Inflatable safety bag system for vehicles

Claim 2

An inflatable safety bag system for vehicles, comprising: an electrical sensor for detecting a vehicle collision; electrical actuator means; a mechanical sensor for detecting a vehicle collision; mechanical actuator means; a mechanical valve opening device for a high-pressure gas container for filling gas in a safety bag; said electrical actuator means and said mechanical actuator means being operatively connected to said mechanical valve opening device, and being constructed to operate independently; said mechanical valve opening device being actuatable to open said gas container in response to actuation of one of said electrical actuator means and said mechanical actuator means; said electrical actuator means comprising a solenoid energizable by a collision detecting signal from said electrical sensor; said solenoid comprising a movable member movable by a core which is energizable by a collision detecting signal from said electrical sensor, for actuating said valve opening device; and said movable member comprising a disc-shaped body, a rod projecting centrally from the rear of said body for restricting said valve opening device, and a conical recessed portion at the rear of said body and at the base of said rod.

Claim 3

An inflatable safety bag system for vehicles, comprising: an electrical sensor for detecting a vehicle collision; electrical actuator means; a mechanical sensor for detecting a vehicle collision; mechanical actuator means; a mechanical valve opening device for a high-pressure gas container for filling gas in a safety bag; said electrical actuator means and said mechanical actuator means being operatively connected to said mechanical valve opening device, and being constructed to operate independently; said mechanical valve opening device being actuatable to open said gas container in response to actuation of one of said electrical actuator means and said mechanical actuator means; said high-pressure gas container including an opening closed off by a sealing plate supported against gas pressure in said container by a portion of said mechanical valve opening device; said gas container including a hollow cylindrical member disposed therein; said cylindrical member being provided with a piston slidably disposed therein and resiliently biased in a predetermined position; said piston partitioning the interior of said cylindrical member and permitting communication between both sides of said piston; and said cylindrical member being provided with a primary opening disposed forwardly of said piston when it is disposed in said predetermined position and providing communication between the interior of said gas container and a chamber forward of said piston and a secondary opening closed by said piston when it is in said predetermined position.

Claim 4

An inflatable safety bag system for vehicles, comprising: an electrical sensor for detecting a vehicle collision; electrical actuator means; a mechanical sensor for detecting a vehicle collision; mechanical actuator means; a mechanical valve opening device for a high-pressure gas container for filling gas in a safety bag; said electrical actuator means and said mechanical actuator means being operatively connected to said mechanical valve opening device, and being constructed to operate independently; said mechanical valve opening device being actuatable to open said gas container in response to actuation of one of said electrical actuator means and said mechanical actuator means; said high-pressure gas container including an opening closed off by a sealing plate supported against gas pressure in said container by a portion of said mechanical valve opening device; said gas container including a hollow cylindrical member disposed therein; said cylindrical member being provided with a piston slidably disposed therein and resiliently biased in a predetermined position; said piston partitioning the interior of said cylindrical member and permitting communication between both sides of said piston; and said cylindrical member being provided with a primary opening disposed forwardly of said piston when it is disposed in said predetermined position and providing communication between the interior of said gas container and a chamber forward of said piston and a secondary opening closed by said piston when it is in said predetermined position.

Claim 5

An inflatable safety bag system for vehicles, comprising: an electrical sensor for detecting a vehicle collision; electrical actuator means; a mechanical sensor for detecting a vehicle collision; mechanical actuator means; a mechanical valve opening device for a high-pressure gas container for filling gas in a safety bag; said electrical actuator means and said mechanical actuator means being operatively connected to said mechanical valve opening device, and being constructed to operate independently; said mechanical valve opening device being actuatable to open said gas container in response to actuation of one of said electrical actuator means and said mechanical actuator means; and a link mechanism, said link mechanism comprising: a controlling piece having one end thereof releasably restricted by said electrical and mechanical actuator means; a supporting piece having one end thereof pivotally engaged with a fixed member and the other end thereof engaged with the other end of said controlling piece; and a loading piece on which the pressure in said high-pressure gas container acts in the discharging direction, said loading piece having one end thereof engaged with said controlling piece in offset relation to a position at which said controlling piece is engaged by said supporting piece, and said loading piece being shiftable only in a direction substantially perpendicularly to said controlling piece.

Claim 6

An inflatable safety bag system for vehicles, comprising: an electrical sensor for detecting a vehicle collision; electrical actuator means; a mechanical sensor for detecting a vehicle collision; mechanical actuator means; a mechanical valve opening device for a high-pressure gas container for filling gas in a safety bag; said electrical actuator means and said mechanical actuator means being operatively connected to said mechanical valve opening device, and being constructed to operate independently; said mechanical valve opening device being actuatable to open said gas container in response to actuation of one of said electrical actuator means and said mechanical actuator means; and a link mechanism, said link mechanism comprising: a controlling piece having one end thereof releasably restricted by said electrical and mechanical actuator means; a supporting piece having one end thereof pivotally engaged with a fixed member and the other end thereof engaged with the other end of said controlling piece; and a loading piece on which the pressure in said high-pressure gas container acts in the discharging direction, said loading piece having one end thereof engaged with said controlling piece in offset relation to a position at which said controlling piece is engaged by said supporting piece, and said loading piece being shiftable only in a direction substantially perpendicularly to said controlling piece.

Claim 7

An inflatable safety bag system according to claim 3, wherein: said pieces are engaged with one another in notch-and-projection relation.

Claim 8

An inflatable safety bag system according to claim 3, further including: a roller disposed between engaging portions of said supporting piece and said controlling piece.

Claim 9

An inflatable safety bag system according to claim 3, wherein: said controlling piece includes a loaded end supported by a fixed wall via a second supporting piece; said link mechanism further comprises a next piece having one end thereof supported between said loaded end of said controlling piece and one end of said second supporting piece; the other end of said second supporting piece is engaged in offset relation with said fixed wall; and said next piece is limited at the other end thereof by another piece or limiting means.

Claim 10

An inflatable safety bag system according to claim 3, wherein: said loading piece is provided in a pair movable in the same direction; a pair of said controlling pieces are provided; each loading piece is engaged and supported by one end of one of said controlling pieces; said controlling pieces are supported through supporting pieces on the fixed side; and said controlling pieces have the other ends thereof overlapped and limited by a final control piece connected with no releasing means.

Claim 11

An inflatable safety bag system according to claim 7, wherein: said final control piece is confined by one end of a pivoted arm; and said arm has the other end thereof confined by a restriction piece disposed between said actuator means of the solenoid and said actuator means of the mechanical sensor.

Claim 12

An inflatable safety bag system for vehicles, comprising: an electrical sensor for detecting a vehicle collision; electrical actuator means; a mechanical sensor for detecting a vehicle collision; mechanical actuator means; a mechanical valve opening device for a high-pressure gas container for filling gas in a safety bag; said electrical actuator means and said mechanical actuator means being operatively connected to said mechanical valve opening device, and being constructed to operate independently; said mechanical valve opening device being actuatable to open said gas container in response to actuation of one of said electrical actuator means and said mechanical actuator means; and resilient supporting means including a bimetal and supporting through a piece of a link mechanism a load applied on the sealing plate closing the opening of said high-pressure gas container, so that displacement of said resilient supporting means is sensed to detect a reduction in the gas pressure in said gas container.

Claim 13

An inflatable safety bag system for vehicles, comprising: an electrical sensor for detecting a vehicle collision; electrical actuator means; a mechanical sensor for detecting a vehicle collision; mechanical actuator means; a mechanical valve opening device for a high-pressure gas container for filling gas in a safety bag; said electrical actuator means and said mechanical actuator means being operatively connected to said mechanical valve opening device, and being constructed to operate independently; said mechanical valve opening device being actuatable to open said gas container in response to actuation of one of said electrical actuator means and said mechanical actuator means; and resilient supporting means including a bimetal and supporting through a piece of a link mechanism a load applied on the sealing plate closing the opening of said high-pressure gas container, so that displacement of said resilient supporting means is sensed to detect a reduction in the gas pressure in said gas container.

Claim 14

An inflatable safety bag system according to claim 9, wherein: said bimetal is displaceable substantially in proportion to the absolute temperature; and detecting switch means is provided which is actuatable in response to the displacement of said bimetal due to a reduction in the gas pressure.

Claim 15

An inflatable safety bag system according to claim 3, wherein: said electrical actuator means comprises a solenoid energizable by a collision detecting signal from said electrical sensor.

Claim 16

An inflatable safety bag system according to claim 3, wherein: said mechanical sensor includes a piston shiftable in response to a vehicle collision; and the actuator means operatively connected to said mechanical valve opening device is actuatable in response to shifting movement of said piston.