COUNTER-ACTING UNCONTROLLED ACTIVATION OF AIR BAGS

Abstract: Apparatus for counter-acting uncontrolled activations of so called air bags of the known type which are inflated by a pyrotechnical charge following a strong deceleration, like in connection to a crash, and comprising a centre plate (5, 8) having at least three arms (7, 9) which can be displaced in relation to each other and having bent over hooks (7a, 9a) at the ends thereof adapted to engage the steering wheel ring (3) of a vehicle and to be locked against said steering wheel (by 4) after having been mounted on the steering wheel, whereby the centre plate (5, 8) and the arms (7, 9) makes it impossible to inflate the air bag (11) which is mounted on the steering wheel (3) of the car.

Description: COUNTER-ACTING UNCONTROLLED ACTIVATION OF AIR BAGS The present invention relates to an apparatus for counter-acting and inhibiting uncontrolled activation of so called "air bags" of the known type which are inflated by a pyrotechnical charge following a strong deceleration, like in connection to a collision. An increasing number of vehicles are to-day equipped with one. two or more air bags, in some countries following provisions by law. The purpose of an air bag is to protect a car driver and/or a passenger, as a supplement of a car safety belt, against injuries which may otherwise appear in case of a crash against an object in front. Sensors are mounted in the car body, which sensors, in case of a strong deceleration which often precedes a collision, provides an ignition of a pyrotechnical charge which makes the air bag become inflated by said charge. For different reasons it may happen, however, that an air bag does not become inflated during a collision, and in such case the air bag is a latent source of accident since said air bag may later become released and inflated accidentally. Normally the operation of an air bag is not supposed to fail, but in very special cases this may happen, for instance in case of a side crash, if the vehicle is run into from behind, or if the vehicle rolls around. The air bag is also not supposed to become released accidentally, but this may still happen. The reason may be that the sensors for the air bag have been damaged during the accident. All known installations need a source of electric power, but even in the current to the different parts of the air bag are switched off, for instance in that the poles of the electric accumulator are removed, such measurement is not quite safe. The air bag does not always automatically stop working if the current is switched off. It is said that some air bags can be active as long as up to thirty minutes are the current has been switched off. This means that the job for the rescue personnel taking care of injured persons in the vehicle involves problems and risques. On several known occasions the rescue personnel have been injured by exploding air bags while working for instance with jammed and injured persons after an accident has happened. Apart from the extremely strong explosion power that the air bag exhibits chemical residuals are spread in the vehicle coupe when the air bag is being inflated, which residuals main consists of sodium hydroxide powder. Such powder may give rise to corrosion injuries. For eliminating such risques for the rescue personnel the present invention relates to a flexible apparatus formed for being mounted on the steering wheel, and preferably also in front of a passenger seat equipped with an air bag, before any working is commenced in the coupe of the vehicle, and which may comprise two or more mutually movable parts including a centre plate and several connection arms adapted to be mounted round the steering wheel ring. In a first embodiment the apparatus is formed by two separate units, each consisting of a mounting plate and two connection arms, or one unit comprising two connection arms and the other one comprising one connection arm. By displacing the connection arms or the centre plates said arms can be adapted to differently large steering wheels. The units can be locked to each other, for instance by means of bolts or another locking means. In an other embodiment the air bag protection apparatus comprises a sole protection plate which can be clamp connected to the steering wheel. In a third embodiment the protection apparatus comprises a protection plate mounted over the steering wheel and, connected thereto, a protection plate or protection frame mounted in front of a passenger seat air bag. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus is also formed with a protection bag of a suitable material, for instance polyamide fabric, which is secured to the centre plate, or the outermost centre plate, and which is formed and mounted so that it can receive at least part of the gas which is issued by the air bag if said air bag is released accidentally. The protection bag is mounted against the centre plate facing the vehicle driver. The protection bag can be arranged on the front side or on the rear side of the protection plate. In the latter case the protection bag is open and is formed with a strapping means at the open end thereof. After the protection apparatus has been mounted on, and has been secured to the steering wheel the protection bag is pulled back-down over the steering wheel, and the mouth of the protection bag is strapped over the steering wheel column by means of the strapping means thereof so that the bag is brought to seal against the steering column. In case the air bag is released by accident gas and chemical substances are collected in the protection bag, whether the protection bag is mounted on the front side or the rear side of the protection apparatus, and said bag thereby eliminates, as far as possible, spreading of the chemical residuals from the accidentally released air bag in the car. For providing a further safety against occasional injuries in case the air bag is accidentally released the centre plate, or the centre plate facing the steering wheel, is formed with several small knives which cut open small leaks of the air bag if said bag is being released by accident. Said knives may be several triangular wings which are punched down and having their points facing the air bag. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed specification in which reference will be made to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings figure 1 shows, in a perspective view and seen from the front side of the side of the steering wheel with said steering wheel only diagrammatically marked, a first embodiment of a protection apparatus according to the invention. Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of the protection apparatus of figure 1. Figure 3 is a side view of a steering wheel having a protection apparatus mounted thereon, and figure 4 correspondingly shows the protection apparatus with the protection bag thereof in its mounted state. Figure 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a protection apparatus of the invention. Figure 6 shows, in doubled scale, the encircled detail of figure 5, and figure 7 shows the protection apparatus of figure 5 seen from above. Figure 8 is a top view of a further embodiment of the invention having a first protection apparatus mounted on the steering wheel and a second protection apparatus mounted in front of the passenger seat air bag. Figure 9 is a cross section view along line IX-IX of figure 8 and figure 10 is a cross section view along line X-X of figure 8. The air bag protection apparatus shown in the drawings comprises a centre mounting means and at least three co-operating arms the outer ends of which are bent to form hooks adapted to be connected to the steering wheel ring, and which arms are adjustable in relation to each other so that the entire protection apparatus can be locked to a steering wheel of a vehicle and can prevent an accidentally released air bag from becoming inflated. The embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2 is a first example which does not restrict the invention. Said embodiment comprises two main parts, namely a lower part 1 and an upper part 2, which parts can be displaced in relation to each other and can be locked to each other and to the steering wheel 3 of a vehicle for instance by means of a central lock bolt 4. In the illustrated example the lower part 1 comprises a centre plate 5 having a central bore 6 for the lock bolt 4 and two radially outwards projecting arms 7 extending at 90° angle to each other and which can be welded to the bottom surface of the centre plate 5 or can be secured thereto in another way. The ends of the arms are fold over to form hooks 7a arranged for being able to clasp the steering wheel ring 3. The upper part 2 has substantially the same appearance as the lower part 1 , and it also comprises a centre plate 8 and two outwardly projecting arms 9 having bent over hooks 9a and extending about 90° angle to the arms 7 of the lower part 1. The arms 9 can be welded to the upper surface of the centre plate 8. The centre plate 8 is formed with an elongated slot 10 by means of which the lower part 1 can be displaced in relation to the upper part 2 and can thereafter be locked thereto. It is possible to form the apparatus with only three arms, which are preferably distributed over 120° angle, whereby either the lower part or the upper part is formed with only one arm. For preventing chemical residuals from blowing into the vehicle coupe in case the air bag 11 mounted on the steering wheel 3 should happen to accidentally be released the apparatus is formed with a protection bag 12 of a suitable material, like polyamide fabric, the bottom of which is glued, riveted or otherwise secured to the upper surface of the upper part 2. The protection bag can be mounted in front of the protection apparatus, or on the rear side of the protection apparatus. In the latter case the opposite end of the protection bag is open and is so wide that it can be pulled both over the upper part 2 and the lower part 1 and over the steering wheel 3 to which the air bag protection apparatus is mounted. At the free end the protection bag 12 is formed with a strapping means 13 by means of which the protection bag can be tightened and strapped round the steering wheel column 14. In case the air bag 11 of the car should happen to be released unintentionally the centre plates 6, 8 and the arms 7, 9 prevent the air bag from being inflated. The gases and the residuals formed during the releasing of the air bag are completely, or at least partly, collected by the protection bag 12. In figures 5-7 there is shown an alternative embodiment of the protection apparatus, which is formed with one single centre plate 15 having outer edges 16 with are fold towards the steering wheel and are intended to catch the air bag in case said air bag should be inflated. The fold-in edges can for instance have a length in the axial direction of 50 mm. The apparatus is formed with three or more angular locking arms 17 which with one end extends through a bore or a slot 18 of the centre plate 15 and which is threaded so that the lower angular part 19 thereof can be clamped to the bottom side of the steering wheel ring, for instance using wing nuts 20 on said threads. At the bottom surface of the centre plate 15 there are several small knives 21, formed for instance as triangular knives which are punched inwards/downwards from the centre plate 15 so as to form sharp points facing the steering wheel, which points prick holes in the air bag 9 in case said air bag should accidentally be inflated. When the protection apparatus of figures 5-7 is to be mounted the locking arms 17 are rotated so that the angular part 19 of each arm is placed under the steering wheel ring and the arms are tightened by means of the nuts 20. The apparatus can be adapted to steering wheels of different shapes, different diameters and different widths. Also this last mentioned embodiment is preferably formed with a protection bag which can be pulled over the steering wheel and can be strapped round the steering wheel column and which catches the gas and the chemical substances which are emitted if the air bag 9 should be released unintentionally. The protection apparatus shown in figure 8 is useful for cars having an air bag 23 both for the driver and the front passenger. The protection apparatus 22 for the driver air bag 23 can be of the same type as shown in figures 5-7. At a place of the front surface thereof the centre plate 15 has a connection tube 25 for a connection bar 26, which is connected to the protection apparatus 24 for passenger seat air bag. Said last mentioned protection apparatus 24 is formed as a frame 27 having on the front surface connection tubes 28 for connection bar 26 and having on the rear side punched out knives 21. The passenger seat protection apparatus 22 can be mounted in that the connection bar 26 connected to the right side window of the car, to a part of the ceiling or any other part of the car, or a wire 29 can be drawn from the passenger protection apparatus 24, through a side window of the car, over and across the windshield 30 of the car and can be connected to the driver protection apparatus 22 with the opposite end of said wire 29. The frame work 27 of the passenger protection apparatus leaves an open space inside the frame work and said space is covered by a fabric acting as a protection bag 31 collection the gases and chemical residuals after the air bag has released. REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 lower part 17 locking arm 2 upper part 18 bore / slot 3 steering wheel 19 angular part 4 locking bolt 20 nut 5 centre plate (of 1 ) 21 knife 6 central bore 22 driver's protection apparatus 7 arms (of 1) 23 air bag 8 centre plate (of 2) 24 passenger's protection apparatus 9 arms (of 2) 25 connection tube 10 slot 26 connection bar 11 air bag 27 frame work 12 protection bag 28 connection tube 13 strapping 29 wire 14 steering wheel column 30 wind shield 15 centre plate 31 protection bag 16 bent edge

Claims: AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 14 October 1996 (14.10.96); original claims 1-10 replaced by amended claims 1-9 (2 pages)] 1. Apparatus for eliminating accidents in case of unintentional inflating of an air bag (11) mounted at least in connection to a steering wheel of a a vehicle and being of the known type which is inflated by a pyrotechnical charge following a strong deceleration, like in connection to a crash, and which apparatus comprises a centre plate (5, 8; 15) having means for mounting same over the steering wheel ring (3) of a vehicle in front of an air bag, characterized in that said mountring means comprises at least three arms (7, 9; 17) which can be adjusted and locked in relation to each other and can be locked against the steering wheel (by 4; 20) and which are formed with bent in hooks (7a, 9a; 19) at the ends thereof adapted to engage the outer periphery of said steering wheel ring (3), and in that the apparatus also is formed with a protection bag (12) which is formed and mounted so that i can receive at least part of the gas which is issued by an air bag which is accidentally released, and which is wide enough to be able to be pulled rearwards-downwards over the air bag protection apparatus and the steering wheel (3). 2. Air bag protection apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the protection bag (12) is formed by a air tight polyamide fabric. 3. Air bag protection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the protection bag, at the free end thereof, is formed with a strapping means (13) by means of which the protection bag can be strapped or clamped against the steering wheel column underneath the air bag protection apparatus and the steering wheel (3). 4. Air bag protection apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that it is formed with a lower centre plate (5) and an upper centre plate (8) which are displaceable in relation to each other, and in which one of said centre plates carries one or two locking arms and the other centre plate carries two locking arms, which locking arms are arranged at mutual angles of about 120° or 90°, respectively, and in which one of the plates is formed with a central bore (6) for a locking bolt (4) and the second centre plate is formed with a slot (10) in which the locking bolt (4) can be displaced in connection to mounting of the protection apparatus on the steering wheel (3). 5. Air bag protection apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that it is formed with one single centre plate (15) and with three or more angular locking arms (17) having threaded ends with a nut (20) extending through bores or slots (18) of the centre plate (15) and the angular end (19) of which can be rotated to a position underneath the steering wheel (3) and can be locked against the steering wheel by means of a locking nut (20) engaging the threaded end of the locking arm. 6. Air bag protection apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the centre plate (15), or the lower centre plate (5), on the surface thereof facing the steering wheel is formed with several small knives (21) adapted to prick or cut holes in the air bag (9) in case said air bag is unintentionally inflated. 7. Air bag protection apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the knives (21) of the centre plate or the lower centre plate (5) are formed as several triangular bodies punched downwards from the centre plate and having their points facing the air bag. 8. Air bag protection apparatus according to any or the preceding claims useful for a car having an air bag (23) both at the driver's side and at the passenger's side, characterized in that the driver's protection apparatus (22) is formed with a connection tube (25) for a bar (26) extending in the transverse direction of the car and which carries the passenger protection apparatus (24) in front of the passenger's air bag. 9. Air bag protection apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the connection bar (26) for the two protection apparatus (22, 24) is secured at the right side of the car, in that said bar (26) is connected to the vehicle coupe or in that the outer end of the bar (26) is connected to the driver's protection apparatus by means of a wire (29) extending over the wind shield (30) of the vehicle.

Inventors: LENZ THOMAS, LENZ, THOMAS
Applicants: FOERVALTNING AB AK, LENZ THOMAS, AK FOERVALTNING AB, LENZ, THOMAS
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B60R21
IPC codes: B60R21