Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Patent
1992-03-19
1993-09-07
Tyson, Karin L.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
222 3, B60R 2118
Patent
active
052421937
ABSTRACT:
A self-contained inflatable air bag apparatus that can be effectively used in virtually any vehicle having seat belts. The apparatus includes a base connected to the restraining belt; an inflatable air bag carried by the base; a source of pressurized gas; and a trigger responsive to a predetermined tensile loading of the belt for connecting the source of gas to the air bag, the air bag being expansively deployed for crash-protection of the occupant upon occurrence of the predetermined tensioning of the belt. The base can form a spaced pair of belt contacting surfaces for contacting a first side of the belt, the trigger including a post for contacting an opposite, second side of the belt between the belt contacting surfaces of the base, the belt pressing against the post in response to the tensile loading, the post being moved in response to a predetermined magnitude of the tensile loading; and a valve connected between the gas source and the air bag and responsive to movement of the post for pressurizing the air bag. Preferably the apparatus includes a detent member that can biasing engage with the post, the post not being moved when the tensile loading is less than the predetermined magnitude. An indicator can display an estimated mass of the occupant, and a preload adjustment coupled to the indicator can set the preloading in correspondence with the indicator, whereby the predetermined magnitude of the tensile loading is directly related to the estimated mass.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 3682498 (1972-08-01), Rutzki
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patent: 4111458 (1978-09-01), Okada et al.
patent: 4765569 (1988-08-01), Higgins
patent: 4846368 (1989-07-01), Goetz
patent: 4913461 (1990-04-01), Cuevas
patent: 4971354 (1990-11-01), Kim
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