US 5,566,978 A · Vehicle seat belt system

Abstract

In a seat belt system (10), a plurality of sensors (76, 80, 84) sense characteristics of a vehicle occupant and of a vehicle collision. The vehicle occupant sensors (80, 84) cooperate with a controller (90) to control a motor (60) which sets the position of a movable D-ring stop (70). The position of the stop (70) determines the position to which a movable D-ring (28) is repositioned in the event of a vehicle collision. The system (10) also includes a retractor (30) supported for movement on the vehicle. A crushable energy absorbing material, preferably a honeycomb (230), is disposed in the path of movement of a crush plate (160) movable with the retractor (30). The crushable material (230) controls movement of the crush plate (160) and thus of the retractor (30). Together with the repositioning of the D-ring (28), this reduces the abruptness of the load on the vehicle occupant during a vehicle collision.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a vehicle seat and seat belt webbing extensible around an occupant of the vehicle seat, said apparatus comprising:

a webbing guide for guiding the seat belt webbing;
supporting means for supporting said webbing guide for movement;
a webbing guide stop movable between a plurality of different stop positions for stopping movement of said webbing guide;
first actuatable means for, when actuated, moving said webbing guide stop between the plurality of different stop positions;
second actuatable means for, when actuated, moving said webbing guide to a relocated position dependent upon a stop position of said webbing guide stop;
and
means for connecting an end portion of said seat belt webbing to the vehicle in a force-transmitting relationship, said means for connecting including energy absorber means for reducing shock load on the vehicle occupant in the event of sudden vehicle deceleration by enabling the occupant to move when the force applied by the occupant to said belt webbing exceeds a predetermined force.

4 more elements

A vehicle safety apparatus for use in a vehicle having a seat for an occupant of the vehicle, comprising:

a length of seat belt webbing for restraining the vehicle occupant in the event of sudden vehicle deceleration such as occurs in a vehicle collision;
a webbing guide for guiding said seat belt webbing;
support means for supporting said webbing guide for movement on the vehicle;
an actuatable device for, when actuated, moving said webbing guide on the vehicle in response to a condition indicative of the sudden vehicle deceleration;
means for connecting an end portion of said seat belt webbing to the vehicle in a force-transmitting relationship, said means for connecting including energy absorber means for reducing shock load on the vehicle occupant in the event of sudden vehicle deceleration by enabling the occupant to move when the force applied by the occupant to said belt webbing exceeds a predetermined force;
first sensing means for sensing a vehicle occupant characteristic;
and
control means responsive to said sensed vehicle occupant characteristic for limiting movement of said webbing guide upon the occurrence of the sudden vehicle deceleration, by said actuatable device, to a relocated position that is selected based upon said sensed vehicle occupant characteristic.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vehicle seat belt system

Life of this patent

Vehicle seat belt system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20