US5123499A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Velocity change sensor with double pole sensor
Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1991-03-01
•
Granted: 1992-06-23
•
Expires: 2011-03-01
Abstract
Abstract An accelerometer for sensing velocity changes particularly suited for passenger restraint systems in a motor vehicle for the deployment of an air bag includes a housing with contact blades and a magnetically biased contacting element. The contacting element is arranged to move toward the contact blades when a deceleration exceeding a threshold level is sensed. The contact blades are spaced away from each other so that one is bent toward the other by the contacting element to form a direct electrical path, thereby deploying the restraint system.
Inventors
- 👤 Allen K. Breed
- 👤 Ted Thuen
- 👤 Carl T. Grossi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:42
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P15/00; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; G01P15/135; H; H01; H01H; H01H35/00; H01H35/14; H01H1/00; H01H2001/0005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
An accelerometer for sensing velocity changes comprising: a housing with a first end and a second end; a sensing element movably disposed in said housing; and biasing means for applying a biasing force on said sensing element; first and second contact blades said first contact blade being provided with a an insulating coating to prevent an electrical path through said sensing element, said sensing element being arranged and constructed to move said first contact blade from a first position toward a second position away from said first position in response to a deceleration force exceeding said biasing force to contact said second contact blade with said second contact blade being initially stationary as said first contact blade is being displaced.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
An accelerometer for sensing velocity changes comprising: a housing with a first end and a second end; a sensing element movably disposed in said housing; and biasing means for applying a biasing force on said sensing element; first and second contact blades said first contact blade being provided with a an insulating coating to prevent an electrical path through said sensing element, said sensing element being arranged and constructed to move said first contact blade from a first position toward a second position away from said first position in response to a deceleration force exceeding said biasing force to contact said second contact blade with said second contact blade being initially stationary as said first contact blade is being displaced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The accelerometer of claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a permanent magnet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
142 words
A passenger restraint system for a motor vehicle comprising: a passenger restraint device disposed in a motor vehicle for protecting a passenger in a crash; and an accelerometer for sensing a velocity change of said motor vehicle coupled to said passenger restraint device and comprising: a cylindrical housing disposed in said motor vehicle; a first pair of contact blades axially disposed in said housing; and contact closing means arranged in said housing for making direct electrical contact between said contact blades when said motor vehicle decelerates at a level exceeding a threshold level by displacing one contact blade of said first pair toward the other contact blade while said other contact blade initially remains stationary until it is touched by said one contact blade, said one contact blade having an insulated coating for insulating said blades electrically from said contact closing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
142 words
A passenger restraint system for a motor vehicle comprising: a passenger restraint device disposed in a motor vehicle for protecting a passenger in a crash; and an accelerometer for sensing a velocity change of said motor vehicle coupled to said passenger restraint device and comprising: a cylindrical housing disposed in said motor vehicle; a first pair of contact blades axially disposed in said housing; and contact closing means arranged in said housing for making direct electrical contact between said contact blades when said motor vehicle decelerates at a level exceeding a threshold level by displacing one contact blade of said first pair toward the other contact blade while said other contact blade initially remains stationary until it is touched by said one contact blade, said one contact blade having an insulated coating for insulating said blades electrically from said contact closing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The passenger restraint system of claim 3 wherein said contact closing means comprises a contacting element movably disposed in said housing and magnetic biasing means for biasing said contacting element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The passenger restraint system of claim 4 wherein said biasing means urges said contacting element toward a first position away from said contact blades.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The passenger restraint system of claim 5 wherein said housing is arranged in a housing position in which said contacting element is urged toward said contact blades when said motor vehicle is decelerated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The passenger restraint system of claim 5 wherein said biasing means comprises a permanent magnet for applying a magnetic force on said contacting element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The passenger restraint system of claim 7 wherein said biasing means further comprises a conductive sleeve disposed inside said housing for applying said magnetic force to said contacting element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The passenger restraint system of claim 7 wherein said contacting element comprises a ball.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The passenger restraint system of claim 7 further comprising a second pair of blades spaced away from said first pair, said contacting element bending one blade of each pair toward the other blade to form two electrical paths.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR537306A
Cited
US3784773A
Cited
US3778572A
Cited
US3840088A
Cited
GB1414555A
Cited
GB1435873A
Cited
DE2617923A1
Cited
US4039790A
Cited
GB1586611A
Cited
GB2051482A
Cited
US4718775A
Cited
EP0125493A1
Cited
US4816627A
Cited
US4900880A
Cited
US4857680A
Cited
US5005861A
Cited
US5010217A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-06-23 | 1995-12-23 | 1996-06-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-23 | 1999-12-23 | 2000-06-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-23 | 2003-12-23 | 2004-06-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |