Patent ID: 6133648
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An apparatus for selectively enabling or disabling an actuatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:a cylindrical housing mountable to a vehicle, said housing having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis extending through said first and second ends of said housing, said housing having an inner sidewall portion, said inner sidewall portion having an annular ledge adjacent said first end with a locking rib extending a predetermined distance axially from said ledge toward said second end of said housing, said inner sidewall portion having a pair of spaced apart locking channels along opposed sides of said locking rib;an elongated shaft member having first and second end portions, said shaft member disposed within and rotatable relative to said housing, said first end portion of said shaft member positioned adjacent said first end of said housing and engaging said ledge, said shaft member having at least one slot extending axially from said first end portion of said shaft member and terminating at a location intermediate said first and second end portions of said shaft member;a blade member disposed within and axially moveable relative to said shaft member and to said housing, said blade member having at least one arm extending radially through said at least one slot of said shaft member, said at least one arm extending into one of said locking channels and being movable between said locking channels through rotation of said shaft member;a biasing element urging said blade member toward said first end of said shaft member, thereby biasing said at least one arm toward said ledge and into one of said locking channels; anda switch element having two states operatively associated with said locking channels, said switch element changing states in response to said at least one arm moving between said locking channels, said switch element providing a signal indicative of the state of said switch element for disabling or enabling the actuatable protection device.