US5233141A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spring mass passenger compartment crash sensors
Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC
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Filing: 1991-07-09
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Granted: 1993-08-03
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Expires: 2011-07-09
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 for cases where the passenger compartment mounted discriminating sensor is used as a backup to forward crush zone mounted crash sensors or where the vehicle occupant is wearing a seat belt, that spring mass sensors can be used. In addition, spring mass sensors can also be used as arming or safing sensors. In all cases, provision must be made to minimize the effects of cross-axis vibrations on such sensors as taught by this invention. Such sensors can be made with housings of plastic. A preferred embodiment of this invention utilizes a mass supported and biased by a beam contact which is attached to a housing. These sensors are useful for sensing frontal impacts in the passenger compartment both as primary sensors and as single or dual contact arming sensors. They can also be combined by placing two sensors within a single housing and, in some cases, the same mass can be used for both sensors. Finally, they can be used in electro-mechanical and in all mechanical air bag systems. It is further taught that the response of all spring biased sensors can be improved by making the at rest bias substantially less than the bias at actuation.
Inventors
- 👤 David S. Breed
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:07
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H35/00; H01H35/14; B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/013; B60R21/0132; B60R21/0136; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/33; H01H35/141; B60R2021/0002; B60R2021/0006; B60R2021/01006; G; G01; G01P; G01P15/00; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; G01P2015/0805; G01P2015/0822; G01P2015/0825; G01P2015/0828; H01H35/142
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A spring mass crash sensor for mounting in the passenger compartment comprising: (1) a housing; (2) a mass in said housing having one end rotatably attached to said housing thereby forming a rotatable attachment; (3) means to support said mass in said housing, said support means providing a substantially greater resistance to vertical and lateral forces than to longitudinal forces on said mass; (4) a first contact means; (5) a biasing means for biasing said mass toward a first position in said housing; (6) a second contact means acting in cooperation with said first contact means for closing an electrical circuit when said mass moves to a second position in said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A spring mass crash sensor for mounting in the passenger compartment comprising: (1) a housing; (2) a mass in said housing having one end rotatably attached to said housing thereby forming a rotatable attachment; (3) means to support said mass in said housing, said support means providing a substantially greater resistance to vertical and lateral forces than to longitudinal forces on said mass; (4) a first contact means; (5) a biasing means for biasing said mass toward a first position in said housing; (6) a second contact means acting in cooperation with said first contact means for closing an electrical circuit when said mass moves to a second position in said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said first contact means is cantilevered from said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said second contact means is cantilevered from said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first contact means is formed from a metal strip and has a width which is much larger in dimension then its thickness.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said contact means and said housing are attached by insert molding.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said contact means are made of metal and molded into said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first contact means provides said biasing force.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said biasing means comprises a spring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first and second contact means are combined with said housing in a molding process.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention in accordance with claim 9, wherein said contact means are treated to become adhesive to plastic so as to prevent separation between said contact means and said housing within the operating temperature range of said sensor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention in accordance with claim 10, wherein said treatment provides hermetical sealing to said sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein means are provided to hermetically seal the sensor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said contact means are coated with a dampening material to reduce vibrations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the biasing force at the first position is less than half of the biasing force at the second position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said rotatable attachment comprises a hinge.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
190 words
A system for triggering a passive occupant restraint device for a motor vehicle having a crush zone in the forward region thereof, said system comprising in combination: (a) at least two discriminating sensors disposed in said vehicle crush zone; (b) a discriminating sensor disposed in said vehicle remote from said crush zone; (c) an arming sensor disposed in said vehicle remote from said crush zone; and (d) means, responsive to said sensors, for triggering a passive occupant restraint system in said vehicle when one of said discriminating sensors and said arming sensor indicate an incipient vehicle crash; wherein at least one sensor comprises: (1) a housing; (2) a mass in said housing; (3) means to support said mass in said housing, said support means providing a substantially greater resistance to vertical and lateral forces than to longitudinal forces on said mass; (4) a first contact means; (5) a biasing means for biasing said mass toward a first position in said housing, (6) a second contact means acting in cooperation with said first contact means for closing an electrical circuit when said mass moves to a second position in said housing.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
190 words
A system for triggering a passive occupant restraint device for a motor vehicle having a crush zone in the forward region thereof, said system comprising in combination: (a) at least two discriminating sensors disposed in said vehicle crush zone; (b) a discriminating sensor disposed in said vehicle remote from said crush zone; (c) an arming sensor disposed in said vehicle remote from said crush zone; and (d) means, responsive to said sensors, for triggering a passive occupant restraint system in said vehicle when one of said discriminating sensors and said arming sensor indicate an incipient vehicle crash; wherein at least one sensor comprises: (1) a housing; (2) a mass in said housing; (3) means to support said mass in said housing, said support means providing a substantially greater resistance to vertical and lateral forces than to longitudinal forces on said mass; (4) a first contact means; (5) a biasing means for biasing said mass toward a first position in said housing, (6) a second contact means acting in cooperation with said first contact means for closing an electrical circuit when said mass moves to a second position in said housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention in accordance with claim 16, wherein at least one of said crush zone mounted sensor is a crush switch.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention in accordance with claim 16 wherein said sensor system comprises two crush zone mounted crush switch sensors, a non-crush zone mounted arming sensor and a noncrush zone mounted discriminating sensor.
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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) | 1996-08-02 | 1997-02-01 | 1997-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-02 | 2001-02-01 | 2001-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-02 | 2005-02-01 | 2005-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |