AIRBAG DOOR INCLUDING A STATE DISPLAY FOR A SWITCHABLE AIRBAG SYSTEM

Abstract: An airbag door (1) for an airbag (not illustrated) capable of being switched between an enabled state and a disarmed state, in which the airbag door (1) includes an airbag enabled state display (3) switchable from a first display (5) in which the display shows indicia representing the enabled state of the airbag to a second display (7) in which the display shows indicia representing the disarmed state of the airbag.

Description: AIRBAG DOOR INCLUDING A STATE DISPLAY FOR AN SWITCHABLE AIRBAG SYSTEM Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved airbag in which the airbag may be disabled in predetermined conditions It has now been accepted that whilst airbags can effectively reduce injury and death in many accidents, there are occasions when the airbag itself may cause more injury than the accident. Such occasions include the use of a passenger airbag when a rear facing infant seat (RFIS) is present in the passenger seat, or when a small child is not strapped into position in the seat. In such cases it is recognised that there are advantages in having an airbag disabled condition in which the airbag will not operate in case of impac . Many sensor systems continue to be developed which detect the occupancy state of the passenger seat and then automatically disarm the airbag when the correct conditions for its operation do not apply, i.e the presence of a RFIS, or an adult mispositioned. Alternative simpler systems merely include an airbag disarm switch allowing the driver to select when the airbag will not operate. In either case, it is important that there is a display which clearly shows the operational state of the airbag. Otherwise it would be possible for the driver to forget that he needs to rearm the airbag when an adult next sits in the passenger seat, or alternatively would have to keep checking that the airbag was disarmed automatically when a RFIS is in use. Summary of the Invention According to this invention there is provided an airbag door for an airbag capable of being switched between an enabled state and a disarmed state, in which the airbag door includes an airbag enabled state display switchable from a first display in which the display shows indicia representing the enabled state of the airbag to a second display in which the display shows indicia representing the disarmed state of the airbag. Thus the airbag door itself carries the display which means that the passenger and driver can readily see the state of the airbag. The airbag may be changed from its enabled to disabled state automatically by an occupancy sensor or manually by selecting a switch. Preferably such selective display is provided by using a 'secret - until -lit' material which carries a first printed layer on its obverse surface and a second printed layer on its reverse surface, the second printed layer being visible only when backlit. Such a 'secret until lit' material is disclosed in International Patent application W097/16812 and comprises a partially transparent tinted substrate layer carrying a first obverse layer and a second reverse layer, the second reverse layer carrying a first printed display, and the first obverse layer carrying a second printed display and being partially transparent coated with a transparent carrier supporting non opaque particulate light splitting or light frequency modulating materials such as mica coated with titanium dioxide. In ambient light the second printed display is visible and when a light of sufficient intensity is shone from a source located at the rear of the material the presence of the first printed display on the second reverse layer becomes visible and the second printed display becomes visible. A light emitting diode or sets of diodes can be used to provide the backlighting. The airbag enabled state display may include two separate messages printed on the reverse layer, with a patterned or blank obverse layer. In this case when the airbag is enabled, a first message 'AIRBAG ACTIVATED' is backlit and thus visible to the occupants of the vehicle. When the airbag is disabled, a second message 'AIRBAG DE-ACTIVATED' is backlit and thus visible to the occupants of the vehicle. Preferably however a first message is printed on the obverse layer and a second message is printed on the reverse layer, so that the first message is visible when the display is not backlit and the second message is visible when the display is backlit. Preferably the first message is 'AIRBAG ACTIVATED' and the second message is 'AIRBAG DE-ACTIVATED' since in most vehicles the default state of the airbag is enabled and it has to be positively disabled when required for particular circumstances. The material is preferably a flexible material which can be moulded to any profiled airbag door. A suitable material is a polycarbonate flexible sheet. Because the sheet is lightweight and the display is formed only of the sheet and a series of light emitting diodes, their presence on the door does not present a danger if the airbag deploys. Brief Description of the Drawings An airbag door in accordance with the invention will be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 illustrates the door when the airbag is enabled; and, Figure 2 illustrates the door when the airbag is disabled. Description of the Preferred Embodiment An airbag door 1 for an airbag (not illustrated) capable of being switched between an enabled state and a disarmed state, in which the airbag door 1 includes an airbag enabled state display 3 switchable. from a first display 5 in which the display shows indicia representing the enabled state of the airbag to a second display 7 in which the display shows indicia representing the disarmed state of the airbag. The airbag is a standard airbag with a standard airbag door carrying upon its outer surface a display 3 comprising a series of LED's mounted behind a secret until lit material such as that sold by John McGavigan Limited of Woodilee Road, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow Gββ 3UW and as described in their patent application WO 97/16812 The material is a polycarbonate flexible material which carries upon its reverse surface in a first area, a first message AIRBAG ACTIVATED and in a second area, a second message AIRBAG DE-ACTIVATED. Two sets of light emitting diodes are arranged, one behind each area. When the airbag is enabled the set of lights behind the first area is illuminated to make the first message visible. The second message is invisible because the lights behind are not illuminated. When the airbag is disabled the set of lights behind the second area is illuminated and the second message becomes visible. Thus the driver and passenger will always know the enabled state of the airbag, the display 3 being conveniently located on the airbag door 1. 198-0026

Claims: Claims 1. An airbag door 1 for an airbag (not illustrated) capable of being switched between an enabled state and a disarmed state, in which the airbag door 1 includes an airbag enabled state display 3 switchable from a first display 5 in which the display shows indicia representing the enabled state of the airbag to a second display 7 in which the display shows indicia representing the disarmed state of the airbag. 2. An airbag door according to claim 1 in which the display 3 is provided by a secret until lit material which carries one printed layer on its obverse surface and a second printed layer on its reverse surface. 3. An airbag door according to claim 1, in which the first display and second display are each printed on the reverse surface of the display, and the display includes two sets of light emitting diodes, one set provided behind the first display and the other provided behind the second display. 4. An airbag door for an airbag capable of being switched between an enabled state and a disarmed state arranged substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: BUTLER BRYAN, NOLAN STEPHEN, BUTLER, BRYAN, NOLAN, STEPHEN
Applicants: BUTLER BRYAN, FORD FRANCE, FORD MOTOR CO, FORD WERKE AG, NOLAN STEPHEN, BUTLER, BRYAN, FORD FRANCE S.A., FORD MOTOR COMPANY, FORD MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED, NOLAN, STEPHEN
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B60R21
IPC codes: B60R21