Retractable Patents (Class 297/474)
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Patent number: 7789460Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seat bottom and a seatback. The seatback includes a seatback frame and is selectively rotatable relative to the seat bottom from an upright position to a forward position. A seatbelt assembly includes a retractor coupled to the seatback frame and a belt selectively extendable from and retractable to the retractor. A first end of the belt is disposed in the retractor. A guide is coupled to the seatback frame and defines an orifice with the belt slideably extending through the orifice. The retractor and the guide are fixed relative to the seatback frame and the second end of the belt is fixed to the seatback frame. The retractor, the guide, and both ends of the belt rotate from the upright position to the forward position in response to a force exerted on the seatback frame during rapid deceleration of the seat assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2008Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Syntec Seating Solutions, LLCInventors: Ronald C. Lamparter, Patrick M. Glance
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Patent number: 7780240Abstract: The belt can be pulled out of the housing against a spring force, and the length of the belt is fixed by inserting the belt buckle into the holder.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2006Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Inventors: Horst Sonnendorfer, Franz Wieth
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Patent number: 7761207Abstract: A seat belt device includes a detecting unit and a controller which controls a motor to rotate in a winding direction of a webbing when the detecting unit detects that an adjust-through which adjusts a position of a D-ring through which the webbing is inserted is moved down.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2005Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventor: Yukinori Midorikawa
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Patent number: 7758130Abstract: A rotational vehicle restraint system includes an anchoring component configured to be attached to a vehicle seat assembly; a rotatable component attached to the anchoring component and configured to rotate relative to the anchoring component about an axis of rotation; and a harness connected to the rotatable component and configured to fit about a passenger. When installed in a vehicle, the rotational vehicle restraint system is configured to restrain a passenger fitted with the harness in both an upright sitting position and a lying down position. When installed in a vehicle, the rotational vehicle restraint system is also optionally configured to enable the passenger fitted with the harness to change from a first lying down position facing forward in the vehicle seat assembly to a second lying down position facing backward in the vehicle seat assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2007Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Inventor: Michael A. Jay
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Publication number: 20100176649Abstract: [Object] A pretensioner and a seat belt apparatus are provided that can diffuse the heat of high-temperature gas and prevent the heat from concentrating locally on a wire. [Solving Means] A pretensioner 10 has a housing 12 that allows a wire 11 to run therethrough and a cylinder 14. One end of the wire 11 is connected to a seat belt buckle 9, and the other end of the wire 11 is held by a piston 15. An apertured member 26, that covers at least the gas generator 23 side of a peripheral surface of the wire 11, is provided in the housing 12. A plurality of through-holes 29 are provided in a protecting portion 27 of the apertured member 26.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2008Publication date: July 15, 2010Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATIONInventor: Shigeru Kohama
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Publication number: 20100156166Abstract: [Object] To improve wear resistance of a woven belt and a seatbelt device including the woven belt [Solving Means] A woven belt 101 has a structure formed by weaving a plurality of warp yarns 102 extending in a substantially longitudinal direction of the belt and a plurality of weft yarns 103 extending in a substantially transverse direction of the belt. At least one of the warp yarns 102 and the weft yarns 103 is a fiber bundle containing highly contractible synthetic fiber yarns (e.g., yarns containing a low-melting-point filament component 306 having a relatively low melting point and a high-melting-point filament component 307 having a relatively high melting point) so that the strength of the fiber bundle can be increased, and the wear resistance of the woven belt 101 as a whole can be improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2006Publication date: June 24, 2010Inventors: Sadayuki Shimazaki, Itsuo Tabayashi
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Publication number: 20100148538Abstract: A body structure of a motor vehicle has a rear side wall which is constructed in a simple manner. It is important for the side wall to have at least the following components configured as light metal diecast parts: a support, a suspension strut mount and a bracket for a rollover protection device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2009Publication date: June 17, 2010Applicant: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Wolfgang Neumann, Holger Hahlweg
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Patent number: 7735919Abstract: A safety belt device is mounted on a support member that is formed with a positioning hole, and includes a belt, an anchor member that permits a first end portion of the belt to extend therethrough and that is retained removably on the support member at the positioning hole, and an elastic component connected to the anchor member and disposed to support a second end portion of the belt such that the elastic component deforms when a pulling force is applied on the second end portion of the belt and restores the belt to an initial state when the pulling force on the second end portion of the belt is removed.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2007Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shun-Min Chen, Kenny Cheng
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Patent number: 7735933Abstract: The disclosed woven belt may include first filament yarn bundles extending in a substantially longitudinal direction of a webbing and second filament yarn bundles extending in a substantially transverse direction of the webbing. At least one of the first filament yarn bundles and the second filament yarn bundles may comprise filament yarn bundles containing middle-shrinking synthetic filament yarns.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2007Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Sadayuki Shimazaki, Itsuo Tabayashi
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Patent number: 7726693Abstract: When the worn state of the webbing is lifted, current of a current value I0 corresponding to the appropriate storing speed of the webbing is supplied to the motor, whereby a take-up shaft rotates and the webbing is taken up. At a point in time when the webbing has been taken up to the extent that the webbing does not hinder the exiting of a vehicle by a passenger, the size of the supply current to the motor is reduced from the initial current value I1 to a current value I1. A reference current value IL of a stall current for determining whether to stop the motor when a foreign object or the like has become entangled between the webbing and an in-vehicle part can also be set to be small in correspondence to the reduced current value I1.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2006Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoInventor: Teruhiko Koide
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Patent number: 7703803Abstract: A safety restraint system for a vehicle includes a safety net stored in a wall mounted cartridge wherein a guiding bar, securable in a locking mechanism, steers the safety net away from the wall and provides a secured space around a bunk. The safety net is secured adjacent to the bunk using a locking bar. The safety net may be provided with one or several safety belts at least partly attached to the safety net.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2006Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar ABInventors: Tomas Ekberg, Niklas Thuresson
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Publication number: 20100013205Abstract: A torsion bar, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an elongated bar has a first end, a second end, and a mid-section between the first and second ends. The first end of the elongated bar has a material void. The first end preferably has a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of the mid-section. In one design, the material void is a slot extending longitudinally, and the first end may also define a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots extending longitudinally. In another design, the material void is a bore extending longitudinally, and the first end may also define a plurality of slots extending longitudinally and extending from the bore through an exterior surface of the elongated bar to leave a plurality of fingers at the first end. In these designs and other, the torsion bar and the material void may be cold forged, thereby eliminating a second forming step.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2008Publication date: January 21, 2010Inventors: Gerald J. Keller, Kurt W. Schulz
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Patent number: 7644992Abstract: A motor vehicle seat with an underframe comprising two pairs of rails, each having a seat rail and a floor rail, a seat belt and a seat belt retractor. The seat further comprises a tie bar for the seat belt retractor, the tie bar extending from the one seat rail to the other seat rail and is connected to the respective one of the seat rails. The seat belt retractor is connected to the tie bar and, in one embodiment, is disposed beneath the tie bar.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2007Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Burckhard Becker, Wilfried Beneker, Frank Peters
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Publication number: 20090322067Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus includes: a retracting device that retracts one end side of a webbing for restraining an occupant so that the webbing can be withdrawn; a webbing holding portion that holds the other end side of the webbing; and a fixing member to which the retracting device and the webbing holding portion are attached.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2009Publication date: December 31, 2009Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takuya Nezaki
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Publication number: 20090096200Abstract: A reflective seatbelt device for use with a motor vehicle for determining fastened and unfastened seatbelt positions of motorists and passengers which will prevent patrol officers from departing their vehicles while viewing proper usage of a seatbelt. The reflective material is constructed extending the webbed fabric of the shoulder/torso cross strap of a seatbelt assembly and can be seen on both sides of the seatbelt, enabling patrolling officers to verify seatbelt position and not have to exit their vehicles. The reflective seatbelt device will keep patrolling officers out of the direct line of traffic for their safety; thus protecting them from traffic related injuries and fatalities. The reflective seatbelt protects motorists and passengers by persuading them to buckle up knowing that it is obvious for patrol officers to see unfastened seatbelts during the day and night driving.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2008Publication date: April 16, 2009Inventor: Elaine Jamison
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Patent number: 7516987Abstract: A buckle pretensioner system includes a substantially L-shaped rail for guiding a buckle body of a buckle from a position where the buckle body engages with a tongue plate to a position corresponding to a lumbar region of a vehicle occupant. When a vehicle disposed with the buckle pretensioner system undergoes a sudden deceleration, a piston inside a cylinder is moved in a frontward direction of the vehicle by gas generated by the actuation of a gas generator, a buckle stay is pulled by a wire coupled to the piston, and the buckle stay is moved along the shape of the rail. As a result, the buckle body supported by the buckle stay pivots from the position where the buckle body engages with the tongue plate to a vehicle occupant restraining position of a webbing belt, and then is pulled to the lumbar region-corresponding position.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2005Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoInventors: Teruhiko Koide, Koji Muto, Masayoshi Nojiri, Toshihito Miyagawa
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Patent number: 7497521Abstract: A seat belt retractor mounting system for a vehicle seat includes a bracket having a first sidewall and a second sidewall. A generally planar plate is located generally parallel to and spaced apart from the first sidewall of the bracket. The plate is coupled to the second sidewall. In addition, at least one of the bracket and plate are secured to, and cooperate with, a seat cushion frame of the seat to surround and protect an emergency locking retractor mounted to the first sidewall. A method employs the system.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2006Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Honda Motor Co., LtdInventors: Kelly Michael Whalen, Hidetsugu Okazaki, Brent Moffitt, Hiroyuki Honda
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Publication number: 20090048739Abstract: A seat belt device includes a detecting unit and a controller which controls a motor to rotate in a winding direction of a webbing when the detecting unit detects that an adjust-through which adjusts a position of a D-ring through which the webbing is inserted is moved down.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2005Publication date: February 19, 2009Inventor: Yukinori Midorikawa
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Publication number: 20080265643Abstract: In order to allow use of the seat belt in both positions of use of a reversible seat, an articulated end fitting is proposed for connecting a seat belt to the reversible seat, with a connecting part (51) and a projecting elongate lug (53) connected thereto for suspending a seat belt, the elongate lug (53) being pivotable relative to the connecting part (51) about three different axes (A, B, C).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2006Publication date: October 30, 2008Inventors: Michael Haas, Ralf Hoge, Armin Amend, Wolfgang Kroner
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Publication number: 20080238178Abstract: A seat belt assembly is provided for an occupant seated in a seat that includes a seat back portion and a seat base portion having an outboard side. The seat belt assembly includes a continuous seat belt having a lap belt and shoulder belt. The lap belt has an inboard portion, an outboard portion, and an anchor portion. The anchor portion is fixed to an anchor member positioned below, rearward, and inboard relative to the outboard side of the seat base portion. An actuator assembly is selectively engageable with the outboard portion of the lap belt and is operable to selectively release the lap belt. A pre-tensioner is operatively connected to the shoulder belt. The pre-tensioner is configured to tension the shoulder belt and the lap belt thereby applying force in an inboard direction when the lap belt is released from the actuator assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2007Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Derek Y. Guo, Mark A. Morra, Jeffrey A. Upchurch, Mark O. Ellis
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Patent number: 7429231Abstract: A rotary drive for a belt tensioner includes a housing, a pinion rotatably mounted therein, and at least one driving gear coupled to the pinion, the driving gear being mounted in the housing and being adapted to be driven by pressurized gas introduced into a pressure chamber. Formed in the driving gear is a cavity having a substantially radially extending wall which, in the installed state, is opposite to a protrusion which projects into the cavity and is rigidly connected to the housing, the wall of the cavity and the protrusion forming part of a wall of the pressure chamber.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2006Date of Patent: September 30, 2008Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Wilfried Bieg, Thomas Moedinger, Gerhard Malbrich
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Publication number: 20080191540Abstract: A seatbelt system enables substantially different sized vehicle occupants (for example an elementary school student and a high school student) to occupy the same seat location having a horizontal base on which the different occupants can sit. First and second 3-point restraining systems, respectively including first and second guides at first and second different fixed heights above the horizontal base, at the seat location enable the different sized occupants to be safely and comfortably restrained at the seat location at different times.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2007Publication date: August 14, 2008Inventor: Alvan M. MORRIS
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Patent number: 7377590Abstract: A vehicle passenger seat active occupant restraint provides for absorbing energy from a passenger during sudden deceleration of a vehicle. The torso belt portion of a three-point restraint system is anchored using a spring and a displacement limiting linkage at the opposite end from its point of connection to the lap portion of the belt. During deceleration energy is transferred from the restrained occupant to the spring up to the displacement limit.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2005Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLCInventors: Patrick J. Mattes, Erik K. Nelson, Thomas R. Graham
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Patent number: 7367630Abstract: The invention relates to an integral seat of an automotive vehicle having an underframe, a seat pan carried by underframe, a seat back and a seat belt mechanism, where the seat belt mechanism includes a seat belt with a tongue member that divides the seat belt in a shoulder belt and a lap belt, the seat belt having an upper end formed by the shoulder belt and a lower end formed by the lap belt, a primary automatic belt tensioner that is disposed on the underframe and in which there is secured the lower end of the seat belt and a secondary automatic belt tensioner that is disposed in the seat back and in which there is secured the upper end of the seat belt.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2004Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: C. Rob Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Burckhard Becker, Robert Houston, Jörg May Wölfel
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Publication number: 20080030063Abstract: A seat belt position adjuster includes a guide rail attached to a vehicle body and a slider slidably provided to the guide rail. The slider swingably supports a belt anchor that guides a seat belt. The slider includes a boss portion that supports the belt anchor, and slides with respect to the guide rail to adjust the position of the seat belt. The boss portion includes an inner diameter that is kept constant between a base portion and a leading end portion of the boss portion, and an outer diameter that is continuously reduced from the base portion toward a leading end of the boss portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2007Publication date: February 7, 2008Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATIONInventors: Yuki Tabata, Yukio Nagayoshi, Masahiko Iwai
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Publication number: 20080018156Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle comprises a seat having a seat belt assembly comprising two or more seat belts, a latch attached to each seat belt, and a corresponding buckle, wherein each buckle releasably engages each corresponding latch in a corresponding housing, and a release mechanism located remote from each housing, wherein actuation of the release mechanism disengages each seat belt latch from its corresponding buckle. For certain seat assemblies with at least three seat belts, the first seat belt and the second seat belt are mounted on the seat back, and the third seat belt is mounted free of the seat back, each of the three seat belt latches are capable of being disengaged independent of the other two seat belt latches, and each of the three seat belts has a retractor which pulls the corresponding seat belt to a retracted position when each buckle is disengaged from each corresponding latch.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2007Publication date: January 24, 2008Applicant: GLOBAL SEATING SYSTEMS LLCInventors: Christian U. Hammarskjold, Frank J. Butch, Jim Howard
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Patent number: 7063390Abstract: There is provided a seat belt system in which a seat belt retractor is installed in a seat back assembled to a rear portion of a seat cushion, and a belt anchor plate, which is provided at the tip end of a seat belt pulled out of the seat belt retractor, is brought from the seating surface side to the back surface side of the seat cushion and is installed to a seat cushion frame constituting the seat cushion from the back side of the seating surface of the seat cushion.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2004Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignee: Suzuki Motor CorporationInventors: Masaya Suzuki, Kenichiro Maruo
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Publication number: 20040262979Abstract: There is provided a seat belt system in which a seat belt retractor 10 is installed in a seat back 4 assembled to a rear portion of a seat cushion 3, and a belt anchor plate 12, which is provided at the tip end of a seat belt 11 pulled out of the seat belt retractor 10, is brought from the seating surface M side to the back surface N side of the seat cushion 3 and is installed to a seat cushion frame 14 constituting the seat cushion 3 from the back side of the seating surface M of the seat cushion 3.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Applicant: Suzuki Motor CorporationInventors: Masaya Suzuki, Kenichiro Maruo
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Publication number: 20040222686Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a vehicle seat, a first retractable restraint system for the vehicle seat and a second retractable restraint system for the vehicle seat. The first restraint system is in the form of a retractable, three-point shoulder harness. The second restraint system includes a first strap designed to resiliently retract onto a first take-up reel located within the back rest of the vehicle seat, a second strap designed to resiliently retract onto a second take-up reel located within the back rest of the vehicle seat, and a buckle assembly located within the seat support of the vehicle seat which is designed to lockably receive a tongue affixed onto each of the first and second straps.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2004Publication date: November 11, 2004Inventor: Cassee Leighton
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Publication number: 20040026981Abstract: A seat belt system (10) includes a lap belt (60) including a first portion (74) and a second portion (85). A retractor (76) includes a spool (96) rotatable about an axis (160). The first and second lap belt portions (74, 85) are secured to the spool (96). The spool (96) is biased to rotate in a first rotational direction to wind the first and second portions (74, 85) onto the spool. The first and second portions (74, 85) when tensioned urge the spool (96) to rotate in a second rotational direction opposite said first rotational direction to unwind the first and second portions from the spool. A locking mechanism (170) is actuatable to lock the spool (96) against rotation in the second rotational direction. First and second web grabbing devices (180, 182) are actuatable to clamp onto the first and second portions (74, 85) when the locking mechanism (170) is in the locked condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2002Publication date: February 12, 2004Applicant: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Barry J. Maloney, Joseph J. Zwolinski, Arnold J. Herberg, Alex P. Kotivosky
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Patent number: 6666520Abstract: A compartmentalized occupant restraint system and kit for restraining an occupant in a seating arrangement comprising a vehicle seat with a seat frame, a seat bottom, and a seat back.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2001Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Inventors: Gary H. Murphy, George E. Temple, IV, Keith A. Gudeman
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Patent number: 6655743Abstract: The seat belt module is electronically controlled using magneto-rheological fluid. A CPU delivers a signal to an electromagnetic coil within the module at the beginning of a crash to cause the viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid to increase sufficient to lock the spool on which the seat belt is wound against rotation. Thereafter, a subsequent signal is delivered by the CPU to the coil to reduce the magnetic field and the viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid allowing the spool to be unwound in a programmed manner so as to reduce the forces imposed on an occupant by the seat belt. The CPU may be pre-programmed in response to signals from sensors throughout the vehicle that deliver signals corresponding to the characteristics of the occupant and may be programmed in response to signals from these sensors and from an air bag to respond in real time.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2002Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: Island Pyrochemical Industries Corp.Inventors: Amnon Parizat, Marek Tarczynski
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Patent number: 6631959Abstract: A portable seat belt assembly for school buses and the like which includes a belly pack with a seat belt secured thereto. A student wearing the belly pack approaching a school bus seat opens the belly pack, unwinds the seat belt wrapping it around the back of the seat, turns around, sits down and closes the seat belt buckle assembly. When leaving the bus, the student unbuckles the buckle assembly releasing the belt from the seat, folds the belt back into the belly pack and closes the belly pack. Another embodiment includes a seat belt arrangement carried in the belly pack including a pair of straps each having large hooks with spring clasps for attachment to the seat frame. The student must attach these hooks to the seat frame then sit down and close the buckle assembly. Other embodiments include retractors on the seat belt to assist the student in retrieving the belt after use and a camera case for housing the seat belt.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1998Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Inventors: Alice Y. Amondo, Bino S. Tanaka
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Patent number: 6598904Abstract: A webbing take-up device and a vehicle are provided in which different force limiter loads can be selected at arbitrary times with a simple structure. A wire is inserted into a spool. One end portion of the wire is fixed to a lock base. Thus, when rotation of the lock base is impeded, a twisting load of a torsion bar and a drawing-through load of the wire are applied to a webbing as force limiter load. Further, a cutting gear is disposed between the spool and the lock base. When the cutting gear is rotated at an arbitrary time, the wire is cut. In this way, the force limiter load is reduced to only the twisting load of the torsion bar. As a result, different force limiter loads can be selected at arbitrary times with a simple structure.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2001Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoInventors: Tomonori Nagata, Akira Sumiyashiki, Shinji Mori
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Publication number: 20030047971Abstract: An emergency conveyance seat includes a frame for supporting a seat cushion and a back cushioning arrangement. The frame includes a pair of spaced apart channels connected by an enclosure adapted to receive a self-contained breathing apparatus. The channels provide attachment structure for mounting the back cushioning arrangement thereon. One of the channels provides a protective housing for an elongated seat belt webbing having one end attached to a retractor positioned within the channel and a second end attached to a lower portion of the frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2001Publication date: March 13, 2003Inventors: Jeremy A. Fohrenkamm, Paul C. Bostrom, Wayne R. Block
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Patent number: 6494541Abstract: A rotational direction detecting switch detects a rotational direction of a shaft, preferably of a seat belt retractor. The detecting switch is formed of a switch plate having a support portion for pivotally supporting the switch plate and restricting members spaced apart from each other for restricting a rotating angle of the switch plate, a spring member attached to the switch plate between the restricting members for elastically contacting an outer circumference of the shaft, and a switch situated near the switch plate for detecting a rotating position of the switch plate. Since the spring member is used to contact the shaft, the elastic deformation is large. Therefore, tolerance in manufacturing the switch plate can be large, so that its assembling accuracy may not be so accurate. However, the rotating direction can be positively detected.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2000Date of Patent: December 17, 2002Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Hiroaki Fujii
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Publication number: 20020109392Abstract: A seat belt system for a vehicle seat having seat belt segments that are retained on first and second retractors. The retractors each have a spool on which seat belt segments are wound. The spools of the first and second retractors are linked together by a spring that biases the spools to retract the belt segments. Right and left seat belt presenters are provided to move the latches of seat belt segments between a retracted position and a presentation position where the latches are held at a convenient location to be grasped by a person seated in the vehicle seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2001Publication date: August 15, 2002Inventors: Patrick A. Petri, Ernesto E. Blanco, Greg Fraley, Nicole Poponea, H. Winston Maue
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Patent number: 6390561Abstract: A restraint system of belts and buckles designed to protect every rider and passenger occupying conventional type seats in open vehicles, such as motorcycles, from injuries sustainable from flying off such vehicles in the event of a head-on collision, sudden stop or other such type circumstance. A restraint system also unique in being amenable to installation in such existing vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2000Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Inventor: Joshua Oghenogieme Osime
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Patent number: 6312056Abstract: An occupant restraint system for restraining an occupant in a seating arrangement comprising a vehicle seat wherein the vehicle seat has a seat frame, a seat bottom coupled to the frame, and a seat back coupled to the seat frame wherein the seat back has a first edge and a second edge, the occupant restraint system comprising a first anchoring assembly for being attached to the vehicle seat adjacent to the first edge of the seat back, a second anchoring assembly for being attached to the vehicle seat adjacent to the second edge of the seat back, a first elongate flexible member with a body portion extendibly and retractably retained on the first anchoring assembly, a mechanism for coupling a portion of the first elongate flexible member to the second anchoring assembly whereby the body portion of the first elongate flexible member traverses the seat back from the first edge to the second edge, a first buckle element coupled to the body portion of the first elongate flexible member, a first corresponding bucklType: GrantFiled: December 31, 1998Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Inventors: Gary H. Murphy, George E. Temple, IV, Keith A. Gudeman
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Patent number: 6264280Abstract: Safety belt devices are disclosed for vehicles comprising a seat belt, a retractor for retracting the seat belt, a seat belt guide for guiding the seat belt, a rotatable drum for displacing the seat belt guide between a normal operating condition and a tightened condition for the seat belt, the seat belt guide mounted on the rotatable drum, and an activator for activating the rotatable drum into the tightened condition, the rotatable drum including an energy absorber for reducing the force exerted upon the seat belt guide by the seat belt during return of the seat belt guide from the tightened condition to its normal operating condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 1999Date of Patent: July 24, 2001Assignee: AB VolvoInventor: Anders Öhlund
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Patent number: 6196633Abstract: A retractor 100 for a seat belt to be mounted within a seat back of a reclining type seat. The retractor 100 comprises a winding shaft 4 for winding a webbing 90 therearound, a lock element of an emergency lock mechanism 300 for locking the rotation of the winding shaft 4 in the webbing drawn-out direction thereof, and a vehicle body acceleration sensor 32 for detecting a given vehicle body acceleration to thereby actuate the lock element. The lock element of the emergency lock mechanism 300 is structured such that, while the seat belt is not in use, if the seat back is set within the range from the most forwardly inclined position of the seat back to the the most backwardly inclined position of the seat back, a locking wall 41c of a rotation control disk 41 is contactable with a securing piece 15d of an engaging member 15 to thereby prevent the engaging member 15 from moving in a direction where it can be engaged with a latch cup 13.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1998Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventors: Kazuo Yamamoto, Masanao Fukunaga
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Patent number: 6042188Abstract: The positioning of the buckle plate of an auto driver's safety belt so that it is within reach of the driver without the need to turn attention away from traffic in front of the auto, a dangerous maneuver often needed when the safety belt, through oversight, has to be buckled after the auto is in motion.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1999Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Inventor: Peter Gold
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Patent number: 5927818Abstract: A seat belt system (20) for use with a seat (22) movable fore and aft and including a frame member. The system includes: a retractor (42) fixedly mounted to a support member of a vehicle and lockable during an accident, and webbing (44) extending therefrom in dependence with the movement of the seat. A buckle (50) is secured to an end of the webbing for locking engaging with a tongue (52). A holder (54) is attached to the webbing at a predetermined distance from the buckle and also attaches the webbing to the frame member of the seat.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1994Date of Patent: July 27, 1999Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.Inventor: Donald A. Di Paola
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Patent number: 5826946Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly having a seat bottom and a seat back. The seat back includes a rigid frame supporting a resilient foam cushion encased by a trim cover material. The seat back has a cutaway section defining a void space in the foam cushion and two apertures in the trim cover material. A rigid support panel is secured to a corner of the seat back frame. The panel is seated in the cutaway section of the seat back frame to fill the void space in the foam cushion between the trim cover material and the seat back frame. The support panel has first and second openings for providing rigid passageways through the two apertures in the trim cover material. The first opening extends along a first axis for supporting a seat belt tower to the seat back frame. The second opening extends along a second axis traverse to the first axis for supporting a side impact air bag on the seat back frame.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1997Date of Patent: October 27, 1998Assignee: Lear Corp.Inventors: Bryon R. Matthews, Ed Dishner, Michael E. Rhoads
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Patent number: 5743597Abstract: A restraint system for use in a vehicle for the restraint of an occupant. The system is comprised of a three point belt assembly wherein the anchor for the shoulder strap is pivotably mounted and laterally adjustable. The system includes a housing mounted atop a vehicle seat with a drive shaft rotatably mounted to the housing and threadably engaged with a post. A belt guide is pivotable mounted to the post.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1996Date of Patent: April 28, 1998Assignee: Indiana Mills and Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Chris P. Jessup, Jeffry L. Williams
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Patent number: 5658048Abstract: A seat with seat belt including a headrest and a seat back, in which both a headrest and a seat belt ingress/egress portion are adjustable in height at the same time, to accommodate an occupant on the seat. A stationary rail member is provided on a seat back frame in a manner erecting therefrom, and a movable rail member is slidably fitted in the stationary rail. Connected to the movable rail member are a headrest stay member fixed to the headrest and a guide member defining the seat belt ingress/egress portion, on which the seat belt is turned from the inside of seat back towards the outside of same. Thus, the movable rail member may be moved vertically along the stationary rail member so as to enable upward and downward motion of both headrest stay member and guide member to adjust both heights of the headrest and seat belt ingress/egress portion at one time.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 1995Date of Patent: August 19, 1997Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.Inventor: Akira Nemoto
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Patent number: 5423598Abstract: An improved safety apparatus (10) is used in association with a belt (16) which restrains movement of an occupant of a vehicle. The belt (16) is taken up by and paid out from a retractor assembly (22). Upon the occurrence of vehicle deceleration greater than a predetermined deceleration, a solenoid assembly (132) operates a clamp assembly (28) to grip the belt (16) and prevent paying out of the belt. In one embodiment of the invention, the retractor assembly (22) includes a sensor assembly (54) which operates a retainer assembly (56) to prevent withdrawal of the belt from the retractor assembly when the deceleration of the vehicle is in excess of a predetermined deceleration. The sensor assembly (54) is mounted on a movable carriage (32) in the retractor assembly (22). Although the clamp assembly (28) and the retractor assembly (22) may be used in many different locations in a vehicle, they are advantageously located on the back (24) of a vehicle seat (12).Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1993Date of Patent: June 13, 1995Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Wendell C. Lane, Jr., Robert M. Varga
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Patent number: 5308148Abstract: A seat belt assembly includes a tongue, a buckle, a frame mountable to a vehicle seat, linking articles for linking the tongue and buckle to the frame, a retractor assembly operable to pay out and retract linking articles connected with said tongue, the tongue thereby extendable from a retracted position to an extended position lockingly engaged with said buckle. The tongue, buckle, linking articles and retractor assembly are all mounted in operable combination to the frame, the resulting frame means combination being mountable as a unit to a vehicle seat. The seat belt assembly also includes tongue and buckle sleeve assemblies which are mountable to the frame and which cover the linking articles in the retracted position, and which support the tongue and the buckle in a desired user access position.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1992Date of Patent: May 3, 1994Assignee: Indiana Mills and Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey E. Peterson, Niels Dybro, Ronald F. Homeier, Allan R. Lortz
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Patent number: 5292181Abstract: A seat belt system includes a first mounting bracket and a belt buckle, and a first connecting member connectable with the belt buckle and the first mounting bracket. The first connecting member is coupled with the first mounting bracket and is movable relative the first mounting bracket between retracted and extended positions. A first biasing device is provided for biasing the first connecting member in the retracted position. A corresponding retractor assembly coupled with a second mounting bracket and movably biased relative the second mounting bracket between like retracted and extended positions is for use in conjunction with the seat buckle assembly to cause the seat belt to move upwardly rather than laterally relative the occupant, thereby preventing chafing of the occupant by the seat belt and reducing lateral accelerations applied to the upper torso of the occupant by the seat belt system.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1992Date of Patent: March 8, 1994Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.Inventor: Niels Dybro
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Patent number: 5286084Abstract: A seat assembly in which the seat back includes an integral child seat. The child seat is formed by a single panel rotatably mounted in the seat back and rotatable to a forward use position in which the top of the panel has a rear portion for seating of the buttocks of a child seat occupant thereon and a front portion forming a footrest for the child occupant. The child seat is deployed solely by rotating the panel from its stowed position within the seat back to the forwardly extending use position. The seat belt restraint system for the child seat includes a retractor mounted within the child seat panel. An optional rotating member can also be mounted in the front face of the panel forming a arm rest, cup holder or storage bin for use by adult occupants when the child seat is not deployed.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 1992Date of Patent: February 15, 1994Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.Inventor: Kurt A. Bart