Malfunction preventing device for air bag module in automobiles

• US 4,974,873 A
• Filed: 01/10/1990
• Issued: 12/04/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Fukuda, Junichi, Kamiji, Koichi, Okuhara, Hisakazu, Kaiguchi, Muneaki, Miyazawa, Tadahide
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tyson, Karin
• Application Number:
  US07/463,201
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/734, 280/731, 280/732, 280/730, 280/728, 280/741, 280/736, 200/61.62, 200/61.58 R, 439/507, 439/511
• US Class Current: 280/735
• 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 21/2035 using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21656; assembling of modules B60R21/217

Abstract

In an air bag module mounted on a steering wheel in an automobile for use, an inflater is connected to a power source through an actuating circuit to rapidly supply a high pressure gas into an air bag of the module when a dceleration of a vehicle body higher than a predetermined value is sensed, and interrupting means is provided for the purpose of preventing the malfunction of the module. The interrupting means automatically interrupts the actuating circuit in concurrence with removal of the air bag module from the steering wheel.

Claims

1. A malfunction preventing air bag module in an automobile having the air bag module detachably mounted on a steering wheel, said air bag module comprising:

an air bag;

an inflater for rapidly supplying a bag-inflating high pressure gas into said bag;

an actuating circuit for actuating said inflater by a power supplied from a power source;

a deceleration sensing switch adapted to normally open said actuating circuit and to close the latter when a deceleration of a vehicle body exceeds a predetermined value; and

an interrupting means for interrupting said actuating circuit, wherein said interrupting means also serves as a cover member for covering a connecting member for mounting said air bag module on said steering wheel.

2. The malfunction preventing air bag module of claim 1, wherein said actuating circuit comprises a lead wire including a pair of ends cut away from each other, and said cover member is integrally provided with a conductive member inserted between the pair of ends of said lead wire to electrically connect said ends to each other when said cover member is in service.

3. The malfunction preventing air bag module of claim 3, wherein said power source is a capacitor which is connected to a battery carried on a vehicle and which is incorporated in said actuating circuit.

4. A malfunction preventing air bag module in an automobile in which the air bag module is detachably mounted on a steering wheel, said air bag module comprising:

an air bag;

an inflater for rapidly supplying a bag-inflating high pressure gas into said bag;

an actuating circuit for actuating said inflater by a power supplied from a power source;

a deceleration sensing switch adapted to normally open said actuating circuit and to close the latter when a deceleration of a vehicle body exceeds a predetermined value; and

an interrupting means for automatically interrupting said actuating circuit in concurrence with removal of said air bag module from said steering wheel, wherein said interrupting means also serves as a cover member for covering a connecting member for mounting said air bag module on said steering wheel.

5. The malfunction preventing air bag module of claim 4, wherein said actuating circuit comprises a lead wire including a pair of ends cut away from each other, and said cover member is integrally provided with a conductive member inserted between the pair of ends of said lead wire to electrically connect said ends to each other when said cover member is in service.

6. The malfunction preventing air bag module of claim 4, wherein said power source is a capacitor which is connected to a battery carried on a vehicle and which is incorporated in said actuating circuit.