Combination impact detector and switch device

Claim 2

A combination impact detector and switch device comprising a stationary casing having formed therein a bore which terminates with a forwardly tapered inner peripheral wall, a substantially spherical weight mounted in said bore, said spherical weight being disengageably seated on said tapered inner peripheral wall and movable in directions within an angular range corresponding to a tapered angle of said inner peripheral wall, a compression spring mounted in said bore and seated at its foremost end on said spherical weight for biasing the spherical weight to press upon said tapered inner peripheral wall, said compression spring having a spring constant to yield to an opposing force greater than a predetermined magnitude, a plunger means extending through said casing and engaging at one end thereof with said spherical weight, and a normally-open switch having a movable contact engaging with the other end of said plunger means, said movable contact being normally pressed to a retracted position to open said switch by an action of said compression spring through said plunger means and caused to protrude from said retracted position to close said switch when an impact greater than said predetermined magnitude is transferred to said device in a direction contained in said angular range to produce in said spherical weight a force of inertia greater than said predetermined magnitude to cause said spherical weight to movE in said last-mentioned direction against the action of said compression spring for releasing said movable contact from said plunger means.

Claim 3

A combination impact detector and switch device according to claim 1, further comprising a spring seat on which said compression spring is seated at its rearmost end and an adjusting screw terminating at an inner face of said spring seat for adjusting the spring constant of said compression spring.

Claim 4

A vehicular safety apparatus for protecting a vehicle occupant from injury when a collision is encountered by a motor vehicle, comprising a safety device having rest and protective positions and including an actuator for actuating said safety device to the protective position when energized and a combination impact detector and switch device which comprises a casing that is held stationary relative to a vehicle body of said motor vehicle and which has formed therein a bore extending substantially in parallel to a fore-and-aft direction of the motor vehicle and terminating with a forwardly tapered inner peripheral wall, a substantially spherical weight mounted in said bore, said spherical weight being disengageably seated on said tapered inner peripheral wall and movable in directions within an angular range corresponding to a tapered angle of said inner peripheral wall, a compression spring mounted in said bore and seated at its foremost end on said spherical weight for biasing the spherical weight to press upon said tapered inner peripheral wall, said compression spring having a spring constant to yield to an opposing force greater than a predetermined magnitude, a plunger means extending through said casing and engaging at one end thereof with said spherical weight, and a normally open switch connected to said actuator and having a movable contact engaging with the other end of said plunger means, said movable contact being normally pressed to a retracted position by an action of said compression spring through said plunger means and caused to protude from said retracted position when an impact resulting from a collision encountered by said motor vehicle is transferred to said combination impact detector and switch device in a direction contained in said angular range to produce in said spherical weight a force of inertia greater than said predetermined magnitude to cause the spherical weight to move in said last mentioned direction against the action of said compression spring for releasing said movable contact from said plunger means whereby said actuator is energized to actuate said safety device to said protective position.

Claim 5

A vehicular safety apparatus for protecting a vehicle occupant from injury when a collision is encountered by a motor vehicle, comprising a safety device having rest and protective positions and including an actuator for actuating said safety device to the protective position when energized and a combination impact detector and switch device which comprises a casing that is held stationary relative to a vehicle body of said motor vehicle and which has formed therein a bore extending substantially in parallel to a fore-and-aft direction of the motor vehicle and terminating with a forwardly tapered inner peripheral wall, a substantially spherical weight mounted in said bore, said spherical weight being disengageably seated on said tapered inner peripheral wall and movable in directions within an angular range corresponding to a tapered angle of said inner peripheral wall, a compression spring mounted in said bore and seated at its foremost end on said spherical weight for biasing the spherical weight to press upon said tapered inner peripheral wall, said compression spring having a spring constant to yield to an opposing force greater than a predetermined magnitude, a plunger means extending through said casing and engaging at one end thereof with said spherical weight, and a normally open switch connected to said actuator and having a movable contact engaging with the other end of said plunger means, said movable contact being normally pressed to a retracted position by an action of said compression spring through said plunger means and caused to protude from said retracted position when an impact resulting from a collision encountered by said motor vehicle is transferred to said combination impact detector and switch device in a direction contained in said angular range to produce in said spherical weight a force of inertia greater than said predetermined magnitude to cause the spherical weight to move in said last mentioned direction against the action of said compression spring for releasing said movable contact from said plunger means whereby said actuator is energized to actuate said safety device to said protective position.