Passive Restraint System Patents (Class 280/802)
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Patent number: 12258063Abstract: A belt assembly for a vehicle and an arrangement for a vehicle including the belt assembly are disclosed. The belt assembly comprises a belt body having at least two ends, at least one of which is loop-free, wherein the belt body is fixedly provided with a first attachment at the at least one end, wherein the first attachment forms a step with respect to at least one side surface of the belt body at the respective end of the belt body, wherein the first attachment, together with the belt body, form a first mounting end of the belt assembly. The belt assembly may have improved appearance and improved accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2022Date of Patent: March 25, 2025Assignee: Yanfeng International Automotive Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Xubin Dong, Xiaobo Zhang, Lei Yang, Thomas Rossbach
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Patent number: 11970133Abstract: The invention relates to a safety belt, which is in particular intended to be installed in an aircraft seat, comprising: a closing loop comprising a male element and a female element, a first strap which is connected to the male element and a second strap which is connected to the female element, the first strap and the second strap being capable of being attached together by means of the closing loop, which can change from an open state to a closed state through cooperation between the male element and the female element, the safety belt further comprising: a system for detecting that the safety belt is in the closed stated, the system being capable of generating an information item relating to a closed state of the safety belt, and a system for detecting that the safety belt is in a mechanically tensioned state, said system being capable of generating an information item relating to a mechanically tensioned state of at least one strap of the safety belt.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Safran SeatsInventors: Jean-Marc Obadia, Lisandre Marcovici-Soulage, Léo Pouy
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Patent number: 11884232Abstract: Systems, vehicles, and methods for seatbelt assistance. A system may include a sensor. The sensor may be configured to detect a physical property of a user sitting on a seat. The system may further include a motor. The motor may be configured to extend a seatbelt part towards a body center of the user. The system may further include an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU may be coupled to the sensor and the motor. The ECU may be configured to receive the detected physical property of the user. The ECU may be further configured to prompt the motor to extend the seatbelt part towards the body center of the user based on the detected physical property of the user.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2022Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Geoffrey David Gaither
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Patent number: 11338764Abstract: The present invention describes a restraining system (20) for a seat belt buckle (22) comprising: a housing (44), a motor (24), a set of gears (25, 26, 28, 30), locking mechanism (46, 48, 50), and a controlling unit (41); the restraining unit is mounted on the housing (44) for providing restraining force to the seat belt buckle (22); the restraining unit comprises at least one motor; the set of gears (25, 26, 28, 30) are mounted on the housing (44) and connected with the at least one motor (24) for providing either first direction motion or second direction motion to the seat belt buckle (22), on receiving the restraining force; the locking mechanism is mounted on the housing (44) for controlling rotation of one or more gears from the set of gears (25, 26, 28, 30); the controlling unit is operatively connected with the restraining unit and the locking mechanism, the controlling unit (41) is configured for controlling operation of the motor (24) and the locking mechanism, based on a predefined instruction.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2017Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: Key Safety Systems Inc.Inventor: Rudi Grzic
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Patent number: 11117539Abstract: A seat device for a vehicle includes a seat for supporting a lower body of a vehicle occupant, and a backrest for supporting an upper body of the occupant. The seat device further includes an arresting portion that is stored in a storage position disposed in the seat. The arresting portion is configured to be deployed from the storage position and restrain a part of the lower body of the occupant from moving forward in the event of a collision of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.Inventors: Yasushi Masuda, Shigeyuki Suzuki, Shigemi Mase, Hiroaki Yamada, Tadashi Yamada, Yuji Sato, Kenichi Fukurono, Keisaku Yokoi, Takafumi Nakanishi, Takenori Ozaki
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Patent number: 10870410Abstract: The invention refers to a load-bearing structural part (2) of a seat structure of a vehicle seat, which has a cavity (21), in which a belt retractor (40) is arranged.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2018Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT ABInventors: Ronald Jabusch, Gunter Clute
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Patent number: 10821935Abstract: A restraint system includes a seatback and a waist restraint. The waist restraint includes a housing having a middle portion fixed to the seatback and two arms extending outwardly from the middle portion. The waist restraint includes an extension deployable from each arm to a deployed position. The extensions are engaged with each other in the deployed position. Each arm is hinged to the middle portion and is pivotable towards the other arm.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2019Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi, S. M. Iskander Farooq
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Patent number: 10335619Abstract: A multifunction NFPA escape and ladder belt having multiple functions for firefighter and rescue worker work. The belt includes a front buckle and right and left side buckles, straps coupling the left and right side buckles to the front buckle and to one another. At least one of said straps includes a stitched loop portion formed with a stitching pattern configured to fail, and for the loop portion to unfold, when the side straps are under a sufficient tension load exceeding the breaking strength of the stitching pattern; that failure will occur before a structural failure in any other element or component of the belt.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2015Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Fire Innovations LLCInventor: Juancarlos Colorado
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Patent number: 9981574Abstract: A system includes a shear member and an energy absorber. The shear member is configured to couple a seat portion to a base structure of a vehicle. The shear member is configured to sustain a first load without fracture and configured to inelastically deform under a second load. The second load is greater than the first load. The energy absorber is coupled to the seat portion and coupled to the base structure. The energy absorber is configured to absorb the energy following deformation of the shear member.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2016Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Wichita State UniversityInventor: Gerardo Olivares
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Patent number: 9434349Abstract: A system includes a seat belt height adjuster, a seat belt retractor includes a payout sensor, and a seat. The seat includes a seat position sensor and a weight sensor configured to measure a weight of an occupant of the seat. The system includes a control module in communication with the payout sensor, the seat position sensor, and the weight sensor. The control module is programmed to calculate a size of the occupant based at least on the payout and the seat position. The control module is programmed to adjust a position of the seat belt height adjuster based at least on the size and weight of the occupant.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2015Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: William Paul Perkins, Kenneth James Miller
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Patent number: 9358953Abstract: A vehicle system includes a seat belt buckle configured to receive a seat belt. The seat belt buckle is moveable between a first position and a second position. A timer is configured to determine an amount of time that the seat belt buckle is in the second position. If the seat belt buckle is in the second position for longer than a predetermined amount of time, the timer outputs an alert signal representing a potential fault.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2014Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Brian Robert Spahn, Edward Joseph DeSmet, Benjamin Yilma
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Patent number: 9254817Abstract: A vehicle has a pillar supporting a roof of the vehicle at its rear corners. The pillar provides an anchor point for a third row seat belt. The pillar has a front wall facing generally towards the front of the vehicle, a side wall and a back wall. A seat belt loop member comprising three legs in the form of a T-shape is fixed to the pillar. The first, loop-leg carries a cantilevered belt loop. The second, pad-leg is substantially aligned with the loop-leg and has a pad for abutment against the front wall. The third, anchor-leg, lies substantially orthogonal with respect to the loop and pad-legs and lies against the side wall of the pillar and is anchored to said side wall. The arrangement reduces the amount of reinforcement required for the pillar.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2013Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover LimitedInventor: Alex Lakic
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Patent number: 9090224Abstract: A webbing catcher (10) for a vehicle seat belt (30) comprises an adjusting portion (12) pivoting between a release position and a retaining position and a retaining portion (18) arranged at the adjusting portion (12) and having a free end (20) over which the seat belt (30) can be put.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2012Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS & COMPONENTS GMBHInventors: Guenter Burkhardtsmaier, Maike Seiler
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Publication number: 20140291975Abstract: A belt presenter system for a seat belt system of a vehicle includes an arm (22) mounted on a vehicle pillar, wherein the arm (22) can adopt a feeding position (A) and a parking position (P). An end portion (40) of the arm (22) is connected to a fixed arm portion (36) via a hinge (42) so that the end portion (40) is bendable about a pivot axis relative to the fixed arm portion (36).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2012Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Martin Seyffert, Karl Birk
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Patent number: 8590934Abstract: A three-point automatic belt has an offering arm, which is rotatably mounted by means of a drive, for a seat in a vehicle. A rotatably mounted offering arm is designed as a belt strap part, which is stiffened in one plane, of a belt strap, and can be deflected by means of an electromotive drive. The deflectable, stiffened belt strap part can be deflected into a forward end position, in which the belt strap is offered to a vehicle occupant, into an intermediate or boarding position and into a rearward end position in which access to a storage compartment and/or a rear space and/or a rear seat is enabled.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2008Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Daimler AGInventors: Frank Fruehauf, Rolf Pemsel, Thomas Siegel
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Patent number: 8573648Abstract: An apparatus for rotating a webbing guide of a seat belt for a vehicle may include a drive unit for moving a cable connected at one end thereof by controlling driving of a motor in response to an actuating signal or a stop signal, the webbing guide connected to the other end of the cable, and hingedly rotated to a first direction of a vehicular body as the cable moves in a second direction, and a return unit provided on the webbing guide, and providing an elastic force to the webbing guide so that the webbing guide hingedly rotated to the first direction of the vehicular body returns to the second direction of the vehicular body when the motor stops driving.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2012Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Autoliv Development ABInventors: Woo Chul Park, Hyun Jeong You, Dong Sub Lee
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Patent number: 7988196Abstract: A seatbelt assembly for motor vehicle occupant restraint applications of the three point type in which a lap belt section is formed of two layers of seatbelt webbing. The system may be implemented in connection with single or dual seatbelt retractors. A loop tongue is provided which is releasably affixed to a seatbelt buckle and has at least one slot which allows the free movement of webbing through the tongue between the use and storage conditions of the seatbelt system. An end of the webbing is also attached to the tongue. The system is operated by an occupant in a manner like a conventional three point restraint system using a single releasable attachment. Through the use of a pair of thicknesses of webbing in the lap belt section of the restraint system, control of reduced chest deflection and pelvic excursion may be provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventor: Bin Wang
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Publication number: 20110001310Abstract: A three-point automatic belt has an offering arm, which is rotatably mounted by means of a drive, for a seat in a vehicle. A rotatably mounted offering arm is designed as a belt strap part, which is stiffened in one plane, of a belt strap, and can be deflected by means of an electromotive drive. The deflectable, stiffened belt strap part can be deflected into a forward end position, in which the belt strap is offered to a vehicle occupant, into an intermediate or boarding position and into a rearward end position in which access to a storage compartment and/or a rear space and/or a rear seat is enabled.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2008Publication date: January 6, 2011Applicant: Daimler AGInventors: Frank Fruehauf, Rolf Pemsel, Thomas Siegel
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Patent number: 7815006Abstract: To provide a seat belt winding method, a seat belt retractor, and a seat belt apparatus capable of stopping the motor even when the seat belt is being wound and restarting the winding of the seat belt, and capable of reducing excess repetition of stopping and starting of the motor.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2007Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Koji Tanaka, Daisuke Murakami
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Publication number: 20100201108Abstract: A door trim covers a door body of a side door. An article storage portion is provided at a lower portion of the door trim. A seat is provided beside the side door so that the seat and the side door are overlapped when viewed from a vehicle side. A side airbag device includes an airbag which inflates beside the seat with gas supplied from an inflator at a vehicle side crash and protects chest and waist portions of a passenger. A recess is provided at the door trim. The recess is concaved toward a vehicle outside at an upper portion of the door trim above the article storage portion. A covering member which restrains the airbag from coming into the recess is provided at the door trim so as to cover almost half of the recess.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2009Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Yukio IWAYAMA, Shusuke OKADA, Masafumi SAKAKIDA, Masaki MOTOKI
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Publication number: 20100025976Abstract: This invention relates to the field of load restraint systems, particularly occupant restraint systems that provide improved restraint by adopting more closely the contour of the occupant and particularly actively controlled restraint systems which respond to the external environment and hazardous situations. There is provided an articulated restraint which more closely adopts the profile of an occupant to provide a better and closer fitting restraint. Improving the fit of the restraint to the occupant provides better survivability in impact scenarios. The articulated restraint is formed from a series of elements which are joined by a connecting cord. When tension is applied to the cord the elements compress together and adopt the form of the occupant, further tension forces the elements to form a substantially rigid conformation which retains the occupant in a seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2007Publication date: February 4, 2010Inventors: Philip G. Murtha, Leslie P. Neil
