US 7,740,272 B2Granted

Airbag apparatus for small vehicles

AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.

InventorsHiroshi Goto, Tadatoshi Shigetomi, Hisashi Matsuo

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Abstract

An airbag apparatus for a small vehicle for preventing an airbag from being inflated uselessly even when a rider is moved significantly on the vehicle. A first airbag module includes impact sensors, an electronic control unit for generating an output signal when an impact force is determined to be excessive from detection signals supplied from the impact sensors, an inflator which is activated by the output signal from the electronic control unit and an airbag which is inflated by gas generated from the inflator that is mounted on a small vehicle. A second airbag module includes an inflator and a wearing type airbag which is inflated by gas generated by the inflator that is mounted on a rider. The electronic control unit and the inflator of the second airbag module are connected by couplers that can input the output signal from the electronic control unit to the second airbag module.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An airbag apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a first airbag module adapted to be mounted on the vehicle comprising:
impact sensors for detecting an impact force;
an electronic control unit for generating an output signal when the impact force is determined to be excessive upon reception of a detection signal from the impact sensors;
an inflator which is activated by the output signal from the electronic control unit for generating a high-pressure gas;
and
an first airbag mounted on the vehicle and adapted to be inflated by gas generated from the inflator for alleviating an impact to a rider;
and
a second airbag module adapted to be worn by a rider comprising:
an inflator;
and
a wearing type second airbag adapted to be inflated by gas generated by the inflator;
wherein the electronic control unit and the inflator of the second airbag module are connected by connecting means for inputting the output signal from the electronic control unit to the inflator of the second airbag module, and
wherein a deployment of the inflator of the first airbag occurs first and a deployment of the inflator of the second airbag occurs second for providing sequential protection for the rider.

10 more elements

An airbag apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a first airbag module adapted to be mounted on the vehicle comprising:
at least one impact sensor for detecting an impact force;
an electronic control unit for generating an output signal when the impact force is determined to be excessive upon reception of a detection signal from the at least one impact sensor;
a first inflator activated by the output signal from the electronic control unit for generating a high-pressure gas;
and
a first airbag adapted to be inflated by gas generated from the first inflator for alleviating an impact to a rider;
and
a second airbag module adapted to be worn by a rider comprising:
a second inflator;
and
a wearing type second airbag adapted to be inflated by gas generated by the inflator;
wherein the electronic control unit and the second inflator of the second airbag module are connected by connecting means for inputting the output signal from the electronic control unit to the inflator of the second airbag module,
and further including first and second signal conductors extending from said electronic control unit, the first signal conductor being operatively connected to the inflator of the first airbag and the second signal conductor being operatively connected to the inflator of the second airbag,
wherein at least the second conductor is a conductive wire with one end connected to the electronic control unit and a second end connected to the inflator of the second airbag via a delay circuit,
wherein a deployment of the first inflator of the first airbag occurs first and a deployment of the second inflator of the second airbag occurs second for providing sequential protection for the rider.

12 more elements

An airbag apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a first airbag module adapted to be mounted on the vehicle comprising:
at least one impact sensor for detecting an impact force;
an electronic control unit for generating an output signal when the impact force is determined to be excessive upon reception of a detection signal from the at least one impact sensor;
a first inflator activated by the output signal from the electronic control unit for generating a high-pressure gas;
and
a first airbag adapted to be inflated by gas generated from the first inflator for alleviating an impact to a rider;
and
a second airbag module adapted to be worn by a rider comprising:
a second inflator;
and
a wearing type second airbag adapted to be inflated by gas generated by the inflator;
wherein the electronic control unit and the second inflator of the second airbag module are connected by connecting means for inputting the output signal from the electronic control unit to the inflator of the second airbag module,
wherein a deployment of the first inflator of the first airbag occurs first and a deployment of the second inflator of the second airbag occurs second for providing sequential protection for the rider.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.