Bumper-actuated trigger mechanism for vehicle safety crash bag

Claim 1

A device for inflating a vehicle safety crash bag comprising: a. a vehicle frame, b. a container on said frame containing compressed gas and having an outlet closed by a rupturable diaphragm, c. conduit means connecting said container outlet in fluid communication with a vehicle safety crash bag for inflation of said bag when said diaphragm is ruptured, d. a firing pin, e. latch means releasably holding said firing pin in an inoperative position spaced from and in alignment with said rupturable diaphragm, f. means biasing said firing pin toward its operative position piercing said diaphragm, g. a liquid chamber, h. a piston member reciprocable within said liquid chamber between an inoperative position and an operative position, i. operative means connecting said piston member and said latch means for releasing said firing pin to its operative position when said piston member is in its operative position, j. a gas cylinder fixed upon said vehicle frame, k. a contractible wall member reciprocably movable axially within said gas cylinder for compressing gas within said cylinder, l. a vehicle bumper connected to said contractible wall member for movement therewith, m. spring means in said gas cylinder normally biasing said wall member to an expanded inoperative position, n. a liquid conduit, filled with liquid, in open fluid communication with said liquid chamber and connected to said gas cylinder, o. an outlet port in said gas cylinder in fluid communication with said liquid conduit, p. a second pressure-rupturable diaphragm closing said outlet port, and q. means associated with said contractible wall means for rupturing said second diaphragm when said wall member is moved axially toward said cylinder a predetermined distance.

Claim 2

A device for inflating a vehicle safety crash bag comprising: a. a vehicle frame, b. a container on said frame containing compressed gas and having an outlet closed by a rupturable diaphragm, c. conduit means connecting said container outlet in fluid communication with a vehicle safety crash bag for inflation of said bag when said diaphragm is ruptured, d. a firing pin, e. latch means releasably holding said firing pin in an inoperative position spaced from and in alignment with said rupturable diaphragm, f. means biasing said firing pin toward its operative position piercing said diaphragm, g. a liquid chamber, h. a piston member reciprocable within said liquid chamber between an inoperative position and an operative position, i. operative means connecting said piston member and said latch means for releasing said firing pin to its operative position when said piston member is in its operative position, j. a gas cylinder fixed upon said vehicle frame, k. a contractible wall member reciprocably movable axially within said gas cylinder for compressing gas within said cylinder, l. a vehicle bumper connected to said contractible wall member for movement therewith, m. spring means in said gas cylinder normally biasing said wall member to an expanded inoperative position, n. a liquid conduit, filled with liquid, in open fluid communication with said liquid chamber and connected to said gas cylinder, o. an outlet port in said gas cylinder in fluid communication with said liquid conduit, p. a second pressure-rupturable diaphragm closing said outlet port, and q. means associated with said contractible wall means for rupturing said second diaphragm when said wall member is moved axially toward said cylinder a predetermined distance.