Patent US4848792A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4848792A
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Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology Inc
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Filing: 1988-11-23
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Granted: 1989-07-18
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Expires: 2008-11-23
Abstract
Abstract A miniature device for indicating if an airbag inflator for a vehicle was set off in an accident. The device records the movement of a ball in an enclosed tube. The record is made when the tube is collapsed around the ball in response to pressure or heat from the activated primer.
Inventors
- 👤 David S. Breed
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 06:32
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; G; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/08; G07C5/0816
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A device for indicating if an airbag inflator for a vehicle was set off in an accident which comprises: (a) a vessel enclosed at both ends which inserts into an airbag inflator housing, said vessel having an axis which is substantially aigned with an axis of said vehicle; (b) an object capable of moving along said axis of said vessel in response to a deceleration of said vehicle as it decelerates in excess of a predetermined level; (c) a means for exerting a force on said object to prevent it from moving along said axis unless said vehicle decelerates in excess of a predetermined level; and (d) a means for entraping said object during its movement along said axis of said vessel, said means preventing said object from further movement once a primer gas within said inflator housing is activated, said primer gas being physically separate from said airbag's interior both before and after activation of the primer gas.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
A device for indicating if an airbag inflator for a vehicle was set off in an accident which comprises: (a) a vessel enclosed at both ends which inserts into an airbag inflator housing, said vessel having an axis which is substantially aigned with an axis of said vehicle; (b) an object capable of moving along said axis of said vessel in response to a deceleration of said vehicle as it decelerates in excess of a predetermined level; (c) a means for exerting a force on said object to prevent it from moving along said axis unless said vehicle decelerates in excess of a predetermined level; and (d) a means for entraping said object during its movement along said axis of said vessel, said means preventing said object from further movement once a primer gas within said inflator housing is activated, said primer gas being physically separate from said airbag's interior both before and after activation of the primer gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1 in which said means for exerting a force is a spring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 in which said predetermined level is 2.3 G's.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device of claim 1 in which said means for entrapping said object is the collapsing of said vessel in response to the gas pressure generated by said primer gas inside said inflator housing prior to inflation of said airbag.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 4 in which said vessel is a thin gauge metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 5 in which said metal is aluminum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 5 in which said vessel is plastic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 1 in which said means for entrapping said object is the collapsing of said vessel in response to the heat generated inside the inflator during inflation of said airbag.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 1 in which said vessel is a tube and said object is a ball.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 9 in which said ball is stainless steel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 in which said object is a pendulum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1 in which said object is a band and a roller device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
A diagnostic device for use in conjunction with a gas generator comprising: means for sensing pressure caused by a primer gas; means for sensing deceleration; and recording means to record that deceleration was occurring when pressure caused by actuation of the primer gas appeared, said primer gas being physically separate from said gas generator's interior interior both before and after activation of the primer gas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
A diagnostic device for use in conjunction with a gas generator comprising: means for sensing pressure caused by a primer gas; means for sensing deceleration; and recording means to record that deceleration was occurring when pressure caused by actuation of the primer gas appeared, said primer gas being physically separate from said gas generator's interior interior both before and after activation of the primer gas.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
An indicator for determining that a vehicle was crashing when deployment of a safety device was initiated comprising: means for sensing that a vehicle is in a crash; means for sensing initiation of a primer gas used to initiate said safety device; and means for recording that the crash provided the primer gas initiator, said primer gas being physically separate from said safety devices interior both before and after initiation of the primer gas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
74 words
An indicator for determining that a vehicle was crashing when deployment of a safety device was initiated comprising: means for sensing that a vehicle is in a crash; means for sensing initiation of a primer gas used to initiate said safety device; and means for recording that the crash provided the primer gas initiator, said primer gas being physically separate from said safety devices interior both before and after initiation of the primer gas.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for determining that a vehicle was crashing when deployment of an airbag inflator was initiated comprising: providing an object capable of moving along an axis which is substantially aligned with the axis of said vehicle in response to deceleration of said vehicle in excess of a predetermined level; and recording the position of said object when gas pressure is generated by initiation of a primer gas, said primer gas being physically separate from said safety devices interior airbag inflator's interior both before and after initiation and the primer gas.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for determining that a vehicle was crashing when deployment of an airbag inflator was initiated comprising: providing an object capable of moving along an axis which is substantially aligned with the axis of said vehicle in response to deceleration of said vehicle in excess of a predetermined level; and recording the position of said object when gas pressure is generated by initiation of a primer gas, said primer gas being physically separate from said safety devices interior airbag inflator's interior both before and after initiation and the primer gas.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-17 | 1993-01-16 | 1993-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-17 | 1997-01-16 | 1997-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-17 | 2001-01-16 | 2001-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |