UIllted ‘States Patent [19]
`Gotomyo et al.
`
`IlllllllllllllIllIllllllllllllllIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
`USOO5324071A
`[11] Patent Number:
`5,324,071
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Jun. 28, 1994
`
`[54] AIR BAG SYSTEM FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE
`VEHICLE
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`.
`
`.
`
`-
`
`[75] Inventors‘ zzzggoc?olgmhgfg?mzm?m’
`'
`*4
`Kohno; lsao Hirashima; Hisao
`Muramoto, all of Hiroshima, Japan
`
`[73] Assignee: Mazda‘Motor Corporation,
`Hlroshlrna, Japan
`
`21 A 1_ No; 792 162
`[
`1
`pp
`’
`[22] Filed
`Nov 14 1991
`
`Forms“ Application Pnonty Data
`[30]
`Mar. 22, 1991 [JP]
`Japan ................................ .. 3-059103
`Mar. 29, 1991 [JP]
`...... .. 3-065811
`Jun. 6, 1991 [JP]
`.......... .. 3-134663
`Jun. 6, 1991 [JP]
`3-134664
`Jun. 7, 1991 [JP]
`Japan ................................ .. 3-136771
`
`[51] Int. 01.5 ............................................ .. B60R 21/22
`[52] US. Cl. .................................. .. 280/730; 280/742;
`297/394
`[58] Field of Search ............. .. 280/728, 730, 735, 738,
`280/740, 742, 728 R, 728 A, 728 B, 736;
`297/391, 394, DIG. 8
`
`.
`
`4,427,233 1/19s4 Matumoto ......................... .. 297/391
`
`4,565,535 1/1986 Tassy ................................. .. 280/728
`5,074,583 12/1991 Fujita etal. ....................... .. 280/730
`Primary Examiner-Margaret A. Focarino
`Assistant Examiner-Paul Dickson
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fish & Richardson
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`>
`The head rest is detachably mounted to the seat back of
`the front seat and the air bag unit with an air bag
`mounted therein is mounted to the head rest. The air
`bag is expanded toward the passenger seated on the rear
`seat in response to an explosion signal from the control
`unit into which signals are entered from impact sensors.
`The air bag is so disposed as to expand only when the
`passenger is seated on the rear seat. The posture and
`position of the air bag unit is adjusted in association
`with the movement or displacement of the front seat to
`which the air bag is mounted, thereby improving the
`ability of the expanded air bag to con?ne the passenger
`seated on the rear seat and protecting the passenger in a
`safer fashion- Further, the air bag unit is mounted to the
`head rest of the front seat, so that the air bag can be
`exchanged with ease and at a cheap cost without need
`ing to exchange the front seat itself.
`
`86 Claims, 38 Drawing Sheets
`
`U4},
`
`/
`415 7R
`
`_
`
`7
`
`:
`
`Erwin .-. ]
`
`1
`
`Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, Petitioner - Ex. 1004
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`June 28,1994
`
`Sheet 1 of 38
`Sheet 1 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`5,324,071
`
`FIG.|
`
`2R
`
`2c
`
`6R 5b
`
`
`FIG.2
`
`2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 2 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`
`“REAR
`
`3
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 3 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`FIG .5
`
`4
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 4 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`i
`
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`02
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`w mm;
`
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`
`5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 5 of 38
`Sheet 5 of as
`
`5,324,071
`5,324,071
`
`
`
`6
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 6 of 38
`Sheet 6 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`5,324,071
`
`
`
`7
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 7 of as
`
`5,324,071
`
`
`64m E4
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 8 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`
`
`FIG.I3
`
`FIG.|4
`
`41
`
`42 43 44
`
`
`
`9
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 9 of as
`
`5,324,071
`
`51:5
`LOCK HEAD-REST
`ACTUATOR
`I
`
`UNLOCK HEAD-
`REST ACTUATOR
`
`( RETURN )
`
`10
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 10 of as
`
`5,324,071
`
`FIG.
`I 6
`__1___+B
`
`[67
`
`67b
`
`68
`
`HEAD-REST
`SW ON?
`
`ST RELAY ON '?
`
`RETURN
`
`S53
`8
`ST RELAY OFF?
`
`11
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 11 of 33
`
`5,324,071
`
`
`
`45 46 47 48 49
`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 12 of 38
`Sheet 12 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`5,324,071
`
`
`
`FIG.2‘|
`
`
`
`13
`
`13
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 13 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`FIG.22
`
`201 (201D)
`
`14
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 14 of as
`
`5,324,071
`
`FIG.24
`
`15
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 15 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`FIG.26
`
`< START >
`f READ ;
`
`v
`
`G1
`
`550
`
`[sea
`
`fses
`
`1 [sea
`
`1
`
`( RETURN )
`
`16
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 16 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`FIG.27
`
`572
`/
`
`\
`
`S74
`/
`
`YES
`S76
`/
`
`INHIBIT OPE-
`RATION OF
`UPPER lNFLA-
`TOR 4aA'
`
`OPERATE UP-
`PER8. LOWER
`INFLATORS
`AaA 8.42.18
`
`INHIBIT OPE
`RATION OF
`LOWER INFL
`ATOR AaB
`
`A
`
`‘
`
`( RETURN )
`
`‘
`
`V
`
`17
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 17 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`FIG
`.28
`
`18
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 18 of as
`
`5,324,071
`
`FIG-.30
`
`FIG.31
`
`19
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 19 of 38
`Sheet 19 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`5,324,071
`
`
`
`20
`
`20
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 20 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`FI,G.34
`
`
`
`21
`
`21
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 21 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`
`
`22
`
`22
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 22 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`FIG.38
`
`
`
`23
`
`23
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 23 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`
`
`24
`
`24
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 24 of 33
`
`5,324,071
`
`
`
`25
`
`25
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 25 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`FIG
`
`.42
`
`
`
`26
`
`26
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 26 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`FIG.43
`
`FIG.44
`
`27
`
`27
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 27 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`
`
`28
`
`28
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 28 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`
`
`7
`
`7'
`
`'
`
`°
`
`I.
`
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`145
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`417
`419
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`L. I
`I ,_________ __J
`
`45 46 47 48 49
`
`29
`
`29
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 23, 1994
`
`Sheet 29 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`FIG.49
`
`a
`
`$81
`
`$82
`
`LOCATED IN
`GIVEN RANGE
`
`?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`$84
` INHIBIT
`
`
`ADJUSTMENT
`OF SEAT
`
`ADJ UST
`SEAT
`
`30
`
`30
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 30 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`
`
`7
`
`7'
`
`‘
`
`°
`
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`
`45 474849
`
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`@130A
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`
`31
`
`31
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 31 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`FIG.52
`
`
`
`$90
`
`
`ADJUST SEAT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`592
`
`® Y
`
`ES
`
`DETECT AMOUNT
`OF SEAT
`ADJUSTED
`
`ADJUST REAR
`SEAT
`
`32
`
`32
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 32 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`
`
`33
`
`33
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 33 of 33
`
`5,324,071
`
`2a
`
`34
`
`34
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 34 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`FIG.57
`
`"3IIIIIIIIIIL_5
`
`1
`
`157 .
`
`152
`
`FIG.58
`
`
`
`35
`
`35
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 35 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`FIG.59
`
`
`
`36
`
`36
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 36 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`
`
`37
`
`37
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 37 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`FIG.62
`
`S100
`
`
` READ RECUNING
`ANGLE. POSITION
`ETC
`
`NO
`
`COMPUTE
`
`x , y
`
`OPERATE MOTOR
`
`156 BY x
`
`
`
`
`
`
`OPERATE MOTOR
`
`163 BY y
`
`RETURN
`
`38
`
`38
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`June 28, 1994
`
`Sheet 38 of 38
`
`5,324,071
`
`FIG.63
`
`FRONT
`
`39
`
`39
`
`

`

`1
`
`5,324,071
`
`AIR BAG SYSTEM FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE
`VEHICLE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to an air bag system for
`an automotive vehicle and, more particularly, to an air
`bag system for an automotive vehicle so adapted as to
`protect in particular the passenger seated on the rear
`seat against impact of the automotive vehicle or a car
`crash.
`
`Description of the Related Art
`
`Generally, there is known an air bag system in which
`an air bag unit is provided with an inflator and an air
`bag mounted in predetermined positions and it is so
`arranged as to protect the passenger seated in the vehi-
`cle compartment of the automotive vehicle against im-
`pact or shock acting upon a vehicle body of the automo-
`tive vehicle due to a car crash, etc. by rapidly expand-
`ing the air bag accommodated with the air bag unit in a
`folded or wound state by explosion of the inflator of the
`air bag unit.
`US. Pat. No. 3,779,577 discloses an air bag system in
`particular for protecting the passenger seated on the
`rear seat, in which an air bag unit is mounted to a rear
`face portion of a seat back of each of the left-hand and
`right-hand front seats.
`The disposition of the air bag unit at the seat back of
`the front seat, however, poses the following problems.
`1. The seat back of the front seat is located in many
`occasions in such a state that the rear face portion of the
`seat back is reclined obliquely downwards. Hence, the
`air bag mounted at the rear face portion of the seat back
`of the front seat is likely to expand in an obliquely
`downward direction, too, when a car crash has oc-
`curred, and the expanded air bag may not confine or
`protect particularly the head of the passenger seated on
`the rear seat in a sufficiently safe fashion.
`2. It is difficult to set the air bag so as to expand
`always in an obliquely upward direction directed
`toward the head and chest portions of the passenger
`seated on the rear seat due to the correlation with a
`reclining angle of the seat back of the front seat.
`3. When the air bag units should be exchanged, the
`whole portion of the seat back of the front seat is re-
`quired to be exchanged so that expenses necessary for
`exchanges of the seat backs become extremely high.
`Further, the disposition of the air bag unit at the front
`seat suffers from the disadvantage that a distance be-
`tween the air bag unit and the passenger seated on the
`rear seat may become too long or too short to confine
`the passenger in an appropriate manner by expansion of
`the air bag mounted in the air bag unit, when a seat
`status or position of the front seat is changed, for exam-
`ple, when the front seat is slid and displaced forward.
`Furthermore, a so-called submarine phenomenon
`should be taken into consideration when measures are
`taken to protect the passenger seated on the rear seat
`from the impact or shock due to a car crash. The so-
`called submarine phenomenon is intended herein to
`mean a phenomenon in which the leg portion of the
`passenger is caused to jump off a floor of the vehicle
`compartment, too, in accompaniment to the forward
`movement of the hip portion thereof upon a car crash.
`If the submarine phenomenon would occur due to a
`car crash, the relationship of the position of the air bag
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`unit with the posture or position of the passenger seated
`on the rear seat becomes so irregular that the passenger
`may not be confined by the expanded air bag in a suffi-
`cient way, thereby causing the passenger to jump off the
`rear seat.
`
`It is further to be noted that the front seat is generally
`arranged to slide forward or backward, thereby permit-
`ting adjustment of the longitudinal direction of.the front
`seat. She sliding mechanism is arranged that its front
`end portion becomes higher in its vertical position than
`its rear end portion so that the front seat is inclined with
`its front end portion positioned higher than its rear end
`portion, as the front seat slides forward closer to a front
`end of the automotive vehicle. Thus, this arrangement
`for the longitudinally sliding mechanism for the front
`seat presents the problems that the passenger seated on
`the rear seat cannot be confined by expansion of the air
`bag due to a variation in the vertical position of the
`front seat, resulting in a variation in the direction in
`which the air bag is directed and expanded.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to
`provide an air bag system for an automotive vehicle so
`adapted as to enhance protection performance in partic-
`ular for the head of the passenger seated on the rear seat
`upon a car crash and to allow easy exchanges for air bag
`units at low cost ease.
`
`The present invention has a second object to provide
`an air bag system for the automotive vehicle so adapted
`as to curtail the effect of the seat status or position of the
`front seat upon confinement of the passenger seated on
`the rear seat by expansion of the air bag mounted in the
`front seat.
`
`The present invention has a third object to provide an
`air bag system for the automotive vehicle so adapted as
`to ensure the confinement of the passenger seated on the
`rear seat by expansion of the air bag, while suppressing
`the submarine phenomenon from occurring against the
`passenger seated on the rear seat.
`The present invention has a fourth object to provide
`an air bag system for the automotive vehicle so adapted
`as to curtail the effect of the seat status or position of the
`front seat upon confinement of the passenger seated on
`the rear seat by the air bag, when the longitudinally
`sliding mechanism for the front seat is disposed in such
`a manner that is reclined higher at its front portion than
`at its rear portion.
`It is to be noted herein that the term “seat status” and
`related terms are intended to mean ‘a reclined angle’, ‘a
`longitudinal position’ and ‘a vertical position’. Hence,
`for instance, the term referred to as ‘a reclined angle of
`the front seat’ is meant to refer to the angle of the front
`seat at which the front sheet is reclined with respect to
`the angle at which the front seat is located in a normal
`position.
`In order to achieve the aforesaid objects, particularly
`the first object, the present invention consists of the air
`bag system for the automotive vehicle having an air bag
`unit so mounted to a front seat as to expand an air bag
`accommodated in the air bag unit toward a passenger
`seated on a rear seat upon impact of the automotive
`vehicle, comprising a head rest mounted detachably to
`a seat back of the front seat; and the air bag unit
`mounted to the head rest and accommodating the air
`bag.
`
`40
`
`40
`
`

`

`3
`
`5,324,071
`
`In accordance with the present invention, the air bag
`unit is mounted to the head rest disposed at the upper
`end of the seat back so that the air bag accommodated
`in the air bag unit can be expanded toward the passen-
`ger seated on the rear seat, thereby ensuring the con-
`finement of the passenger, particularly the head and
`chest portions of the passenger. Further, as the air bag
`unit is mounted to the head rest of the front seat, the air
`bag unit can be exchanged merely by exchanging the
`head rest for a head rest with a new air bag unit
`mounted thereto. This operation is performed with
`extreme ease and for a relatively small expense.
`When the air bag unit is mounted to the head rest of
`the front seat, the seat status of the front seat, e.g. the
`reclined angle of the front seat, may exert the adverse
`influence upon the direction in which the air bag is
`expanded toward the passenger seated on the rear seat,
`thereby curtailing the protection performance of the
`expanded air bag for the passenger. Hence, the air bag
`system according to the present invention is arranged to 20
`control a distribution of gas pressures upon expansion of
`the air bag in accordance with the seat status of the
`front seat.
`Further, the air bag system in accordance with the
`present invention can avoid the risk that the automotive
`vehicle is driven without attachment of the air bag,
`even if the head rest of the front seat would have been
`detached from the seat back of the front seat before
`driving the automotive vehicle, because the air bag unit
`is mounted to the head rest of the front seat and an
`internal combustion engine cannot be started up if the
`head rest is not attached to the seat back of the front
`seat. This arrangement of the air bag system according
`to the present invention ensures the protection for the
`passenger seated on'the rear seat. To this end, locking
`means is disposed to inhibit the detachment of the head
`rest during driving the automotive vehicle or inhibition
`means is disposed to inhibit the running of the automo-
`tive vehicle when no head rest is mounted to the front
`seat.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`,35
`
`4O
`
`When the air bag unit is mounted to the head rest of
`the front seat, it is preferred to take measures for sup-
`pressing the so-called submarine phenomenon from
`occurring and protecting the passenger seated on the
`rear seat from jumping off the rear seat.
`In order to achieve the preferred modes of the air bag
`system according to the present invention,
`it is pre-
`ferred to mount a knee protector for the passenger
`seated on the rear seat or to attach an expandable string
`member to a vertically middle portion of the air bag so
`as to expand upper and lower portions of the air bag
`earlier than the middle portion of the air bag. In another
`aspect, at the moment when a car crash is predicted, the
`seat back of the rear seat may be arranged so as to move
`toward erect position or the rear seat is slid and dis-
`placed rearward so as to suppress the forward displace-
`ment of the passenger seated on the rear seat by the seat
`back of the front seat. Furthermore, the rear seat may
`be disposed so as to force the hip portion of the passen-
`ger seated on the rear seat to be lowered upon predic-
`tion of a car crash.
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`In order to achieve the aforesaid objects, particularly
`the second object, a first aspect of the present invention
`consists of the air bag system of the automotive vehicle
`having the air bag unit so mounted to the front seat as to
`expand the air bag accommodated in the air bag unit
`toward the passenger seated on the rear seat, compris-
`ing:
`
`65
`
`4
`gas pressure adjusting means for adjusting distribu-
`tion of gas pressure within the air bag upon expansion of
`the air bag;
`front seat state detecting means for detecting a seat
`status of the front seat; and
`gas pressure controlling means for controlling the gas
`pressure by producing the distribution of the gas pres-
`sure by controlling the gas pressure adjusting means in
`accordance with the seat status of the front seat, in
`response to a signal from the front seat status detecting
`means.
`
`In accordance with the second aspect of the present
`invention and to achieve particularly the second object
`of the present invention, the distribution of gas pres-
`sures within the air bag is adjusted to change the shape
`of the expanded air bag in agreement with the seat status
`of the front seat.
`
`In order to achieve the aforesaid objects of the pres-
`ent
`invention, and particularly the second object
`thereof, a second aspect of the present invention con-
`sists of an air bag system for the automotive vehicle
`having the air bag unit disposed at the front seat so as to
`expand an air bag accommodated in the air bag unit
`toward the passenger seated on the rear seat upon im-
`pact of the automotive vehicle, comprising rear seat
`status adjusting means for adjusting the seat status of the
`rear seat; front seat status detecting means for detecting
`the seat status of the front seat; and rear seat status
`controlling means for controlling the seat status of the
`rear seat in association with the seat status of the front
`seat by controlling the rear seat status adjusting means,
`in response to a signal from the front seat status detect-
`ing means.
`This second aspect of the present invention can opti-
`mize the ability of the air bag to confine the passenger
`seated on the rear seat by changing the seat status of the
`rear seat in accordance with the seat status of the front
`seat,
`thereby forcibly changing the position and/or
`posture of the passenger seated on the rear seat and
`suppressing the passenger from jumping off the rear
`seat.
`
`In order to achieve the aforesaid objects of the pres-
`ent
`invention, and particularly the second object
`thereof, a third aspect of the present invention consists
`of an air bag system for the automotive vehicle having
`the air bag unit disposed at the front seat so as to expand
`the air bag accommodated in the air bag unit toward the
`passenger seated on the rear seat upon impact of the
`automotive vehicle, comprising front seat status adjust-
`ing means for adjusting the seat status of the front seat;
`passenger determining means for determining if the
`passenger is seated on the rear seat; and inhibition means
`for inhibiting alteration of the seat status of the front
`seat beyond a predetermined range by controlling the
`front seat status adjusting means in response to a signal
`from the passenger determining means, when it is deter-
`mined by the passenger determining means that the
`passenger is seated on the rear seat.
`This third aspect of the preSent invention can ensure
`the ability of the air bag to confine the passenger seated
`on the rear seat by suppressing the seat status of the
`front seat from changing.
`Further, in order to achieve the aforesaid objects of
`the present invention, and particularly the second ob-
`ject thereof, a fourth aspect of the present invention
`consists of an air bag system for the automotive vehicle
`having the air bag unit disposed at the front seat so as to
`expand the air bag accommodated in the air bag unit
`
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`5
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`5,324,071
`
`6
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`toward the passenger seated on the rear seat upon im-
`pact of the automotive vehicle, comprising the air bag
`unit disposed at an opening formed in the front seat and
`directed rearward; and an arm fixed to the floor of a
`vehicle body and extending upwards; wherein the air
`bag unit is fixed to an upper end of the arm.
`The fourth aspect of the present invention to achieve
`particularly the second object does not undergo the
`influence from the seat status of the front seat because
`the air bag unit is disposed separately from the front seat
`and it is positioned in a state independent therefrom.
`Furthermore, in order to achieve the aforesaid ob-
`jects of the present invention, and particularly the sec-
`ond object thereof, a fifth aspect of the present inven-
`tion consists of an air bag system for the automotive
`vehicle having the air bag unit disposed at the front seat
`so as to expand the air bag accommodated in the air bag
`unit toward the passenger seated on the rear seat upon
`impact of the automotive vehicle, comprising: the air
`bag unit disposed at an opening formed in the front seat
`and directed rearward; air bag unit driving means for
`displacing the air bag unit within the opening; front
`seat-status detecting means for detecting the seat status
`of the front seat; and position controlling means for
`adjusting a position of the air bag unit in association
`with the seat status of the front seat by controlling the
`air bag unit driving means in response to a signal from
`the front seat status detecting means.
`This fifth aspect of the present invention can adjust
`the position of the air bag unit in association with the
`seat status of the front seat.
`
`In order to achieve the aforesaid objects of the pres-
`ent invention, and particularly the third object thereof,
`the present invention may consist of the air bag system
`for the automotive vehicle, wherein a knee protector
`for the passenger seated on the rear seat is disposed at
`the seat back of the front seat.
`Further, the present invention may consist of the air
`bag system for the automotive vehicle, wherein the air
`bag is provided at its vertically middle portion with an
`expandable string member so as to delay expansion of
`the air bag in the vicinity of the vertically middle por-
`tion of the string member from the expansion of the
`upper and lower portions of the air bag.
`Furthermore, the present invention may consist of
`the air bag system for the automotive vehicle, wherein
`a second air bag unit is disposed at the seat back of the
`front seat so as to expand toward a knee portion of the
`passenger.
`Additionally, the present invention may consist of the
`air bag system for the automotive vehicle, wherein the
`seat back of the rear seat is so disposed as to erect when
`the impact of the automotive vehicle is predicted.
`Further, the present invention may consist of the air
`bag system for the automotive vehicle, wherein a front
`end portion of the seat cushion of the rear seat is raised
`or a rear end portion thereof is lowered, thereby lower-
`ing the hip portion of the passenger seated on the rear
`seat and suppressing the passenger from moving for-
`ward rapidly and jumping off the rear seat upon the
`impact of the automotive vehicle, when the impact of
`the automotive vehicle is predicted.
`In addition, the present invention may consist of the
`air bag system for the automotive vehicle, wherein the
`front seat is slid rearward when the impact is predicted,
`thereby allowing the seat back of the front seat to sup-
`press the passenger seated on the rear seat from jumping
`off the rear seat.
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`In order to achieve the aforesaid objects of the pres-
`ent invention, particularly the fourth object thereof, the
`present invention consists of the air bag system for the
`automotive vehicle, wherein the position of the air bag
`unit
`is changed in association with the longitudinal
`position of the front seat or wherein the vertical posi-
`tion of the rear seat is adjusted in agreement with the
`longitudinal position of the front seat.
`Other objects, features and advantages of the present
`invention will become apparent in the course of the
`description of the preferred embodiments, which fol-
`lows, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIGS. 1 to 8 ’are directed to the first embodiment of
`the present invention, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an automotive vehicle
`with its roof section excluded; FIG. 2 is a perspective
`view showing the front seat in the vehicle compartment
`when viewed obliquely from the rear of the automotive
`vehicle; FIG. 3 is a view showing the air bag unit;
`viewed from the rear side of the front seat FIG. 4 is a
`view in section taken along line IV—IV of FIG. 3; FIG.
`5 is a perspective view showing an upper portion of the
`front seat, particularly the head rest
`thereof, when
`viewed obliquely from the rear of the automotive vehi-
`cle; FIG. 6 is a system diagram showing the control
`system of the air bag for the passenger seated on the
`rear seat; FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of
`the control over the air bag for the passenger seated on
`the rear seat; and FIG. 8 is schematic representation
`showing the action of the air bag for the passenger
`seated on the rear seat.
`FIGS. 9 to 11 are directed to the second embodiment
`of the air bag system according to the present invention,
`in which:
`’
`
`FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an automotive vehicle
`with a roof section excluded; FIG. 10 is a system dia-
`gram showing the control system of the air bag for the
`passenger seated on the rear seat; and FIG. 11 is a flow
`chart showing an example of control over the control
`system for the passenger seated on the rear seat.
`FIGS. 12 to 17 are directed to the third embodiment
`of the air bag system for the automotive vehicle accord-
`ing to the present invention, in which:
`FIG. 12 is a rear view showing the configuration of
`the upper portion of the front seat, particularly the
`structure of the mounting of the head rest; FIG. 13 is a
`View showing a sensor for sensing the mounting of the
`head rest; FIG. 14 is a system diagram showing the
`control of the locking means for inhibiting detachment
`of the head rest; FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing an
`example of the control of the locking means as shown in
`FIG. 14; FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit
`for inhibiting the start-up of the internal combustion
`engine when no head rest is mounted to the seat back of
`the front seat; and FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing an
`example of the control for inhibiting the start-up of the
`internal combustion engine when no head rest
`is
`mounted thereto.
`FIGS. 18 to 27 are directed to the fourth embodiment
`of the air bag system for the automotive vehicle accord-
`ing to the present invention, in which:
`FIG. 18 is a longitudinally sectional view showing
`the air bag unit for the passenger seated on the rear seat;
`FIG. 19 is a system diagram showing the control system
`for the air bag for the passenger seated on the rear seat;
`FIG. 20 is schematic representation showing a sensor
`
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`

`5,324,071
`
`7
`for sensing a reclined angle of the seat back of the front
`seat; FIG. 21 is schematic representation showing a
`sensor for sensing a reclined angle of the head rest of the
`front seat; FIG. 22 is schematic representation showing
`a sensor for sensing the longitudinal position of the front
`seat; FIG. 23 is schematic representation showing a
`sensor for sensing the vertical position of the front seat;
`FIG. 24 is schematic representation showing a sensor
`for sensing the vertical position of the head rest of the
`front seat; FIG. 25 is a view showing the problems
`sought to be solved by this embodiment of the present
`invention; and FIGS. 26 and 27 are flow charts showing
`an example of the control of the air bag for the passen-
`ger seated on the rear seat.
`FIG. 28 is directed to a variant of the fourth embodi-
`ment of the air bag system for the automotive vehicle
`according to the present invention, which is a longitudi-
`nally sectional view showing the air bag unit for the
`passenger seated on the rear seat.
`FIG. 29 is directed to the fifth embodiment of the air
`bag system for the automotive vehicle according to the
`present invention, which is a side view showing the
`vehicle compartment of the automotive vehicle.
`FIG. 30 is directed to a variant of the fifth embodi-
`ment of the air bag system for the automotive vehicle
`according to the present invention, which is a view
`showing the air bag unit for the passenger seated on the
`rear seat and the status of expansion of the air bag.
`FIGS. 31 to 34 are directed to the sixth embodiment
`of the air bag system for the automotive vehicle accord-
`ing to the present invention, in which:
`FIG. 31 is a side view showing the vehicle compart-
`ment for the automotive vehicle; FIG. 32 is a perspec-
`tive view showing a seat frame for the front seat when
`viewed obliquely from the rear; FIG. 33 is a partially
`sectional side view showing an upper portion of the seat
`frame of the front seat; and FIG. 34 is a view in section
`taken along line X34—X34 of FIG. 33.
`FIGS. 35 and 36 are directed to the seventh embodi-
`ment of the air bag system for the automotive vehicle
`according to the present invention, in which:
`FIG. 35 is a side view showing the vehicle compart-
`ment of the automotive vehicle; and FIG. 36 is a per-
`spective view showing the seat frame of the front seat
`when viewed obliquely from the rear.
`FIGS. 37 and 38 are directed to the eighth embodi-
`ment of the air bag system for the automotive vehicle
`according to the present invention, in which:
`FIG. 37 is a side view showing the vehicle compart-
`ment of the automotive vehicle for description of the
`action of the air bag system according to this eighth
`embodiment; and FIG. 38 is a view with the essential
`portion enlarged, showing the reclined angle adjusting
`means for the rear seat.
`FIGS. 39 to 42 are directed to the ninth embodiment
`of the air bag system for the automotive vehicle accord-
`ing to the present invention, in which:
`FIG. 39 is a side view showing the vehicle compart-
`ment of the automotive vehicle for description of the
`action of the air bag system according to this ninth
`embodiment; FIG. 40 is a side view with a portion cut
`out, showing the rear seat; FIG. 41 is a view showing a
`lift-up mechanism for lifting the front end portion of the
`seat cushion of the rear seat; and FIG. 42 is a view in
`section showing the lift-up mechanism of FIG. 41.
`FIG. 43 is directed to a variant of the ninth embodi-
`ment of the air bag system for the automotive vehicle,
`which is a side view showing the vehicle compartment.
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`FIG. 44 is directed to the tenth embodiment of the air
`bag system for the automotive vehicle according to the
`present invention, which is a perspective view showing
`the detail of the front seat sliding mechanism.
`FIGS. 45 to 49 are directed to the eleventh embodi-
`ment of the air bag system for the automotive vehicle
`according to the present invention, in which:
`FIG. 45 is a system diagram showing overall control
`in the eleventh embodiment; FIG. 46 is a schematic side
`view showing the mechanism for adjusting the reclined
`angle of the head rest of the front seat; FIG. 47 is a
`schematic side view showing the mechanism for adjust-
`ing the vertical position of the head rest of the front
`seat; FIG. 48 is a diagram showing the detail of the
`overall control system in this eleventh embodiment; and
`FIG. 49 is a flow chart showing an example of the
`control in this eleventh embodiment.
`FIGS. 50 to 52 are directed to a variant of the elev-
`enth embodiment of the air bag system for the automo-
`tive vehicle according to the present
`invention,
`in
`which:
`
`FIG. 50 is a system diagram showing the overall
`control in this twelfth embodiment; FIG. 51 is a dia-
`gram showing the detail of the overall control system in
`this embodiment; and FIG. 52 is a flow chart showing
`an ex