The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 04, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 19, 1994
David S Breed, Boonton, NJ (US);
Automotive Technologies Int'l., Inc., Boonton Township, NJ (US);
Abstract
A crash sensor designed for arrangement in the crush zone of a motor vehicle, is operative to determine when and if a crash is severe enough to deploy a passive restraint system (i.e., air bag or seat belt tensioner) of the vehicle. The sensor is of the crush switch type and incorporates a flex action tape switch and is responsive to trigger the passive restraint system when the vehicle impact causes vehicle elements in the crush zone to deform as far back as the sensor position. The sensor operates on bending as well as compression and is designed to trigger on the relative motion of two adjacent parts of the vehicle in the crush zone. The sensor latches closed during the crash additionally permitting it to be used in series with a non-crush zone mounted discriminating sensor.