Vehicle air bag minimum distance enforcement apparatus, method and system

• US 6,916,040 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2003
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vehicle Safety Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vehicle Safety Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Levine, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US10/648,550
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 296/68.1, 701/49, 701/45, 745/12, 745/13, 745/14
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/02 for main transmission clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• 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 2/0028 of a body part, e.g. of an arm or a leg
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0273 taking into account user data, e.g. knee height or physical state
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0278 using sensors external to the seat for measurements in relation to the seat adjustment, e.g. for identifying the presence of obstacles or the appropriateness of the occupants position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42736 of the whole seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/26 Ultrasonic, e.g. sonar
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/10 using a database
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01204 Actuation parameters of safety arrangents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01211 Expansion of air bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0153 using field detection presence sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01542 detecting passenger motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01544 detecting seat belt parameters, e.g. length, tension or height-adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 : Seat position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 : Child-seat detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 : Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 : Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20534 : Accelerator

Abstract

A vehicle safety device includes a seat mounted within a passenger compartment of the vehicle, in which the seat is movably connected to a vehicle frame by a seat position adjusting mechanism that allows the seat to move along an axis between a forward-most position and a rearward-most position. An air-bag is mounted within the passenger compartment in front of the forward-most position of the seat, with the forward-most position of the seat defined as a position of the seat in which a distance between a passenger seated in the seat and the air-bag is equal to a minimum safe clearance. In addition, an exemplary method of maintaining a minimum safe clearance between an air-bag mounted in a vehicle and a vehicle passenger includes the steps of preventing motion of a seat toward the air-bag beyond a forward-most position, in which, when in the forward-most position, a passenger seated in the seat is separated from the air-bag by a predetermined minimum safe clearance, and providing a position adjusting mechanism for at least one vehicle control pedal to allow a passenger seated in the seat to adjust a distance between the seat and the at least one pedal by moving the at least one pedal toward and away from the seat. An automatic seat positioning system, which takes into account both seat to air-bag distance and eye height and automatically, may be used to optimally and automatically position a passenger to maximize safety and comfort.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety system for providing a minimum safe clearance distance between a passenger and a front air-bag arrangement in a vehicle, comprising:

a position determining arrangement to determine distance information for a distance between a passenger in a front seat arrangement of the vehicle and the front air-bag arrangement of the vehicle and to provide distance information, the front seat arrangement being movable within the vehicle by a front seat position adjusting arrangement that allows the front seat arrangement to move relative to the front air-bag arrangement at least between a minimum safe clearance position and a rearward position, the minimum safe clearance position providing the minimum safe clearance distance between the passenger in the front seat arrangement and the front air-bag arrangement, displacement of the front seat arrangement toward the rearward position increasing a distance between the front seat arrangement and the front air-bag arrangement;

wherein the front air-bag arrangement is fixedly positioned with respect to one of a steering wheel assembly for a driver passenger and a dashboard arrangement for a non-driver passenger, and the front seat arrangement is movable to the minimum safe clearance position based on the distance information.

2. The vehicle safety system of claim 1, further comprising:

a pedal adjusting arrangement to move at least one pedal between a first position and a second position, the at least one pedal being positioned in a passenger compartment forward of the front seat arrangement.

3. The vehicle safety system of claim 2, wherein the at least one pedal includes a plurality of pedals, and when one of the plurality of pedals is moved, the plurality of pedals moves together, so as to maintain a predetermined positioning of each of the plurality of pedals relative to one another.

4. The vehicle safety system of claim 3, wherein the front-seat arrangement and the pedal adjusting arrangement are operated so that the passenger may operate at least one of the plurality of pedals while seated at the minimum safe clearance position.

5. The vehicle safety system of claim 2, wherein the first position and the second position are separated by a distance of about six inches.

6. The vehicle safety system of claim 2, wherein the pedal adjusting arrangement includes a positioning arrangement that is movable to move the at least one pedal between the first position and the second position.

7. The vehicle safety system of claim 6, wherein the first position and the second position are separated by a distance of about six inches.

8. The vehicle safety system of claim 6, wherein the pedal adjusting arrangement is operable to move the at least one pedal linearly between the first position and the second position.

9. The vehicle safety system of claim 2, wherein the pedal adjusting arrangement is operable to move the at least one pedal linearly between the first position and the second position.

10. The vehicle safety system of claim 2, wherein the pedal adjusting arrangement includes a positioning arrangement that is movable to move the at least one pedal between the first position and the second position.

11. The vehicle safety system of claim 10, wherein the pedal adjusting arrangement is operable to move the at least one pedal linearly between the first position and the second position.

