Having Belt Connected To Member Slidable In A Vehicle-mounted Track Patents (Class 280/804)
  • Patent number: 4834425
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system is constructed of a guide rail, a slider movable along the guide rail, a force-transmitting member connected to the slider so as to move the slider, a drive unit for driving the force-transmitting member, said drive unit having a rotatable member connected to the force-transmitting member, an acceleration/deceleration sensing mechanism which actuates upon application of an acceleration/deceleration of at least a predetermined value to a vehicle with the passive seat belt system mounted thereon, and a lock device engageable with the rotatable member upon actuation of the sensing mechanism so as to prevent rotation of the rotatable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Kawai
  • Patent number: 4834426
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lip suitable for use with a guide rail of a passive seat belt system in which a webbing is displaceable between an occupant-releasing position and an occupant-restraining position while being guided by a member movable along the guide rail. The lip is equipped integrally with at least one elastic clip for fixing the lip on the guide rail. Also disclosed is a combination of lips for such a guide rail. The lips are equipped integrally with at least one elastic clip extending between the lips, whereby the lips are fixed on the guide rail by the clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha Corp.
    Inventor: Shunichi Kiyono
  • Patent number: 4834208
    Abstract: A winding apparatus for winding up a webbing is used with an automatic seat belt arrangement in which one end of the webbing is automatically moved and applied to a person sitting in a seat. If it is sensed that nobody uses the webbing, a lever is engaged with a gear wheel which is rotated integrally with a winding shaft for winding up the webbing therearound by means of an urging force, and thus the winding shaft is prevented from being rotated by the urging force in the direction in which the winding shaft winds up the webbing therearound. Accordingly, if nobody uses the webbing, the tension which is applied to the one end of the webbing is cancelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yukio Kagami, Toshimasa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4832365
    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: August 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Kawai, Shuichi Asano
  • Patent number: 4818022
    Abstract: A toughly constructed channel member is interposed between a frame of a seat cushion and a movable rail of a seat slide device. A first member is secured to a stationary rail of the seat slide device and having a first lock member, and a second member is secured to the channel member. An anchor holding bracket is secured to the second member and having a second lock member, and a belt anchor device is pivotally connected to the anchor holding bracket. The first and second lock members interlock with each other in such a manner that the first lock member is slidable with respect to the second lock member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 4809809
    Abstract: A position adjusting device is provided for use with a movable anchor latch mechanism. The device includes a drive means for causing a movable anchor to move between an occupant releasing position and an occupant restraining position, a latch mechanism for latching the movable anchor at the occupant restraining position when the movable anchor has reached the occupant restraining position, an adjusting means for fixing the latch mechanism at a desired position, and a release means for detecting that the adjusting means is about to be operated, whereby the movable anchor assuming the occupant restraining position is released from the occupant restraining position. The device also includes a vehicle speed detection means and a means for returning the movable anchor to the occupant restraining position upon detection of a vehicle speed of at least a predetermined value whenever the movable anchor assumes a position other than the occupant restraining position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Hane
  • Patent number: 4804229
    Abstract: A seat slide device for adjusting the forward and backward positions of the seat which comprises an upper rail and a lower rail, the upper rail being slidably fitted to the lower rail. In the upper rail, there is provided an anchor plate adapted to be connected with a seat belt, the anchor plate having a plurality of hook members arranged in correspondence with a plurality of engagement holes formed in the lower rail. When an upward pulling force is exerted on the anchor plate, the hook members are brought to engagement into the engagement holes, to thereby prevent removal of the upper rail from the lower rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takaichi Nishino
  • Patent number: 4796917
    Abstract: According to the invention, the roof rail mounted track for a shoulder belt carriage extends down along the windshield pillar. A belt supporting hook is pivotally mounted on the body at the juncture between the roof rail and the windshield pillar and has a spring means acting to urge the hook to a normal position extending into the path of movement of the carriage along the track. The spring yields upon engagement of the carriage with the hook to temporarily pivot the hook away from the belt to permit movement of the carriage past the hook. Then, the spring returns the hook into the path of movement so that the hook supports the belt at the juncture of the roof rail and the windshield pillar during the further forward and downward movement of the carriage along the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Larry D. Miller
  • Patent number: 4795192
    Abstract: Provided is a lip suitable for use with a guide rail of a passive belt system. The guide rail defines an elongated slot through a wall thereof so as to permit displacement of a webbing-carrying movable member along the length of the guide rail. The lip is formed of a lip main body and a gill. When the lip is provided with the guide rail, the lip main body extends along the outer surface of a side wall of the guide rail toward the slot. The gill branches out from a part of the lip main body, which part is located in the vicinity of a free edge of the lip main body. Where the guide rail has a substantially U-shaped transverse cross-section, the lip may preferably be provided on each longitudinal outer side wall of the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: NSK-Warner KK
    Inventor: Shunichi Kiyono
  • Patent number: 4790405
    Abstract: A seat belt system includes a prohibition means for preventing a sliding block connected to one end of a seat belt from moving when the vehicle is rapidly decelerated and confirmation means for confirming the connection between connectors provided in the prohibition means. The confirmation means a connector, 4-pin and a short circuit provided between two pins of the connector so as to be opposite to the detecting switch provided between the other pins of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Sachiro Kataoka
  • Patent number: 4789184
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system is equipped with a guide rail, a slide anchor movable along the length of the guide rail and connected to one end of an occupant restraining webbing, and a drive means for causing the slide anchor to move along the length of the guide rail between an occupant restraining position and an occupant releasing position. Both end faces of the slide anchor as viewed in both running directions of the slide anchor flare out form the side of the webbing toward the side of the guide rail in the respective running directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 4784407
    Abstract: A safety belt system has an elongated flexible drive element or tape which pulls a carrier connected with the safety belt along a track. Opposite ends of the tape are connected to a dual channel spool having inner and outer spool portions. A single reversible electric motor is operable to rotate the dual channel spool in one direction to pull the safety belt away from the occupant of a vehicle and in the opposite direction to pull the safety belt toward the occupant of the vehicle. As the spool is rotated in one direction, the tape is wound around one of the spool portions to pull the carrier rearwardly along the track. When the spool is rotated in the opposite direction, the tape is wound around the other spool portion to pull the carrier forwardly along the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Verellen, Theodore A. Baker
  • Patent number: 4781267
    Abstract: An improved motorized passive seatbelt system for an automotive vehicle includes an intertia responsive switch mounted on the vehicle which operates to prevent operation of the motor to move the seatbelt from an occupant restraining position to a free position when a predetermined impact occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Keith R. Waineo, Kenneth A. Freeman, Martin L. Bray
  • Patent number: 4778200
    Abstract: An emergency safety device is provided for an automatic seat belt system. The safety device includes switch means for actuating an electrical drive means so as to bring the webbing to an occupant-releasing position when an associated door is opened while the webbing is at the occupant-restraining position; and means for sensing an emergency, thereby to prevent mechanically the switch means from actuating the electrical drive means and to hold the webbing as is at an occupant-restraining position even if the door should open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Asano
  • Patent number: 4776611
    Abstract: An automatic seat belt apparatus capable of automatically applying a webbing around an occupant of a vehicle. This seat belt apparatus has a reinforcement member which is disposed near the end of a guide rail along which a slider is guided, the slider being accommodated in the reinforcement at the stroke end. The apparatus also has a holder at which a limit switch for detecting the stroke end of the slider is attached and which covers the reinforcement member, and an anchor pin for supporting a load caused at the time of an emergency, the holder and the anchor pin encircling the reinforcement member. The position of the anchor pin varies in accordance with the adjustment of the stroke end of the slider so as to constantly correspond to that of the slider while the webbing is being fitted around the occupant's body. At the time of an emergency, the tensile force of the webbing is positively transmitted to the body of the vehicle via the anchor pin, the holder and the reinforcement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichi Tamura, Noritada Yoshitsugu, Motonobu Sugiura
  • Patent number: 4765651
    Abstract: An adjustable seat belt system having a plurality of anchor fittings where one or more anchoring slide block fittings comprise a gear mounted to the anchoring slide block for positioning the anchoring slide block along a track by a manual rotation device or electric motor for rotating the gear interacting with a rack located on the track. The anchoring slide block fitting can also be repositioned by rotating a screw which repositions the anchor. A double-pole double-throw switch is activated to energize the motor to move the block to a selected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: American Safety Equipment Corporation
    Inventor: Hans Unger
  • Patent number: 4763750
    Abstract: A seatbelt assembly for automatically releasing a vehicle occupant from the restraint of a seatbelt or plurality of belts. The seatbelt assembly includes a first restraining webbing, a second restraining webbing, a buckle, a retractor and a sensor. The first restraining webbing automatically fastens an occupant to a seat in a vehicle, and the first restraining webbing is positioned at one of first and second positions. The second restraining webbing is manually operated to fasten an occupant to the seat. The buckle is located at a first side of the seat and the second restraining webbing selectively engages the buckle. The buckle includes a locking plate and an actuator, and the actuator disengages the second restraining webbing from the locking plate. The retractor winds the second restraining webbing, and the retractor is located at a second side of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritada Yoshitsugu
  • Patent number: 4756553
    Abstract: In a passive vehicle safety belt in which one end of the belt is guided along a track by means of fastening means, slidable along the track and connected to one end of the safety belt, a retractor mechanism is provided which can be selectively locked in order to prevent safety belt being drawn into a retractor mechanism while the fastening means is in motion. Thus a loop of safety belt can be generated which does not strike the face of the person wearing the safety belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Lars Y. Haland, Bengt O. J. S. Morner
  • Patent number: 4750758
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a latch device for a movable anchor in a passive seat belt system for mounting on a vehicle. The latch device includes a movable anchor, a latch releasably engageable with the movable anchor, actuator means releasably holding the latch in engagement with the movable anchor, an actuator member for bringing the latch into engagement with the movable anchor by way of the actuator means when the movable anchor moves to its occupant-restraining position, and switch means associated with the latch in such a way that it is actuated when the movable anchor has reached the occupant-restraining position and the latch has been brought into engagement with the movable anchor. The position of the latch is directly related to whether the movable anchor has been locked by the latch or not. It is thus necessary to provide only one switch means for stopping the rearward movement of the movable anchor and for confirming the latching between the movable anchor and the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Yamamoto, Osamu Kawai
  • Patent number: 4747636
    Abstract: An arrangement for forming partially a vehicle body of the open-top type comprises a front header member provided at an upper end portion of a front windshield for interconnecting therethrough right and left front pillars which are provided at right and left side portions of the front windshield, respectively, and a center frame member including a lateral part which is connected at a front end portion thereof to a central portion of the front header member and elongates in the direction of the length of the body and a vertical part which elongates in the direction of the height of the body with its upper end portion connected to a rear end portion of the lateral part and its lower end portion connected to a floor panel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hayatsugu Harasaki, Tsuginobu Tomita, Mitsunori Katayama, Tamiko Aonuma, Masahiro Hirao
  • Patent number: 4741555
    Abstract: A door mounted transport mechanism for passive three point safety restraint system for motor vehicles operates to move the restraint system from the "B" pillar to the "A" pillar of the motor vehicle when the door is opened and returning when the door is closed and the ignition system is turned on. By being mounted in the vehicle door, the restraint system is fabricated and assembled as a subassembly and moved to the vehicle assembly line in a complete condition. Occupant convenience is obtained by the positioning of the rear anchoring positions on the door which puts them more outboard than in a convention pillar mounted system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Frantom, Rudy V. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4738470
    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: July 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kenji Matsui, Hideki Tanaka, Tatsuo Yamashitas, Kouji Sakakura
  • Patent number: 4736901
    Abstract: Storage device for a drive band, particularly of a passive safety belt for a motor vehicle, the said drive band (2) passing over a drive member (3) actuated by an electric motor (4), characterized in that it is formed by a cassette (7) containing the said drive member (3) of the band, in which cassette is provided a guide passage (13) for the band (2) rolling up on itself from the periphery of the cassette (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: Aciers et Outillage Peugeot
    Inventor: Joseph J. Betencourt
  • Patent number: 4733886
    Abstract: A seat belt is composed of a webbing adapted for restraint of the upper torso of an occupant, connected retractably at the inboard end thereof to a retractor provided on the central side of the room of a vehicle and fastened at the outboard end thereof to a latch member releasably engageable with a first member mounted on the sash of an associated door; and a second member provided within the room of the vehicle at an outer and lower location thereof, to which the latch member with the outboard end of the webbing fastened thereto is releasably engageable. The first member may be provided displaceably along a guide rail provided on the body of the vehicle adjacent the associated door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Yokote
  • Patent number: 4730844
    Abstract: A passive vehicle seat belt system includes measures to prevent overheating of the drive motor and obstruction of system operation. Drive motor excess current demand is sensed to effect motor de-energization and/or disabling of latching means of a retractor included in the system and/or operation of an indicator light. The indicator light can prompt manual motor de-energization. Disabling of retractor latching means can be effected by a belt movement command signal. Retractors with means for signalling operation of latching means, with solenoid means for disabling latching means, and with means for indicating when a predetermined belt length has been received therein, are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: ASE (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Michael Patterson
  • Patent number: 4730845
    Abstract: This anchoring device, in which a maintaining member is disposed between a guiding rail (5) and a device for driving a slidable unit including a tongue, comprises a case (25) having a front side (26) in which is provided a slot (27) through which the tongue projects and of which the edges define two bearing surfaces adapted to cooperate with the tongue so as to withstand tensile forces exerted on the tongue. This device further comprises a device (32) for locking the slidable unit in an active position, adapted to prevent the displacement of the unit in a direction parallel to the guiding and retaining rail (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Aciers et Outillage Peugeot
    Inventor: Joseph J. Betencourt
  • Patent number: 4717174
    Abstract: A seatbelt system for a vehicle which enables a webbing to be automatically fastened to the body of an occupant includes a tape subjected to driving force derived from a motor. The distal end portion of the tape is provided with a plurality of neck portions. Projecting members are provided on a slider which retains the webbing. The projecting members are fitted into the neck portions, respectively, so that the driving force from the motor is transmitted to the slider while being distributed among a plurality of portions of the tape. Thus, even when the tape has a relatively small width, the driving force is reliably transmitted to the slider and hence the webbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Yuji Nishimura
  • Patent number: 4711468
    Abstract: A guide rail for a seat belt device comprising a slider slidably movably provided in a slot of the guide rail installed on a roof side and a webbing mounted at the end thereof on the slider for restricting an occupant, and the guide rail is so installed on the roof side that the slot of said guide rail is inclined toward the outside of a compartment from the extending direction of the roof side. Thus, the guide rail can reduce the possibility of the webbing to contact an occupant's face even when the slider passes the guide rail of a roof side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritada Yoshitsugu
  • Patent number: 4708365
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a seatbelt system in which the distal end portion of a webbing is moved in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle by a motor, thereby allowing the webbing to be automatically fastened to and unfastened from the body of an occupant. The apparatus has a motor overload detecting circuit which detects an overloaded state of the motor by detecting a change in the current flowing through the motor. When the motor is overloaded, the motor is turned OFF. Accordingly, even when the occupant moves during the movement of the webbing and the webbing consequently interferes with the occupant's neck or head, it is possible to prevent the occupant from feeling uncomfortable and the motor from being burned out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Tasuku Nakano, Kazuo Kouno, Kazunari Hibino, Masashi Sakurai
  • Patent number: 4708367
    Abstract: This invention relates to an automatically fastening seatbelt assembly which causes an occupant of a vehicle to be automatically held to a seat in the vehicle by a restraining webbing, after the occupant is positioned on the seat in the vehicle.The seatbelt assembly includes a guide rail, a slider and adjustment device. The guide rail includes a longitudinal groove therein, and the guide rail is mounted on a vehicle body. The slider is displaceable along the longitudinal groove of the guide rail and a restraining webbing is fastened at one end thereof to the slider. The adjustment device includes a stop member and the adjustment device is slidably mounted on the guide rail. The stop member is displaceable with the adjustment device along the guide rail and the adjustment means is adapted to be selectively position and locked at one of a plurality of anchor positions. The stop member crosses a path of the slider along the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritada Yoshitsugu
  • Patent number: 4706993
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the position of a seatbelt webbing fastened to the body of an occupant at which it is retained by the body of a vehicle has a base member secured to the vehicle body, a main shaft rotatably supported by the base member and having an external thread formed on the outer periphery thereof, and a subsidiary shaft secured to the base member and extending parallel to the main shaft. A movable member is thread-engaged with the external thread of the main shaft and slidably fitted on the subsidiary shaft, whereby, as the main shaft rotates, the movable member is prevented from rotating by the connection with the subsidiary shaft but moves along the main and subsidiary shafts through the thread engagement with the main shaft. A guide member which retains the webbing is secured to the movable member. Thus, the position of the webbing at which it is retained by the vehicle body is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-rika-denki-seisakusho
    Inventor: Keiichi Tamura
  • Patent number: 4703949
    Abstract: The drive means of the passive safety belt is provided with a coupling which is disposed between the takeoff side of the worm gearing and a cable drum (28) and which is formed by a toothed slider (20) and two internally toothed rings (29, 30) at the inner face of the cable drum (28). Said coupling is controlled by an inertia disk (25) in whose radial grooves (23, 24) guide studs (21, 22) of the toothed slider (20) are guided slidingly. The coupling is not engaged until an adequately high drive speed is reached, said engagement being effected in that the toothed slider (20) is moved radially outwardly and with one of its coupling teeth (31, 32) comes into engagement with the corresponding internally toothed ring (29, 30). When the coupling is disengaged the end fitting of the safety belt can be easily displaced by hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1987
    Assignee: TRW Repa GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Patent number: 4697826
    Abstract: A locking device for a band in a safety belt of a passive vehicle safety belt system comprises at least one fastening means (10) for the band (11) and a lock casing (15) into which the fastening means can be inserted and retained. The fastening means is adapted to be moved along a guide rail (13) by a traction means (16), controlled by an electric motor, and is adapted to be released from the traction means, when it engages with the lock casing, so that the traction means and the motor are not exposed to shock loads, when the fastening means engages with the lock casing. The traction means can continue its movement, when the power supply to the motor has been interrupted, so that the kinetic energy accumulated in the motor and the traction means can decay gradually. A slider (19) is attached to the traction means (16), and the fastening means (10) is releasably attached to the slider and is retained to the slider by means of pins (25.31) and a pawl (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Autoliv Development Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Bengt O. J. S. Morner
  • Patent number: 4695076
    Abstract: A position adjusting device is provided for use with a movable anchor latch mechanism. The device includes a drive means for causing a movable anchor to move between an occupant releasing position and an occupant restraining position, a latch mechanism for latching the movable anchor at the occupant restraining position when the movable anchor has reached the occupant restraining position, an adjusting means for fixing the latch mechanism at a desired position, and a release means for detecting that the adjusting means is about to be operated, whereby the movable anchor assuming the occupant restraining position is released from the occupant restraining position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Hane
  • Patent number: 4691938
    Abstract: This guiding rail (5) comprises at least in its part for guiding a slidable element comprising a bolt cooperating with a safety belt buckle, two lateral guiding portions (5b, 5c) for the displacement of the slidable element. These two portions are disposed on each side of a slot (5d) through which the bolt projects. This rail is also formed by a bearing portion (5a) for the slidable element disposed in facing relation to said slot. These lateral portions (5b, 5c) and this bearing portion (5a) are in the shape of semi-circular lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Aciers et Outillage Peugeot
    Inventor: Jean Monsigny
  • Patent number: 4682790
    Abstract: A webbing retaining structure is employed in an automatic seatbelt system for a vehicle which is so designed that one end portion of a webbing which is closer to the outside of the vehicle is moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the webbing is thereby automatically fastened to the body of an occupant. A first member which retains the end portion of the webbing is pivotally supported by a second member which is mounted on the vehicle body. A combination of a projection and recesses in which it is selectively fitted is provided between the first and second members. The angle at which the webbing is retained by the vehicle body can be adjusted by changing the position of combination between the projection and the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Katsuno, Toshio Gyoda, Hideki Tanaka, Kunihiro Hurumoto, Noritada Yoshitsugu, Kenji Matsui
  • Patent number: 4681346
    Abstract: An adjusting mechanism is provided for an automatically fastening seatbelt assembly which causes an occupant of a vehicle to be automatically held to a seat in the vehicle by restraining webbing after the occupant is positioned in the seat in the vehicle. The seatbelt assembly includes a guide rail, a slider which is displaceable along the guide rail and a restraining webbing which is fixed to the slider at one end thereof by an anchor plate. The adjusting mechanism allows adjustment of the position of an anchor plate in relation to the slider. The anchor plate is mounted pivotally to the slider by an anchor pin and a spring. The spring is located between the anchor plate and the slider and is fixed to either the anchor plate or the slider. Either the slider or the anchor plate (whichever the spring is not fixed to) has a plurality of adjusting holes. An engagement member on the spring selectively engages the plurality of adjusting holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritada Yoshitsugu
  • Patent number: 4681347
    Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic seatbelt apparatus which is capable of automatically applying, or canceling the application of, a webbing around an applicant of a vehicle as a slider to which one end of the webbing is retained along a guide rail disposed in the vicinity of the roof of the vehicle is moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle via a flexible elongated member driven by the driving force of a driving means. A switch, when located in its webbing-application position, is adapted to stop a motor by detecting the application of the webbing and is so disposed at this time as to be capable of moving in accordance with the bending of a flexible guide member. Accordingly, since the switch can be moved when the guide member bends, the webbing-application position can be altered even in the webbing-applied state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Keiichi Tamura, Yuji Nishimura, Takashi Kawaharazaki
  • Patent number: 4671537
    Abstract: This invention relates to an automatically fastening assembly which causes an occupant of a vehicle to be automatically held to a seat in the vehicle by a restraining webbing after the occupant is positioned upon the seat in the vehicle. The seatbelt assembly includes a guide rail, a slider which is displaceable along the guide rail and a restraining webbing which is fixed to the slider at one end thereof. The guide rail is provided with stop switches at each end thereof, the stop switches being connected to a source of electricity or an electric control circuit through connecting wires. Further, the stop switches detect the arrival of the slider at either end of the guide rail and output signals to the electric control circuit. More particularly, the present invention relates to improvements for fastening the connecting wires to the guide rail prior to installing the guide rail on the vehicle body, by utilizing a fastening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritada Yoshitsugu
  • Patent number: 4664414
    Abstract: An automatic latch device for a runner member used in an automatic seat belt system includes a restraining member movably mounted to the runner member and provided with a restraining portion for meshing with a brake member provided on a vehicle body. The restraining member is moved to a non-meshing position by a drive force of a driving member, which is operatively connected to the restraining member, for driving the runner member between a seat occupant restraining position and a seat occupant liberating position, whereby the coupling between the runner member and the brake member may be automatically released substantially simultaneously with the start of the driving of the driving member without needing to move the brake member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko K.K.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Yokote
  • Patent number: 4659107
    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 automatic 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: October 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Yokote
  • Patent number: 4655477
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system for a vehicle includes a restraint belt, a flexible transfer tape driven by a drive device in response to opening or closing of the vehicle door, and a belt transfer guide connected to the belt and connected to one end of the transfer tape, the guide being movable along a guide rail between restraint and release locations in the vehicle in which it holds the belt in occupant-restraining and occupant-releasing positions, respectively. The drive device comprises a flexible drive tape and a first drum having one end of the drive tape and the other end of the transfer tape attached to the outer periphery thereof whereby upon rotation of the drive in one direction both tapes are wound onto the first drum in interleaved relation and upon rotation in the other direction are unwound from the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Inventor: Juichiro Takada
  • Patent number: 4655476
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-positioning device for safety belts of the passive type, capable of shifting a movable point of positioning of the same belt, to the purpose of fastening and of releasing the occupant of the seat, by means of the door's shutting and opening stroke, of the type comprising a rack rod of curved shape, rigidly fastened at one of its ends on to the car's body, and a pinion inmeshing with it, rotatably supported by the door and operatively linked to an amplifier mechanism in its turn operatively linked to the belt and capable of transforming the rotary movement of the pinion into an amplified movement of rectilinear type of the same positioning point along a guide diagonally positioned on the door, the rock rod being an anular sector and being partly toothed, so as to operate over a portion of the door's shutting and opening stroke only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Alfa Romeo Auto S.p.A.
    Inventor: Ferdinando Paludetto
  • Patent number: 4653774
    Abstract: A seat belt system has an elongate rail mounted in the motor vehicle, and a seat belt termination assembly movable along the rail and connected to one end of the seat belt. The termination assembly is driven along the rail by an elongate drive element which is motor driven. The termination assembly is releasably connected to the drive element by a toggle latch connection. The termination assembly is released from the drive element when subjected to a predetermined retarding force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Bengt O. J. S. Morner
  • Patent number: 4647070
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a latch device for a movable anchor in a passive seat belt system for mounting on a vehicle. The latch device includes a movable anchor, a latch releasably engageable with the movable anchor, actuator means releasably holding the latch in engagement with the movable anchor, an actuator member for bringing the latch into engagement with the movable anchor by way of the actuator means when the movable anchor moves to its occupant-restraining position, and switch means associated with the latch in such a way that it is actuated when the movable anchor has reached the occupant-restraining position and the latch has been brought into engagement with the movable anchor. The position of the latch is directly related to whether the movable anchor has been locked by the latch or not. It is thus necessary to provide only one switch means for stopping the rearward movement of the movable anchor and for confirming the latching between the movable anchor and the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventors: Kazuo Yamamoto, Osamu Kawai
  • Patent number: 4642853
    Abstract: A seat belt guide loop is comprised of a stamped metal bracket having an aperture adapted to receive a bolt for pivotally mounting the guide loop on a vehicle body pillar. The stamped metal bracket has a belt slot therein of a width somewhat greater than the width of the belt and a height greater than the thickness of the belt. A molded plastic cover is molded in situ upon the stamped metal bracket and overlies the lower wall of the belt slot to define a low friction wall over which the belt is slidable. This plastic cover has a clearance slot which underlies the low friction wall and cooperates therewith to define a plastic bridge integral with and supporting the low friction wall. The clearance slot is of a width somewhat less than the width of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Plesniarski, Richard D. Loose, Juan M. Capo
  • Patent number: 4635964
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatically fastening seatbelt assembly which causes an occupant of a vehicle to be automatically held to a seat in the vehicle by a restraining webbing, after the occupant is positioned on the seat in the vehicle. The seatbelt assembly includes a guide rail, a slider which is displaceable along the guide rail and a restraining webbing which is fixed to the slider at one end thereof. This guide rail is provided with stop switches at each end thereof. The stop switches are connected to a source of electricity or an electric control circuit through connecting wires. Further, the stop switches detect the arrival of the slider at either end of the guide rail and output signals to the electric control circuit. More particularly, the present invention relates to improvements in the guide rail assembly which protects the connecting wires which are connected to the stop switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Ryu
  • Patent number: 4623168
    Abstract: An automatic seat belt system makes use of a drive member, for example, a drive tape for causing a runner to move back and forth along a guide rail mounted from the side roof to the center pillar within the room of an automobile. The drive tape is formed of a stretched tape made of a polyamide resin such as nylon 11 or nylon 12. The drive tape requires a low material cost and exhibits superb resistance to tensile and compression forces. The former advantage enables to reduce the overall manufacturing cost of the automatic seat belt system. On the other hand, the latter advantage permits use of a narrower and thinner drive tape, whereby permitting an overall size reduction to the automatic seat belt system. Owing to the possibility of using such a narrow drive tape, the drive tape can be arranged in a state bent in its widthwise direction without increasing its sliding resistance to any substantial degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Yokote
  • Patent number: 4621835
    Abstract: A safety belt restraint system for restraining a passenger in his automotive vehicle seat has a pair of emergency locking safety belt retractors mounted in relatively close proximity to each other on the vehicle door near a lower portion thereof with a single safety belt strap running therebetween and through associated upper and lower belt guides on the door, there being a single connector fitting mounted in fixed relation to a mid-portion of the strap and being releasably anchored in a conventional safety belt buckle anchor located inboard of the vehicle seat, the retractors having large diameter spools sufficient to wind all of the webbing up adjacent to the vehicle door when the connector is released from the buckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: American Safety Equipment Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy P. Edwards
  • Patent number: 4618164
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatically fastening seatbelt assembly which causes an occupant of a vehicle to be automatically held to a seat in the vehicle by a restraining webbing, after the occupant is positioned on the seat in the vehicle. The seatbelt assembly includes a guide rail, a slider which is displaceable along the guide rail and a restraining webbing which is fixed to the slider at one end thereof. This guide rail is provided with stop switches at each end thereof. The stop switches are connected to a source of electricity or an electric control circuit through connecting wires. Further, the stop switches detect the arrival of the slider at either end of the guide rail and output signals to the electric control circuit. More particularly, the present invention relates to improvements in the stop switch assembly which protect the connecting wire which is connected to the stop switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Ryu