Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Leon P Niedzwiecki

Robert P Ellis

Robert E Nill

An electrical apparatus (10) includes a circuit board (12) having an opening (40). A conductor terminal (30) is secured on an electrical conductor (20). An axis (116) of the conductor terminal (30) extends through the opening (40) in the circuit board (12). A first portion (112) of the conductor terminal (30) is located in the opening (40) in the circuit board (12). A second portion (114) of the conductor terminal (30) extends transverse to the axis (116) and is electrically connected to the circuit board (12). A portion of the circuit board (12) overlies a surface (122) on the second portion (114) of the conductor terminal (30) to block movement of the conductor terminal (30) in a direction parallel to the axis (116). A strain relief tab (140) on the conductor terminal (30) engages a surface (82) on a housing (14) to block movement of the conductor terminal relative to the circuit board (12) in a direction transverse to the axis (116).

Electrical terminal apparatus

A vehicle occupant restraint system (20) includes an inflatable air bag (41) and an actuatable inflator (40) for, upon actuation, providing inflation fluid for inflating the air bag. A seat belt (105) extends across the vehicle occupant to restrain the occupant. A tongue (110) is connected with the seat belt (105), and a buckle (57) receives and latches the tongue (110) in the buckle (57). A pretensioner (44) is operatively connected to the belt (105). An indicator (59) indicates to the occupant if the tongue (110) is not received in the buckle (57). A seat belt buckle switch (66) is operatively connected to the buckle (57). The seat belt buckle switch (66) has electrically conductive normally closed contacts (74, 76) which open upon insertion of the tongue (110) into the buckle (57). A resistor network is electrically connected to the normally closed contacts (74, 76). The resistor network provides a first electrical signal having a first characteristic when the normally closed contacts (74, 76) are closed and a second electrical signal having a second characteristic when the normally closed contacts (74, 76) are open. A controller (24) is operatively connected to the inflator (40), the pretensioner (44), the resistor network (60, 72) and the indicator (59). The controller (24) controls actuation of the inflator (40), the pretensioner (44) and the indicator (59) in accordance with the first and second electrical signals.

Growing community of inventors

Romeo, MI, United States of America

Leon P Niedzwiecki