US5149127A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air bag structure for an automotive vehicle
Assignee: Mazda Motor Corp
•
Filing: 1991-01-15
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Granted: 1992-09-22
•
Expires: 2011-01-15
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for installing an air bag module for an air bag system equipped in an automotive vehicle for preventing injuries to passengers in a passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle. The system includes an air bag module located to face a passenger in the passenger compartment, a controller mounted to the body of the automotive vehicle for controlling the air bag module and an electrical harness wire for transmitting signals for controlling the module. This harness wire is connected at one end to the air bag module and at the other end to the controller. A flexible temporary holding band for connecting the air bag module is detachably mounted on a hook provided in the passenger compartment. The length of the temporary holding band is determined to be short enough so that the harness wire is still loose even when the temporary holding band is put under strain.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshiyuki Manabe
- 👤 Yasunori Iwamoto
- 👤 Masafumi Sakakida
- 👤 Hisao Muramoto
- 👤 Haruhiro Inada
- 👤 Masahiro Matsunaga
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:43
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/203; B60R21/2035; B60R21/01; B60R21/205; B60R2021/01006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
Air bag system for preventing injuries to passengers in a passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle, said air bag system comprising: an air bag module mounted on a steering wheel which faces a passenger in the passenger compartment; control means mounted to the body of the automotive vehicle for controlling the air bag module; at least one first electrical harness section extending from the control means and having a connecting means disposed at a distal end thereof, wherein said at least one first electrical harness section has a middle portion which extends through the steering wheel; and temporary holding means for connecting the air bag module detachably to a fastening element provided in the steering wheel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
Air bag system for preventing injuries to passengers in a passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle, said air bag system comprising: an air bag module mounted on a steering wheel which faces a passenger in the passenger compartment; control means mounted to the body of the automotive vehicle for controlling the air bag module; at least one first electrical harness section extending from the control means and having a connecting means disposed at a distal end thereof, wherein said at least one first electrical harness section has a middle portion which extends through the steering wheel; and temporary holding means for connecting the air bag module detachably to a fastening element provided in the steering wheel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
Air bag system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one second electrical harness section extending from the air bag module and having a complementary connecting means disposed at a distal end thereof, wherein said complementary connecting means is electrically engageable with said connecting means; and wherein said temporary holding means is shorter in length than a combined length of said second electrical harness section and the portion of the first electrical harness section between the middle portion and the distal end thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
Air bag system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said steering wheel is provided with fastening means, and wherein said temporary holding means comprises a connecting band which is fixedly attached at one end thereof to the air bag module and which is provided with a complementary fastening means at the other end thereof for removably fastening said connecting band to the fastening means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Air bag system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said fastening means comprises a hook and wherein said complementary fastening means comprises a looped end of the connecting band.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
Air bag system as claimed in claim 2, comprising a plurality of first electrical harness sections of differing lengths and a plurality of second electrical harness sections of differing lengths, wherein said temporary holding means is shorter in length than the shortest said combined length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An air bag system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said temporary holding means is fixedly attached at one end to the air bag module.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
130 words
Air bag system for preventing injuries to passengers in a passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle, said air bag system comprising: an air bag module located to face a passenger in the passenger compartment; control means mounted to the body of the automotive vehicle for controlling the air bag module; harness means for transmitting signals for controlling the module, said harness means being connected at one end to the air bag module and at its other end to the control means; and temporary holding means for connecting the air bag module detachably to a hook element provided in the passenger compartment; wherein the length of said temporary holding means is short enough so that the harness means is still loose even when the temporary holding means is put under strain.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
130 words
Air bag system for preventing injuries to passengers in a passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle, said air bag system comprising: an air bag module located to face a passenger in the passenger compartment; control means mounted to the body of the automotive vehicle for controlling the air bag module; harness means for transmitting signals for controlling the module, said harness means being connected at one end to the air bag module and at its other end to the control means; and temporary holding means for connecting the air bag module detachably to a hook element provided in the passenger compartment; wherein the length of said temporary holding means is short enough so that the harness means is still loose even when the temporary holding means is put under strain.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An air bag system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said air bag module is located in an instrument panel provided in the passenger compartment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An air bag system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said air bag module faces a passenger seated next to a driver.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An air bag system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said hook element comprises a member provided on an instrument panel in the passenger compartment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
An air bag system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said hook element comprises a member provided on the body member of the automotive vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
66 words
Method of installing an air bag module for an air bag system on a steering wheel of an automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of: a) fastening a temporary holding means between the air bag module and the steering wheel; b) fastening at least one electrical harness between the air bag module and the steering wheel; and c) mounting the air bag module to the steering wheel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
Method of installing an air bag module for an air bag system on a steering wheel of an automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of: a) fastening a temporary holding means between the air bag module and the steering wheel; b) fastening at least one electrical harness between the air bag module and the steering wheel; and c) mounting the air bag module to the steering wheel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 12, wherein step a) proceeds step b) which in turn proceeds step c).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
Method of installing an air bag module as claimed in claim 12, wherein step a) comprises the step of fastening a looped end of the temporary holding means to a hook provided on the steering wheel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
215 words
An air bag system for preventing injuries to passengers in a passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle, said air bag system comprising: a first air bag module located to face a driver in the passenger compartment; a second air bag module located to face a passenger seated next to the driver in the passenger compartment; first control means mounted to the body of the automotive vehicle for controlling the first air bag module; second control means mounted to the body of the automotive vehicle for controlling the second air bag module; first harness means for transmitting signals for controlling the first air bag module, said first harness means being connected at one end t the first air bag module and at its other end to the first control means; and second harness means for transmitting signals for controlling the second air bag module, said second harness means being connected at one end to the second air bag module and at its other end to the second control means; first temporary holding means for connecting the first air bag module means detachably to a first fastening element provided in the steering wheel; and second temporary holding means for connecting the second air bag module means detachably to a second fastening element provided in an instrument panel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
215 words
An air bag system for preventing injuries to passengers in a passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle, said air bag system comprising: a first air bag module located to face a driver in the passenger compartment; a second air bag module located to face a passenger seated next to the driver in the passenger compartment; first control means mounted to the body of the automotive vehicle for controlling the first air bag module; second control means mounted to the body of the automotive vehicle for controlling the second air bag module; first harness means for transmitting signals for controlling the first air bag module, said first harness means being connected at one end t the first air bag module and at its other end to the first control means; and second harness means for transmitting signals for controlling the second air bag module, said second harness means being connected at one end to the second air bag module and at its other end to the second control means; first temporary holding means for connecting the first air bag module means detachably to a first fastening element provided in the steering wheel; and second temporary holding means for connecting the second air bag module means detachably to a second fastening element provided in an instrument panel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
70 words
An air bag system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first temporary holding means is short enough so that the first harness means is still loose even when the first temporary holding means is put under strain and the length of said second temporary holding means is short enough so that the second harness means is still loose even when the second temporary holding means is put under strain.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of installing a first air bag module on a steering wheel of an automotive vehicle and installing a second air bag module in an instrument panel of the automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of: a) fastening a first temporary holding means between the first air bag module and the steering wheel; b) fastening a first electrical harness means between the first air bag module and the steering wheel; c) mounting the first air bag module to the steering wheel; d) fastening a second temporary holding means between the second air bag module and the instrument panel; e) fastening a second electrical harness means between the second air bag module and the instrument panel; and f) mounting the second air bag module to the instrument panel;
Claim 22
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of installing a first air bag module on a steering wheel of an automotive vehicle and installing a second air bag module in an instrument panel of the automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of: a) fastening a first temporary holding means between the first air bag module and the steering wheel; b) fastening a first electrical harness means between the first air bag module and the steering wheel; c) mounting the first air bag module to the steering wheel; d) fastening a second temporary holding means between the second air bag module and the instrument panel; e) fastening a second electrical harness means between the second air bag module and the instrument panel; and f) mounting the second air bag module to the instrument panel;
Claim 23
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of installing an air bag module in an instrument panel of an automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of: a) fastening a temporary holding means between the air bag module and the instrument panel; b) fastening an electrical harness means between the air bag module and the instrument panel; and c) mounting the air bag module to the instrument panel.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of installing an air bag module in an instrument panel of an automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of: a) fastening a temporary holding means between the air bag module and the instrument panel; b) fastening an electrical harness means between the air bag module and the instrument panel; and c) mounting the air bag module to the instrument panel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of installing as claimed in claim 18, wherein step a) comprises the step of fastening a looped end of the temporary holding means to a hook provided on the instrument panel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of installing as claimed in claim 19, wherein the hook is provided on a defroster nozzle unit in the instrument panel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of installing as claimed in claim 19, wherein the hook is provided on a blower unit in the instrument panel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
83 words
An air bag module for attachment to at least one of a steering wheel and an instrument panel in a passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle, said air bag module comprising: an air bag; an inflator; an ignition device; and harness means capable of transmitting signals for controlling the module, said harness means being connected at one end to the air bag module; and temporary holding means for connecting the air bag module detachably to a fastening element provided in the passenger compartment.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
83 words
An air bag module for attachment to at least one of a steering wheel and an instrument panel in a passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle, said air bag module comprising: an air bag; an inflator; an ignition device; and harness means capable of transmitting signals for controlling the module, said harness means being connected at one end to the air bag module; and temporary holding means for connecting the air bag module detachably to a fastening element provided in the passenger compartment.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-22 | 1996-03-23 | 1996-09-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-22 | 2000-03-23 | 2000-09-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-22 | 2004-03-23 | 2004-09-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |