Having Means To Lock Belt Against Further Extension When In Its Occupant-restraining Position Patents (Class 297/479)
  • Patent number: 11639120
    Abstract: A child safety seat comprising a base and a body rotatably connected to the base for providing a seating space. The base is rotatably connected to the body via a rotating shaft. The child safety seat further comprises an electrical pivoting structure including a base pivoting member for electrically connecting to a base electrical device in the base, and a body pivoting member for electrically connecting to a body electrical device in the body. The base pivoting member is coupled to the base and has a base conductive part. The body pivoting member is coupled to the body and has a body conductive part. The base conductive part and the body conductive part are rotatably and electrically connected in the rotating shaft. The base electrical device and the body electrical device are electrically connected to each other via electrical connection of the base conductive part and the body conductive part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: BABMINO PREZIOSO SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventor: Zujian Liu
  • Patent number: 10799732
    Abstract: The roping harness comprises a pair of leg loops and a suspension point. The suspension point comprises: distinct first and second rings, a connecting part fixed continuously to the two distinct rings, the connecting part mechanically connecting the two distinct rings with the pair of leg loops, a closed metal connector provided with a rod. The two rings are separated from one another by a first distance in a first direction and define an empty space between a first lateral surface of the first ring and a second lateral surface of the second ring. The two rings are arranged so as to allow fitting of the rod of the connector in the two rings. The rod presents a longitudinal axis coinciding with the first direction. The rod is fitted movable in rotation in the two rings and the connector is mounted movable in rotation around the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: ZEDEL
    Inventors: Benoît Bouquier, Simon Emonin
  • Patent number: 9174554
    Abstract: This invention relates to a guide for a vehicle seat belt securing a child safety seat in the vehicle. The belt guide comprises a body, a slot extending into the body from an edge thereof and having a longitudinal axis, the slot further extending through the body in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis, and wherein the belt guide further comprises means adapted to permit movement of the belt lengthwise along the slot, and transversely through the slot in one direction, but not the other. An associated child safety seat comprising a guide is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: BRITAX CHILDCARE PTY LTD.
    Inventor: Wieslaw Maciejczyk
  • Patent number: 9079514
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided including a seat frame having a sitting surface frame and a backrest frame, wherein the backrest frame has a left backrest longitudinal strut and a right backrest longitudinal strut as well as a lower cross strut and an upper cross strut, the right and left backrest longitudinal struts being pivotably arranged on the lower cross strut in such a way that the backrest frame is helically deformable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: GRAMMER AG
    Inventor: Erwin Haller
  • Patent number: 8950819
    Abstract: During an emergency, in one form of a retractor having a spool, external teeth of a pawl provided at a spool right side end are made to mesh with some of internal teeth provided on a frame, and, with load acting on a seat belt, a spool left side end is brought into contact with a spool pushing portion. Since the spool left side end tends to be moved further in a direction of seat belt load with the load acting on the seat belt, the spool pushing portion pushes the spool left side end, whereby some of external teeth come into contact with internal teeth provided on the frame and fit deeply into gaps between adjacent ones of the internal teeth. Thus, some of the external teeth of the spool effectively come into mesh with the respective internal teeth of the frame with a simple movement of the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Yoshioka, Kenji Osada, Takashi Sesaki
  • Publication number: 20140232166
    Abstract: Presented herein is a restraint system comprising an attachment point configured to attach to a hatch opening of a vehicle, a harness having a seat and a strap attached to the attachment point and to the seat. The harness is configured to accept an occupant and support a portion of the occupant at a position below the hatch opening. The restraint system further comprises an energy absorption mechanism configured to dampen rapid acceleration or deceleration of the occupant. The strap is attached to the attachment point by a quick release mechanism. The energy absorption mechanism may comprise a retraction mechanism having a damper mechanism that is a spring, a coil spring, a viscous fluid, a fluid having a dynamically changeable viscosity or a magnetorheological fluid. The energy absorption mechanism may comprise tear-away sections configured to dampen vehicle motion energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Lockheed Martin Corporation
  • Patent number: 8783725
    Abstract: When releasing a connection between a motor and a spool, the value of a drive voltage is increased at start-up of the motor. After the rotating shaft of the motor starts rotating, the value of the drive voltage is set to a minimum value necessary to maintain the rotation of the rotating shaft. By this means, it is possible to prevent the number of revolutions of the rotating shaft of the motor from increasing unnecessarily and reduce the sound produced from the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyuki Tombe
  • Patent number: 8678510
    Abstract: An anchor plate (12) and an inner lap anchor (14) disposed at left and right sides of a vehicle seat are connected to an inner side cable (20A) and an outer side cable (20B), respectively. The anchor plate (12) and the inner lap anchor (14) are pulled substantially at the same time by a pretensioner device (21) when acceleration of a predetermined degree or more is applied to a seat (1). A support device (40) is provided between the inner lap anchor (14) and the inner side cable (20A) so as to support load applied to the inner lap anchor (14) in a distributed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Masutani
  • Patent number: 8678509
    Abstract: To effectively operate a pretensioner using a plurality of balls and an energy absorption mechanism, to simplify the structure of an exhaust passage in the pretensioner, and to facilitate the working process of the exhaust passage. A pretensioner 15 includes a plurality of balls 20 serving as force transmission members and a piston 21 in a pipe 17. A piston body 21a of the piston 21 includes a shaft portion 21c and a substantially hemispherical head portion 21d. The piston body 21a is provided with an exhaust hole 21e extending in the axial direction and exhaust grooves 21f communicating with the exhaust hole 21e that define an exhaust passage. The exhaust grooves 21f prevent the exhaust hole 21e from being closed even if the head portion 21d of the piston 21 contacts the ball 20. Since the exhaust hole 21e and the exhaust grooves 21f are simply provided in the piston body 21a formed as a single member, the structure of the exhaust passage is simple, and working of the exhaust passage is easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Shiotani, Yusuke Iura
  • Patent number: 8511755
    Abstract: A flat housing (1) holds a belt (4) which can be extended against the force of a spring, the belt being blocked to further extension as soon as the belt clasp (3) is situated in the belt buckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventors: Horst Sonnendorfer, Franz Wieth
  • Patent number: 8419067
    Abstract: An occupant-restraint system is provided for use in a vehicle. The system includes an extensible restraint strap and a mechanism for increasing the length of the extensible strap during sudden vehicle stoppage or slowdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Glover, Stephen Oltman, Richard E. McVicker
  • Patent number: 8414028
    Abstract: A seatbelt device comprises a seatbelt including a shoulder belt to restrain a passenger's upper body and a lap belt to restrain a passenger's waist portion, a tongue fixed to the seatbelt and parting the seatbelt into the shoulder belt and the lap belt, a first retractor fixed to a pillar and coupled to a tip of the shoulder belt, a second D ring attached to a position of an inner panel of a side sill below the pillar and supporting the lap belt so as to let the lap belt slide therein, and a second retractor fixed to another position of the inner panel of the side sill located in front of the second D ring and below a seat slide rail, the second retractor being coupled to a tip of the lap belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Miyajima, Hiroaki Takeshita
  • Patent number: 8371414
    Abstract: A system for electronically controlling seat belt load levels during an event includes a first and second compression member, and a seat belt webbing disposed between the first and second compression members. The first and second compression members may cooperate in a manner such that they may apply a selectively variable compression force to the seat belt webbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David J. Gorman, Florian F. Dutke
  • Patent number: 8371425
    Abstract: A dynamic energy management restraint anchor device interfaces with a child seat in a vehicle, engaging common child seat attachment clip features. A device restraint anchor is operable to dynamically extract and permit distortion of load bearing deformable member(s) in order to manage the displacement of, and load transferred through, an anchor connected to a child seat. The device may be further operable to limit or prevent restraint anchor displacement and the distortion of said deformable member(s) under quasi-static load conditions in order to meet motor vehicle static load/displacement anchorage performance requirements applicable to certain anchors. Anchor retraction capability and various interlocking configurations for securing the position of an anchor, before or after having extracted, may be incorporated relative to the energy management device interfacing with both a vehicle and a child seat. An indicator may further be provided to identify the functional state of the restraint device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Ruthinowski, Ian Brewster Hall, Parakrama V. Weerappuli, Brian Robert Spahn, Kevin Siasoco
  • Patent number: 8287049
    Abstract: 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. 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: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Kohama
  • Publication number: 20120248847
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a retractor that is manufacturable at a much lower cost by making a pretensioner operate more effectively, by minimizing the length of a pipe so that a weight reduction is realized effectively, and by easing the restriction for the shape of a guide member. [Solution] A pipe 17 in which a plurality of balls as force transmitting members are provided includes an attaching portion 17c as a projection provided at one end portion 17a thereof. A guide member 18 having a guide surface 18c that guides the balls has attaching grooves 18 as recesses. The attaching portion 17c is fitted into the attaching grooves 18, whereby the pipe 17 is attached around the outer circumference thereof to the guide member 18 attached to a frame. Since the guide member 18 is provided on the outer circumference of the pipe 17, the pipe 17 can be shortened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Masahiro Shiotani, Yusuke Iura
  • Patent number: 8262133
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor utilizing active material actuation for selectively modifying the tension in a seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Patrick B. Usoro, Alan L. Browne, Steven G. Corrion, Xiujie Gao, Nancy L. Johnson, Nilesh D. Mankame, Lawrence C. Maugh, William B. Carter, Guillermo A. Herrera, Geoffrey P. McKnight
  • Publication number: 20120212029
    Abstract: A seat belt includes: a lap strap stretchable around the waist of an operator, in other words, laterally stretchable across a seat surface; an AL retractor that is configured to wind the lap strap; a shoulder strap stretchable from the shoulder to the waist of the operator, in other words, stretchable from an upper portion on one side of the backrest to a lower portion on the other side thereof; and an EL retractor that is configured to wind the shoulder strap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Wada
  • Publication number: 20120175936
    Abstract: In a webbing guide structure, when a take-up stopper has made abutted to a contact face of a webbing guide due to take-up force acting on a webbing arising from a spiral spring of a webbing take-up device, a rigid portion of the webbing extends out from the webbing guide towards the vehicle front-side, and a portion of the rigid portion further towards an tip end than the take-up stopper projects out from the rear seat back to the vehicle front-side. Due to utilizing biasing force of the spiral spring to project the rigid portion out from the rear seat back to the vehicle front-side, the need to provide a separate mechanism to project the rigid portion out can accordingly be eliminated. A gap between the rear seat back and the webbing can thereby be provided by employing a simple structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Toshihito MIYAGAWA, Teruhiko KOIDE
  • Patent number: 8177303
    Abstract: A seatbelt adjusting device includes: a guiding track provided with a plurality of first engaging members; a belt-connecting slider mounted on the guiding track and slidable on the guiding track; an actuator mounted movably on the belt-connecting slider, provided with a second engaging member, and operable to move relative to the belt-connecting slider between an engaging position, in which the second engaging member engages releasably an aligned one of the first engaging members, and a disengaging position, in which the second engaging member is disengaged from the first engaging members; and an urging member urging against the actuator for restoring the actuator from the disengaging position to the engaging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shun-Min Chen, Wen-Qu Hu
  • Publication number: 20120074758
    Abstract: A harness retractor (62) for a harness system (60) of a child safety harness, which has a tensioning web (80) and buckle connectors (70) coupled to straps of the safety harness. The tensioning device has a rotatable retractor mechanism (90) connected to the tensioning web (80) and biased to wind up the tensioning web in a wind up rotation direction. The tensioning device has a locking device (110) biased to a first position preventing rotation of the retractor mechanism in the wind up direction. The tensioning device has a buckle housing (64) coupled to the retractor mechanism. The buckle connectors (70) are releasably connectable to the buckle housing (64). A release mechanism is connected between the locking device (110) and the buckle housing (64) and can switch the locking device from the first position to a second position permitting rotation of the retractor mechanism in the wind up direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Graco Children's Products Inc
    Inventors: Luther Gates, Fred Buckingham, Mark Main
  • Patent number: 8141950
    Abstract: A lower anchor connection system for securing the child seat to vehicle anchor bites. A single retractor includes a web extendable therefrom connected to a strap having at its opposite ends couplings for lockingly engaging the anchor bights. A release button on the retractor when depressed allows the retractor web to be withdrawn holding the couplings adjacent the child seat in a stored position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: IMMI
    Inventor: Jason Boyer
  • Patent number: 8052219
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor for retracting a seat belt includes a spool for retracting the seat belt, a locking mechanism for locking rotation of said spool, and an end-lock preventing mechanism for preventing an end-lock of the seat belt. The end-lock preventing mechanism includes a first speed-reduction portion for largely reducing a seat belt retracting speed of the spool when the spool retracts a substantially full length of the seat belt, and a second speed-reduction portion for reducing the seat belt retracting speed less than that of the first speed-reduction portion so as to provide a delay for the locking mechanism to be brought to a non-lock position at least when retraction of the seat belt is finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiki Murakami
  • Patent number: 7976066
    Abstract: A seat belt pretensioner may include a cylinder, a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder, a gas generator installed to rear end portion of the cylinder and configured to supply a propellant gas to the piston for moving the piston in a forward direction, a first direction conversion unit disposed between the gas generator and the piston and connected to the cylinder, and a coupling member for coupling a seat belt and the piston, wherein a portion of the coupling member is engaged with the first direction conversion unit so as to change a movement direction of the coupling member while the piston moves in the forward direction, and a reward movement restriction member configured to restrict a rearward movement of the piston while the piston moves in the forward direction by the propellant gas of the gas generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Samsong Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Kyu Bok, Jang Chun Kong
  • Publication number: 20110049962
    Abstract: A flat housing (1) holds a belt (4) which can be extended against the force of a spring, the belt being blocked to further extension as soon as the belt clasp (3) is situated in the belt buckle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Horst Sonnendorfer, Franz Wieth
  • Patent number: 7832768
    Abstract: A restraining system for a motor vehicle with a seat belt retractor that accommodates the one end of a seatbelt component, which has a tightening device having a belt shaft and a drive cable connected to the belt shaft, in which a sleeve (26) that enlarges the outer circumference of the shaft element (25) is slid onto one end of the shaft element (25) and is axially and radially fixed to the shaft element (25), while the wall thickness of the sleeve (26) is dimensioned in such a way that the drive radius of the shaft element (25) and a reduction in speed of the tightening drive is provided as compared with a cable wrapped onto the belt shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Klaus Peter Singer, Jens Ehlers
  • Patent number: 7823924
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a seatbelt pretensioner is provided. The pretensioner comprises a cylinder having a proximal section which defines a gas chamber that forms at least a portion of an interior space defined by the cylinder. Extending distally from the proximal section is a guide section. Disposed within the interior space is a piston that is moveable toward a distal end of the guide section. The piston has a proximal portion and a distal portion that extends from the proximal portion. The proximal and distal portions are disposed respectively adjacent to the proximal and guide sections. The distal portion is configured for attaching to an anchor that is coupled to webbing of the seatbelt. In fluid communication with the gas chamber is a gas generator. The gas generator is configured for generating gas to move the piston, tensioning the seatbelt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Dewey, Jeff A. Russell
  • Patent number: 7780240
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventors: Horst Sonnendorfer, Franz Wieth
  • Patent number: 7758074
    Abstract: A webbing retractor is provided that reduces the amount of webbing that is pulled-out after operation of a pretensioner mechanism. In a webbing retractor 10, a lock pawl 78 is set in a non-meshable state in which it cannot mesh with a lock gear 26. At a time when a pretensioner mechanism 34 operates and a clutch plate 42 rotates in a take-up direction, a lock stopper 86 rotates together with the clutch plate 42 and releases engagement with the lock pawl 78. Therefore, the lock pawl 78 is rotated by a compression coil spring 70 and changed to a meshable state. In this way, immediately after rotational force in a pull-out direction is applied to the lock gear 26 due to load from a vehicle occupant after operation of the pretensioner mechanism 34, the lock pawl 78 meshes with the lock gear 26, and pulling-out of a webbing 20 is impeded. Therefore, an amount of the webbing 20 which is pulled-out can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hitoshi Takamatsu, Tomonori Nagata, Kazuhiko Aihara, Masaki Yasuda, Toshio Nakashima
  • Patent number: 7744126
    Abstract: A tensioning device for a seatbelt system in motor vehicles with a driving arrangement that comprises a tube having at least one tube section bent with a radius of curvature, and a piston guided movably in said tube, whereby the piston is connected via a driving cable to the part of the seatbelt system which carries out the tensioning movement, and whereby the piston can be moved in a longitudinal movement through the tube by means of a pyrotechnic drive, and the driving cable is fixed to the piston by means of a holding part held by the piston. The piston (14) is configured in the form of an olive with a larger radius in the longitudinal direction of the tube (10) than the effective radius in the transverse direction of the tube (10) and is provided with a bore (15) for passing through the driving cable (20) that is held in a compression sleeve (16) fixed on the side of the piston (14) that points in the direction of movement of the piston (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Michael Dürrer, Jens Ehlers, Maren Leyffer
  • Publication number: 20100052403
    Abstract: The disclosure shows a web adjustor for engaging a vehicle restraint system web. It includes a frame including a base and a pair of upstanding members, and a cam pivotally mounted between said pair of upstanding members. One or more ridges are provide on said cam for locking the web. A first release handle on said cam is disclosed, wherein pushing said first release handle releases the cam from the web. An extension is disclosed extending outwardly from said cam in a direction opposite of said first release handle. A generally smooth, or rounded, or non-abrading or cylindrically shaped surface is disclosed on an end of said extension, wherein pulling the web in a direction such that the web is caused to contact it thereby releasing tension on the web. The end thereof is disclosed as extending wider than the web and wider than the extension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: Chad A. Sparling
  • Patent number: 7644952
    Abstract: A seat belt is secured to an anchor at one side of a seated person and extends across the seated person's body to a second anchor at an opposite side of the seated person to which the belt is also secured. A belt retention device is operable, when actuated in response to a sudden, rapid deceleration of the vehicle, to grip the belt between the anchors at a point of engagement adjacent to the one side of the seated person to cooperate with the second anchor in taking up any slack in a section of the belt between the point of engagement and the second anchor and also maintaining such section of the belt tightly engaged across the person's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Chrysler Group. LLC
    Inventors: Kimberlee D. Holtz, Thomas E. Drobot
  • Patent number: 7566021
    Abstract: A restraint system for a motor vehicle includes a safety belt, an end of which can be attached by means of an end pre-load tensioning device to the vehicle body. The end pre-load tensioning device includes a seat belt retractor that takes up the end of the seat belt and a tensioning device connected thereto for the belt shaft of the seat belt retractor. The belt shaft is formed as a hollow shaft, and a blocking element blocks the belt shaft that is released in the event of an accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Klaus-Peter Singer
  • Patent number: 7506929
    Abstract: A belt guiding mechanism, for example for a child vehicle seat, which is suitable for guiding a belt extending through the belt guiding mechanism and locking said belt against movement. The belt guiding mechanism comprises a cam that is capable of pivoting movement relative to a bearing surface, said belt being movable in a tensioning direction and in the opposite direction through a passage present between said cam and said bearing surface. The cam is pivotable in a direction towards the bearing surface for locking the belt against movement. The cam is connected to a sleeve that can be positioned against a person's shoulder, in which sleeve the belt is slidably accommodated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Martinus Theodorus Fransen, Gert Arlën Luc Rijsdijk
  • Patent number: 7469928
    Abstract: A safety restraint system for a vehicle is disclosed. The safety restraint system has a seat belt webbing for restraining an occupant of the vehicle, a seat belt retractor, a deflector, a height adjuster, a latch plate deflector, a buckle and a communication link. The seat belt retractor mounted to a first structural member of the vehicle for securing the seat belt to the vehicle and allowing protraction and retraction of the seat belt. The retractor has at least two load limiting modes. The deflector receives the seat belt webbing and directs the seat belt webbing across the shoulder of the occupant. The height adjuster secures the deflector to a second structural member of the vehicle. The deflector is positionable between at least two locations along the height adjuster. The latch plate deflector receives the seat belt webbing and redirects the seat belt webbing across the lap of the occupant. The buckle receives and removably secures the latch plate deflector when the seat belt is in use by the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: Gunter K. Clute
  • Publication number: 20080315663
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Horst Sonnendorfer, Franz Wieth
  • Patent number: 7392958
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a safety belt has a brake surface (38), a blocking mechanism (18), a brake element (24) which can prevent a steering in of the blocking mechanism (18), and a magnetic actuator (28). The brake element (24) is pressed against the brake surface (38) by means of the magnetic actuator (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holbein, Martin Butz, Daniel S. Helbich
  • Patent number: 7350862
    Abstract: A belt guiding mechanism, for example for a child vehicle seat, which is suitable for guiding a belt extending through the belt guiding mechanism and locking said belt against movement. The belt guiding mechanism comprises a cam that is capable of pivoting movement relative to a bearing surface, said belt being movable in a tensioning direction and in the opposite direction through a passage present between said cam and said bearing surface. The cam is pivotable in a direction towards the hearing surface for locking the belt against movement. The cam is connected to a sleeve that can be positioned against a person's shoulder, in which sleeve the belt is slidably accommodated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Cosco Management Inc. (CMI)
    Inventors: Martinus Theodorus Fransen, Gert Arlën Luc Rijsdijk
  • Patent number: 7240923
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor for winding a seatbelt includes a spool for winding the seatbelt, a motor for generating rotational torque to rotate the spool, and a clutch mechanism. The clutch mechanism connects a power transmission path to transmit the rotational torque of the motor to the spool in a connected mode, and disconnects the power transmission path in a disconnected mode. A noise preventing device prevents noise when the clutch mechanism is in the disconnected mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Tanaka, Koji Inuzuka
  • Patent number: 7195315
    Abstract: A device for tightening a seat belt (1) such as, for example, a three-point seat belt comprising a lap belt part (2) and a diagonal belt part (3), where the seat belt is used to fix a child car seat in a passenger seat. A portion of the seat belt preferably the lap belt part (2) is arranged in connection with the child car seat's lower portion (4). The device is characterised in that the lower portion (4) is designed with an abutment portion (4a) for placing a portion of the seat belt, preferably the lap belt part (2). Furthermore, a tightening unit (5) is rotatably mounted in at least one mounting point (6) in connection with the child car seat's lower portion (4). The lap belt part (2) is arranged in such manner that it abuts against portions of the abutment portion (4a) and the tightening unit (5) when the tightening unit (5) is located in an initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: HTS Han Torgersen & Sønn AS
    Inventor: Johannes Hendrikus Rikhof
  • Patent number: 6913314
    Abstract: A safety seat for land, air and sea vehicles is provided. The safety seat has a safety belt harness and can be secured between the floor and ceiling of a vehicle via securement straps provided above and below the seat. The safety belt harness comprises two lap belts and two shoulder belts that extend from the lap belts. Also provided is an activating device that, as an extension of the shoulder belts, is guided below a seat portion to the entry region thereof. A respective tensioning strap is yieldingly disposed between the shoulder belts and the front securement straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Hansen
  • Patent number: 6824222
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Barry J. Maloney, Joseph J. Zwolinski, Arnold J. Herberg, Alex P. Kotivosky
  • Patent number: 6786551
    Abstract: A seat latching assembly for a vehicle includes a seatback having first and second sides. A first latch is provided for latching the first side of the seatback to a portion of a vehicle, the first latch being operable between a latched position and an unlatched position. A second latch is provided for latching the second side of the seatback to another portion of the vehicle, the second latch being operable between a latched position and an unlatched position. A mechanism is operatively connected to the first and second latches, and is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. When one of the first and second latches is in the unlatched position, the mechanism is prevented from moving into the unlocked position, and when the first and second seat portions are both in their latched positions, the mechanism is permitted to be moved into the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Brewer, Eric G. Exner, Timothy S. Myers
  • Patent number: 6786294
    Abstract: A method and vehicle occupant restraint system for a motor vehicle, in which the webbing movement of a seat belt wound on a belt reel 1 caused by the body of the belted-in vehicle occupant is scanned and corresponding measurement data are fed to an evaluating device 3, wherein measurement data relating to the rotating movement of a rotor 2, in particular the electric motor rotor, which serves in tightening the seat belt webbing, may additionally be fed to this evaluating device 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Specht
  • Patent number: 6682098
    Abstract: The load acting on the body of a belted-in vehicle occupant restrained by a seat belt is determined by providing electrical signals from occupant restraint device sensors. The electrical signals are then evaluated with an evaluating device, wherein the movement of a seat belt webbing influenced by the body of the belted-in vehicle occupant is scanned and a corresponding signal is fed to the evaluating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Specht
  • Patent number: 6659548
    Abstract: The vehicle seat of a vehicle has a seat carrier with a side part, a buckle of a safety belt positioned thereon and a vertically adjustable underframe. The underframe is provided with a sector gear. An engaging element is arranged on the seat carrier and is designed to cooperate with the sector gear. During normal, non-accidental circumstances, the sector gear is in a rest position in which the engaging element is free from the sector gear. The buckle is connected to an upper end of a rope that cooperates with the engaging element. In an accident situation the engaging element engages the sector gear. A tightening unit for the belt has a driving cylinder. The rope is deflected in its direction at a point of deflection. A lower portion of the rope runs substantially in longitudinal direction of the side part. The other end of the rope is arranged on the driving cylinder. A holder for the tightening unit is provided on the side part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Burckhard Becker, Michael Hennicke
  • Patent number: 6659505
    Abstract: A system and device for managing the restraints available for vehicle occupants that uses fluidic torque conversion to provide an adaptive variable load limiting for the primary occupant safety restraint. The fluidic torque conversion of this invention can be variably controlled through the use of an electro/mechanical flow control device. The flow control is preferably coupled to one or more sensors, including occupant weight, occupant position, seat position, low “g”, high “g”, and belt displacement/latching sensors. This invention is adapted to be responsive to the vehicles interior safety devices, including front air bags, side air bags, seat back pivots, head rests, collapsible steering wheel, and positioning of the dash board and/or vehicle instrumentation. This invention is a re-usable system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew J. Knox
  • Patent number: 6540293
    Abstract: A child seat includes a seating member, a base member, seating member lock and a connecting member. The seating member is designed to abut the body of a child. The base member has an outside surface that is designed to abut a seat of a vehicle. A connecting surface of the base member is designed to selectively abut the seating member. The seating member is pivotally coupled to the base member. The seating member lock is used for selectably securing the seating member to the base member. The seating member lock is coupled to an upper end of the base member and is selectably engaged to an upper end of the seating member. A connecting member is used for coupling the base member to a seatbelt of the vehicle. The connecting member is coupled to the base member. The connecting member is selectably coupled to the seat belt of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: Raymond E. Quackenbush
  • Patent number: 6533321
    Abstract: The belt retractor of the occupant restraint system comprises a frame, a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame, a locking mechanism for selectively blocking the belt reel and a vehicle-sensitive sensor. The locking mechanism is actuated by an actor. An electronic control unit is provided with an input interface and an output interface. The vehicle-sensitive sensor is connected to the input interface and the actor is connected to the output interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Class, Thomas Kielwein, Michael Lüders
  • Patent number: 6523771
    Abstract: In a webbing retractor, when a pawl engages with an internal tooth, a lock plate is guided, via a V gear, to a position at which engagement with a ratchet tooth is possible, and thereafter, the lock plate self-locks. When the V gear reversely rotates by a predetermined amount in accordance with this self-locking, engagement of the pawl and the internal tooth is cancelled. An engagement surface of the internal tooth corresponds to a locus of swinging of the pawl. Engagement with the pawl is cancelled at a smallest V gear reverse rotation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Akira Sumiyashiki