Abstract:
A switch ( 60 ) is provided for disabling an airbag assembly ( 20 ) in an automotive vehicle when a sun visor ( 30 ) in the vehicle is positioned within a defined deployment area of the airbag assembly. The sun visor is movable in and out of the deployment area during regular use. A switch is adapted for signaling the presence or absence of the sun visor in the deployment area, and accordingly disables or enables the airbag assembly, respectively.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to side impact airbag systems in automotive vehicles, and more particularly, to a switch for disabling the side impact airbag system in response to movement of a sun visor into the deployment area of the airbag.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Automotive vehicles commonly include side impact airbag systems to protect an occupant during an impact directed at the side of the vehicle. The airbag system typically includes an inflatable bag deployable between the occupant and sidewall of the vehicle immediately adjacent the occupant. The airbag system further includes a trigger means for deploying the bag in response to the side impact upon the vehicle. Vehicles also commonly include sun visors pivotally assembled to the roof, headliner or A-pillar of the vehicle for shielding the eyes of the occupant from the sun, or other bright light sources. The visor is typically movable through a plurality of positions between the windshield and a side window adjacent the occupant. However, while occupying one of the positions between the windshield and the side window, the visor may interfere with the deployment of the bag or intended direction of deployment of the bag.  
         [0005]     Therefore, it remains desirable to provide a switch for disabling the airbag system when the visor is moved between the windshield and side window.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an airbag disable system for an automotive vehicle comprising an airbag assembly for inflating and discharging an inflatable bag into a deployment area in response to an impact upon the vehicle; a visor pivotally assembled to the vehicle and movable between a plurality of positions in and out of the deployment area; and a switch coupled between the airbag assembly and the visor for disabling the airbag assembly when the visor is positioned within the deployment area.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is perspective view of a forward interior cabin of an automotive vehicle incorporating a side impact airbag disable system according to the invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of an airbag assembly incorporating the side impact airbag disable system according to the invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a visor assembly incorporating one embodiment of the side impact airbag disable switch;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the visor assembly incorporating a second embodiment of the side impact airbag disable switch; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the visor assembly incorporating a third embodiment of the side impact airbag disable switch. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]     Referring to the figures,  FIG. 1  illustrates a forward cabin  10  of an automotive vehicle and a seat  15  in the forward cabin  10  for supporting an occupant within the vehicle. The forward cabin  10  spans between laterally opposing side doors  12  each having a window  14 . A generally horizontal roof  16  and a generally vertical front windshield  18  each extend between the side doors  12 .  
         [0014]     An airbag assembly  20  is fixedly secured to the roof  16  of the vehicle preferably adjacent the side door  12  by bolts, or other fixing means. The airbag assembly  20  includes a bag  22  stored in a folded position within a frangible housing  24 . Shown schematically in  FIG. 2 , the bag  22  is rapidly inflatable by an inflating device  26 , such as a pyrotechnic device. Rapid inflation of the bag  22  ruptures the housing  24  and discharges the bag  22  from the folded position within the housing  24  to an expanded position into a deployment area disposed between the occupant of the seat  15  and the side door  12 , as best illustrated by phantom lines in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]     A visor assembly  30  extends from the roof  16  and is pivotally adjustable relative to the roof  16  for shielding the occupant from light passing through the window  14  or windshield  18 . More specifically, referring to  FIG. 2 , the visor assembly  30  includes a bracket  32  fixedly secured to the roof  16  by bolts, or other suitable means, such as welding. The visor assembly  30  also includes an L-shaped arm  34  having a generally horizontal cantilevered portion  36  and a generally vertical portion  38  pivotally coupled to the bracket  32  allowing the cantilevered portion  36  to swing through a plurality of positions between a forward position aligned with the windshield  18  and a side position aligned with the window  14 . The cantilevered portion  36  terminates at a distal end  39 . A substantially rigid and planar visor flap  40  is rotatably supported by the cantilevered portion  36  allowing rotation of the visor flap  40  through a plurality of positions between a generally horizontal position aligned with the roof  16  and a generally vertical position suited for shielding the eyes of the occupant from light passing through the windshield  18  or window  14 .  
         [0016]     A support  50  is fixedly secured to the roof  16  for supporting the distal end  39  of the cantilevered portion  36  in the forward position, or stored generally horizontal position aligned with the roof  16 . The support  50  includes hooked fingers  52 ,  54  adapted for surrounding and holding the girth of the distal end  39 . While the distal end  39  is held between the fingers  52 ,  54  of the support  50 , the visor flap  40  remains movable between the roof  16  and the windshield  18 . Further, while the distal end  39  is held by the fingers  52 ,  54  of the support  50 , the visor flap  40  is not within the deployment area of the bag  22  and will not swing into the deployment area during accelerations of the vehicle.  
         [0017]     A switch  60  is mounted to the support  50  for engaging or sensing the distal end  39  while seated between the fingers  52 ,  54 . The switch  60  provides an on signal to the airbag assembly  20  when the distal end  39  is positioned between the fingers  52 ,  54  of the support  50 , or alternatively, when the distal end  39  is within close proximity of the support  50  to ensure that the visor flap  40  is not within the deployment area. More particularly, the airbag assembly  20  receives the on signal from the switch  60  when the visor is not in the deployment area of the bag  22 . If the distal end  39  is not seated between the fingers  52 ,  54  of the support  50 , or at least in the proximity thereof, then the visor flap  40  is potentially within the deployment area of the bag  22 . Accordingly, the switch  60  provides an off signal to the airbag assembly  20  when the distal end  39  is not positioned between the fingers  52 ,  54  of the support  50 , or at least, not within a predetermined proximity of the support  50 .  
         [0018]     The airbag assembly  20  includes a controller  80  for receiving and interpreting signals from both the switch  60  and a collision sensor  70  and for triggering the inflating means  26  in the airbag assembly  20 . The controller  80  will trigger the inflating device  26  only when it receives both a signal from the collision sensor  70  resulting from a vehicle collision and an on signal from the switch  60 . If the controller  80  receives a signal from the collision sensor  70  while receiving an off signal from the switch  60 , the controller  80  will not trigger the inflating device  26  thereby disabling the airbag assembly  20 . Thus, the airbag assembly  20  is disabled if the distal end  39  of the visor assembly  30  is not seated between the fingers  52 ,  54  of the support  50 .  
         [0019]     In  FIG. 3 , one embodiment of the switch  60  is illustrated. The switch  60  includes a push button  62  projecting between the fingers  52 ,  54 . While held between the fingers  52 ,  54 , the distal end  39  engages the push button  62  causing the switch  60  to send an on signal to the controller  80 . When the distal end  39  is not held between the fingers  52 ,  54 , the switch  60  sends an off signal to the controller  80 .  
         [0020]     In  FIG. 4 , a second embodiment of the switch  60  is illustrated. The switch  60  includes a magnetic sensor  64  located in the support  50  for sensing the presence of a magnetic or ferrite core  37  embedded in the distal end  39 . When the distal end  39 , and thus core  37 , is in the proximity of the magnetic sensor  64 , the switch  60  sends an on signal to the controller  80 .  
         [0021]     In  FIG. 5 , a third embodiment of the switch  60  is illustrated. The switch  60  includes a sensor  66  for sensing the angular position of the vertical portion  38  relative to the bracket  32  as a measure of the proximity of the distal end  39  from the support  50 . The switch  60  is calibrated to provide an on signal to the controller when the angular position of the vertical portion  38  relative to the bracket  32  corresponds to the location of the distal end  39  between the fingers  52 ,  54  of the support  50 , or at least within a predetermined proximity to the support  50 .  
         [0022]     The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.  
         [0023]     Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.