Compact force limiter for automotive safety restraints
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorColby S. Williams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for vehicle occupant safety during automotive collisions. The apparatus includes a plurality of compression elements rigidly fixed to a first seat belt guide and a second seat belt guide. The compression elements are arranged to resist compressive loading in response to an impact force, such as that experienced during rapid deceleration of a vehicle occupant in an automotive collision. When a pre-determined threshold force has been overcome, the compression elements predictably deform, thus absorbing energy associated with the deceleration. As a result of deformation of the compression elements, additional seat belt length is pulled from the apparatus, thus shielding the vehicle occupant from maximal injury.
Claims17
An apparatus for limiting force in a seat belt safety system, the apparatus comprising:
- a first seat belt guide at a first end;
- a second seat belt guide at a second end;
- and
- a plurality of compression elements extending from the first seat belt guide to engage with the second seat belt guide, wherein the plurality of compression elements deform in response to an applied force that exceeds a threshold defined by the material properties and structural properties of the compression elements.
A method of an apparatus for limiting force in a seat belt safety system, the method comprising:
- applying a force to a first seat belt guide;
- and
- deforming a plurality of compression elements in response to the force applied at the first seat belt guide, wherein the deformation of the plurality of compression elements occurs in a pre-determined manner to reduce the distance between the first seat belt guide and a second seat belt guide.
A method of an apparatus for limiting force in a seat belt safety system, the method comprising:
- applying a tensile force to a seat belt anchored at a first end, wherein the seat belt pulls a first seat belt guide toward a second seat belt guide;
- deforming a plurality of compression elements in response to the force applied at the first seat belt guide, the deformation of the plurality of compression elements occurring in a pre-determined manner according to the magnitude of the applied tensile force;
- and
- compressing the apparatus in response to deforming the plurality of compression elements, wherein the compression reduces the magnitude of the deceleration force applied to the seat belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.