Activation systems for inflatable personal restraint systems
First Claim
1. A system for providing an indication that a seatbelt carrying an airbag is fastened, the system comprising:
- a connector carried on a first web portion of the seatbelt;
a buckle carried on a second web portion of the seatbelt;
a normally closed magnetically operable switch fixedly attached to the connector; and
a magnet fixedly attached to the buckle, wherein the buckle is configured to releasably engage the connector to fasten the seatbelt, and wherein when the buckle is releasably engaged with the connector the magnet moves the normally closed switch from the normally closed position to an open position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems for indicating the status of a seatbelt buckle prior to a protective response are disclosed herein. An airbag activation system configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a normally closed magnetically operated reed switch. The reed switch is attached to a connector carried on one portion of a seatbelt, and a magnet is attached to a buckle carried on another portion of the seatbelt. Coupling the connector to the buckle causes the magnetic field of the magnet to move the reed switch from the normally closed position to an open position, thereby enabling the activation system to inflate the airbag in the event of an accident.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for providing an indication that a seatbelt carrying an airbag is fastened, the system comprising:
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a connector carried on a first web portion of the seatbelt; a buckle carried on a second web portion of the seatbelt; a normally closed magnetically operable switch fixedly attached to the connector; and a magnet fixedly attached to the buckle, wherein the buckle is configured to releasably engage the connector to fasten the seatbelt, and wherein when the buckle is releasably engaged with the connector the magnet moves the normally closed switch from the normally closed position to an open position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for indicating the status of a seatbelt, the system comprising:
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a switch fixedly attached at least proximate to a first coupler, wherein the first coupler is coupled to a first end portion of a first web, wherein the switch is operable between a normally closed position in which it completes an electrical circuit and an open position, and wherein the switch is magnetically moveable from the normally closed position to the open position; and a second coupler coupled to a second end portion of a second web, wherein the first coupler can be releasably engaged with the second coupler to join the first web to the second web, and wherein the switch is configured to move from the normally closed position to the open position when the first coupler is engaged with the second coupler. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for inflating a seatbelt airbag, the method comprising:
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providing an electrical circuit including a normally closed switch fixedly attached to one of a seatbelt connector and a seatbelt buckle; opening the normally closed switch in response to releasable engagement of the connector to the buckle and response to a magnetic field; receiving a signal from a sensor indicating a rapid deceleration event; determining if the electrical circuit is open; and when the electrical circuit is open, initiating inflation of the airbag. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification