SENSOR PAD FOR CONTROLLING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND ASSOCIATED SUPPORT
A weight sensing pad for controlling activation of an automobile airbag, the weight sensing pad comprising a bladder member having an interior volume defined by first and second sheets perimetrically bonded together, wherein the interior volume of the bladder member is subdivided into a plurality of cells by a plurality of small, substantially circular welds between the first and second sheets, the plurality of cells being in fluid communication with each other; and a fluid contained within the interior volume of the bladder member, whereby the automobile airbag is activated upon a change in pressure caused by displacement of a volume of the fluid in the interior volume of the bladder.
1 . A weight sensing pad for controlling activation of an automobile airbag, said weight sensing pad comprising:
a bladder member having an interior volume defined by first and second sheets perimetrically bonded together, wherein said interior volume of said bladder member is subdivided into a plurality of cells by a plurality of small, substantially circular welds between said first and second sheets, said plurality of cells being in fluid communication with each other, said plurality of cells having a substantially non-square shape, and said plurality of cells being randomly spaced; and
a fluid contained within said interior volume of said bladder member,
whereby said automobile airbag is activated upon a change in pressure caused by displacement of a volume of said fluid in said interior volume of said bladder.
2 . The weight sensing pad of claim 1 , wherein
said plurality of cells are uniformly shaped.
3 . The weight sensing pad of claim 1 , wherein
said fluid is non-compressible and has a low freezing point.
4 . The weight sensing pad of claim 1 , wherein
said weight sensing pad further comprises a pressure activated electronic transducer in fluid communication with said bladder member and in electronic communication with an airbag control module, wherein said transducer is induced to emit a signal in response to the detected change in the pressure; and
a pressure tube interconnected between and in fluid communication with said bladder member and said transducer.
5 . The weight sensing pad of claim 1 , wherein
said weight sensing pad further comprises at least one securement region for facilitating securement of said weight sensing pad to an automobile seat.
6 . The weight sensing pad of claim 1 wherein
said weight sensing pad further comprises at least one support member for engaging a seat frame, said support member being defined by a planar support panel that has engagement members that couple with said seat frame wherein said bladder member is secured to said support member.
7 . The weight sensing pad of claim 1 , wherein
a bore is provided in substantially each of said plurality of small, substantially circular welds.
8 . The weight sensing pad of claim 1 , wherein
said plurality of cells are substantially triangularly shaped.
9 . A weight sensing pad for an automobile seat, said weight sensing pad comprising:
a bladder member having an interior volume defined by first and second sheets perimetrically bonded together, said interior volume of said bladder member being subdivided into a plurality of substantially hexagonal shaped cells in fluid communication with each other by a plurality of small, substantially circular welds between said first and second sheets, said plurality of substantially hexagonal shaped cells being randomly spaced; and
a fluid contained within said interior volume of said bladder member,
whereby said automobile airbag is activated upon a change in pressure caused by displacement of a volume of said fluid in said interior volume of said bladder.
10 . The weight sensing pad of claim 9 , wherein
a bore is provided in substantially each of said plurality of bonded regions.
11 . The weight sensing pad of claim 9 , further comprising
a pressure activated electronic transducer in fluid communication with said bladder member and in electronic communication with an airbag control module, wherein said transducer is induced to emit a signal in response to the detected change in the pressure; and
a pressure tube interconnected between and in fluid communication with said bladder member and said transducer.
12 . The weight sensing pad of claim 9 , wherein
said fluid is non-compressible.
13 . The weight sensing pad of claim 9 , wherein
said weight sensing pad further comprises at least one support member for engaging a seat frame, said support member being defined by a planar support panel that has engagement members that couple with said seat frame wherein said bladder member is secured to said support member.