In The Form Of Or Used In Conjunction With A Belt Or Strap Patents (Class 280/733)
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Patent number: 8007001Abstract: An auxiliary inflatable belt device is provided on a seat and includes an inflatable belt body, an inflating device and a fixing device. The interior of the inflatable belt device is formed with an air chamber and provided with at least one inflating port. The inflating device is communicated with the inflating port of the inflatable belt body. The fixing device is connected to the inflatable belt body. After the inflatable belt body is inflated completely, it forms a cubic body for allowing the body and head of a user to rest thereon and supporting the person who sleeps on the seat. Thus, the sleep quality can be enhanced. The present invention further provides an auxiliary supporting belt device.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2009Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Inventor: Pi-Fen Lin
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Publication number: 20110204606Abstract: A restraint system for occupants of a vehicle, comprising a belt; an airbag unit arranged on the belt, wherein the positions of the belt and the airbag unit can be shifted with respect to each other; an airbag in the airbag unit; and means for securing the position of the airbag on the belt, i.e., means by which the airbag and the belt can be fastened together upon deployment of the airbag without the possibility of a shift in their relative positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2011Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: SCHROTH SAFETY PRODUCTS GMBHInventors: Thomas Rathmann-Ramlow, Ulf Grüne
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Publication number: 20110204605Abstract: A restraint system for occupants of a vehicle includes a belt (2, 2?) and a belt-tensioning means as well as an airbag (3, 4) arranged on the belt (2, 2?), wherein at least a certain part of the belt (2, 2?) is at least temporarily tensioned when the belt-tensioning means is activated, wherein the airbag (3, 4) serves as the belt-tensioning means.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2011Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: Schroth Safety Products GmbHInventors: Thomas Rathmann-Ramlow, Ulf Gruene
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Patent number: 8002305Abstract: A low-floor vehicle includes a head pipe turnably supporting a steering handlebar steerable by an occupant; a main frame extending downwardly rearward from the head pipe; an occupant seat provided rearward of the head pipe and adapted to allow the occupant to sit thereon; a straddle space defined between the occupant seat and the steering handlebar and straddlable by the occupant; an airbag module provided forward of the occupant seat and storing an airbag therein, wherein the airbag module is disposed rearward of the head pipe; and a pair of left and right bag-mooring members provided for retaining the airbag at a position facing the occupant upon expansion and deployment of the airbag, wherein the bag-mooring members are arranged along the main frame and have one ends connected to the airbag and the other ends connected to the main frame at a position below the occupant seat.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2008Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiro Suzuki, Yuki Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20110187087Abstract: A seatbelt system for a vehicle includes a seatbelt anchor, a seatbelt connected to the seatbelt anchor, and an airbag mounted to the seatbelt anchor such that the airbag is provided separately from the seatbelt. The airbag may be a side airbag for a pelvic area of a vehicle occupant. The seatbelt system may deploy the airbag to a desired location in a short amount of time and in a precise manner with improved confidence that the airbag has been deployed to the desired location.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2011Publication date: August 4, 2011Inventor: Jonathan Richard KIBAT
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Patent number: 7988190Abstract: Method and system for controlling inflation of an airbag in a vehicle which protects an occupant from injury in a crash involving the vehicle includes sensing a crash involving the vehicle for which deployment of the airbag is desired, inflating the airbag to protect the occupant in the crash involving the vehicle upon sensing of the crash, incorporating an accelerometer in a seatbelt worn by the occupant, and adjusting the continued inflation of the airbag after contact of the airbag with the occupant based on the acceleration sensed by the accelerometer. The accelerometer may be arranged to determine movement or acceleration of the seatbelt which can be correlated to contact between the airbag and the seatbelt, i.e., based on changes in the measured acceleration of the seatbelt arising from contact of the airbag with the seatbelt.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2007Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Automotive Technologies International, Inc.Inventor: David S. Breed
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Patent number: 7980590Abstract: Inflatable restraint systems for restraining an occupant in a vehicle are disclosed herein. An inflatable restraint system configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes an airbag carried by a web. The web has an end portion coupled to a vehicle and is configured to extend around a portion of the occupant. The restraint system further includes a gas source that is also carried by the web. The gas source is operably coupled to the airbag to inflate the airbag in the event of a rapid deceleration or other dynamic event.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2008Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: AmSafe, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Nick Foubert, Kevin Keeslar
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Patent number: 7971902Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system including: a seatbelt device including a shoulder belt portion restraining a part of a vehicle occupant from one of shoulders to a chest, and a lap belt portion restraining a waist of the vehicle occupant; an upper airbag provided in the shoulder belt portion, and configured to be deployed forward from the shoulder belt portion; a lower airbag provided in the lap belt portion, and configured to be deployed forward from the lap belt portion, the deployed upper and lower airbags coming into contact with each other in a vertical direction; and a movement restraining portion restraining relative movement of the deployed upper and lower airbags in a front-rear direction, extending downward from a lower side of the deployed upper airbag, and positioned in the rear of the deployed lower airbag.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2009Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Takata CorporationInventors: Seiji Azuma, Kouichi Oota, Hideaki Okamoto
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Publication number: 20110148081Abstract: An occupant safety mechanism for an occupant of a vehicle includes a buckle assembly, an airbag cushion, an inflator, and webbing. The airbag cushion is coupled to the buckle assembly, such as in a buckle assembly housing, and is configured to deploy from the buckle assembly. The webbing is coupled to the buckle assembly and substantially fixed points disposed on the vehicle, on a seat, or both, so as to restrain the occupant a seat during a dynamic vehicle event. The inflator is configured to deploy the airbag cushion upon occurrence of a dynamic vehicle event.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: June 23, 2011Inventors: Paul Michael Smith, Christopher Joe Kranz
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Patent number: 7954847Abstract: A technology for a stretchable webbing is provided including a long inflatable belt for restraining a vehicle occupant, which is effective in preventing slippage between yarns and fray while ensuring webbing rigidity. One embodiment includes a stretchable webbing having a long inflatable belt for restraining a vehicle occupant and an inserting yarn of the stretchable webbing having a first filament element and a second filament element which extend adjacent to and parallel with each other, where the second filament element is composed of a low-fusing point fiber having a fusing point lower than that of the first filament element.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2008Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Kiyotaka Ohhashi
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Patent number: 7926839Abstract: A head and neck restraint system for an individual in a motor vehicle includes a securely anchored seat with a conventional lap belt and shoulder belt with the lap belt extending across an individual's lap and pelvic region. The shoulder belt is fixed above and behind the individual's shoulder and extends across the individual's chest. An adjustment mechanism is used to position an airbag in a centered position in front of the individual's chest. The airbag includes a lower frontal portion and two upwardly extending portions along the sides of the individual's head. In addition, the system includes a collar portion and two face protecting portions extending across the upper and lower portions of the individual's face between the two upwardly extending portions.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2010Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Inventor: Hussain Y. A. M. Mothaffar
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Patent number: 7922195Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system includes left and right inflating belts which are formed long in the vertical direction of a seat and in a belt shape enabling an occupant to be restrained; a first slider which is supported on an outer end side in the seat width direction by a support portion of one of the inflating belts in a manner to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the one inflating belt, and which retains an engaging member on an inner end side in the seat width direction; and a second slider which is supported on an outer end side in the seat width direction by a support portion of the other inflating belt in a manner to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the other inflating belt, and which retains an engageable member on an inner end side in the seat width direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2009Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takuya Nezaki
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Publication number: 20110068565Abstract: An inflatable member is inflated by compressed gas that flows through the latch and hollow tubular tongue of a seat belt anchor. The inflatable member is retained in an uninflated condition in a split two layer belt. The latch is pivotally secured to a conduit that receives compressed inflation gas from a cylinder that is provided with a diffuser.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicants: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: David R. Arnold, Srinivasan Sundararajan, Dean M. Jaradi, Edward Joseph Desmet, Rudi Grzic
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Patent number: 7904997Abstract: Buckles for inflatable personal restraint systems and associated systems and methods. In one embodiment, a buckle assembly can include a body and a latching mechanism carried by the body. The latching mechanism is configured to engage a corresponding tongue portion when the tongue is inserted into a front portion of the body. The buckle assembly also includes a cover operably coupled to the body and configured to pivotably move about an axis between a first position in which the latching mechanism engages the tongue and a second position in which the latching mechanism disengages the tongue. The buckle assembly further includes one or more counterweight components carried by the body and positioned such that the buckle assembly has a center of gravity (a) between the front portion of the body and a vertical plane extending through the axis, and (b) below a horizontal plane extending through the axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2008Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: AmSafe, Inc.Inventor: Daniel Nick Foubert
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Patent number: 7905514Abstract: A safety restraint system for selectively restraining an occupant of a motorized vehicle is provided. The safety restraint system includes a safety belt webbing that is operatively mounted inside the vehicle passenger compartment, proximate to a seat assembly. An inflatable airbag cushion is engaged with a first end portion of the belt webbing. The cushion is configured to selectively transition from a non-expanded state, in which the cushion is in a stowed condition, to an expanded state, in which the cushion is in an inflated condition. An inflation device, operable to release inflation fluid, is in fluid communication with the cushion. Activation of the inflation device operates to transition the cushion from the non-expanded state to the expanded state. Transitioning of the cushion from the non-expanded state to the expanded state operates to retract a predetermined length of the belt webbing, thereby increasing the tension of the belt webbing.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2008Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Scott D. Thomas
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Patent number: 7896390Abstract: An air belt device includes a first cover member and a second cover member connect to each other defining an interior surface having an interior cavity. An inflatable member is at least partially disposed within the interior cavity defined by the first cover member in a non-inflated state. The inflatable member is folded inward so a peripheral sewn portion is placed in a center portion of the first cover member.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2006Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Akira Kokeguchi, Yoji Suyama, Isao Kawase
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Publication number: 20110042925Abstract: An auxiliary inflatable belt device is provided on a seat and includes an inflatable belt body, an inflating device and a fixing device. The interior of the inflatable belt device is formed with an air chamber and provided with at least one inflating port. The inflating device is communicated with the inflating port of the inflatable belt body. The fixing device is connected to the inflatable belt body. After the inflatable belt body is inflated completely, it forms a cubic body for allowing the body and head of a user to rest thereon and supporting the person who sleeps on the seat. Thus, the sleep quality can be enhanced. The present invention further provides an auxiliary supporting belt device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2009Publication date: February 24, 2011Inventor: PI-FEN LIN
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Patent number: 7883106Abstract: A seat belt assembly for use in a seat belt system of a motor vehicle to restrain a vehicle occupant. The assembly includes a belt webbing extending from a first end to a second end and includes tubular webbing extending from the first end and configured to open at a tear seam. An airbag is disposed within the tubular webbing and configured to inflate and deploy through the tear seam. A gas generator is fluidly coupled to the airbag and configured to provide an expanding gas to inflate and deploy the airbag in response to a control signal. A first part of the airbag is configured to inflate above the tubular webbing such that the first part of the airbag is disposed between a side or door of the vehicle and the thorax of the vehicle occupant.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2007Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventor: Robert A. Mical
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Patent number: 7874581Abstract: A vehicle-occupant restraint system includes a base attached to a vehicle part, an anchor attached to the base swingably in a front-back direction of a vehicle, an inflator attached to the base or anchor, and a lap belt attached to the anchor at one end thereof and including an inflatable part connected to the inflator. A first cover is attached to the vehicle part and has an upper opening through which the lap belt passes to be connected to the anchor. A second cover covers the upper opening and a part of the lap belt. The second cover has an upper flange and a lower flange to define a space therebetween so that a marginal part of the upper opening is interposed therebetween. The space increases toward a front side of the second cover so that the second cover is swingable in the front-back direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2006Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Yasuo Itoga
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Patent number: 7874582Abstract: A child seat installation structure is disclosed in which it is prevented that an expandable portion, when it expands, interferes with a child seat. In one form, an airbelt includes a lap bag and a normal belt portion, a tip of which is connected to the lap bag. A bracket for fixing a tip side of the normal belt portion is provided on a lap anchor. A loop portion is formed on the tip side of the normal belt portion using a clip, and the loop portion is inserted into a fixing hole provided in the bracket and is locked with a lock member. After that, a child seat is placed on a seat, and only the normal belt portion is routed over the child seat.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2008Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Yoshiki Murakami
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Patent number: 7871105Abstract: In an air belt device which has the gas-supply portion, such as an inflator, fixed therein, a connection between an air belt and a gas supply portion is simplified. A lap anchor 13 coupled to an end of a lap bag 15 is pivotally supported by a support shaft 13p such that the lap anchor 13 can turn back and forth with respect to a seat frame 2. The inflator 12 is fixed to be disposed on a side face of the seat frame 2. A substantially tubular gas-introducing path 16 extends from the lap bag 15. The gas-introducing path 16 is connected to a pipe 17 extending from the inflator 12 in a slack state.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2006Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Yasuo Itoga
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Patent number: 7871103Abstract: A bezel (44) of a coat hook-equipped roof side register (42) is fixed by fastening, at the coat hook main body portion (50) side, to a mount bracket (76) on a body side by a mount bolt (72), and is elastically engaged, at a louver (84) side, with a mount bracket (108) on the body side by an engaging member (106). Furthermore, a first end portion (110A) of a strap (110) is fixed to the bezel (44) by a screw (114). A second end portion (110B) of the strap (110) is fastened together with the coat hook main body portion (50) to the mount bracket (76) by the mount bolt (72).Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2007Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Nobuyuki Torii
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Publication number: 20110006507Abstract: An air belt device includes: a seat belt that restrains a seated occupant; an air belt that is provided in a shoulder belt portion of the seat belt and that is deployed when supplied with a gas; a retractor that extractably winds up the seat belt from a side of a shoulder portion of the occupant; an inflator that supplies gas to the air belt; and a flexible hose that is curved when the seat belt is not worn and that communicates the inflator with the end of the air belt that extends into the seat back.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2010Publication date: January 13, 2011Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Osamu Fukawatase, Takahiro Sugiyama, Toshiki Kondo
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Publication number: 20110006508Abstract: An occupant restraining device for a vehicle that can regulate a position of a seat belt, without occupying vehicle cabin space, is obtained. An air belt device (10) is provided with a retractor (14) that is arranged to the rear, in a vehicle front-rear direction, with respect to a seat back (16), a seat belt (12) that is pulled out from the retractor (14) when applied to an occupant and includes a shoulder belt portion (12A) for restraining an upper body of the occupant P, and a belt insertion portion (32) that is formed by indenting a portion, in a seat width direction, of an upper end of the seat back (16), and into which an upper side portion of the shoulder belt portion (12A) of the seat belt (12) is made to enter.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2009Publication date: January 13, 2011Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Takuya Nezaki
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Patent number: 7866690Abstract: An air belt apparatus that can reduce the required tolerance level of a pipe is provided. Gas supplied from an inflator 12 flows into a bag body 16 through a pipe 18 so as to inflate a lap bag 15. The inflator 12 is connected to a gas inlet 16a of the bag body 16 via the pipe 18. The gas inlet 16a is cylindrical, and the pipe 18 is inserted in this cylindrical gas inlet 16a so as to extend beyond an inner end of the gas inlet 16a.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2006Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Yasuo Itoga
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Patent number: 7866691Abstract: An occupant classifying device for a vehicle seat includes an occupant classifying apparatus for classifying an occupant type on the basis of a seating load applied to the vehicle seat, a first load sensor provided at a rear portion of the vehicle seat in order to measure a rear load that is a part of the seating load, a second load sensor provided at a front portion of the vehicle seat in order to measure a front load that is a part of the seating load, a rear load ratio calculating apparatus for calculating a rear load ratio indicating a ratio of the rear load in the seating load on the basis of the measured rear and front loads and a securing determining apparatus determining whether or not a child restraint system is secured to the vehicle seat on the basis of the calculated rear load ratio.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2007Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Muneto Inayoshi, Hiroyuki Fujii
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Patent number: 7862080Abstract: An inflatable member is restricted to expand outwardly in the vehicle width direction and allowed to expand upwardly to a position facing a side of an occupant's head when a lateral collision occurs. A belt guide mounted on the shoulder portion of a seat back guides a restraint webbing, including an inflatable member that is provided for supporting the head of a vehicle occupant when inflated, and allows a guide hole to be vertically enlarged by being projected upwardly in the vehicle vertical direction when the inflatable member is inflated. The inflatable member is thereby expanded so as to form a vertically extended shape regulated by the guide hole and disposed to an upward position facing the side of the occupant's head when a lateral collision occurs.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2007Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignees: Toyota Jidosha KK, Takata CorporationInventors: Atsushi Hiroshige, Yoji Suyama
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Patent number: 7862081Abstract: A safety restraint system for selectively restraining an occupant of a motorized vehicle is provided. The safety restraint system includes a cylinder defining an elongate channel therein. A piston is disposed inside the channel, and selectively translates from an undeployed position to a deployed position. A linking member operatively connects the safety belt webbing to the piston such that translation of the piston increases the tension of the belt webbing. The safety restraint system also includes an inflatable cushion operatively attached to the cylinder, and configured to selectively transition from a non-expanded state to an expanded state. An inflation device operable to release inflation fluid is in fluid communication with both the inflatable cushion and the cylinder. Activation of the inflation device operates to transition the cushion from the non-expanded state to the expanded state, and translate the piston from the undeployed position to the deployed position.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2008Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventor: Scott D. Thomas
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Patent number: 7845676Abstract: A technology for a stretchable webbing is provided including a long inflatable belt for restraining a vehicle occupant, which is effective in ensuring the webbing rigidity and achieving the reduced product width of the webbing. In one embodiment, the stretchable webbing includes a long inflatable belt for restraining a vehicle occupant, a weft yarn of the stretchable webbing having a first filament element and a second filament element which extend adjacent to and in parallel with one another, where the first filament element and second filament element have different heat-shrinkage ratios.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2008Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Kiyotaka Ohhashi
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Patent number: 7815218Abstract: A vehicle-occupant restraint system 20 is provided in that gas of an inflator is introduced into a lap belt inflatable part from an end of the lap belt, and the installation of the end of the lap belt and the inflator to a vehicle side member is simplified. The vehicle-occupant restraint system 20 includes webbing 21 routed along the front of an occupant sitting on a seat 10, an inflatable lap bag 22 constituting the front end portion of a lap belt portion of the webbing 21, an inflator 23 for inflating the lap bag 22, an anchor 24 for attaching the front end of the lap bag 22 to the vehicle side member, and a retractor 25 for retracting the rear end of the webbing 21. The front end of the lap bag 22 is attached to a B pillar 30 serving as the vehicle side member via the anchor 24, so that the installation of the lap belt onto the vehicle side member is simplified, reducing cost.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2006Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Yasuo Itoga
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Publication number: 20100230941Abstract: A restraining system includes a restraining volume that is bounded by a cladding, and is deployable by expansion of the restraining volume, to restrain or protect an object or person. Deployment of the restraining volume by expanding it into a restraining position is performed by a mechanical enlarging unit, rather than by a pyrotechnic gas generator, so that the restraining system may be restored to a storage position following a deployment.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2008Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: DAIMLER AGInventors: Andreas Hirth, Lutz Quarg, Friedrich Reiter, Clark Ruedebusch
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Patent number: 7789420Abstract: An occupant restraint apparatus includes a shoulder anchor and an occupant restraint belt. At least a portion of the occupant restraint belt that is positioned adjacent to the occupant's head is inflatable. The occupant restraint belt comes into contact with the top edge of the seat back even when the volume of the inflatable portion is reduced. A shoulder anchor is positioned behind a seat in the front-rear direction of a vehicle at substantially the same height or below the top edge of a seat back. Therefore, a shoulder belt section of an occupant restraint apparatus extending from the shoulder anchor along the front side of an occupant is in contact with the top edge of the seat back. Therefore, when the shoulder belt section is inflated, excess inflation of the shoulder belt section toward the seat back can be prevented.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2006Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Akira Kokeguchi, Isao Kawase, Takuya Nezaki
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Patent number: 7766382Abstract: A predetermined tension force is generated to an air belt even when an expandable portion is expanded in a narrow space. An air belt 30 includes a first normal belt 31, a second normal belt 32, and an expandable portion 33 therebetween. In order to regulate a thickness of the expandable portion 33 in an expanding operation, portions of the expandable portion 33 facing each other are coupled by means of a coupling portion 34 formed of a stitching thread. The expandable portion 33 includes a bag-shaped belt 33a and a knit cover 33b that is not extended in a longitudinal direction. When an inflator is operated, the expandable portion 33 is expanded and the air belt 30 fits an occupant. At this moment, since the knit cover of the expandable portion 33 is not extended in the longitudinal direction of the air belt 30, a length of the expandable portion 33 is reduced along with an expansion of the expandable portion 33 and the tension force is generated to the air belt 30.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2007Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Yoshiki Murakami
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Patent number: 7748736Abstract: An enhanced head-and-neck restraint system is provided for use with a vehicle having a passenger compartment with a seat assembly and a safety belt assembly mounted therein. The restraint system includes first and second collar straps each having an inflatable cushion integrated thereto. A first end of each collar strap is attached to a headrest portion of the seat assembly to transition between a retracted position, in which the collar straps are substantially inside the headrest portion, and a use position, in which each collar strap attaches to a belt webbing of the safety belt system. A fluid dispensing apparatus is in fluid communication with the inflatable cushions, and operable to selectively transition the inflatable cushions from a non-expanded state to an expanded state when the collar straps are in the use position.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2008Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Phillip M. Turner, Kon-Mei Ewing, Yueh-Se J. Huang, Pei-Chung Wang
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Patent number: 7748735Abstract: There is provided an airbelt system in which an inflator and an anchor are mounted to the seat base without using a flexible pipe and with a relatively simple structure. An anchor for connecting the webbing of the airbelt is rotatably supported on the outer surface of a side plate of a base frame of the seat with a plurality of arcshaped long holes and step bolts passed through the long holes. An inflator is disposed inside the side plate. The gas port of the inflator is substantially coaxial with the rotation axis center of the anchor.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2006Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Yasuo Itoga
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Publication number: 20100164207Abstract: An objective is to inflate an inflation portion to an upward position, corresponding with a temple area of an occupant, at the time of a side impact. At a shoulder portion of a seatback 26 of a vehicle seat 12, there is an inflation-time cross-sectional shape regulation component 22, through which an occupant restraint webbing 16 passes. The occupant restraint webbing 16 has an inflation portion 18 that corresponds with a cephalic region 14H of an occupant 14 at the time of inflation. At the time of inflation of the inflation portion 18, the inflation-time cross-sectional shape regulation component 22 regulates such that a cross-sectional shape of the inflation portion 18 is an oblong shape which is long in a vertical direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2007Publication date: July 1, 2010Inventors: Makoto Sekizuka, Takuya Nezaki, Atsushi Hiroshige
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Patent number: 7740271Abstract: An airbelt apparatus including a belt guide that is capable of moving so that an expansion portion of the airbelt may expand upward alongside an occupant's head. The belt guide also limits an expanding shape of the expansion portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2007Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Takata CorporationInventors: Takuya Nezaki, Yoji Suyama
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Publication number: 20100123301Abstract: A safety restraint system for selectively restraining an occupant of a motorized vehicle is provided. The safety restraint system includes a safety belt webbing that is operatively mounted inside the vehicle passenger compartment, proximate to a seat assembly. An inflatable airbag cushion is engaged with a first end portion of the belt webbing. The cushion is configured to selectively transition from a non-expanded state, in which the cushion is in a stowed condition, to an expanded state, in which the cushion is in an inflated condition. An inflation device, operable to release inflation fluid, is in fluid communication with the cushion. Activation of the inflation device operates to transition the cushion from the non-expanded state to the expanded state. Transitioning of the cushion from the non-expanded state to the expanded state operates to retract a predetermined length of the belt webbing, thereby increasing the tension of the belt webbing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2008Publication date: May 20, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventor: Scott D. Thomas
