interconnects the pair of manual switch operation means.

16. A system for controlling an activation of a passenger-side airbag apparatus, comprising:

an anchor device disposed in a passenger seat for attaching a child restraint seat to the passenger seat, said anchor device further comprising a child restraint seat switch mechanism that automatically interrupts an activation allowed state of a passenger-side airbag apparatus activating circuit upon attachment of the child restraint seat to the anchor device and automatically recovers said activation allowed state of the activating circuit upon detachment of the child restraint seat from the anchor device; and

a manual switch operation mechanism disposed in said anchor device that allows the child restraint seat switch mechanism to be manually switched between an on state and an off state, said on state corresponding to said activation allowed state and said off state corresponding to an activation prevented state that prevents said activation allowed state.