US3757292A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety system for vehicle driver and passengers
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1971-05-07
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1991-05-07
Abstract
Abstract A safety system for vehicle driver and passengers includes a bladder or bladders expansible by gaseous pressure fed from a gas reservoir in the event of a collision to protect the driver and passengers. The system also includes an electric switch operable in response to the pressure drop in the gaseous pressure in the reservoir to break electrical connection between the electrical power source and wiring systems leading to various vehicle electrical components to prevent short-circuits in the wiring systems and to guard against fires in the event of such collision.
Inventors
- 👤 K Sato
- 👤 T Aoyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 03:46
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/26; B60R21/268
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
381 words
A safety system for vehicle driver and passengers, said system including a reservoir containing a pressurized fluid; an inflatable gas bladder; a conduit extending between said reservoir and said gas bladder, means for detecting a collision of the vehicle with another object; valve means in said conduit electrically connected to said collision detecting means, the latter being adapted to emit an electrical signal in the event of a collision, said valve means being adapted to be opened in response to such electrical signal to allow the pressurized fluid to flow from said reservoir through said valve means to said gas bladder so that the same is inflated to protect the driver and passengers; an electric switch means including a first pair of electrical contacts one of which is electrically connected to the electrical power source of said vehicle, the other contact being movable between a first position in which said other contact is in electrically conductive engagement with said one contact and a second position in which said the other contact is spaced apart from said one contact, a second pair of electrical contacts one of which is electrically connected to a first earthed conductor, the other contact of said second pair being electrically connected to a second conductor leading to wiring system of said vehicle and electrically and mechanically connected to said the other contact of said first pair for movement therewith into and out of electrically conductive engagement with said one contact of said second pair, said the other contact of said first pair being normally in said first position to allow electrical current to flow from said power source through said second conductor to said wiring systems; means in fluid-flow communication with said reservoir and responsive to variation in the pressure therein to move said other contact of said first pair from said first position to said second position to thereby break the electrical connection between said power source and said wiring systems and cause the latter to be earthed through said first conductor; and electric warning means provided in parallel with said switch means and electrically connected to said second conductor and said electrical Power source, said warning means being adapted to produce a warning signal when said first pair of contacts are in said second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
381 words
A safety system for vehicle driver and passengers, said system including a reservoir containing a pressurized fluid; an inflatable gas bladder; a conduit extending between said reservoir and said gas bladder, means for detecting a collision of the vehicle with another object; valve means in said conduit electrically connected to said collision detecting means, the latter being adapted to emit an electrical signal in the event of a collision, said valve means being adapted to be opened in response to such electrical signal to allow the pressurized fluid to flow from said reservoir through said valve means to said gas bladder so that the same is inflated to protect the driver and passengers; an electric switch means including a first pair of electrical contacts one of which is electrically connected to the electrical power source of said vehicle, the other contact being movable between a first position in which said other contact is in electrically conductive engagement with said one contact and a second position in which said the other contact is spaced apart from said one contact, a second pair of electrical contacts one of which is electrically connected to a first earthed conductor, the other contact of said second pair being electrically connected to a second conductor leading to wiring system of said vehicle and electrically and mechanically connected to said the other contact of said first pair for movement therewith into and out of electrically conductive engagement with said one contact of said second pair, said the other contact of said first pair being normally in said first position to allow electrical current to flow from said power source through said second conductor to said wiring systems; means in fluid-flow communication with said reservoir and responsive to variation in the pressure therein to move said other contact of said first pair from said first position to said second position to thereby break the electrical connection between said power source and said wiring systems and cause the latter to be earthed through said first conductor; and electric warning means provided in parallel with said switch means and electrically connected to said second conductor and said electrical Power source, said warning means being adapted to produce a warning signal when said first pair of contacts are in said second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
155 words
A safety system as claimed in claim 1 in which said pressure variation responsive means is an axially expansible bellows member having one end face in abutment contact with said other contact of said first pair of contacts, said bellows member being normally in its fully expanded position to hold said other contact of said first pair in abutment contact with said one contact of said first pair, said other contact of said first pair being connected to said the other contact of said second pair of a rod member axially extending therebetween, means biasing said rod together with said the other contacts of said first and second pairs of contacts toward said bellows member, said biasing means causing said rod to be moved toward said bellows member when the pressure therein is lowered below a predetermined value so that said bellows member is collapsed at least partially by the force of said biasing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as claimed in claim 2 in which said warning means comprise a lamp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A safety system as claimed in claim 3 in which said electric switch means further includes a substantially closed hollow casing enclosing said electrical contacts and said bellows member, the latter having its other end face secured to one end of the closed ends of said casing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A safety system as claimed in claim 2 in which said bellows member includes turns of resilient spiral member embedded in the peripheral wall of said bellows member, said spiral member being operative to reinforce said bellows member against the pressure therein and cooperative with said biasing means to immediately contract said bellows member when the pressure therein is lowered below said predetermined value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A safety system as claimed in claim 2 characterized by means providing said switch with a hysteresis property which eliminates an unstable state which will otherwise be produced when the pressure forces of said bellows member and said biasing means are nearly balanced with each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
A safety system as claimed in claim 6 in which said hysteresis property providing means comprises a pair of recesses in the peripheral surface of said rod member and spaced a distance axially of said rod, said distance being equal to the movement of said the other contact of said first pair between said first and second positions, a ball of a rigid material and a compression spring urging said ball into one of said recesses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A safety system as claimed in claim 7 in which means are provided for adjusting the initial load on said compression spring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A safety system as claimed in claim 2 in which said biasing means comprises a compression spring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A safety system as claimed in claim 9 in which means are provided for adjusting the initial load on said compression spring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A safety system as claimed in claim 4, characterized by means manually operable to move said other contacts of said first and second pairs of electrical contacts from their second positions to first positions and means for locking said the other contacts in said second positions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A safety system as claimed in claim 11 in which said manually operable means comprises at least one handle rigidly secured to one of said other contacts of said first and second pairs and projecting therefrom radially outwardly through an opening in the peripheral wall of said casing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
A safety system as claimed in claim 12 in which said opening has a hook-like shape providing axially and circumferentially extending portions, said handle being adapted to be moved into locking engagement with said circumferentially extending portion of said opening to hold said the other contact of said first pair in abutment contact with said one contact of said first pair.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
132 words
A safety system as claimed in claim 4, characterized by a substantially cylindrical block of an electrically insulating material receiveD in and secured to said casing, said block having its opposite ends axially inwardly spaced from the closed ends of said casing to cooperate therewith to define a pair of spaces adjacent the opposite ends of said casings, respectively, said block being provided with an axially extending bore through which said rod slidably extends, said one contacts of said first and second pairs being substantially in the form of rings secured to the opposite ends of said block, respectively, each of said the other contacts of said first and second pairs being substantially in the form of a disc axially movable into and out of contact with one of said contact rings.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
95 words
A safety system as claimed in claim 4 in which the end of said casing adjacent said first pair of contacts has a substantially cylindrical hollow member connected thereto at one end and extending axially inwardly toward said the other contact of said first pair, said the other contact of said first pair having a substantially cylindrical second hollow member connected thereto at one end and extending axially outwardly therefrom in closely spaced telescopic relationship with said first hollow member to cooperate therewith to define a closed chamber in which said bellows member is received.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A safety system as claimed in claim 8, in which said means for adjusting said compression spring comprises an adjusting screw threadably extending radially inwardly through the peripheral wall of said casing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A safety system as claimed in claim 10 in which said means for adjusting said second compression spring comprises an adjusting screw threadable extending through the end wall of said casing adjacent said compression spring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |