In The Form Of Or Used In Conjunction With A Belt Or Strap Patents (Class 280/733)
  • Patent number: 11945389
    Abstract: The invention discloses a comfortable restraint system located in a vehicle incorporating an electronic braking system governed by a control unit, and including a safety belt configured by a textile strap and a chamber attached longitudinally on each side of the textile strap, and also including a permanent anchoring device which in turn includes means for the coupling of an anchor tongue and a number of connector outlets for the supply and extraction of compressed air via a compression system, the chambers being connected to the connector outlets by means of adaptors, in such a way that they connect pneumatically to the compression system, which is governed by the vehicle control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: SUMCAB INVERSIONES, S.L.
    Inventor: Manuel Romero Ricon
  • Patent number: 11752970
    Abstract: A one-way multiple cushions and chambers vehicle airbag assembly includes an airbag body having a primary airbag chamber and a secondary airbag chamber. At least one one-way vent valve provides a gas interconnection passage between the primary airbag chamber and the secondary airbag chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chin-Hsu Lin, Yi-pen Cheng
  • Patent number: 11745694
    Abstract: For example, even when an occupant is seated offset in a left-right direction, an airbag is reliably expanded and deployed. An airbag device contains: an airbag that protects at least a side portion of a shoulder region, upper arm region, and chest region of an occupant seated on a vehicle seat; and an inflator that supplies gas to the airbag. The airbag has a pair of side part protection chambers that are housed on at least both left and right sides of the vehicle seat. The side part protection chambers, when expanded and deployed, expand and deploy forward independently from both left and right sides of the vehicle seat. A pair of the inflators are provided to allow gas to be supplied to each side part protection chamber, and the ignition timing of the inflators can be controlled separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Yutaka Nakajima, Yoshiki Ito
  • Patent number: 11708042
    Abstract: Vehicle safety systems comprising seatbelts and inflatable cushions deployable therefrom. Some embodiments comprise a first vertical seatbelt having a first inflatable cushion coupled thereto and a second vertical seatbelt having a second inflatable cushion coupled thereto. The first inflatable cushion and the second inflatable cushion may be configured to inflate at an at least substantially static location relative to an adjacent seat and may be configured to deploy adjacent to an occupant's chest and to inhibit movement of an occupant's head during an impact event. The system may further comprise a horizontal seatbelt coupled with one or both of the first vertical seatbelt and the second vertical seatbelt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Lee Meador, Jacob William Werth, Kevin Hixenbaugh
  • Patent number: 11702029
    Abstract: A safety system includes an airbag configured to deploy from a rail and restrain motion of an occupant, a tether configured to deploy from a pillar, and an anchor coupling the tether and the airbag. The anchor is configured to travel from a stowed position proximate to the rail to a deployed position spaced apart from the rail and spaced apart from the pillar in unison with deployment of the airbag. The safety system includes a tensioning mechanism configured to apply force to the tether. Motion of the anchor is controlled by the force applied by the tensioning mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Adam J. Golman, Jesse T. Buehler, Nathaniel J. Dennis
  • Patent number: 11654858
    Abstract: A deployable restraint system comprising a reaction panel, a panel actuator that deploys the reaction panel, a cushion, and a cushion actuator that deploys the cushion. When both the reaction panel and the cushion are deployed, the reaction panel is configured to transfer force from the cushion to a roof and only one of two sides of a compartment. A lower end of the reaction panel is configured to couple to the one of the two sides with a tether that is moved by the panel actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Philipp J. Wolf, Jesse T. Buehler, Adam J. Golman
  • Patent number: 11524654
    Abstract: An occupant protection device for a vehicle includes a collision detector, a main airbag, a belt airbag, a belt controller, a distance detector, and an airbag controller. The collision detector detects a collision of the vehicle. In response to the collision detector detecting the collision, the main airbag deploys from a storage position toward an occupant seated on a seat of the vehicle. The belt airbag is stored in a seatbelt. The belt controller controls winding of the seatbelt, extraction of the seatbelt, and prohibition of the extraction of the seatbelt. The distance detector detects a distance from the storage position to the occupant. When the collision detector detects the collision of the vehicle and the detected distance is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance, the airbag controller deploys the belt airbag from within the seatbelt without causing the belt controller to prohibit the extraction of the seatbelt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shota Kanegae, Toru Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11498509
    Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag configured to inflate and deploy away from a vehicle roof toward a vehicle seat. The airbag includes a base portion configured to be connected to the vehicle roof and a cushion portion in fluid communication with the base portion. The cushion portion extends from the base portion toward the vehicle seat to an inflated and deployed condition in which the cushion portion is configured to receive and cushion an occupant seated on the vehicle seat. The apparatus also includes a deployment pocket for initially restricting the deployment of the cushion portion without restricting the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventors: Kurt Fischer, Gabriela Diaz, Douglas Gould
  • Patent number: 11420587
    Abstract: An anchor pretensioner module for a seat belt includes: an anchor which is disposed at a side of a seat cushion, and to which a tongue of the seat belt is fastened, a base which is provided at a lower side of the anchor, the base having a first operating part, which generates an explosive pressure, provided at a rear of the base, and a second operating part, which generates the explosive pressure, provided at a front of the base, a first wire which is connected to the base and the anchor, and allows the anchor to be moved downward when the first operating part is operated, and a second wire which is provided on the base, and moves the first wire while being inserted into the base when the second operating part is operated to allow the anchor to be moved forward while moving downward, so that a relative location of the anchor is moved when a collision occurs to restrain a passenger's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Dae Woon Kim
  • Patent number: 11414036
    Abstract: A torso stabilization restraint configured to restrain a user in a seat, includes an inflatable first module, an inflatable second module, an inflatable third module, and connectors arranged on one or more of the modules. The connectors are configured to reversibly connect a) the first module and the second module, and b) the second module and the third module when the first, second, and third modules are inflated. When the first, second, and third modules are inflated and connected, the torso stabilization restraint and the seat combine to exert radially inward directed pressure on a torso of the user. The first and second modules are deployable from a seat. The second module is deployable from a seat belt, is arranged between the first and second modules, and is configured to couple to the first and second modules when the modules are inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Craig A. Markusic
  • Patent number: 11400883
    Abstract: An occupant protection device, which protects an occupant seated in a seat, includes: a seat belt; a front airbag device provided with a front airbag which is placed in an area of a lap belt and inflates to cover a front of the occupant when operated; and a seat airbag device provided with a seat airbag which is arranged inside a seat portion in the seat and inflates so as to raise at least a front portion side of the seat portion upward. The front airbag causes inflation gas to flow into the inside and inflates so as to protrude forward and upward when operated and a thigh abutment surface abutting on a thigh of the occupant and an upper body restraining surface restraining an upper body of the occupant are arranged on an outer peripheral surface of the front airbag when the inflation is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Yamada, Kazumi Fukaura, Takeki Hayashi, Takashi Ichimura, Yasushi Masuda, Yuji Sato
  • Patent number: 11396269
    Abstract: An inflatable airbag assembly for a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) that includes an airtight housing to be mounted to a vehicle structure of the UTV, an inflator to generate inflation gas, and an inflatable airbag cushion disposed within the airtight housing that is in fluid communication with the inflator to receive the inflation gas and deploy from a packaged configuration within the airtight housing to a deployed configuration to protect an occupant of the UTV during a collision event. The UTV may comprise a plurality of inflatable airbag assemblies disposed in various locations on the UTV to help keep passengers and their appendages in the UTV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: John Erik Terbu
  • Patent number: 11390232
    Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes a tubular inflatable seat belt configured to be moved between an inflated condition and a deflated condition. The inflatable seat belt, when in the inflated condition, is configured to permit the occupant to enter and exit a vehicle seat. The inflatable seat belt, when in the deflated condition, is configured to restrain a seated occupant. An airbag is attached to a lap belt portion of the inflatable seat belt. The airbag is inflatable from a stored condition on the inflatable seat belt to a deployed condition in which the airbag has a lower airbag portion extending from the lap belt portion along the seated occupant's legs and an upper airbag portion extending from the lap belt portion upward in front of the seated occupant's torso.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Alexandra Schroeder
  • Patent number: 11318904
    Abstract: An occupant protection device which is configured to protect an occupant seated on a seat, includes a seat belt, an airbag, and an inflator configured to supply inflation gas to the airbag. The airbag has a bag shape formed of a flexible sheet body, the airbag is folded and stored in a storage part provided in a lap belt, the airbag is inflated so as to project toward a front upper side when the inflation gas flows into the airbag, and the airbag has a substantially triangular prism shape whose axial direction is substantially aligned with a left-right direction so as to include a leg abutting surface which is capable of abutting an upper surface of a leg of the occupant and an upper body restraining surface which is capable of restraining the occupant from a chest to a head, when the airbag is completely inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takenori Ozaki, Shigeyuki Suzuki, Yasushi Masuda, Hajime Kitte, Kenichi Fukurono, Motoyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11285910
    Abstract: A safety belt for a vehicle includes at least one belt strap which has a belt interior arranged between at least two belt strap layers. In order to introduce heat into the vehicle near a vehicle occupant wearing the belt strap, at least one heating element is arranged in the belt interior adjacent to a belt strap layer facing the vehicle occupant wearing the belt strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Frank Niebling, Yannick Dietrich, Steffen Kampmann
  • Patent number: 11230247
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seatbelt and an inflation chamber connected to the seatbelt. The inflation chamber is inflatable from an undeployed state to a deployed state. The inflation chamber includes a first inflation chamber and a second inflation chamber. The first inflation chamber is positioned above the second inflation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Allen Charles Bosio, Brad Staines, Pieter Christopher van Ast, Gerhard Wichmann
  • Patent number: 11214216
    Abstract: The invention relates to a child safety seat for attaching to a motor vehicle seat, comprising a seat region, a back portion, an impact shield, the impact shield comprising an integrated airbag and/or an airbag being provided in the seat region, an acceleration-sensing device for sensing an acceleration of the child safety seat, and a control device, which is configured in such a way that the airbag is deployed on the basis of an acceleration sensed by the acceleration-sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: CYBEX GmbH
    Inventor: Iain Powell
  • Patent number: 11161474
    Abstract: An air-bag apparatus includes: a bag body that is provided on a vehicle seat and that is inflated and expanded at a time of an impact input and prevents at least an upper part of a body of an occupant seated on the vehicle seat from being separated from a seat back of the vehicle seat; an inflator that supplies a gas to the bag body at a time of an impact input; a body size detection part that detects a body size of the occupant seated on the vehicle seat; and an expansion degree adjustment part that adjusts a degree of an inflation expansion of the bag body in accordance with the body size of the occupant detected by the body size detection part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimizu, Hiroyuki Ito, Takashi Saso
  • Patent number: 11059444
    Abstract: An airbag system includes a main airbag device that is provided in front of an occupant and that includes a first bag body, a seat airbag device that is provided in the vehicle seat and that includes a second bag body which is configured to be deployed by being inflated toward at least sides and a front of a torso of the occupant at behind the first bag body and which is configured to restrict the occupant to the vehicle seat, and a seat displacement mechanism that is configured to release restriction by a lock section that restricts movement of the vehicle seat and that is configured to displace the occupant toward the first bag body in front in a case an input impact is equal to or larger than a predetermined strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Saso, Hiroyuki Ito, Takayuki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11052857
    Abstract: An assembly includes a belt and one of a buckle or a clip. The belt has a first inflatable portion inflatable to an inflated position, a second inflatable portion inflatable to an inflated position, and an intermediate portion between the first inflatable portion and the second inflatable portion. The intermediate portion includes a fluid channel connecting the first inflatable portion to the second inflatable portion. One of the buckle or the clip is slidably attached to the intermediate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 11021128
    Abstract: One general aspect includes a deployable containment system for a vehicle roof panel, the system including: a pair of guide channels proximate to an opening through the vehicle roof panel, each guide channel of the pair having a first end and a second end; a housing mounted to the first end of the pair of guide channels. The deployable containment system also includes a shield configured to deploy from the housing and travel along the pair of guide channels so as to cover at least a portion of the opening. The deployable containment system also includes an actuator disposed proximate to the pair of guide channels, the actuator configured to deploy the shield from the housing after a deployment event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sadanand N. Raikar, Jeffrey J. Schultz, Jeffrey W. Ronne, Stephen J. Cassatta, Louis S. Campbell, Mukesh Amin
  • Patent number: 11014520
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus includes a longitudinal webbing guide configured to guide movement in a longitudinal direction of webbing, an inflatable airbag disposed along an outer side of the webbing guide, a bag cover configured to cover the airbag, and an upper side coupling member configured to couple a guide upper end of the webbing guide to a cover upper end of the bag cover, and move upward along the webbing together with the airbag when the airbag is inflated and deployed. A seatbelt apparatus includes the airbag apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Murakami, Hiroaki Isozaki
  • Patent number: 10981531
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a floor, a roof, and a pair of body sides spaced from each other. A pillar is spaced from both of the body sides. The pillar has a first end at the roof and a second end at the floor. An airbag is supported on the pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 10946831
    Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly for use in a vehicle is provided. The seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly includes a housing adapted for being mounted to a frame and having an interior cavity, a pretensioner tube having an arcuate and curved shape, a sprocket rotatably mounted to the housing and fixedly coupled to a spindle, a rod disposed within the tube and a guide plate having a guide portion and a rod guide. The rod exits the tube along a perimeter of the sprocket, and toward an arcuate landing surface of the guide portion. In addition, the guide plate further includes a couple of tabs and ribs for avoiding rattling of the pretensioner tube in normal use of the retractor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Hall, Bin Wang, Kenneth H. Kohlndorfer, Jon E. Burrow, Richard W. Koning
  • Patent number: 10940820
    Abstract: A seatbelt assembly includes a D-ring, a clip spaced from the D-ring, a webbing slideably engaged with the D-ring and the clip, and an airbag slideably receiving the webbing between the D-ring and the clip. The airbag includes a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween. The first portion and the second portion are inflatable to an inflated position and the intermediate portion is uninflatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, S. M. Iskander Farooq, Mohammad Omar Faruque, Zhenyan Gao, Robert William McCoy
  • Patent number: 10933839
    Abstract: A system includes a vehicle roof. A track is fixed to the vehicle roof. A seatbelt retractor is engaged with the track and is movable relative to the vehicle roof along the track. The seatbelt retractor may be selectively positioned relative to the vehicle roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 10933830
    Abstract: A restraining device for an occupant (0) seated in a vehicle seat including a carrier (20) extending over the lap of the seated occupant (0) when the restraining device is in use, an airbag (32) having an airbag main body (40) enclosing a main gas space and extending from a lower end (40a) to an upper end (40b) being located above the lower end (40a) when the airbag main body (40) is in its deployed state, and an inflating device for filling the main gas space. The airbag main body (40) is connected to the carrier (20) via a connection section at the lower end (40a) of the airbag main body (40) and has an impact wall (42). In order to be independent of a support from another part of the vehicle the airbag main body (40) tapers from its lower end (40a) to its upper end (40b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Anders Einarsson, Jack Johansson
  • Patent number: 10906491
    Abstract: A restraining device is provided to improve the safety and comfort of a vehicle occupant. The restraining device has a safety belt and an airbag device arranged on the safety belt, which airbag device has a first airbag, which is arranged on the side of the safety belt facing the vehicle occupant, and a second airbag, which is arranged on the side of the safety belt facing away from the vehicle occupant. The first airbag and/or the second airbag can be filled with air and/or can be emptied. A method for operating the restraining device controls the filling state of the first airbag and of the second airbag in an open-loop and/or closed-loop manner in accordance with the state of the motor vehicle provided with the restraining device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Claudia Lung, Maik Schwalm, Izabella Ferenczi
  • Patent number: 10889257
    Abstract: A seat includes a seat back and an airbag mounted to the seat back. A seatbelt webbing has a shoulder band and a lap band. The airbag is inflatable to an inflated position between the seat back and the shoulder band. When the airbag is inflated, the airbag exerts a force on the shoulder band to loosen the shoulder band across a chest of the occupant, e.g., during an angular impact in which the momentum of the occupant urges the shoulder and chest of the occupant to turn into the shoulder belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 10857963
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to deployable structures, such as airbag systems, for vehicles. A system is disclosed for reducing likelihood of injury to a passenger in a collision. The system may include a seat configured to accommodate the passenger and an airbag system. At least a portion of the airbag system may be incorporated into a vehicle prior to deployment of the airbag system. The airbag system may include an airbag and a locking feature. The locking feature may be configured to lock the airbag with a locking portion of a vehicle when the airbag system has been deployed. The locking feature may be attached to the airbag. Aside from airbags, other confining structures, such as nets, shades, curtains, etc., may also be used as deployable structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Daniel Lynn Larner, Thomas Daniel, Courtney McCool, Atul Gupta, Peter Craig Lombrozo
  • Patent number: 10791785
    Abstract: A neck support apparatus for a contact sports helmet. The neck support apparatus may include an inflatable neck support including at least one air bladder normally in a deflated state, the inflatable neck support adapted to attach to the contact sports helmet; a first air supply; and at least one impact sensor adapted to trigger airflow from the first air supply into the at least one air bladder upon detection of an impact force exceeding a predetermined limit. The inflatable neck support is adapted to attach to a base portion of the contact sports helmet normally adjacent to a player's neck when worn, and inflate the at least one air bladder in a manner to deploy the inflatable neck support and help brace the player's neck immediately after an impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Inventor: Carl Kuntz
  • Patent number: 10792121
    Abstract: Tissue expanders and their methods of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignees: AirX Bioscience, LLC, Shalon Ventures, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Jones, Daniel Jacobs, F. Mark Payne, David S. Mintz, Craig A. Purdy, Ryan S. Han, Tadmor Shalon
  • Patent number: 10710538
    Abstract: A seatbelt airbag for a vehicle is provided. The airbag is inflated in a seatbelt to restrain an occupant to reduce an injury to the occupant caused by the seatbelt. Particularly, since the airbag is locally inflated at occupant's shoulder and hip which are susceptible to injury by the seatbelt, an inflation speed is controlled, an impact is minimized, and the occupant may be restrained in the seat more rapidly and stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Young Hwan Kim, Choong Sik Shin, Soo Chul Lee
  • Patent number: 10589706
    Abstract: An occupant protection device including a three-point seat belt, a waist air bag, and an anterior air bag. The three-point seat belt restrains an occupant seated in a seat of an automobile. The waist air bag is provided on the seat belt and deployable in front of a waist of the occupant. The anterior air bag is deployable on a front side of the waist air bag in such a manner that a load of a collapsing upper body of the occupant seated in the seat acts on the anterior air bag. The waist air bag is deployable so as to be stiffer than the deployed anterior air bag, in such a manner that the waist air bag is pushed towards the waist by the anterior air bag deformed by the load of the collapsing upper body acting on the anterior air bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 10569735
    Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system is provided. The vehicle seat belt system includes a seat belt comprising a tubular seat belt webbing defining a passageway and a plurality of exhaust openings located along a length of the webbing, and an air delivery device supplying air to the seat belt. The seat belt is configured such that air flowing out of the exhaust openings is substantially evenly distributed along the length of the webbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Craig Elson, Kerrie Kathleen Gath, Clay Wesley Maranville, Victoria Leigh Schein
  • Patent number: 10562484
    Abstract: A belt webbing for a safety belt device of a motor vehicle, the belt webbing being wider in a first section than in a second section relative to its longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Chris Van Helvoort, Richard Van Neer, Willi Welz, Kai-Stephan Mueller
  • Patent number: 10518736
    Abstract: An inflation assembly for use within a vehicle. The inflation assembly is configured to deliver gas from a pressure source to the one or more inflatable devices. The inflation assembly includes a fitting that engages with the pressure source and receives gas from the pressure source. The fitting includes outlet ports that are oriented to direct the gas away from the fitting and into hoses that lead to one or more inflatable devices. The outlet ports are configured to release gas in outward directions such that reactive forces that are applied to the fitting by the released gas are neutralized. This prevents the pressure source from moving and potentially injuring a person or damaging the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Jon Erik Dwyer
  • Patent number: 10479162
    Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system is provided. The vehicle seat belt system includes a seat belt comprising first and second seat belt webbings each defining a passageway, and one or more tubular extension members extending between the first and second seat belt webbings. The vehicle seat belt system also includes a plurality of exhaust openings formed in at least one of the first and second webbings, and an air delivery device supplying air to the seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Craig Elson, Kerrie Gath, Clay Wesley Maranville, Victoria Schein
  • Patent number: 10391965
    Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system is provided. The vehicle seat belt system includes a seat belt comprising a tubular seat belt webbing defining a passageway and a plurality of pressure control valves and a seat belt buckle for connecting to the seat belt. The seat belt buckle has an air delivery port for delivering air to the passenger, and an air delivery device supplies air to the seat belt, wherein the valves allow the supplied air to exit the seat belt at a first air pressure and block air from exiting at a second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma, Jeffrey Tien Vo, Edward Joseph DeSmet, Jr., Travis Justin Raines
  • Patent number: 10364034
    Abstract: An electronic module assembly (EMA) for use in controlling one or more personal restraint systems. A programmed processor within the EMA is configured to determine when a personal restraint system associated with each seat in a vehicle should be deployed. In addition, the programmed processor is configured to perform a diagnostic self-test to determine if the EMA and the personal restraint systems are operational. In one embodiment, results of the diagnostic self-test routine are displayed on a display included on the electronic module assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the results of the diagnostic self-test routine are transmitted via a wireless transceiver to a remote device. The remote device can include a wireless interrogator or can be a remote computer system such as a cabin management computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: AmSafe, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Shields, Peter Anthony Settles, Willard F. Hagan, Giuseppe Gullotto
  • Patent number: 10279646
    Abstract: A vehicle seatbelt mounted, individualized climate control apparatus that provides substantially instantaneous heating or cooling of the occupant of a vehicle seat is presented. The apparatus has at least one housing with an inner chamber coupled to diffusers to deliver ambient, cooled or heated air from an air source through the chamber to the body of the occupant. Regardless of the cabin temperature, local conditioning of a seat occupant efficiently cools the front of the torso and dissipates the body's thermal plume or warms the torso in the alternative. The functional and safety aspects of conventional three-point seat belts remain unchanged and the apparatus can be used with retractable belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Edward A. Arens, Hui Zhang
  • Patent number: 10266141
    Abstract: An occupant protection apparatus includes a seatbelt device and airbag device. The seatbelt device is capable of restraining an occupant to be seated on a seat in a vehicle. The airbag device includes an airbag casing to be disposed on or above a shoulder of the occupant. The seatbelt device includes a belt extendable through an insertion hole of the airbag casing. A fastening member is disposed in the insertion hole. The fastening member is configured to fasten the belt to the airbag casing when the belt is pulled out in a crash of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hisayuki Nagatsu
  • Patent number: 10183646
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an occupant restraining apparatus includes a webbing W, a tongue 4, an airbag 20 provided along the webbing W, a bag cover 40 surrounding the airbag 20, and a webbing guide 30 through which the webbing W is passed. The webbing guide 30 extends continuously from one end to the other end of the bag cover 40. The lower end of the bag cover 40 surrounds the lower end of the webbing guide 30, and the lower end of the bag cover 40 and the lower end of the webbing guide 30 are bound together. The upper end of the bag cover 40 surrounds the upper end of the webbing guide 30, and the upper end of the bag cover 40 and the upper end of the webbing guide 30 are bound together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS JAPAN K.K.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Murakami, Hiroaki Isozaki, Tatsuya Higuchi, Yongliang Huang
  • Patent number: 10144381
    Abstract: A system includes an airbag, a seat, a strap, and an inflatable webbing. The airbag is inflatable to an inflated position. The seat includes a seat back. The strap has a first end connected the airbag and a second end connected to the seat back. The inflatable webbing is fluidly connected to the airbag and releasably connectable to the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammed Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi, S.M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 10144318
    Abstract: Airbags each belonging to one of first and second control blocks are arranged below the thighs of an occupant seated on a seat seating surface (S). Specifically, the first and second control blocks are arranged such that the airbags belonging thereto are adjacent to one another in the seat width direction. Further, a seat device controls the airbags belonging to the first control block and the airbags belonging to the second control block to alternately expand and contract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Ogiso, Kazuo Noso
  • Patent number: 10099651
    Abstract: A restraint harness for securing an occupant within a vehicle includes shoulder belts, a lap belt, and a sheath for providing comfort to the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: DFR Acquisition Corporation
    Inventor: Seth M. Bredeson
  • Patent number: 9963097
    Abstract: In a seatbelt device, at a time of an emergency of a vehicle, gas is supplied via a tube interior into a chest bag, and the chest bag is inflated and expanded. Here, the tube is disposed at a thickness direction one side of a webbing at positions at which a lap webbing, at a thickness direction other side thereof, is interfered with by a seat cushion and a passenger. Therefore, the tube being crushed by the seat cushion and the passenger, and the lap webbing, can be suppressed, and supplying of gas via the tube interior into the chest bag being limited can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Shinichi Okubo, Masaru Ukita, Tomonari Umakoshi, Haruhiko Hashimoto, Ryu Nakashima
  • Patent number: 9963098
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device includes an airbag that is provided in a shoulder belt position of a seat belt while being folded in a belt-like shape to be capable of inflating upon receiving a predetermined actuating signal, and the seat belt is wound by a single winding device. The airbag is folded to surround a slide guide including a hard member having seat-belt passing portions arranged at predetermined intervals in an insertion direction of webbing and a soft member supporting the hard member. The airbag smoothly slides along the webbing through the slide guide when the seat belt is pulled out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Isozaki, Yoshiki Murakami, Hikaru Kameyoshi
  • Patent number: 9944245
    Abstract: Vehicle occupant restraint systems that include a compact, web-mounted airbag that can be deployed during a crash event are described herein. In some embodiments, the web (e.g., a shoulder belt) passes through the stowed airbag during normal use and, when the airbag inflates and deploys, the airbag extends along the length of the web (for example, along the entire length, or at least most of the length, of the web) to protect the occupant. In some embodiments, the restraint systems include shoulder belts having first and second overlapping web portions, and when the airbag inflates and deploys, the airbag extends along the length of the first web portion between the first web portion and the second web portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: AmSafe, Inc.
    Inventors: Trenton Dirk Moeller, Louis Gregory Vargas, Todd Joseph Humbert, David T. Merrill
  • Patent number: 9902358
    Abstract: In a seatbelt device, at a time of an emergency of a vehicle, gas is supplied into a tube, and gas within the tube is supplied into a chest bag of a bag, and the chest bag is inflated and expanded. Here, at a time when gas is supplied into the tube, due to the tube being inflated between a webbing and a lower side peripheral surface of an insert-through hole of a tongue, a transverse direction other side portion of the bag is crushed by the tube, and gas that is within the chest bag passing via the transverse direction other side portion of the bag into a waist bag of the bag is limited. Therefore, the chest bag can be inflated and expanded at an early stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Shinichi Okubo, Masaru Ukita, Tomonari Umakoshi, Haruhiko Hashimoto, Ryu Nakashima