PASSENGER SAFETY RESTRAINT DEVICE INCLUDING BUMPER MOUNTED SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED CIRCUITRY

• US 3,753,475 A
• Filed: 11/15/1971
• Issued: 08/21/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank R. Povilaitus, Poul H. Andersen, Robert S. Himes
• Original Assignee: Frank R. Povilaitus, Poul H. Andersen, Robert S. Himes
• Inventors: Povilaitus, Frank R., Himes, Robert S., Andersen, Poul H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, J. R.
• Application Number:
  US05/198,541
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 200/16R,16B,16C,16D,16E,61.44,61.45R,61.52,61.53 180/91
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/14 Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch wherein the liquid constitutes a contact of the switch H01H29/002

Abstract

Sensing device for sensing the velocity of an automotive vehicle when the latter collides with another object, the device having a plurality of contacts adapted to be electrically interconnected at different times depending upon the velocity of the vehicle at the moment of impact.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing passenger protection in an automotive vehicle during a collision of the latter with another object comprising a plurality of actuatable means adapted to be selectively actuated for activating restraint means for automotive vehicle passengers, means for actuating said actuatable means including an eleCtrical power source, sensing means for sensing the velocity of the vehicle during the collision, said sensing means comprising a housing means and mass means in said housing means, means mounting said mass means for movement relative to said vehicle along an axis, said mass means moving a first predetermined distance from a first position to a second position upon impact of the vehicle against a solid barrier at one velocity, and moving a second predetermined distance, beyond said first predetermined distance, upon impact of the vehicle against a solid barrier at a second velocity, greater than said first velocity, said housing means and mass means including contact means for electrically connecting said power source to one of said actuatable means upon movement of said mass means said first predetermined distance from said first position, said contact means electrically connecting said power source to another one of said actuatable means when said mass means has moved said second predetermined distance beyond said first predetermined distance, said housing means comprising an elongated hollow member closed at its opposite ends, the inside wall of said hollow member being generally circular in cross section, said contact means comprising a spider forming part of said mass means, said spider having a base and a plurality of fingers extending from said base toward an inside wall of said housing means, said inside wall having a friction portion thereof tapered inwardly between the portion thereof adjacent said spider when said mass means is in said first position and the portion thereof adjacent said spider when said mass means is in said second position, said contact means further comprising at least three contacts on said inside wall, all of said contacts being located forwardly of said friction portion and at least two of said three contacts being spaced apart in an axial direction relative to the movement of said mass means, the fingers of said spider frictionally engaging said tapered friction portion and being flexed inwardly thereby when said mass means moves through said first predetermined distance, said fingers connecting one of said two contacts with the third contact upon movement of said mass means said first predetermined distance and connecting the other of said two contacts with said third contact upon movement of said mass means said second predetermined distance beyond said first predetermined distance.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a resilient energy absorbing stop for stopping forward movement of said mass means, said fingers having bulges on the ends thereof engaging said inside wall.

3. Apparatus for providing passenger protection in an automotive vehicle during a collision of the latter with another object comprising a plurality of actuatable means adapted to be selectively actuated for activating restraint means for automotive vehicle passengers, means for actuating said actuatable means including an electrical power source, sensing means for sensing the velocity of the vehicle during the collision, said sensing means comprising a housing means and mass means in said housing means, means mounting said mass means for movement relative to said vehicle along an axis, said mass means moving a first predetermined distance from a first position to a second position upon impact of the vehicle against a solid barrier at one velocity, and moving a second predetermined distance, beyond said first predetermined distance, upon impact of the vehicle against a solid barrier at a second velocity, greater than said first velocity, said housing means and mass means including contact means for electrically connecting said power source to one of said actuatable means upon movement of said mass means said first predetermined distance from said first position, said contact means electrically connecting said power source to another one of said actuatable means when said mass means has moved said second predetermined distance beyond said first predetermined diStance, said contact means comprising an electrically conductive spider having a plurality of elongated fingers thereon, said fingers frictionally engaging the wall of said housing means as said mass means moves along said axis, a plurality of contact strips on the inside of said wall of said housing adapted to be engaged at different times by said fingers as said mass moves along said axis, and said wall of said housing tapering inwardly along a portion thereof causing said fingers to be frictionally engaged with said tapered portion and flexed inwardly as they pass thereby, said tapered portion being located rearwardly of said contact strips causing said fingers to pass frictionally over said tapered friction portion before engaging said contact strips.