Pendulum-type inertia sensor switch

Claim 2

A multi-directional crash sensor for triggering an air bag safety device on a vehicle, comprising: a. a housing adapted for attachment to a vehicle, said housing defining an enclosed chamber; b. an inertial pendulum member having predetermined length, mass, and mass distribution; c. means pivotally suspending said pendulum member within said chamber for swinging in any direction; d. first electrical contact means mounted on said pendulum member; e. second electrical contact means mounted within said chamber around said pendulum member, and aligned for contact by said first electrical contact means upon swinging of said pendulum member; f. non-conductive deformable member mounted within said chamber covering said second electrical contact, said deformable member having a predetermined resistance to penetration, in relation to said predetermined length, mass, and mass distribution of said pendulum member, so that said first electrical contact means is driven into contact with said electrical contact means only when said crash sensor is subjected to an acceleration exceeding a predetermined value.

Claim 3

A multi-directional crash sensor according to claim 1 wherein said housing is hermetically sealed, and further including a pair of electrical terminals mounted on said housing and connected to said first and second electrical contact means.

Claim 4

A multi-directional crash sensor according to claim 1 wherein said pivotal suspension means comprises a ball and socket joint.

Claim 5

A multi-directional crash sensor according to claim 1 wherein said pivotal suspension means includes friction means for further rendering said crash sensor insensitive to accelerations below said predetermined value.

Claim 6

A multi-directional crash sensor according to claim 1 wherein said deformable member comprises a layer of foam material and an outer layer of metal foil having a predetermined thickness according to the required resistance to penetration.

Claim 7

A multi-directional crash sensor according to claim 5 wherein said first electrical contact means comprises a sharp protrusion adapted for piercing said membrane.

Claim 8

A differentially responsive multi-directional crash sensor for a vehicle, comprising: a. a housing adapted for attachment to a vehicle, said housing defining an enclosed chamber; b. an inertial pendulum member having predetermined length, mass and mass distribution; c. means pivotally suspending said pendulum member within said chamber for swinging in any direction from a nominal position; d. first electrical contact means mounted on said pendulum remote from said pivotal suspension means; e. second electrical contact means mounted within said chamber around said pendulum member in spaced apart relationship therefrom, the spacing of said second electrical contact means from the nominal position of said pendulum member being a function of azimuthal position around the nominal position of said pendulum member, so that the response of said crash sensor is different for accelerations from different directions; and f. a non-conductive deformable member mounted within said chamber covering said second electrical contact, said deformable member having a predetemined resistance to penetration, so that said first electrical contact means is driven into contact with said second electrical contaCt means only when said crash sensor is subjected to an acceleration exceeding a predetermined value.

Claim 9

A differentially responsive multi-directional crash sensor for a vehicle, comprising: a. a housing adapted for attachment to a vehicle, said housing defining an enclosed chamber; b. an inertial pendulum member having predetermined length, mass and mass distribution; c. means pivotally suspending said pendulum member within said chamber for swinging in any direction from a nominal position; d. first electrical contact means mounted on said pendulum remote from said pivotal suspension means; e. second electrical contact means mounted within said chamber around said pendulum member in spaced apart relationship therefrom, the spacing of said second electrical contact means from the nominal position of said pendulum member being a function of azimuthal position around the nominal position of said pendulum member, so that the response of said crash sensor is different for accelerations from different directions; and f. a non-conductive deformable member mounted within said chamber covering said second electrical contact, said deformable member having a predetemined resistance to penetration, so that said first electrical contact means is driven into contact with said second electrical contaCt means only when said crash sensor is subjected to an acceleration exceeding a predetermined value.

Claim 10

A multi-directional crash sensor according to claim 7 wherein said deformable member comprises a layer of foam material and an outer layer of metal foil having a predetermined thickness according to the required resistance to penetration.

Claim 11

A multi-directional crash sensor according to claim 8 wherein said first electrical contact means comprises a sharp protrusion adapted for piercing said membrane.