US 6,682,009 B1 · Four-point seat belt having central load limiter

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant (12) includes first and second lengths of belt webbing (30, 32) for extending over the occupant. First and second spools (62, 80) are supported for rotation in a belt retraction direction (68) and an opposite belt withdrawal direction (70). The apparatus (10) includes a mechanism (90) for blocking rotation of the spools (62, 80) in the belt withdrawal direction (68) until a predetermined force is applied to the spools, and for permitting rotation of the spools in the belt withdrawal direction when a force above the predetermined force is applied to the spools. The mechanism (90) drivingly interconnects the spools and permits rotation of one of the spools (62, 80) in the belt withdrawal direction (70) after blocking rotation in the belt withdrawal direction without causing rotation of the other spool in the belt withdrawal direction.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims19

Dependent claims

Apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat, comprising:

a first length of belt webbing for extending over a vehicle occupant and a second length of belt webbing for extending over the vehicle occupant;
a first spool supported for rotation in a belt retraction direction and an opposite belt withdrawal direction, a portion of said first length of belt webbing being wound on said first spool;
a second spool supported for rotation in a belt retraction direction and an opposite belt withdrawal direction, a portion of said second length of belt webbing being wound on said second spool;
and
a mechanism for blocking rotation of said first and second spools in the belt withdrawal direction until a predetermined force is applied to said first and second spools and for permitting rotation of said first and second spools in the belt withdrawal direction when a force above said predetermined force is applied to said first and second spools;
said mechanism drivingly interconnecting said first and second spools and permitting rotation of one of said first and second spools in the belt withdrawal direction after blocking rotation in the belt withdrawal direction without causing rotation of the other spool in the belt withdrawal direction.

3 more elements

Apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat, comprising:

a first length of belt webbing for extending over a vehicle occupant and a second length of belt webbing for extending over the vehicle occupant;
a first spool supported for rotation in a belt retraction direction and an opposite belt withdrawal direction, a portion of said first length of belt webbing being wound on said first spool;
a second spool supported for rotation in a belt retraction direction and an opposite belt withdrawal direction, a portion of said second length of belt webbing being wound on said second spool;
a load limiter for reducing the maximum load experienced by the vehicle occupant through said first and second lengths of belt webbing;
a first actuatable one way clutch connected between said first spool and said load limiter;
and
a second actuatable one way clutch connected between said second spool and said load limiter.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,807 words

Summary421 words

#1. Technical Field

#2. Description of the Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings10 figures

#The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a front view of a vehicle seat with a vehicle occupant protection system constructed in accordance with the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic rear perspective view of portions of the vehicle occupant protection system of FIG. 1 illustrating a shoulder belt retractor assembly;

Detailed description5,140 words

#The present invention relates to an apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant during a crash condition. More particularly, the present invention relates to a vehicle seat belt system having a load limiter. The present invention is applicable to various seat belt systems. As representative of the present invention, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a seat belt system 10 for helping to protect a vehicle occupant 12 seated in a vehicle seat 14.

#The seat 14 has a frame 15 connected with a floor 16 of a vehicle. The seat 14 has a seat bottom cushion 17 on which the occupant 12 sits, and a backrest 18 that extends upward from the seat bottom cushion 17. The backrest 18 has an upper portion 20 located adjacent the shoulders of the occupant 12. The seat 14 has left and right sides 22 and 24.

#Left and right shoulder belts 30 and 32 (FIGS. 1 and 2) extend from the upper portion 20 of the backrest 18 adjacent the shoulders of the occupant 12. The left shoulder belt 30 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is a length of belt webbing that has an end portion 34 connected with a left shoulder belt retractor 40. The right shoulder belt 32 is a length of belt webbing that has an end portion 36 connected with a right shoulder belt retractor 42. The retractors 40 and 42 are part of a shoulder belt retractor assembly 50 (described below in detail) that is secured in the backrest 18 adjacent the shoulders of the occupant 12. The other ends of the shoulder belts 30 and 32 are connected with a buckle assembly 38. The seat belt system 10 also includes a lap belt assembly 52 connected to the seat frame 15 in any manner well known in the art. The lap belt assembly 52 is connectable with the buckle assembly 38 to secure the vehicle occupant 12 in the seat 14.

Facts

Application

10/228,812Filed 27 Aug 2002

Granted

27 Jan 2004

Term ended

27 Aug 2022

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification7 codes

B60R 22/343
Belt retractors, e.g. reels: with electrically actuated locking means
B60R 22/3413
Comprising energy-absorbing means: operating between belt reel and retractor frame
B60R 22/26
Anchoring devices: secured to the seat
B60R 2022/027
Semi-passive restraint systems, e.g. systems applied or removed automatically but not both ; Manual restraint systems: four-point seat belt…

Timeline

27 Aug 2002Application filedUS 10/228,812
27 Aug 2002Assigned to Trw Vehicle Safety Systems, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
28 Apr 2003Assigned to Jpmorgan Chase Bankthe us guarantee and collateral agreement
27 Jan 2004GrantedUS 6,682,009 B1
27 Aug 2022Term endedEstimated

Description5,807 words

Summary421 words

#1. Technical Field

#2. Description of the Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings10 figures

#FIG. 1 is a front view of a vehicle seat with a vehicle occupant protection system constructed in accordance with the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic rear perspective view of portions of the vehicle occupant protection system of FIG. 1 illustrating a shoulder belt retractor assembly;

Detailed description5,140 words

Four-point seat belt having central load limiter

Life of this patent

Four-point seat belt having central load limiter

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims19

Description5,807 words

Drawings

Classification7 codes

Life of this patent

Description5,807 words