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Publication number: 20100115737Abstract: Buckles for inflatable personal restraint systems and associated systems and methods. In one embodiment, a buckle assembly can include a body and a latching mechanism carried by the body. The latching mechanism is configured to engage a corresponding tongue portion when the tongue is inserted into a front portion of the body. The buckle assembly also includes a cover operably coupled to the body and configured to pivotably move about an axis between a first position in which the latching mechanism engages the tongue and a second position in which the latching mechanism disengages the tongue. The buckle assembly further includes one or more counterweight components carried by the body and positioned such that the buckle assembly has a center of gravity (a) between the front portion of the body and a vertical plane extending through the axis, and (b) below a horizontal plane extending through the axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2008Publication date: May 13, 2010Applicant: AmSafe, Inc.Inventor: Daniel Nick Foubert
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Publication number: 20100109302Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system includes left and right inflating belts which are formed long in the vertical direction of a seat and in a belt shape enabling an occupant to be restrained; a first slider which is supported on an outer end side in the seat width direction by a support portion of one of the inflating belts in a manner to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the one inflating belt, and which retains an engaging member on an inner end side in the seat width direction; and a second slider which is supported on an outer end side in the seat width direction by a support portion of the other inflating belt in a manner to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the other inflating belt, and which retains an engageable member on an inner end side in the seat width direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2009Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takuya Nezaki
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Patent number: 7708312Abstract: A three-point safety belt system (20) including: a tongue (100) configured to receive portions of a safety belt assembly (200); the safety belt assembly (200) comprising a shoulder belt section (202) and a lap belt section (250), the shoulder belt section including a hollow, generally flat first tube or tubular section (202), the first tube or tubular part configured to tear apart along a preferred region (203), a web guide (300); a first and second retractor (240, 260); the lap belt section (250) extending from the tongue to the corresponding retractor (260) and the shoulder belt section (202) extending from the tongue to the other retractor (240), each retractor configured to respectively retract the lap belt section and the shoulder belt section and to permit the extension or protraction of same; an inflatable air bag (400) received within the shoulder belt section and movable with the first tubular part (202) of the shoulder belt section, and inflatable by an inflator causing the air bag to extend and breType: GrantFiled: January 13, 2009Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventor: Bruce A. Kalandek
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Publication number: 20100090449Abstract: A safety restraint system for selectively restraining an occupant of a motorized vehicle is provided. The safety restraint system includes a cylinder defining an elongate channel therein. A piston is disposed inside the channel, and selectively translates from an undeployed position to a deployed position. A linking member operatively connects the safety belt webbing to the piston such that translation of the piston increases the tension of the belt webbing. The safety restraint system also includes an inflatable cushion operatively attached to the cylinder, and configured to selectively transition from a non-expanded state to an expanded state. An inflation device operable to release inflation fluid is in fluid communication with both the inflatable cushion and the cylinder. Activation of the inflation device operates to transition the cushion from the non-expanded state to the expanded state, and translate the piston from the undeployed position to the deployed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2008Publication date: April 15, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventor: Scott D. Thomas
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Patent number: 7681911Abstract: A serviceable seatbelt integrated airbag assembly that is removably attached to a vehicle seat includes an integrated deployable cushion, an inflation device, and a lap belt portion. A bracket may be provided that is removably attached to the seat. The lap belt portion is generally removably attached to the seat structure through connection with a bracket or structural member of the seat assembly and secured by a removable fastener. The airbag cushion is attached to, or contained within, a portion of the lap belt portion seatbelt webbing. An end of the lap belt portion fits through an interfacing joint element attached to one end of the primary seatbelt webbing. The airbag inflation device is connected to the electrical system of the vehicle. Removal of the serviceable seatbelt integrated airbag assembly is accomplished by disconnecting the electrical connector from the electrical system of the vehicle and seatbelt integrated airbag lap belt portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2008Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Richard Edward Ruthinowski, Brian Robert Spahn, Dean M. Jaradi
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Patent number: 7677598Abstract: A vehicle seat and integrated side impact protection system includes a seat bottom, a seat back movably attached to the seat bottom, and a fold-flat mechanism within a lower portion of the seat back for permitting movement of the seat back between a seating configuration and a fold-flat configuration. An airbag module is located within an upper portion of the seat back adjacent the outboard side thereof and includes a side airbag and an inflator supplying inflation gasses. A lap belt extends between inboard and outboard sides of the seat and has an inflatable portion adjacent the outboard side of the seat. A gas conduit extends between the airbag module and the lap belt for conducting gasses released by the inflator to the inflatable portion of the lap belt. The gas conduit has a flexible portion permitting folding movement of the seat back.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2009Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Sean Timothy Ryan, Eric D. Veggian
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Patent number: 7669891Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system includes: a seat belt apparatus including a shoulder belt (11) and a lap belt (13); an upper air bag (27, 113); a lower air bag (29, 67, 73, 83); and an inflation limiting structure (37, 53, 55, 57, 75, 85) which is provided in the lower air bag and limits inflation of a part of the lower air bag in a vehicle back-and-forth direction when the lower air bag is inflated. When the vehicle collision is detected or predicted, the upper and lower air bags are inflated and vertically come into contact with each other. Further, an upper part (41, 71, 79, 91) of the inflated lower air bag positioned above the inflation limiting structure is pressed by the upper air bag and bends toward the front of the vehicle at the inflation limiting structure.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2009Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Takata CorporationInventors: Seiji Azuma, Kouichi Oota, Masafumi Ueda
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Publication number: 20100045007Abstract: An air-bag is disclosed for use in a safety arrangement in a motor vehicle. The air-bag comprises a front panel (2) and a rear panel (11), the two panels being superimposed and attached to one another around their peripheries in order to define an inflatable chamber. The front panel (2) is provided with an aperture (6) within which is secured an additional panel (17) the additional panel (17) having an area greater than the aperture (6) and being configured so as to define a plurality of adjacent substantially wave-shaped projections (26) which extend forwardly from the front panel when the air-bag is inflated.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2007Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: Autooliv Development ABInventors: Johanna Bergström, Mikael Dahl Gren
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Patent number: 7665761Abstract: Inflatable restraint systems for restraining an occupant in a vehicle are disclosed herein. A personal restraint system configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes an airbag carried by a web. The web has an end portion operably coupled to the vehicle and is configured to extend around a portion of the occupant. The airbag includes a first inflatable chamber in fluid communication with a second inflatable chamber. The first inflatable chamber extends adjacent to a portion of the web when inflated, and the second inflatable chamber extends outwardly from the first inflatable chamber adjacent to a portion of the occupant when inflated.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2008Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: AmSafe, Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Green, Kevin Keeslar
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Patent number: 7651125Abstract: An air bag for a driver's seat of a vehicle that utilizes an inflator gas of low and high pressures, in which a twofold tether composed of first and second tethers is established inside the air bag for a driver's seat that is unfolded toward the driver when the vehicle collides with a collision object and the sewn portions of the first and second tethers are burst selectively according to the high and low pressures of gas generated from an inflator.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2006Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Jong Young Yoon
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Publication number: 20100013203Abstract: An inflatable airbag cushion assembly with a tether system for use in a vehicle. The airbag and the tether are configured such that upon airbag deployment the tether applies sufficient tension to the cushion to mitigate occupant ejection from the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2008Publication date: January 21, 2010Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: ABE MITCHELL, Jim Huss
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Publication number: 20090283994Abstract: A serviceable seatbelt integrated airbag assembly that is removably attached to a vehicle seat which includes an integrated deployable cushion, an inflation device, and a lap belt portion. A bracket may be provided that is removably attached to the seat. The lap belt portion is generally removably attached to the seat structure through connection with a bracket or structural member of the seat assembly and secured by a removable fastener. The airbag cushion is attached to, or contained within, a portion of the lap belt portion seatbelt webbing. An end of the lap belt portion fits through an interfacing joint element attached to one end of the primary seatbelt webbing. The airbag inflation device is connected to the electrical system of the vehicle. Removal of the serviceable seatbelt integrated airbag assembly is accomplished by disconnecting the electrical connector from the electrical system of the vehicle and seatbelt integrated airbag lap belt portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2008Publication date: November 19, 2009Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Richard Edward Ruthinowski, Brian Robert Spahn, Dean M. Jaradi