Inflatable seat belt system
AssigneeAutoliv ASP, Inc.
InventorsDavid W. Schneider, Michael K. Hishon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inflatable seat belt system providing protection to its inflatable members is disclosed. The system may include inflatable shoulder belts and lap belts, which may or may not be inflatable. Each inflatable belt includes seat belt webbing having an interior cavity in which an inflatable member is placed. The seat belt webbing also includes a frangible seam that bursts upon inflation of the inflatable member. The inflatable seat belt system may also include one or more anti-submarining (crotch) belts that prevent an occupant from slipping underneath the protection of the lap and shoulder belts.
Claims26
An inflatable seat belt system, comprising:
- a first shoulder belt comprising seat belt webbing having an interior surface defining an interior cavity;
- a first inflatable member at least partially disposed within the interior cavity of the first shoulder belt;
- a locking device having a buckle and a latch plate, the locking device being coupled to the first shoulder belt;
- and
- a cinching mechanism disposed within the locking device for adjusting a length of the first shoulder belt, the locking device and cinching mechanism being located proximate an occupant's abdomen when the latch plate and buckle are interlocked.
An inflatable seat belt system, comprising:
- a first and a second shoulder belt, each shoulder belt comprising seat belt webbing having an interior surface defining an interior cavity;
- a first and a second inflatable member, the first inflatable member disposed within the interior cavity of the first shoulder belt and the second inflatable member disposed within the interior cavity of the second shoulder belt;
- at least one inflator for inflating the first and second inflatable members;
- a first and a second lap belt;
- a locking device comprising a buckle and a latch plate, the locking device being coupled to the first and second shoulder belts and the first and the second lap belts;
- and
- a cinching mechanism disposed within the locking device for adjusting a length of the first shoulder belt, the locking device and cinching mechanism being located proximate an occupant's abdomen when the latch plate and buckle are interlocked.
An inflatable seat belt system, comprising:
- a first and a second shoulder belt, each shoulder belt comprising seat belt webbing having an interior surface defining an interior cavity;
- a first and a second inflatable member, the first inflatable member being disposed within the interior cavity of the first shoulder belt and the second inflatable member being disposed within the interior cavity of the second shoulder belt;
- a first and a second inflator, the first inflator being in fluid communication with the first inflatable member and the second inflator being in fluid communication with the second inflatable member;
- a first and a second lap belt;
- a locking device comprising a buckle and a latch plate, the locking device being coupled to the first and second shoulder belts and the first and the second lap belts;
- and
- a cinching mechanism disposed within the locking device for adjusting a length of each of the first and second shoulder belts, the locking device and cinching mechanism being located proximate an occupant's abdomen when the latch plate and buckle are interlocked.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.