Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Patent
1997-03-10
1998-10-06
Jordan, Charles
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
280736, 200 6158B, B60R 2116
Patent
active
058166114
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD:
The present invention relates to an arrangement for selectively disconnecting an airbag fitted to a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
It is desirable to be able to deactivate a passenger airbag in a car when, for example, a rear-facing child seat is installed on the passenger seat. One means for deactivating an airbag is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3 863 209 in which a load-dependent switch is arranged in the seat cushion. Thus, only when the seat is occupied by a person of sufficient weight will the airbag sensor be armed. A disadvantage with such a system is that the load-dependent switch cannot distinguish between a human being and a heavy item which may be placed on the seat.
It is also known from, for example, DE-A-4 023 109 to use optical or ultrasonic transmitters and sensors to detect the presence of a seat occupant, though such systems are relatively difficult to install.
Despite the availability of various systems which purport to be able to distinguish between a rear-facing child seat and a normally seated passenger, there is still a need for a system which is manually activated by e.g. the driver of the vehicle so that the driver is certain that the airbag is indeed disconnected.
Probably the simplest manually activated system is an on-off switch which may, for example, be located on the dashboard of the vehicle. A disadvantage with such a system is, however, that it is too easy to overlook the fact that the airbag deployment arrangement is still deactivated once the child seat has been removed and an adult occupies the seat. Such an oversight can of course have serious consequences should the vehicle be involved in an accident.
Whilst an on-off switch can be provided with e.g. a telltale warning light, a need exists for a more evident indication that the airbag is disconnected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a manually actuated airbag disconnection arrangement in which a vehicle occupant can easily ascertain whether the airbag is connected or disconnected.
This object is achieved by an arrangement for selectively disconnecting an airbag fitted within a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, the airbag being provided with airbag deployment means, the arrangement comprising visible warning means retractable within a component inside the passenger compartment and adapted to be withdrawn to extend over at least a predetermined region of the component, the warning means cooperating with the airbag deployment means such that when the warning means is in a retracted position within the compartment, the airbag deployment means is armed and when the warning means is in a withdrawn position, the airbag deployment means is disarmed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
The invention will be described in greater detail in the following by way of example only and with reference to the attached drawings, in which
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle dashboard fitted with the arrangement according to the present invention, the arrangement placing an airbag in an armed condition;
FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, though with the arrangement shown in the process of being operated;
FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, though with the arrangement placing an airbag in a disarmed condition;
FIG. 4 and 5 are schematic representations of a mechanical embodiment for disarming an airbag, and
FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an electrical embodiment for disarming an airbag.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the arrangement in accordance with the present invention for selectively disconnecting an airbag fitted within a component of a motor vehicle comprises a visible indicator in the form of, for example, a strip or ribbon 10 of preferably brightly coloured material. In the drawings, the airbag is located within a vehicle dashboard 12, though it is to be understood that the arrangement which is described in the following may be implemented on air
REFERENCES:
patent: 5174600 (1992-12-01), Jahn et al.
patent: 5413378 (1995-05-01), Steffens, Jr. et al.
patent: 5428340 (1995-06-01), Kawabata et al.
patent: 5468014 (1995-11-01), Gimbel et al.
AB Volvo
Jordan Charles
Montgomery Christopher K.
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