12. The vehicle safety system of claim 11, wherein the first position and the second position are separated by a distance of about six inches.

13. The vehicle safety system of claim 12, wherein the at least one pedal includes a plurality of pedals, and when one of the plurality of pedals is moved, the plurality of pedals moves together, so as to maintain a predetermined positioning of each of the plurality of pedals relative to one another.

14. The vehicle safety system of claim 13, wherein the position determining arrangement includes a distance sensor to obtain a measure of the distance between the passenger and the front air-bag arrangement.

15. The vehicle safety system of claim 14, further comprising:

another position determining arrangement to determine a position corresponding to an eye-level height of the passenger.

16. The vehicle safety system of claim 14, wherein the front air-bag arrangement is mounted in a steering wheel of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle safety system of claim 16, wherein the minimum safe clearance position provides a distance of about 10 inches between a portion of a chest of the passenger and the front air-bag arrangement.

18. The vehicle safety system of claim 17, wherein the front-seat arrangement and the pedal adjusting arrangement are operated so that the passenger may operate at least one of the plurality of pedals while seated at the minimum safe clearance position.

19. The vehicle safety system of claim 1, wherein the position determining arrangement includes a distance sensor to obtain a measure of the distance between the passenger and the front air-bag arrangement.

20. The vehicle safety system of claim 1, further comprising:

another position determining arrangement to determine a position corresponding to an eye-level height of the passenger.

21. The vehicle safety system of claim 1, wherein the front air-bag arrangement is mounted in a steering wheel of the vehicle.

22. The vehicle safety system of claim 1, wherein the passenger is alerted if a safety threat is posed to the passenger when the passenger moves at least part of the body beyond the minimum safe clearance position.

23. A method of providing a minimum safe clearance distance between an air-bag arrangement and a passenger in a vehicle, which includes a front seat arrangement that is movable with respect to a front air-bag arrangement, the method comprising:

determining distance information for a distance between a passenger in the front seat arrangement of the vehicle and the front air-bag arrangement of the vehicle, the front seat arrangement being movable within the vehicle by a front seat position adjusting arrangement that allows the front seat arrangement to move relative to the front air-bag arrangement at least between a minimum safe clearance position and a rearward position, the minimum safe clearance position providing the minimum safe clearance distance between the passenger in the front seat arrangement and the front air-bag arrangement, displacement of the front seat arrangement toward the rearward position increasing a distance between the front seat arrangement and the front air-bag arrangement,

wherein the front air-bag arrangement is fixedly positioned with respect to one of a steering wheel assembly for a driver passenger and a dashboard arrangement for a non-driver passenger and

moving the front seat arrangement to the minimum safe clearance position based on the distance information.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

moving at least one pedal between a first position and a second position using a pedal adjusting arrangement, the at least one pedal being positioned in a passenger compartment forward of the front seat arrangement.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the at least one pedal includes a plurality of pedals, and when one of the plurality of pedals is moved, the plurality of pedals moves together, so as to maintain a predetermined positioning of each of the plurality of pedals relative to one another.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the first position and the second position are separated by a distance of about six inches.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the front-seat arrangement and the pedal adjusting arrangement are operated so that the passenger may operate the at least one pedal while seated at the minimum safe clearance position.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the pedal adjusting arrangement includes a positioning arrangement that is movable to move the at least one pedal between the first position and the second position.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the first position and the second position are separated by a distance of about six inches.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the pedal adjusting arrangement is operable to move the at least one pedal linearly between the first position and the second position.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the pedal adjusting arrangement is operable to move the at least one pedal linearly between the first position and the second position.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the pedal adjusting arrangement includes a positioning arrangement that is movable to move the at least one pedal between the first position and the second position.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the pedal adjusting arrangement is operable to move the at least one pedal linearly between the first position and the second position.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first position and the second position are separated by a distance of about six inches.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the at least one pedal includes a plurality of pedals, and when one of the plurality of pedals is moved, the plurality of pedals moves together, so as to maintain a predetermined positioning of each of the plurality of pedals relative to one another.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the distance information is obtained using a distance sensor to obtain a measure of the distance between the passenger and the front air-bag arrangement.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

determining a position corresponding to an eye-level height of the passenger.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the front air-bag arrangement is mounted in a steering wheel of the vehicle.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the minimum safe clearance position provides a distance of about 10 inches between a portion of a chest of the passenger and the front air-bag arrangement.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the front-seat arrangement and the pedal adjusting arrangement are operated so that the passenger may operate at least one of the plurality of pedals while seated at the minimum safe clearance position.

