Having Belt Connected To Member Slidable In A Vehicle-mounted Track Patents (Class 280/804)
  • Patent number: 5004268
    Abstract: A mechanism for the positional adjustment of an anchor for a webbing in a passive seat belt system for a vehicle is described. The mechanism includes a slide rail for guiding a slider which carries the webbing fastened thereon, an adjustment base fitted on the slide rail and defining a plurality of interlocking holes at predetermined longitudinal intervals therein, an anchor base transversely surrounding the slide rail and adjustment base for guided movement along the slide rail and adjustment base, said anchor base being engageable with the slider at an occupant-restraining position, and a latch engageable with one of the plural holes formed in the adjustment base so as to lock the anchor base on the adjustment base, thereby determining the position of the anchor base relative to the adjustment base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5002150
    Abstract: A passive restraint system includes a torso belt automatically securing a vehicle occupant by moving from a forward position along a track to a rearward position. A belt carrier carries one end of the torso belt along the track while the other end of the torso belt is retained on a belt retractor. Adjustment of the location of a vehicle seat during travel of the torso belt could cause inadvertent latching of the retractor latching mechanism which results in stalling of the belt carrier. The present invention inhibits torso belt movement whenever the seat is adjusted to prevent such latching. When the seat adjustment is completed, the torso belt movement is resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Timothy K. Willis
  • Patent number: 4998680
    Abstract: A webbing drive apparatus for a seat belt system which is adapted to fasten a webbing, that is retained by a wire, around a seat occupant of a vehicle or cancelling the application thereof by taking up the wire onto an outer periphery of a rotating drum or paying out the wire from the outer periphery. A guide portion for accommodating and guiding the movement of the paid-out wire is provided in a cover for covering the drum. Accordingly, the wire, when paid out, is moved along the guide section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toaki-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Toshimasa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4997204
    Abstract: A three-point safety harness for use in a motor vehicle consists of two safety belts, each having its own individual retractor mechanism, the retractor mechanisms being mounted on the side of the relevant seat which is furthest from the associated door of the vehicle. One safety belt extends to a carriage movable along a rail mounted on the roof of the motor vehicle extending over the door opening. This safety belt is to form a chest strap. The other safety belt extends to a carriage movable along a rail formed in the door of the motor vehicle. This is the lap strap. The two straps are connected together by means of a slidable element which defines a passage or passages through which the safety belts pass in a sliding manner. The safety belt that forms the lap strap has a thickened portion which cannot pass through the said element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: General Engineering (Netherlands) B.V.
    Inventors: Lars V. Sandvik, Svante O. Mogefors
  • Patent number: 4995640
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor actuation system is disclosed, which is suitable for use in a passive seat belt system of the type that a slide anchor with a webbing carried thereon travels along a guide rail having at least one bent section. The actuation system includes at least one magnetic sensor provided near the guide rail and a magnet provided on the slide anchor to actuate the magnetic sensor. Upon actuation of the magnetic sensor, the magnet is located on a line extending between the center of turning movement of the slide anchor along the bent section of the guide rail and the midpoint of an area of contact between the slide anchor and the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 4993745
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system is constructed of a guide rail, a slider movable along the guide rail, a webbing, a drive member for driving the slider, a bushing for connecting the drive member and slider in a state maintained in contact to each other with a gap left between the drive member and guide rail at the position of the bushing and on a side opposite to the slider, and contact members provided on the drive member with the bushing interposed therebetween. The contact members are in contact with the guide rail on a side opposite to the slider. Instead of the bushing and contact members, a cam may be provided between the drive member and slider for causing the slider to move in a direction away from the drive member when the drive member moves in a longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuyasu Ono
  • Patent number: 4991873
    Abstract: A slider stopping mechanism for an automatic seatbelt system which is supported by a guide rail extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and having a groove extending in the same direction and is adapted to stop the movement of a slider at one end of the guide rail so as to apply a webbing to a seat occupant or cancel the application thereof as the webbing is moved in the transverse direction by a driving apparatus. The slider stopping mechanism includes a switch inserted in the groove from the end portion and adapted to stop the driving of the driving apparatus when the slider reaches a predetermined position, as well as a shock-absorbing member which is disposed in the groove in such a manner as to be located adjacent to the switch and with which the slider is brought into contact. Hence, the slider is prevented from coming into direct contact with the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kenji Matsui, Tatsuo Yamashita, Kazuyoshi Ishiguro, Toshikatsu Kondo
  • Patent number: 4989899
    Abstract: A webbing drive apparatus for an automatic seat belt apparatus in which a webbing is automatically fitted around an occupant by driving one end of the webbing which comprises a screw plate with which one end of a wire for driving the webbing is engaged and which has portions for contact with a drum so as to be rotated through the contact portions by the rotational force of the drum. It is as well as moved in the direction of the rotational axis of the drum, whereby the wire is spirally wound around the drum. Each of the contact portions have a bent portion which is bent substantially at right angles with respect to the rotational direction of the drum. The rotational force of the drum is therefore transmitted to the screw plate through these bent portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yuji Nishimura, Takashi Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 4984822
    Abstract: An adjustable vehicle seat for use with a passive seat belt has a seat cushion having a joining portion and a seat back having a joining portion at which it is pivotally supported on the joining portion of the seat cushion. A clearance is provided between the joining portions of the seat back and seat cushion for preventing the webbing from being held compressedly between the joining portions when the seat back is in a forwardly turned position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kenzo Shimizu, Shizuo Ogata
  • Patent number: 4973078
    Abstract: A device for correcting the trim attitude of an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of links associated with either one of the front and rear sets of wheels of the automotive vehicle, each link being mounted in pivotally bearing relationship on the body and comprising a first end secured to a swinging arm and a second bent lever-like end adapted to act through rods upon a hydraulic valve for controlling a power jack acting between the suspension element of a wheel and one of the ends of an anti-tilt bar arranged transversely of the vehicle and the other end of which is rigidly connected to the suspension element of the other wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignees: Automobiles Peugeot, Automobiles Citroen
    Inventors: Andre J. Barthelemy, Philippe Girard, deceased
  • Patent number: 4971358
    Abstract: In an automobile passive seat belt system, a slider carrying an occupant-restraining webbing fastened to an end portion thereof is guided by a drive member between a release position and an restraining position along a slide rail. The end portion is farthest from the slide rail. The slide rail has a first guide portion for guiding the drive member and a second guide portion for guiding the slider. The slider has a projection extending into the first guide portion. The projection constitutes an inner end of a slider portion at which the slider is in contact with the guide rail while sliding along the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4962948
    Abstract: In a passive seat belt system for a motor vehicle, a slide shoe mounted on a runner is composed of at least a pair of blocks spaced from each other in the direction of movement of the runner, in order to overcome the problem of the varying clearance between the runner and the guide rail. As the runner is moved along the guide rail, the two blocks contact the guide rail at their central portions and, in the meantime, an intermediate portion of the slide shoe is non-engageable with the guide rail. The result is that the slide shoe can contact the guide rail at the same portions even when the posture of the runner is changed due to the change of the curvature of the guide rail and the change of the cross-section shape of the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seido Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuyasu Ono
  • Patent number: 4948170
    Abstract: A guide rail for guiding a movable anchor upon driving the movable anchor by a drive member is constructed to a first guide portion for slidably guiding the movable anchor and a second guide portion combined as a unitary member with the first guide portion and adapted to slidably guide the drive member. The first and second portions are formed of discrete members. The second guide portion is made of a material softer than the first guide portion. The first guide portion and second guide portion are formed separately and are then assembled together into the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuyasu Ono
  • Patent number: 4946197
    Abstract: An automatic seat belt system capable of girding a crew member automatically with a webbing, equipped with a reinforcement anchor mounted to reinforce a car rear side end portion of a guide rail supporting shiftably a slider with the webbing locked thereon frontward and rearward of a car. A housing enclosing a lock member engaged with the slider and mounted on the reinforcement anchor, wherein an enclosing part in which the guide rail is inserted longitudinally only is formed on the reinforcement anchor. A locking part locked on the guide rail to constrain a shift of the guide rail is formed on the housing. Accordingly, the guide rail is fixed to the reinforcement anchor through the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kenji Matsui, Tatsuo Yamashita
  • Patent number: 4943087
    Abstract: A warning device for a passive seat belt system is disclosed. It includes an emergency release buckle; a tongue; a magnet displaceable between a first position and a second position, said magnet assuming the first position while the tongue and buckle are latched but a second position while the tongue and buckle are unlatched; an anchor base member; and a magnetic flux sensor for detecting a magnetic flux from the magnet. In a preferred embodiment, the warning device further includes a magnetic shielding means made of a high-permeability material and allowing magnetic flux to pass under low magnetic resistance to the magnetic flux sensor except for an area on a magnetic-flux-travelling path extending from the magnet to the sensor. In another preferred embodiment, the magnet may be arranged between the anchor base member and the buckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takanobu Sasaki
  • Patent number: 4941682
    Abstract: An adjusting mechanism for a webbing-supporting member in a passive seat belt system is constructed of an elongated member to be mounted on a vehicle body--such as a guide rail--, an anchor base transversely surrounding the elongated member, and a spacer provided between the elongated member and anchor base to substantially fill up a spacing between the elongated member and at least one of planar walls of the anchor base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4941681
    Abstract: An assembly of a slider and an anchor latch device is described. The assembly is suitable for use in a passive seat belt system of the type that a slider carries a webbing fastened thereto, is provided movably on and along a slide rail between an occupant-restraining position where the webbing may restrain an occupant and an occupant-releasing position where the webbing may release the occupant, and has a slider head received in the slide rail. The assembly includes an anchor base formed of a plate-like member and engageable with the slider when the slider is in the restraining position. Either the slider or anchor base is formed to maintain the slider and anchor base out of contact on the side of the slider head and on the side closest to the releasing position of an area of engagement between the slider and anchor base upon engagement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takanobu Sasaki
  • Patent number: 4938502
    Abstract: An automatic locking and releasing arrangement for vehicular seat belt including a guide rail provided with first and second guide passages, a driving cable adapted to slide through the first guide passage, a connector and a cam both fixed to the cable at a predetermined spacing from each other, a slider adapted to slide through the second guide passage and engage the connector and the cam, a seat belt attached to the slider through a buckle, and an anchor device for retaining the slider in a locking seat belt position. A ring-like slide member is fixed to the cable portion positioned between the connector and the cam, the ring-like slide member comprising plurality of slide portions having a sectional shape a little smaller than that of the first guide passage and arranged through a flexible portion formed between adjacent slide portions. The cable is slid through the first guide passage of the guide rail by the slide portions of the ring-like slide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignees: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha, Chuo Hatsujo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Yamamoto, Katsuyasu Ono, Shinichi Yamamuro
  • Patent number: 4936600
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system includes a timer and a control means. The timer is capable of reaching a time-up state upon an elapsed time of a predetermined interval of time after closure of an associated door and releasing the time-up state upon opening of the door. The control means allows a retractor to lock a webbing after the timer has reached the time-up state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Kawai, Asano Shuichi
  • Patent number: 4923213
    Abstract: A drive member is provided for a passive seat belt system. The drive member is adapted to slidably extend through a guide rail and to transmit a drive force to a webbing-carrying slider so as to selectively displace the slider between an occupant-restraining position and an occupant-non-restraining position. An end metal fitting for holding the slider at a free end portion of the drive member has been formed integrally with a main body of the drive member by die casting. Instead of the end metal fitting, an end member may be formed integrally with the main body by resin molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4921272
    Abstract: An improved method and means for control and accomplishment of semi-active damper means transition between high damping and low damping states is provided which takes advantage of the available inherent dynamic fluid pressure forces produced by the condition of motion between supported and supporting members. Deferral or delay of damper state transitions to avoid force discontinuities or system noise is accomplished mechanically, or automatically internal to the structure of the adjustable valve means. The delay of damper state transition from high to low and low to high damping is accomplished independent of the particular control policy utilized until the fluid pressure differential across the valve ring members is a preselected low value. Commanded valve switching and motion condition sensing requirements are also minimized by reversible check valve means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas E. Ivers
  • Patent number: 4919451
    Abstract: An automatic seat belt device having a guide rail arranged in a room of a vehicle in a longitudinal direction thereof, a slider engaged with one end of a webbing and supported by the guide rail such as to be movable along the guide rail in forward and rearward directions of the vehicle, and an elongate member engaged at its one end with the slider and moved by a driving force so as to move the slider in the direction. The elongate member is movable so as to move the slider to a rear end portion of its movement so that the webbing may be fastened around a body of an occupant on a vehicle seat when he gets on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Ishiguro, Tatsuo Yamashita, Kenji Matsui
  • Patent number: 4911472
    Abstract: A slider is provided for use in a passive seat belt system. The system is composed of a rail adapted to receive a portion of the slider, an elongated drive means for driving the slider along the rail, a webbing fastened to the slider and displaceable between an occupant-restraining position and an occupant-releasing position, and a latch means for holding the slider in place at the occupant-restraining position. The slider includes a leg portion and a main portion. The leg portion extends substantially in parallel with the length of the rail when the slider is combined with the rail and is provided with a synthetic resin cover applied thereon. The main portion extends from a side edge of the leg portion substantially at a right angle relative to the length of the leg portion as seen in a transverse cross-section and when the slider is combined with the rail, in a direction away from the rail. The main portion defines a webbing-fastening head portion at a free end portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4911473
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system with an improved slide-anchor-holding structure is provided. The structure includes a load bearing element and an auxiliary load bearing member. The load bearing element is engageable with a slide anchor when the slide anchor assumes an occupant-restraining position. The auxiliary load bearing element is provided at a position spaced further by a predetermined distance toward an end of a guide rail, the end being on the side of the restraining position, from the point of engagement between the load bearing element and slide anchor. The auxiliary load bearing element has an engaging portion which faces toward the point of connection between the slide anchor and a webbing and is brought into contact and engagement with the slide anchor at least when an angular moment is applied to the slide anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 4909540
    Abstract: An adjustable anchor device comprises an elongated adjustment base, an adjustable anchor formed in a C shape cross-section and having a pair of opposing arms to enclose the adjustment base, an anchor member fixed to the adjustable anchor for supporting a shoulder belt, a lock member adapted to be engaged with an engaging opening on the adjustment base, and an interlocking means provided on the adjustable anchor for preventing said opposing arms from separating from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Tokugawa
  • Patent number: 4909539
    Abstract: A passive safety belt arrangement for a motor vehicle which comprises a guide located at the center of the motor vehicle to guide a belt from a retractor reel over the shoulder of a person sitting on a seat of the motor vehicle, the belt passing to a carriage which is movable along a horizontal rail located between the seat and the side of the car. A motor drives the carriage along the rail. A locking station receives the carriage at a terminal position. When an accident occurs the carriage moves from a normal position within a locking station to bring part of the carriage into engagement with a detent provided in the locking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Bengt O. J. S. Morner
  • Patent number: 4906022
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a passive seat belt arrangement mounted in a vehicle which has a roof side rail and a center pillar which are connected with each other to form a smoothly curved inner edge at a jointed portion therebetween. The arrangement comprises a guide rail attached to the roof side rail and the center piller to extend along the same thereby to form a curved portion thereof at the jointed portion. A carrier carrying one end of a webbing is slidably guided by the guide rail. The carrier has a substantially linear edge portion which faces toward the smoothly curved inner edge portion of the jointed portion when assuming a position of the guide rail on the roof side rail. When the carrier is at the curved portion of the guide rail, an angle defined between the linear edge of the carrier and any tangent line which touches the smoothly curved inner edge is not less than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumi Hira, Kenro Otsuka, Takashi Nakamori
  • Patent number: 4902040
    Abstract: A mounting assembly comprises a rigid bracket having an essentially U-shaped portion and an elastic plate, the tip of which is fixed to the tip of the bracket. A guide rail of a passive seat belt system is inserted into a space between the inner surface of the shaped portion and the elastic plate to be secured to a vehicle body by a bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Company, Limited, NSK-Warnar Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazumi Hira, Kenro Otsuka, Shunichi Kiyono
  • Patent number: 4900060
    Abstract: An outer tube is used to guide a drive member which serves to drive a slider. The outer tube is constructed of a resin-made cylindrical tube main body, two resin-made slip-out preventing portions formed at both ends of the tube main body respectively, and at least one resin-made bracket provided on the tube main body at a point between the slip-out preventing portions. The slip-out preventing portions and bracket are formed as unitary members with the tube main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 4898402
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a structure for fixing an anchor base on a stationary base of a vehicle. The structure is suited for use in an automatic seat belt system of the type that a movable anchor travels along a guide member. The anchor base surrounds transversely the guide member on the side of an occupant-restraining position and extends in the direction of the length of the guide member. The anchor base is provided with a support portion to support the movable anchor on the anchor base. An engaging portion is formed at one side of the anchor base, said side facing the stationary base, and is hooked with an engaged portion provided on the side of the stationary base, whereby the anchor base is fixed on the stationary base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoharu Igarashi, Yoshiniro Yokote, Kazuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4896742
    Abstract: A control method for an automatic seat belt of an automobile including interconnecting a seat belt mechanism with a door of the automobile to operate the mechanism with opening and closing of the door so that the seat belt is automatically tightened when the door is closed and loosened when the door is opened, further comprising in addition interconnecting the seat belt mechanism with an ignition switch so that the seat belt is automatically turned from the tightened condition to the loosened condition even when the door is still closed if the ignition switch is turned off or an ignition key is removed from the ignition switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuaki Shitanoki, Masashi Kusumi, Hidetaka Shinozaki, Takahiro Higuchi
  • Patent number: 4889363
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system is constructed of a guide rail, a slider movable along the guide rail, a webbing, a drive member for driving the slider, a bushing for connecting the drive member and slider in a state maintained in contact to each other with a gap left between the drive member and guide rail at the position of the bushing and on a side opposite to the slider, and contact members provided on the drive member with the bushing interposed therebetween. The contact members are in contact with the guide rail on a side opposite to the slider. Instead of the bushing and contact members, a cam may be provided between the drive member and slider for causing the slider to move in a direction away from the drive member when the drive member moves in a longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Yamamoto, Katsuyasu Ono
  • Patent number: 4881757
    Abstract: A drive device for a vehicle passive safety belt system comprises a first rotatable drum, a flexible drive tape having one end affixed to the first drum and leading from the first drum along a constrained path to a belt guide that is movable along a guide rail in the vehicle, a second rotatable drum positioned adjacent the path of the drive tape and proximate to the first drum, a flexible driving band having one end affixed to the first drum and its other end affixed to the second drum, the driving band overlapping the drive tape and being arranged to wind onto the second drum while unwinding from the first drum conjointly with the drive tape and to keep the drive tape from slackening on the first roll upon unwinding, and a drive device for conjointly rotating the first and second drums in one direction to wind the driving band into the second drum and unwind the drive tape and the driving band from the first drum and in the opposite direction to wind the drive tape and driving band onto the first drum and un
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Inventor: Juichiro Takada
  • Patent number: 4880253
    Abstract: A driving-force transmitting structure applied to an automatic seat belt apparatus having a slide piece moved along a guide rail by a driving force and a slider adapted for supporting a webbing for restraining an occupant, the slider being capable of moving in response to the movement of the slide piece so as to apply the webbing around an occupant. This driving-force transmitting structure is adapted to transmit the driving force from the slide piece to the slider. The slide piece and the slider overlap each other. The slider is provided with opposed surfaces which face end surfaces of the slide piece facing in the direction of movement of the slide piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Yuji Nishimura
  • Patent number: 4878692
    Abstract: A structure for supporting a guide rail of an automatic seat belt apparatus of a vehicle on a side wall of the compartment via a holder engageable with the sides of the guide rail that are arranged in the widthwise direction of the compartment, the guide rail slidably supporting a slider and being adapted to guide the slider in the to-and-fro direction of the compartment, the slider being kept in engagement with one end of a webbing adapted to be worn by an occupant of the vehicle. The holder is engaged with the side portion of the guide rail that is outward in the widthwise direction of the compartment at an engagement portion formed in the vicinity of the end portion of the guide rail that is remote from the webbing with respect to the slider. Therefore, the holder is kept from readily being disengaged from the engagement portion even when the guide rail is, via the slider, subjected to a lateral force acting to pull the webbing inwardly of the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Takayuki Ando, Kazuyoshi Ishiguro, Kenji Matsui, Tatsuo Yamashita, Toshikatsu Kondo
  • Patent number: 4872703
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system includes a guide rail, a webbing-carrying movable member and a bracket for mounting the guide rail on a stationary base. The guide rail has an elongated top wall, an elongated bottom wall and two elongated side walls. The movable member extends through a slot formed in the guide rail and is driven along the guide rail. The bracket includes a rail-holding portion enclosing externally one end portion of the guide rail and an extension extending out longitudinally from the one end portion of the guide rail and defining a mounting portion for mounting the bracket on the stationary base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 4872602
    Abstract: A drive device for a vehicle automatic seat belt system in which a drive tape is slidably received within a cylindrical casing comprises buckling-prevention members between the tape and the opposite walls of the casing on either side of the tape. The members are adapted to maintain the tape axis aligned with the casing axis and also to rotate about the axis of the casing so that the tape can twist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Inventor: Juichiro Takada
  • Patent number: 4871191
    Abstract: A webbing guiding structure suitable for use in an automobile seat belt system includes a slide rail and a movable runner displaceable along the slide rail. The slide rail defines a slide surface for allowing the movable runner to run on the slide surface. The movable runner is provided with a slidable shoe at a position where the movable runner is brought into contact with the slide rail. A contact surface of the slidable shoe, which is brought into contact with the slide surface of the slide rail, and the slide surface are arranged at an angle relative to each other as viewed in a direction transverse to the slide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuyasu Ono
  • Patent number: 4852908
    Abstract: A webbing driving device which is capable of maintaining a constant gap or space between a wire and a sheet around the periphery of a drum. The webbing driving device includes a rotatable drum, a screw plate to which the wire is connected and is movable in the axial direction of the drum when rotated together with the drum, a wire driver for winding the wire around the drum in helical fashion, a first sloping surface formed on the screw plate parallel to the direction in which the wire is wound around the drum so as to define one end of the wire winding area and a second sloping surface formed parallel to the direction the wire is wound around the drum so as to define the other end of the wire winding area. The gap is formed by the first and second sloping surfaces. The gap between the wire and the two sloped surfaces is constant around the periphery of the drum, and the gap between the wire and the sheet can be set to a constant value around the periphery of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Yuji Nishimura
  • Patent number: 4850610
    Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic seatbelt apparatus which is capable of automatically applying, or canceling the application of, a webbing around an occupant of a vehicle, wherein a limit switch for detecting that a slider, which guides the webbing along a guide rail between a stopping position on the forward side and a stopping position on the rearward side of the vehicle, has arrived at the stopping position on the forward side of the vehicle is disposed in such a manner as not to hamper any further movement of the slider toward the front of the vehicle. Accordingly, the stopping position of the slider on the rearward side of the vehicle can be changed regardless of the stopping position at which the slider is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toka-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuki Asagiri, Yuji Nishimura, Takashi Kawaharazaki, Noritada Yoshitsugu
  • Patent number: 4848796
    Abstract: The device comprises a guide rail (1) fixed to a post of the vehicle and including an opening (3) in which is movable a fixing pin (4) of the strap return element (5). This pin has a base (10). An element (11) constituting a lock and defining an opening (12) having a generally S-shape and a width less than the dimension of the base (10) of the pin (4), is provided between the base and the rail (1) and mounted to be movable by control means (13, 14) between a first locking position in which the two ends of the S-shaped opening (12) of the element (11) are in confronting relation to the opening (3) of the rail (1) so as to define two apertures for locking the pin (4) in position, and a second position for shifting the pin (4) and the return element, in which the rest of the S-shaped opening (12) of the element (11) is in confronting relation to the opening (3) of the rail (1) to permit the shifting of the pin (4) and the return element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: ECIA-Equipements ET Composants Pour L'Industrie Automobile
    Inventor: Gerard Escaravage
  • Patent number: 4846497
    Abstract: An automatic seatbelt system for a vehicle, which is designed to restrain the body of an occupant when an emergency situation of the vehicle occurs, has a slider which retains one end of a webbing and which is movable along a guide rail laid on the body of the vehicle between a position at which the webbing is fastened to the occupant's body (hereinafter referred to as a "webbing fastening position") and a position at which the webbing is unfastened therefrom (hereinafter referred to as a "webbing unfastening position"), and a continuous member for moving the slider between the above-described two positions. The continuous member and the slider are allowed to move relative to each other by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki-Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kenji Matsui, Tatsuo Yamashita, Hideki Tanaka, Kouji Sakakura
  • Patent number: 4844507
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system for controllably restraining a passenger in an automotive vehicle in response to the opening and closing states of a vehicle door. The passive seat belt system is comprised of a seat belt which selectively takes a passenger releasing position at which the passenger is released from restraint and a passenger restraining position at which the passenger is restrained. A door switch is provided to output first and second signals when a vehicle door is in opening and closing states, respectively. A control circuit is electrically connected to the door switch and arranged to output a third signal in response to the first signal. A driving device is electrically connected to the control circuit and arranged to drive the seat belt in the direction of the passenger releasing position when being supplied with the third signal from the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Niles Parts Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sachiro Kataoka, Yoichi Iizima, Masaji Kuwahara, Seiei Takeoka, Kazuzi Katsutani
  • Patent number: 4840402
    Abstract: An automatic locking and releasing arrangement for vehicular seat belt including a guide rail provided with first and second guide passages, a driving cable adapted to slide through the first guide passage, a connector and a cam both fixed to the cable at a predetermined spacing from each other, a slider adapted to slide through the second guide passage and engage the connector and the cam, a seat belt attached to the slider through a buckle, and an anchor device for retaining the slider in a locking seat belt position. A ring-like slide member is fixed to the cable portion positioned between the connector and the cam, the ring-like slide member comprising plurality of slide portions having a sectional shape a little smaller than that of the first guide passage and arranged through a flexible portion formed between adjacent slide portions. The cable is slid through the first guide passage of the guide rail by the slide portions of the ring-like slide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignees: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha, Chuo Hatsujo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Yamamoto, Katsuyasu Ono, Shinichi Yamamuro
  • Patent number: 4840401
    Abstract: A guide rail cover disposed over a guide rail which guides a slider which secured one end of a webbing, in forward and backward direction of a vehicle. The guide rail cover has a base which is made of a rigid synthetic resin and also is mounted on the guide rail, and a filler which is made of a nonrigid synthetic resin and also extends from the base to close a guide groove which guide the guide rail. Therefore, the base has a high rigidity and inhibits its portions facing the slider from lifting off the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakuso
    Inventors: Tatsuo Yamashita, Kazuyoshi Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 4840405
    Abstract: The mechanism comprises, among other elements, a case (10), a lock (20) and a strap holder (30). The case has a periphery (11) and a front wall (12) provided with a slot (121) and a guide (122). The lock comprises a push-button (24), a keeper (21) articulated to the case at (212), a catch (22) movable in the slot and carrying the strap holder (30). Application in automobile vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Eica-Equipements et Composants Pour L'Industrie Automobile
    Inventor: Girard Escaravage
  • Patent number: 4840403
    Abstract: The device is of the type comprising a guide rail (1) mounted on the post (2) of the vehicle and on which is movable the strap return element (3). The return element comprises a first planar portion (8) from which extend two wings (9) disposed on each side of the guide rail (1) and between which wings is provided a blocking plate (11) which extends behind the rail, is downwardly inclined toward the rear side of the rail and cooperates with locking means (12) provided on the rear side of the rail for locking the strap return element (3) in position. Elastic means (13) are provided for biasing the blocking plate (11) to the locking position and the first planar portion (8) of the strap return element (3) to a position in which it bears against the front side of the rail (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Ecia - Equipements et Composants pour L'Industrie Automobile
    Inventor: Gerard Escaravage
  • Patent number: 4838577
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system includes a seat belt; a slide anchor connected to one end of the belt and reciprocally movable from a fasten end at which a person on a vehicle is bound to a release end at which the person on the vehicle is released, in response to opening and closing of a door; a winder connected to the other end of the seat belt having an emergency lock mechanism for blocking the feed of the seat belt in an emergency case and a forcible release device for unlocking the emergency lock mechanism; and a controller for moving said slide anchor to the release end when said forcible release device is actuated to unlock said emergency lock mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Kawai, Shunzi Mizumura
  • Patent number: RE33020
    Abstract: In a driving device for moving an automatic seat belt between a seat occupant restraining position and a seat occupant liberating position, a rotatable member to which one end of an elongate drive member is attached and by which the drive member is taken up or pushed out is formed with a portion for containing the drive member therein, and the drive member is guided from the portion to an exit lying at a position deviated in the direction of the rotational axis of the rotatable member and is pushed out from the exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yokote, Kazuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: RE33304
    Abstract: An automatic seat belt system includes a guide rail arranged along a predetermined path within the room of an automobile, a runner provided movably on the guide rail, and a drive member for causing the runner to move in such a way that a webbing fastened to the runner is displaceable between an occupant restraining position and an occupant non-restraining position. The system further comprises a plurality of brackets for mounting the guide rail on the body of the automobile and means for positioning the brackets at desired locations relative to the length of the guide rail. The automobile seat belt system of this invention allows to reduce the material and machining costs upon fabrication of its guide rail and permits easy positional registration or matching between the guide rail and its brackets upon mounting the guide rail on the body of the automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Yokote