Air bag apparatus for vehicle

• US 5,257,816 A
• Filed: 11/22/1991
• Issued: 11/02/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1990
• 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: Fukui, Tsutomu, Makino, Atushi, Shoji, Nozomu, Sugimoto, Tomiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US07/796,182
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/731
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• 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
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/147 the switch being of the reed switch type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20834 Hand wheels

Abstract

An air bag apparatus for a vehicle is characterized in that an air bag, an inflator and acceleration sensors for controlling the inflator are closely disposed in a single place to constitute an air bag unit. The acceleration sensors in the air bag unit are made up of a plurality of acceleration sensors of different kinds. The air bag unit is disposed on a steering wheel and each of the acceleration sensors is disposed such that the direction of movement of a movable element to be provided in each of the acceleration sensors is parallel to an axis of rotation of the steering wheel. The inflator is electrically ignited and each of the acceleration sensors controls the electric current supply to the inflator.

Claims

1. An air bag apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an air bag unit, including

(a) an air bag,

(b) an electrically ignitable inflating means,

(c) a plurality of acceleration sensors, wherein at least two of said acceleration sensor are of different kinds, wherein each of said acceleration sensors controls electric current supply to said inflating means and wherein, said air bag, inflating means, and acceleration sensors are disposed in a single place proximal to one another, said air bag unit further including,

a capacitor which services as a backup power source and is provided in parallel with a main power source for supplying electric current to said inflating means.

a wrong operation preventing switch which is switched by mounting or removing said air bag unit and is so operated to cut off an electrical connection between said main power source, as well as said capacitor, and said inflating means when said air bag unit is removed, and

a circuit for discharging said capacitor, said circuit being closed in interlocking with the cutting off of the electrical connection between said main power source, as well as said capacitor, and said inflating means.

2. An air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said air bag unit is disposed on a steering wheel and wherein each of said acceleration sensors is disposed such that a direction of movement of a movable element to be provided in each of said acceleration sensors is parallel to an axis of rotation of said steering wheel.