Patent US5155307A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5155307A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Passenger compartment crash sensors
Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC
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Filing: 1990-02-15
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Granted: 1992-10-13
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Expires: 2010-02-15
Abstract
Abstract This invention includes crash sensors designed to be used for frontal impact sensing and the strategies of using these sensors. It is analyzed and shown that velocity sensing or damped sernsors are desirable for frontal impact passenger compartment sensing. inertially damped sensors, with a damping force proportional to the square of velocity, is preferred for some applications. In other cases a viscous damped sensor is appropriate and in a few cases an undamped spring mass sensor will suffice. Such sensors can be made of plastic and in the shape of short housings. A preferred embodiment of this invention utilizes a swinging mass hinged to a housing as the sensing mass. Different geometries of the mass and the housing are disclosed and used to improve the performance of such sensors. These flapper mass sensors are useful for sensing frontal impacts in the passenger compartment both as primary sensors and as single or dual contact arming sensors. A method of manufacturing these sensors is also disclosed, in which the contacts are treated to become adhesive to plastic and then molded with the remaining plastic parts of the sensors. The plastic parts are then welded to form a hermetically-sealed interior of the sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 David S. Breed
- 👤 Vittorio Castelli
- 👤 Anthony S. Pruszenski, Jr.
- 👤 Chingyao Chan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:32
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/013; B60R21/0136; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/33; H; H01; H01H; H01H35/00; H01H35/14; B60R2021/0002; B60R2021/0006; B60R2021/01006; H01H35/141; H01H35/142
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A crash sensor adapted for mounting in the passenger compartment of a vehicle comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a planar sensor mass disposed in said housing and arranged to move between a first position and a second position, said housing and said mass being profiled to define a narrow clearance between them; (c) means of biasing said mass toward a first position in said housing; (d) first and second contacts; (e) means of causing said first contact to contact said second contact when said mass moves to a second position in said housing; (f) means to dampen the motion of said mass relative to said housing, said damping means comprising the flow of a gas thorough said clearance; and (g) means for flexibly connecting said mass to said housing in a manner permitting said mass to rotate relative to said housing about a point of connection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A crash sensor adapted for mounting in the passenger compartment of a vehicle comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a planar sensor mass disposed in said housing and arranged to move between a first position and a second position, said housing and said mass being profiled to define a narrow clearance between them; (c) means of biasing said mass toward a first position in said housing; (d) first and second contacts; (e) means of causing said first contact to contact said second contact when said mass moves to a second position in said housing; (f) means to dampen the motion of said mass relative to said housing, said damping means comprising the flow of a gas thorough said clearance; and (g) means for flexibly connecting said mass to said housing in a manner permitting said mass to rotate relative to said housing about a point of connection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said planar mass is a component, of which the thickness is much smaller than the width or the height.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said mass is connected with said housing by at least one hinge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention in accordance with claim 3, wherein said mass, said housing, and said hinge are made of plastic and formed in a molding process.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention in accordance with claim 3, wherein said housing is made of plastic and said hinge is made of metal and molded into said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention in accordance with claim 5, wherein said hinge provides a biasing force.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said mass is semi-circular.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention in accordance with claim 7, wherein said mass is attached to said housing at least partially along its diameter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mass is rectangular.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention in accordance with claim 9, wherein said mass is attached to said housing at least partially along one its edges.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said housing is tailored to maintain a substantially constant clearance between said mass and said housing throughout the moving range of said mass.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means of biasing comprises a spring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention in accordance with claim 12, wherein said contacts are treated to become adhesive to plastic prior to the molding operation so as to prevent separation between said contacts and said housing within the operating temperature range of said sensor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention in accordance with claim 13, wherein said treatment provides hermetical sealing to said sensor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means of biasing comprises a magnet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first and second contacts are combined with said housing in a molding process.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first contact provides a biasing force for said mass.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
78 words
A crash sensor adapted for mounting in the passenger compartment of a vehicle comprising: (a) a housing; `(b) a mass in said housing; (c) means of biasing said mass toward a first position in said housing; (d) means responsive to the motion of said mass to a second position in said housing; (e) means to connect said mass to said housing to permit said mass to rotate relative to said housing, said connection means comprising a knife edge.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
78 words
A crash sensor adapted for mounting in the passenger compartment of a vehicle comprising: (a) a housing; `(b) a mass in said housing; (c) means of biasing said mass toward a first position in said housing; (d) means responsive to the motion of said mass to a second position in said housing; (e) means to connect said mass to said housing to permit said mass to rotate relative to said housing, said connection means comprising a knife edge.
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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) | 1995-10-13 | 1996-04-13 | 1996-10-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-10-13 | 2000-04-13 | 2000-10-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-10-13 | 2004-04-13 | 2004-10-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |