System and method for vehicle occupant protection
OwnerGregory B. Graceinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for protecting a vehicle occupant during a deceleration event, which integrates a dynamically deployed device (“DDD”) with a seat belt restraint system. The invention uses a seat belt to guide the deployment of a DDD (e.g., an air bag). The DDD is anchored to a vehicle. The DDD is slideably attached to a seat belt of the vehicle such that the dynamically deployed device, when deployed, slides along the seat belt and is held in position by the seat belt.
Claims45
A system for protecting an occupant of a vehicle comprising:
- (a) a dynamically deployed device;
- (b) an anchor adapted to attach the dynamically deployed device to the vehicle;
- (c) a guide attached to the dynamically deployed device such that a channel is created between the dynamically deployed device and the guide;
- and
- (d) a seat belt disposed in the channel,
- wherein, upon deployment of the dynamically deployed device, the guide engages the seat belt to guide the dynamically deployed device to an inflated position.
A module that integrates a dynamically deployed device with a seat belt of a vehicle, the module comprising:
- (a) a housing having a first compartment, a second compartment, and a slot between the first and second compartments, wherein the slot is adapted to receive the seat belt;
- (b) a dynamically deployed device disposed in the first compartment and attached to the housing;
- and
- (c) a guide disposed in the second compartment, wherein the guide is attached to the dynamically deployed device such that the slot is enclosed between the dynamically deployed device and the guide.
A method for protecting an occupant of a vehicle comprising:
- anchoring a dynamically deployed device, in an undeployed state, to the vehicle;
- attaching a guide to the dynamically deployed device to create a channel between the guide and the dynamically deployed device;
- disposing a seat belt in the channel;
- deploying the dynamically deployed device;
- and
- engaging the guide with the seat belt to guide the deploying dynamically deployed device to an inflated position.
A method for protecting an occupant of a vehicle comprising:
- anchoring an uninflated dynamically deployed device to the vehicle;
- slideably attaching the uninflated dynamically deployed device to a seat belt of the vehicle;
- inflating the uninflated dynamically deployed device such that the dynamically deployed device slides along the seat belt;
- and
- holding the inflated dynamically deployed device in position with the seat belt.
A system for protecting an occupant of a vehicle comprising:
- (a) means for anchoring an uninflated dynamically deployed device to the vehicle;
- and
- (b) means for slideably attaching the uninflated dynamically deployed device to a seat belt of the vehicle such that the dynamically deployed device, when deployed, slides along the seat belt.
A system for protecting an occupant of a vehicle comprising:
- (a) a dynamically deployed device;
- (b) a guide having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, wherein the second portion is located between the first portion and the third portion, and wherein the first portion and the third portion are attached to the dynamically deployed device and the second portion is disposed apart from the dynamically deployed device;
- and
- (c) a housing that stores the dynamically deployed device and the guide, wherein the housing has a slot disposed between the second portion of the guide and the dynamically deployed device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.