Sensor pad for controlling airbag deployment and associated support

Abstract

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.