US5481139A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety circuit breaker for vehicles
Assignee: DESTON-SOCDE COMERCIO E SERVICOSLDA
•
Filing: 1993-09-20
•
Granted: 1996-01-02
•
Expires: 2013-09-20
Abstract
Abstract This invention is an emergency, inertia-type circuit breaker that is opened when a vehicle is involved in an accident. Within a fraction of a second after the initial accident impact, current will flow to the unlocked side of electric powered door locks and to auxiliary emergency equipment such as side or rear seat airbags and the like. Once the circuit breaker is completely opened, all electrical systems of the vehicle will be shut down except current to the auxiliary emergency equipment and to the open side of electric powered windows.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel Lucas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 07:28
CPC Classifications
A; A62; A62B; A62B99/00; B; B60; B60K; B60K28/00; B60K28/10; B60K28/14; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; H; H01; H01H; H01H35/00; H01H35/14; B60R16/00; B60R16/02; B60R16/03; E; E05; E05F; E05F15/00; E05F15/70; E05F15/72; E05Y; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/50; E05Y2900/53; E05Y2900/55
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
305 words
A collision activated safety system for vehicles comprising: an electrically conductive ball; a first electrically conductive ball support having a first concave surface, said first ball support biased toward said ball; a second electrically conductive ball support having a second concave surface, said second ball support biased toward said ball, said ball retained between said concave surfaces of said first and said second ball supports; a housing containing said ball, said first ball support, and said second ball support, said housing including an electrical contact proximate to said first ball support; input means for electrically connecting said first ball support to a primary electricity source; output means for electrically connecting said second ball support to at least one electrical device, said ball providing an electrical connection between said input means and said output means; an electrically conductive contact plate attached to said first ball support proximate said electrical contact; first contact means for electrically contacting said electrical contact, said first contact means disposed on said first ball support; and second contact means for electrically contacting said electrical contact, said second contact means disposed upon said contact plate; whereby upon a sudden shock to the collision activated safety system, said ball initially acts upon said first and said second concave surfaces to force said first ball support and said second ball support apart thus activating said first contact means thereby providing electricity from the primary electricity source to said electrical contact, and whereby subsequent to said ball forcing said first and second ball supports apart, said ball withdraws completely from between said first and second ball supports to allow said ball supports to approach one another, thus breaking electrical contact between said input means and said output means and activating said second contact means, thereby providing electricity from the primary electricity source to said electrical contact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
305 words
A collision activated safety system for vehicles comprising: an electrically conductive ball; a first electrically conductive ball support having a first concave surface, said first ball support biased toward said ball; a second electrically conductive ball support having a second concave surface, said second ball support biased toward said ball, said ball retained between said concave surfaces of said first and said second ball supports; a housing containing said ball, said first ball support, and said second ball support, said housing including an electrical contact proximate to said first ball support; input means for electrically connecting said first ball support to a primary electricity source; output means for electrically connecting said second ball support to at least one electrical device, said ball providing an electrical connection between said input means and said output means; an electrically conductive contact plate attached to said first ball support proximate said electrical contact; first contact means for electrically contacting said electrical contact, said first contact means disposed on said first ball support; and second contact means for electrically contacting said electrical contact, said second contact means disposed upon said contact plate; whereby upon a sudden shock to the collision activated safety system, said ball initially acts upon said first and said second concave surfaces to force said first ball support and said second ball support apart thus activating said first contact means thereby providing electricity from the primary electricity source to said electrical contact, and whereby subsequent to said ball forcing said first and second ball supports apart, said ball withdraws completely from between said first and second ball supports to allow said ball supports to approach one another, thus breaking electrical contact between said input means and said output means and activating said second contact means, thereby providing electricity from the primary electricity source to said electrical contact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The collision activated safety system according to claim 1, further comprising: means for preventing said ball from simultaneously contacting said first and said second ball supports after said ball has been withdrawn from between said first and said second ball supports.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The collision activated safety system according to claim 1, wherein said primary electricity source support includes a battery.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The collision activated safety system according to claim 1, wherein said primary electricity source includes an alternator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The collision activated safety system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical device includes a starter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The collision activated safety system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical device includes an engine fuel injector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The collision activated safety system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical device includes an accessory fuse panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The collision activated safety system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical device includes an alternator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The collision activated safety system according to claim 1, wherein said electrical contact is electrically connected to an unlocking circuit of a power door.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The collision activated safety system according to claim 1, wherein said electrical contact is electrically connected to a lowering circuit of a power window.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collision activated safety system according to claim 1, wherein said electrical contact is electrically connected to auxiliary emergency equipment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The collision activated safety system according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary emergency equipment includes electrically activated airbags.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collision activated safety system according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary emergency equipment includes time delayed seat belt releases.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The collision activated safety system according to claim 1, wherein said first means for contacting said electrical contact is activated within 1/100th of a second upon collision of the vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
96 words
The collision activated safety system according to claim 1 further comprising: a secondary electricity source; an activatable electrical device; a set of electrical contacts operably connected to one of said ball supports, said set of electrical contacts including, a first contact electrically connected to said secondary electricity source, and a second contact electrically connected to said activatable electrical device; whereby upon complete withdrawal of said ball from between said first and said second ball supports said first contact contacts said second contact thereby providing electricity from said secondary electricity source to activate said activatable electrical device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collision activated safety system according to claim 15, wherein said activatable electrical device includes an emergency light emitting flasher.
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) | 1999-01-01 | 1999-07-03 | 2000-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-01 | 2003-07-03 | 2004-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-01 | 2007-07-03 | 2008-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |