In The Form Of Or Used In Conjunction With A Belt Or Strap Patents (Class 280/733)
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Publication number: 20100013203Abstract: An inflatable airbag cushion assembly with a tether system for use in a vehicle. The airbag and the tether are configured such that upon airbag deployment the tether applies sufficient tension to the cushion to mitigate occupant ejection from the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2008Publication date: January 21, 2010Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: ABE MITCHELL, Jim Huss
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Publication number: 20090283994Abstract: A serviceable seatbelt integrated airbag assembly that is removably attached to a vehicle seat which includes an integrated deployable cushion, an inflation device, and a lap belt portion. A bracket may be provided that is removably attached to the seat. The lap belt portion is generally removably attached to the seat structure through connection with a bracket or structural member of the seat assembly and secured by a removable fastener. The airbag cushion is attached to, or contained within, a portion of the lap belt portion seatbelt webbing. An end of the lap belt portion fits through an interfacing joint element attached to one end of the primary seatbelt webbing. The airbag inflation device is connected to the electrical system of the vehicle. Removal of the serviceable seatbelt integrated airbag assembly is accomplished by disconnecting the electrical connector from the electrical system of the vehicle and seatbelt integrated airbag lap belt portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2008Publication date: November 19, 2009Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Richard Edward Ruthinowski, Brian Robert Spahn, Dean M. Jaradi
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Publication number: 20090278340Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system includes: a seat belt apparatus including a shoulder belt (11) and a lap belt (13); an upper air bag (27, 113); a lower air bag (29, 67, 73, 83); and an inflation limiting structure (37, 53, 55, 57, 75, 85) which is provided in the lower air bag and limits inflation of a part of the lower air bag in a vehicle back-and-forth direction when the lower air bag is inflated. When the vehicle collision is detected or predicted, the upper and lower air bags are inflated and vertically come into contact with each other. Further, an upper part (41, 71, 79, 91) of the inflated lower air bag positioned above the inflation limiting structure is pressed by the upper air bag and bends toward the front of the vehicle at the inflation limiting structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2009Publication date: November 12, 2009Inventors: Seiji AZUMA, Kouichi Oota, Masafumi Ueda
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Publication number: 20090267332Abstract: A restraint assembly of a type including a seat belt assembly and a side impact air bag assembly. The seat belt assembly and side impact assembly are preferably mounted to a motor vehicle seat. The seat belt assembly includes one or two retractors, preferably each having roto pretensioners. A single gas source is used to actuate retractor pretensioning functions, as well as providing a gas source for initiating the production of inflation gas for the side impact air bag assembly. Preferably, these elements are all mounted to a motor vehicle seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2008Publication date: October 29, 2009Inventor: Gunter K. Clute
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Patent number: 7607687Abstract: An airbag integrated into a belt portion of a seat belt assembly for a motor vehicle seat belt system. The seat belt assembly includes seat belt webbing forming the lap belt portion and a shoulder belt portion and a spool assembly engaging the shoulder belt portion of the seat belt webbing. The seat belt assembly incorporates a gas driven pretensioner system incorporating at least one gas generator connected to the spool assembly and the belt airbag.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2006Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Gunter K Clute, Robert Mical
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Patent number: 7604253Abstract: An air belt apparatus for use in a vehicle is provided to improve the comfort of the webbing during normal operation by thinning the webbing that passes through a shoulder anchor, while extending a developing length of an expanding portion upward when the expanding portion is expanded. The air belt apparatus includes webbing corresponding to the chest of an occupant, an expanding portion provided in the webbing, and folded back so as to be developed up to a position corresponding to a head of the occupant at a time of expansion, and an extending portion covering the expanding portion and extended upward from an upper end of the expanding portion, and further includes an elastic cover being expandable along the expansion of the expanding portion, and a non-extendable sheet member that enables the extending portion to pass through the shoulder anchor by reinforcing the extending portion of the elastic cover.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2006Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Takuya Nezaki, Yoji Suyama
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Publication number: 20090256337Abstract: A seat belt airbag module, which is an independent device, comprises a pouch which is designed to attach the seat belt by sliding the seat belt through a seatbelt channel and secure it by a fastener; a connector to connect the pouch and an inflator; an inflator which is installed in the seat back and linked to the crash sensing system. This seat belt airbag module can be attached and fastened to the seat belt by a simple sliding action and set in front of an occupant's body. The inflatable airbag is designed to inflate upward and forward so as to offer a cushion effect against the crash impact yet eliminate the potential danger of punching right toward the occupant's body as conventional airbags do.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2009Publication date: October 15, 2009Applicant: INNOBRAIN TECH. CO. LTDInventor: James YU-MING PAN
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Patent number: 7600780Abstract: To provide a passenger protective device and method that can achieve a stable protective performance even when deploying the airbag from the seat belt, thus allowing for appropriate restraint of the passenger's head. Passenger protective device 1 makes the timing in which the internal pressure of thigh airbag 12 peaks slower than the timing in which the internal pressure of head airbag 11 peaks. In addition, it also makes the timing in which the capacity of thigh airbag 12 reaches the maximum slower than the timing in which the capacity of head airbag 11 reaches the maximum. In this manner, the passenger's head, which moves due to inertial force, is caught by head airbag 11 and head airbag 11 is supported by thigh airbag 12, which is softer than said airbag 11. Therefore, the passenger's head can be caught softly.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2006Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Tobata, Kouichi Oota, Daisuke Masuda
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Publication number: 20090236828Abstract: Inflatable restraint systems for restraining an occupant in a vehicle are disclosed herein. An inflatable restraint system configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes an airbag carried by a web. The web has an end portion coupled to a vehicle and is configured to extend around a portion of the occupant. The restraint system further includes a gas source that is also carried by the web. The gas source is operably coupled to the airbag to inflate the airbag in the event of a rapid deceleration or other dynamic event.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2008Publication date: September 24, 2009Inventors: Daniel Nick Foubert, Kevin Keeslar
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Publication number: 20090236834Abstract: An enhanced head-and-neck restraint system is provided for use with a vehicle having a passenger compartment with a seat assembly and a safety belt assembly mounted therein. The restraint system includes first and second collar straps each having an inflatable cushion integrated thereto. A first end of each collar strap is attached to a headrest portion of the seat assembly to transition between a retracted position, in which the collar straps are substantially inside the headrest portion, and a use position, in which each collar strap attaches to a belt webbing of the safety belt system. A fluid dispensing apparatus is in fluid communication with the inflatable cushions, and operable to selectively transition the inflatable cushions from a non-expanded state to an expanded state when the collar straps are in the use position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2008Publication date: September 24, 2009Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Phillip M. Turner, Kon-Mei Ewing, Yueh-Se J. Huang, Pei-Chung Wang
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Patent number: 7584990Abstract: The disclosed passenger constraining apparatus includes an inflated inflatable portion which may be placed at a high position around a lateral side of a passenger's head without using a high-capacity inflator. The passenger constraining device may include a passenger constraining belt comprising an inflatable portion configured such that at least a portion of the inflatable portion is arranged near the lateral side of the head of the passenger and a push-up device for pushing up the inflatable portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2006Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Yoji Suyama, Akira Kokeguchi
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Patent number: 7584991Abstract: The disclosed airbelt apparatus may provide an airbelt capable of being connected to an anchor. The airbelt apparatus may comprise an anchor and an airbelt with a bag and a mesh webbing covering the bag. The anchor may have an opening, wherein only a tip end side of a portion of the airbelt is inserted into the opening. The portion of the airbelt can be the mesh webbing only or a combination of the mesh webbing and a webbing. The portion of the airbelt inserted into the opening can be folded back so as to overlap onto a base end side of the airbelt, and the tip end side of the portion of the airbelt and the base end side of the airbelt are stitched together.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2006Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Yasuo Itoga, Yoshiki Murakami, Kiyotaka Ohhashi, Masahiro Higuchi
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Patent number: 7584992Abstract: An occupant protection device for protecting a vehicle occupant in the event of a vehicle accident, with a gas generator and an airbag which is connected to the gas generator and is inflated by the gas generator in the event of an accident. The gas generator includes a combustion chamber with propellant material which is ignited by a releasable igniting charge, and both the gas formed during combustion of the igniting charge and the gas formed during combustion of the propellant material being used for filling the airbag.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2005Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Takata-Petri AGInventors: Andreas Riedel, Georg Rasch, Hans-Peter Sendelbach, Christian Weyrich
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Patent number: 7571931Abstract: A vehicle passenger restraint system comprises a shoulder belt for restraining a passenger to a vehicle seat. The shoulder belt extends diagonally from a shoulder area on one side of the passenger to a waist area on the opposite side of the passenger and has a belt inflatable part configured to be inflated with a fluid upon a collision of the vehicle is detected. The belt inflatable part is provided with a head restraining part configured to deploy in the forward direction of the vehicle as the belt inflatable part inflates to receive the passenger's head. When the belt inflatable part inflates, tension is generated in the shoulder belt and the tension increases the force with which the passenger is restrained. Simultaneously, the head restraining part is inflated to receive the passenger's head and to prevent the passenger's head from contacting a frontward vehicle part.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2005Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoichi Watanabe
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Patent number: 7568726Abstract: The disclosed air belt can protect a vehicle occupant in the event of an emergency. The disclosed air belt may include a folded back body formed by folding back a bag-shaped belt into a belt like shape and an extendable cover covering the folded back body. An inner surface of the cover can be bonded to an outer surface of the folded back body with a bonding agent. The bonding agent can be bonded in a scattered point-like manner.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2006Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Akira Kokeguchi, Atsushi Hiroshige, Katsumi Kato
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Patent number: 7566072Abstract: An occupant restraining apparatus includes a seat belt with an inflatable portion that can be placed at a high position on a lateral side of an occupant's head without using a large-capacity inflator. A push-up device with first and second levers for pushing up a shoulder belt section is provided on an upper side of a seatback. When the shoulder belt section is inflated, upper arm portions arranged on an upper side of the shoulder belt section are pressed upward, and the respective levers rotate upward about pivotably supporting portions. At this time, lower arm portions of the respective levers arranged on a lower side of the shoulder belt section rise and rotate, and a hanging member is tensed between the lower arm portions. Consequently, the inflated shoulder belt section is pushed upward, and is placed at a high position on the lateral side of the occupant's head.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2006Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Akira Kokeguchi, Atsushi Hiroshige
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Patent number: 7566070Abstract: A technique is provided effective in improving rider restraint performance of an airbag in an airbag system to be mounted to a motorcycle. In one form, an airbag system to be mounted to a motorcycle includes an airbag restricting device for restricting the deployment of the airbag toward the rider's head at the early stage of the deployment of the airbag in the event of a head-on collision of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2007Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Yasuhito Miyata
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Publication number: 20090184503Abstract: A vehicle-occupant restraint system 20 is provided in that gas of an inflator is introduced into a lap belt inflatable part from an end of the lap belt, and the installation of the end of the lap belt and the inflator to a vehicle side member is simplified. The vehicle-occupant restraint system 20 includes webbing 21 routed along the front of an occupant sitting on a seat 10, an inflatable lap bag 22 constituting the front end portion of a lap belt portion of the webbing 21, an inflator 23 for inflating the lap bag 22, an anchor 24 for attaching the front end of the lap bag 22 to the vehicle side member, and a retractor 25 for retracting the rear end of the webbing 21. The front end of the lap bag 22 is attached to a B pillar 30 serving as the vehicle side member via the anchor 24, so that the installation of the lap belt onto the vehicle side member is simplified, reducing cost.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2006Publication date: July 23, 2009Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATIONInventor: Yasuo Itoga
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Publication number: 20090179406Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus includes a four-point seat belt that has a pair of right and left shoulder webbings; and air belt portions that are respectively provided for the pair of right and left shoulder webbings. The air belt portions receive gas supplied from an inflator and then deploy so as to restrain a head H of an occupant P from moving forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2009Publication date: July 16, 2009Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mutsumu Haraoka, Takuya Nezaki
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Publication number: 20090179407Abstract: A three-point safety belt system (20) including: a tongue (100) configured to receive portions of a safety belt assembly (200); the safety belt assembly (200) comprising a shoulder belt section (202) and a lap belt section (250), the shoulder belt section including a hollow, generally flat first tube or tubular section (202), the first tube or tubular part configured to tear apart along a preferred region (203), a web guide (300); a first and second retractor (240, 260); the lap belt section (250) extending from the tongue to the corresponding retractor (260) and the shoulder belt section (202) extending from the tongue to the other retractor (240), each retractor configured to respectively retract the lap belt section and the shoulder belt section and to permit the extension or protraction of same; an inflatable air bag (400) received within the shoulder belt section and movable with the first tubular part (202) of the shoulder belt section, and inflatable by an inflator causing the air bag to extend and breType: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2009Publication date: July 16, 2009Applicant: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.Inventor: Bruce A. Kalandek
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Patent number: 7552940Abstract: Internal door cladding with an airbag for head and/or shoulder side-collision protection in the event of a side collision and/or rollover, the airbag directional shoot for the airbag being provided with an outlet opening for deploying the airbag in the direction of a head and/or shoulder area and with at least one flap for closing the outlet opening.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2005Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbHInventors: Sabine Lindemann, Eric Zimmerman, Sebastian Wandtke
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Publication number: 20090160168Abstract: In an air belt device which has the gas-supply portion, such as an inflator, fixed therein, a connection between an air belt and a gas supply portion is simplified. A lap anchor 13 coupled to an end of a lap bag 15 is pivotally supported by a support shaft 13p such that the lap anchor 13 can turn back and forth with respect to a seat frame 2. The inflator 12 is fixed to be disposed on a side face of the seat frame 2. A substantially tubular gas-introducing path extends from the lap bag 15. The gas-introducing path 16 is connected to a pipe 17 extending from the inflator 12 in a slack state.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2006Publication date: June 25, 2009Inventor: Yasuo Itoga
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Publication number: 20090160167Abstract: Regarding a vehicle equipped with an occupant restraining apparatus having a bag whose internal gas pressure is adjustable in accordance with a type of collision of the vehicle, when the vehicle is involved in a frontal collision of a predetermined magnitude or greater, an inflator 40 is activated to inflate a seat bag 20 and a lap bag 34. At the time of the frontal collision, a valve element 63 of a gas-leaking valve 60 moves forward so that the gas-leaking valve 60 becomes in a closed state. Therefore, gas from the inflator 40 does not leak through a hole 55 and can be supplied to the bags 20 and 34 while high pressure is maintained. This allows the bags 20 and 34 to be inflated immediately so that the internal gas pressure of the bags 20 and 34 is increased. When the vehicle is involved in a side collision, the valve element 63 of the gas-leaking valve 50 receives absolutely or substantially no force in the forward direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2006Publication date: June 25, 2009Inventor: Yasuo Itoga
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Publication number: 20090152850Abstract: The present invention relates to an airbag cushion for protecting a driver and passengers when a vehicle crashes, wherein the sliding bent is guided into a belt guider and slides between a deployment portion and the belt guider, when the deployment portion is deployed. The sliding belt slides between the deployment portion and the belt guider in such a manner that before the deployment portion is deployed, the sliding belt clogs the first vent holes, when the deployment portion is partially deployed, the second vent hole forms a flow channel together with the first vent holes so that the gas is discharged along the flow channel through the first vent holes, and when the deployment portion is fully deployed, the sliding belt clogs the first vent holes so that the gas is not discharged through the first vent holes.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2008Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jung Su LEE, Yeon Kyeong KIM
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Publication number: 20090134612Abstract: An occupant restraining apparatus that allows for a comfortable seat cushion and does not require an installation space for an inflator along a side of a seat frame is provided. An inflatable seat bag 20is disposed above a seat pan 5. The seat bag 20 extends in a left-right width direction of a seat. An inflator 23 is mounted on a side frame la by means of a mounting bracket 24 and is disposed above the side frame 1a. A seat cushion 25 is disposed on a base frame 1. The seat cushion 25 has a side bank portion 25a whose bottom surface is provided with a recess 25b. The inflator 23 is disposed within the recess 25b.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2006Publication date: May 28, 2009Inventor: Yasuo Itoga
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Patent number: 7516979Abstract: An occupant restraint apparatus includes an airbag that inflates toward the front of an occupant and an inflatable seatbelt having at least an inflatable shoulder belt section. The shoulder belt is fastened on the front side of the occupant's upper body. The airbag includes a right airbag section and a left airbag section that inflate toward the right front and the left front, respectively, of the occupant. When the airbag and the shoulder belt section are both inflated and the airbag receives the occupant, the inflated shoulder belt section enters a hollow space provided between the ends of the right airbag section and the left airbag section. Thus, the apparatus prevents or suppresses discharge of gas from the airbag caused when the inflated shoulder belt section pushes the airbag inward before the airbag receives the occupant.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2006Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Akira Kokeguchi
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Patent number: 7516980Abstract: A rider separation detecting device for precisely and quickly detecting the separation of a rider from a rider's seat. The rider separation detecting device includes a cable connected at one end thereof to one of a garment worn by the rider and a vehicle body, and winding mechanism having a drum connected to the other end of the cable and rotationally biased in a direction of winding of the cable. The winding mechanism is provided on the other of the garment and the vehicle body. Also included are a rotational angle detecting mechanism for detecting a rotational angle of the winding mechanism, and separation determining mechanism for determining the separation of the rider from the rider's seat according to a detection value from the rotational angle detecting mechanism. The device ensures proper detection and a good external appearance without hindering a normal action of the rider on the rider's seat.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2006Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuki Kobayashi, Hiroshi Goto, Toshiya Nagatsuyu
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Publication number: 20090091108Abstract: The present invention protects both upper part and lower part of the body of a passenger when an airbag expands in a collision and prevents secondary damage to a baby/infant by appropriately controlling expansion pressure of the cushion on the basis of characteristics of the their bodies. The present invention includes: a diffuser that is disposed in a crush pad and has gas supply holes, gas discharge holes, and an inflator; expansion pressure control member that is movably disposed with respect to diffuser and has at least an opening fluidly-communicating with gas supply holes and a closing portion opening or closing gas discharge holes; and a guide member connected with expansion pressure control member, guides cushion in a predetermined direction, and controls the opening or closing of gas discharge holes by moving expansion pressure control member with respect to diffuser using an internal or external force applied while cushion expands.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2007Publication date: April 9, 2009Inventor: Bopil Seo
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Patent number: 7513524Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system is provided with an air bag restraint device including a first deploying portion deploying between a vehicle occupant and a portion in a vehicle, and a second deploying portion deploying related to the first deploying portion. The second deploying portion providing a support for the first deploying portion to receive at least a part of a load acting on the first deploying portion from a head of the vehicle occupant.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2005Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kouichi Oota, Hideo Tobata, Daisuke Masuda, Gousuke Wakana, Tetsuo Maki
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Patent number: 7506891Abstract: The present invention provides an airbelt inflator (10) designed primarily for supplying and directing gas from the combustion of gas generant materials into a vehicle airbelt. Inflator (10) includes a substantially cylindrical inflator body (12), having a first end (11) and a second end (13). A unique booster cup (22) is positioned within inflator body (12), and is preferably press fit with initiator body (15), suspending cup (22) within inflator body (12). Cup (22) facilitates consistent burn of the main propellant, imparting repeatable bag performance. A cylindrical mesh filter (38) is positioned in inflator body (12). A nozzle (36) is preferably positioned adjacent a disc (30). A variety of different nozzles giving inflator (10) varying gas output characteristics can be utilized with inflator (10), for example thrusting inflators or thrust-neutral inflators, depending on the operating requirements of the airbelt system.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2004Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory Inc.Inventors: Eduardo L. Quioc, David S. Whang, Paresh S. Khandhadia
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Publication number: 20090066063Abstract: A seat belt assembly for use in a seat belt system of a motor vehicle to restrain a vehicle occupant. The assembly includes a belt webbing extending from a first end to a second end and includes tubular webbing extending from the first end and configured to open at a tear seam. An airbag is disposed within the tubular webbing and configured to inflate and deploy through the tear seam. A gas generator is fluidly coupled to the airbag and configured to provide an expanding gas to inflate and deploy the airbag in response to a control signal. A first part of the airbag is configured to inflate above the tubular webbing such that the first part of the airbag is disposed between a side or door of the vehicle and the thorax of the vehicle occupant.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2007Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventor: Robert A. Mical
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Publication number: 20090066064Abstract: A child seat installation structure is disclosed in which it is prevented that an expandable portion, when it expands, interferes with a child seat. In one form, an airbelt includes a lap bag and a normal belt portion, a tip of which is connected to the lap bag. A bracket for fixing a tip side of the normal belt portion is provided on a lap anchor. A loop portion is formed on the tip side of the normal belt portion using a clip, and the loop portion is inserted into a fixing hole provided in the bracket and is locked with a lock member. After that, a child seat is placed on a seat, and only the normal belt portion is routed over the child seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Inventor: Yoshiki Murakami
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Publication number: 20090058057Abstract: Seating positioning determining based on wireless signals. The seat positioning may include assessing seating location within a vehicle or other environment. The seat positioning may be used with various vehicle system to control their operation based on the seat positioning. The seat positioning inquiry may also include additional information, such as but not limited to seat identification information and seat safety system information.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2007Publication date: March 5, 2009Applicant: LEAR CORPORATIONInventors: Riad Ghabra, Pawel Sleboda
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Publication number: 20090051150Abstract: A predetermined tension force is generated to an air belt even when an expandable portion is expanded in a narrow space. An air belt 30 includes a first normal belt 31, a second normal belt 32, and an expandable portion 33 therebetween. In order to regulate a thickness of the expandable portion 33 in an expanding operation, portions of the expandable portion 33 facing each other are coupled by means of a coupling portion 34 formed of a stitching thread. The expandable portion 33 includes a bag-shaped belt 33a and a knit cover 33b that is not extended in a longitudinal direction. When an inflator is operated, the expandable portion 33 is expanded and the air belt 30 fits an occupant. At this moment, since the knit cover of the expandable portion 33 is not extended in the longitudinal direction of the air belt 30, a length of the expandable portion 33 is reduced along with an expansion of the expandable portion 33 and the tension force is generated to the air belt 30.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2007Publication date: February 26, 2009Inventor: Yoshiki Murakami
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Patent number: 7492923Abstract: A method and a device for detecting the occupancy state of a seat, e.g., in a vehicle, and for use in activating a restraint mechanism allocated to the seat, as a function of the occupancy state, are provided. With the aid of an image recording system, a 3D image of the seat is recorded and evaluated with respect to the occupancy state, and optionally also with respect to the type of the occupancy. For the evaluation, a 3D pattern is drawn upon, which is available externally or which is able to be generated internally in an initialization step. A hierarchically constructed evaluation also permits, after determination of an occupancy state, a classification with respect to the type of the respective occupancy.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2003Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Hans-Dieter Bothe, Hoang Trinh, Heiko Freienstein, Thomas Engelberg
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Publication number: 20090033077Abstract: An inflatable belt is provided having good tactual feeling and an inflatable belt apparatus is provided comprising the same. In one form, a bag comprises a front portion and an over-shoulder portion which are connected to form substantially a boomerang shape. The bag is formed by folding a panel into two along a boundary between panel parts which form side surfaces of the left half and the right half of the bag in the inflated state, respectively, and each of which has substantially a boomerang shape, and sewing peripheral edges of the panel parts other than the boundary together by a sewing yarn. The bag is spread flat such that the panel parts are superposed on each other. Then, a portion of the over-shoulder portion on the side of the boundary between the panel parts is interfolded into a space between the panel parts. After that, the bag is folded along fold lines parallel to the boundary to reduce the width of the folded body.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2008Publication date: February 5, 2009Inventor: Norio Yamataki
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Patent number: 7484755Abstract: An air belt includes a folded body of a bag-shaped belt, a cover that surrounds the folded body, and a stitching thread. The bag-shaped belt is formed of an overlapped body by overlapping two material sheets and each of the peripheral edge portions of the material sheets in the overlapped body is combined by a seam to form a bag shape. In the folded body, stitching thread is provided in an outer edge side from the seam.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2006Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Akira Kokeguchi
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Patent number: 7481451Abstract: A seat belt of a vehicle including an air belt to stably and reliably protect an occupant during a vehicle crash. The seat belt includes a cover made of a fabric material, upper and lower webbings respectively fixed to opposite ends of the cover, a D-ring fixed to the upper webbing and arranged within an occupant compartment of the vehicle, a retractor fixed to the lower webbing to wind and unwind the lower webbing; and an air belt to rapidly supply a high-pressure gas into a bag held in the cover during a vehicle crash, and thus, to inflate the bag. Since the bag is covered by the fabric cover, an improvement in wearing comfort is achieved.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2004Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.Inventor: Deug Won Park
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Patent number: 7481452Abstract: An occupant protection device is provided which protects an occupant by inflating a seat bag and a lap bag. When a vehicle collision is detected, gas generators are activated and discharge gas. The gas from one of the gas generators inflates a tube. As a result, a front portion of a cushion pad of a seat cushion is pushed upward or hardened and the hips of the occupant are prevented from moving forward. A lap bag also inflates and restrains the hips of the occupant. In one form, a lap anchor inflates so that pretension is applied to a lap portion and the hips of the occupant are pushed downward. Therefore, the thighs and hips of the occupant are pushed between the lap portion and the front portion of the cushion pad which is pushed upward or hardened and are strongly restrained in the seat.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2005Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Yasuo Itoga, Hiromichi Yoshikawa, Masayoshi Kumagai
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Publication number: 20080303252Abstract: A technology for a stretchable webbing is provided including a long inflatable belt for restraining a vehicle occupant, which is effective in preventing slippage between yarns and fray while ensuring webbing rigidity. One embodiment includes a stretchable webbing having a long inflatable belt for restraining a vehicle occupant and an inserting yarn of the stretchable webbing having a first filament element and a second filament element which extend adjacent to and parallel with each other, where the second filament element is composed of a low-fusing point fiber having a fusing point lower than that of the first filament element.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2008Publication date: December 11, 2008Applicant: Takata CorporationInventor: Kiyotaka Ohhashi
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Publication number: 20080303253Abstract: A technology for a stretchable webbing is provided including a long inflatable belt for restraining a vehicle occupant, which is effective in ensuring the webbing rigidity and achieving the reduced product width of the webbing. In one embodiment, the stretchable webbing includes a long inflatable belt for restraining a vehicle occupant, a weft yarn of the stretchable webbing having a first filament element and a second filament element which extend adjacent to and in parallel with one another, where the first filament element and second filament element have different heat-shrinkage ratios.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2008Publication date: December 11, 2008Applicant: Takata CorporationInventor: Kiyotaka Ohhashi
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Patent number: 7460886Abstract: A garment is provided with at least one inflatable protecting device, adapted to be worn by a person travelling on a motorcycle or the like, includes a radio receiver, a trigger circuit and non-volatile memories. A programmable logic unit interfacing with the radio receiver and communicating with remote radio transmitters mounted on a motorcycle or the like through an identification code, manages and stores in the memories the identification codes detected by the radio receiver. The wearer of the garment can in this way select, via an interface, a code among those available in the memory. In an accident, the air bags actuate.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2004Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Alpinestars Research SrLInventor: Giovanni Mazzarolo
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Publication number: 20080265551Abstract: Seatbelt apparatus includes a control device connected with a vehicle-mounted battery for controlling an operational state of a seatbelt on the basis of an opened/closed state of a buckle switch and electric power supplied by the battery. The control device has a first operation mode for operating with low-level electric power, and a second operation mode for operating with higher-level electric power. In the second operation mode, the control device is kept in a state capable of detecting the opened/closed state of the buckle switch. The apparatus also includes a storage section for storing a current state value of the buckle switch when the control device shifts from the second operation mode to the first operation mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2008Publication date: October 30, 2008Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Shotaro Odate
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Patent number: 7434833Abstract: There is provided a seat belt device for a vehicle, comprising bag portions and provided at seat belts and for protecting an occupant, a blower device to repeatedly supply the inflation air to the bag portions, air supply passages and connecting the bag portions with the blower device, and an air supply control device to supply the inflation air from the blower device to the bag portions so as to inflate the bag portions and discharge the supplied air from the bag portions so as to return the bag portions to deflated initial states. Accordingly, the occupant can be restrained to the properly large extent, thereby with the properly dispersed restraint force, and the inflation operation of the bag portion can be reused at need.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2005Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventor: Haruhisa Kore
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Patent number: 7413220Abstract: An inflator having at least first and second gas outputs and configured to generate gas. The inflator releases the gas through the first gas output with a fist gas flow rats and to release the gas through the second gas output with a second gas flow rate different from the first gas flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2005Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Yasuo Itoga, Hiromichi Yoshikawa, Masayoshi Kumagai
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Patent number: 7398995Abstract: An air belt device includes a first cover member and a second cover member connected to each other defining an interior surface having an interior cavity. An inflatable member is at least partially disposed within the interior cavity. The inflatable member is folded with sewn edge portions folded inward.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2006Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Akira Kokeguchi
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Patent number: 7377544Abstract: To simplify the mechanism of an occupant protection system in which a seat bag at the front part of a seat cushion and a lap bag are inflated to protect an occupant and also to simplify the mounting structure of the occupant protection system to a seat frame, a holder is mounted to the side frame of a seat. The holder includes a pretensioner connected to a lap anchor, an inflator for inflating a seat bag and a lap bag, and a manifold for distributing gas from the inflator to the seat bag and the lap bag. The connecting structure of the lap anchor and the pretensioner is of a latch type (insert-lock type).Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2005Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Yasuo Itoga
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Patent number: 7374201Abstract: An interior enclosure part for automotive vehicles equipped with an airbag includes a rigid frame having an opening located in front of the inflatable airbag, and a panel blocking the opening. The part includes a closed-contour latching assembly surrounding the opening and rigidly attached to the frame. The panel has a peripheral rim pinched between the latching assembly and the frame. The panel includes a layer of plastic material and a flexible covering molded onto the layer of plastic material.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2004Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: MollertechInventor: François Chausset
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Patent number: 7331609Abstract: A lock releasing button is provided at a slide plate including a slip joint for slidably supporting a webbing for restraining an occupant to a seat. Locking of the slide plate to a center pillar is arranged to be released when the lock releasing button is pressed upward from below. Therefore, when an airbag presses to open a connecting portion between a roof lining and a pillar garnish and deploys downward at a time of collision of a vehicle, the lock releasing button is prevented from releasing the locking by being pressed by the airbag deploying downward. This prevents the situation in which the slip joint is moved downward together with the slide plate to loosen the webbing and thus a seat belt device cannot sufficiently exhibit an occupant restraining performance.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koji Uno, Koji Ikeda, Hideki Kajiwara, Mitsuhiro Nishizaka, Nobumoto Sekiguchi
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Patent number: 7322604Abstract: A gas generator is arranged in a vacant space around the seat to achieve effective utilization of a space for the seat. An inflatable seat bag is arranged above a seat pan. A seat cushion is installed above the seat bag. A gas introduction port is provided at a longitudinal end (the side of a side frame) of the seat bag, and a gas supply duct from a manifold at a distal end of an inflator is connected to the gas introduction port. The gas supply duct is disposed along the lower side of an S-spring. The inflator is mounted to a spindle with a bracket. A distal end of a gas introduction duct is connected to an end portion of a lap bag on the side of an anchor. A proximal end of the duct is connected to another gas outlet of the manifold.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2006Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Yasuo Itoga, Yoshiki Murakami