41. The method of claim 23, wherein the distance information is determined using a distance sensor to obtain a measure of the distance between the passenger and the front air-bag arrangement.

42. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

determining a position corresponding to an eye-level height of the passenger.

43. The method of claim 23, wherein the front air-bag arrangement is mounted in a steering wheel of the vehicle.

44. The method of claim 23, wherein the passenger is alerted if a safety threat is posed to the passenger when the passenger moves at least part of the body beyond the minimum safe clearance position.

45. A vehicle safety system for providing a minimum safe clearance distance between a passenger and a front air-bag arrangement in a vehicle, comprising:

a position determining arrangement to determine distance information for a distance between a passenger in a front seat arrangement of the vehicle and the front air-bag arrangement of the vehicle and to provide distance information, the front seat arrangement being movable within the vehicle by a front seat position adjusting arrangement that allows the front seat arrangement to move relative to the front air-bag arrangement at least between a minimum safe clearance position and a rearward position, the minimum safe clearance position providing the minimum safe clearance distance between the passenger in the front seat arrangement and the front air-bag arrangement, displacement of the front seat arrangement toward the rearward position increasing a distance between the front seat arrangement and the front air-bag arrangement; and

a pedal adjusting arrangement to move at least one pedal between a first position and a second position, the at least one pedal being positioned in a passenger compartment forward of the front seat arrangement;

wherein the front air-bag arrangement is fixedly positioned with respect to one of a steering wheel assembly for a driver passenger and a dashboard arrangement for a non-driver passenger, and the front seat arrangement is movable to the minimum safe clearance position based on the distance information, and

wherein the front-seat arrangement and the pedal adjusting arrangement are operated so that the passenger may operate the at least one pedal while seated at the minimum safe clearance position.

46. The vehicle safety system of claim 45, wherein the pedal adjusting arrangement includes a positioning arrangement that is movable to move the at least one pedal between the first position and the second position.

47. The vehicle safety system of claim 45, wherein the pedal adjusting arrangement is operable to move the at least one pedal linearly between the first position and the second position.

48. The vehicle safety system of claim 47, wherein the first position and the second position are separated by a distance of about six inches.

49. The vehicle safety system of claim 48, wherein the at least one pedal includes a plurality of pedals, and when one of the plurality of pedals is moved, the plurality of pedals moves together, so as to maintain a predetermined positioning of each of the plurality of pedals relative to one another.

50. The vehicle safety system of claim 45, wherein the distance position determining arrangement includes a distance sensor to obtain a measure of the distance between the passenger and the front air-bag arrangement.

51. The vehicle safety system of claim 50, wherein the front air-bag arrangement is controllable to operate in a reduced clearance mode if the passenger moves at least part of the body beyond the minimum safe clearance position, based on the measure of the distance between the passenger and the front air-bag arrangement.

52. The vehicle safety system of claim 51, wherein the pedal adjusting arrangement is operable to move the at least one pedal linearly between the first position and the second position.

53. The vehicle safety system of claim 52, wherein the first position and the second position are separated by a distance of about six inches.

54. The vehicle safety system of claim 53, wherein the at least one pedal includes a plurality of pedals, and when one of the plurality of pedals is moved, the plurality of pedals moves together, so as to maintain a predetermined positioning of each of the plurality of pedals relative to one another.

55. The vehicle safety system of claim 45, further comprising:

another position determining arrangement to determine a position corresponding to an eye-level height of the passenger.

56. The vehicle safety system of claim 45, wherein the front air-bag arrangement is mounted in a steering wheel of the vehicle.

57. The vehicle safety system of claim 45, wherein the minimum safe clearance position provides a distance of about 10 inches between a portion of a chest of the passenger and the front air-bag arrangement.

58. The vehicle safety system of claim 45, wherein the position determining arrangement includes a distance sensor to obtain a measure of the distance between the passenger and the front air-bag arrangement.

59. The vehicle safety system of claim 58, further comprising:

another position determining arrangement to determine a position corresponding to an eye-level height of the passenger.

60. The vehicle safety system of claim 58, wherein the front air-bag arrangement is mounted in a steering wheel of the vehicle.

61. The vehicle safety system of claim 60, wherein the minimum safe clearance position provides a distance of about 10 inches between a portion of a chest of the passenger and the front air-bag arrangement.

62. The vehicle safety system of claim 45, wherein the passenger is alerted if a safety threat is posed to the passenger when the passenger moves at least part of the body beyond the minimum safe clearance position.