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Patent number: 7651135Abstract: A lap-belt pre-tensioner operative to draw in a lap belt is disposed on an upper face of a projecting portion so as to extend in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle from an disposition portion of a lower support member, and on the upper face of the projecting portion is provided a groove portion so as to accommodate the lap-belt pre-tensioner in such a manner that the lap-belt pre-tensioner substantially does not project into an ingress-egress opening. Accordingly, there can be provided an occupant protection device of a vehicle equipped with a slide door in which the lap-belt pre-tensioner does not project into the ingress-egress opening.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2008Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventor: Yasunari Hirotani
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Publication number: 20090108577Abstract: A lap-belt pre-tensioner operative to draw in a lap belt is disposed on an upper face of a projecting portion so as to extend in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle from an disposition portion of a lower support member, and on the upper face of the projecting portion is provided a groove portion so as to accommodate the lap-belt pre-tensioner in such a manner that the lap-belt pre-tensioner substantially does not project into an ingress-egress opening. Accordingly, there can be provided an occupant protection device of a vehicle equipped with a slide door in which the lap-belt pre-tensioner does not project into the ingress-egress opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2008Publication date: April 30, 2009Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventor: Yasunari HIROTANI
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Patent number: 7431340Abstract: A main controlling section of a controlling unit (13), when judging a collision risk, drives a motor (12) in a direction of retracting a seat belt (3) and raises tension of the seat belt (3). The main controlling section, when tension of the seat belt (3) reaches a predetermined value, judges that a locking signal is input and has the motor (12) continue retracting driving of the seat belt (3) for a predetermined time and, when a locking signal is not input, decreases a driving power of the motor (12) and lowers tension of the seat belt (3). Even when a collision risk signal is erroneously output from a collision risk judging section (11) and, so long as a locking signal is not output from the locking signal producing section (18), since control is immediately exerted so that tension of the seat belt (3) is lowered, it is possible to avoid an unpleasant feeling to a vehicle occupant (A) caused by comparative long-duration and useless restraining using the seat belt (3).Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2004Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventor: Yukinori Midorikawa
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Patent number: 7418330Abstract: In a control system for a dual-stage airbag firing system, a series circuit of first and second switching elements and a series circuit of third and fourth switching elements are connected in parallel between high and low voltage power lines, the circuit node between the switching elements of each series circuit being connected to a corresponding one of a pair of output terminals. When an impact is received, the first and fourth switching elements are exclusively activated to generate a forward voltage across the output terminals, causing a forward current to flow in the firing system so that its first stage is exclusively fired. Subsequently, the third and second switching elements are exclusively activated to generate a reverse voltage across the output terminals in a direction opposite to the forward voltage, causing a reverse current to flow in the firing system so that its second stage is fired.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2005Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Shinji Ooyabu
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Patent number: 7397208Abstract: A winding control method of a seatbelt retractor for winding a seatbelt with a motor includes detecting a current flowing through the motor, and stopping the motor when the current exceeds a predetermined value. The winding action is not stopped while the motor is accelerated even when the current exceeds the predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2005Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Koji Tanaka, Masato Takao, Koji Inuzuka
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Patent number: 7308348Abstract: A method of controlling a seatbelt retractor having a mechanism for retracting a seatbelt with a motor includes the steps of receiving a door-open signal; determining whether the door-open signal is received after a predetermined time since a door-lock release signal is input; and retracting the seatbelt only when the door-open signal is received after the predetermined time since the door-lock release signal is input.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2005Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Koji Tanaka, Koji Inuzuka
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Patent number: 7245741Abstract: The invention relates to a system for determining whether the interior of a vehicle is occupied. The inventive device comprises image acquisition means (10) for acquiring images of an area of the vehicle interior, an image acquisition data generation unit (14) for generating image acquisition data in which every image point of a three-dimensional surface image is presented as a vector in an acquisition coordinate system of the image acquisition means, and a conversion unit (16) that converts the image acquisition data to vehicle image data. Said vehicle image data describe every image point as a vector in a coordinate system that is specific of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2000Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Ludwig Ertl, Thorsten Köhler, Dirk Zittlau
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Patent number: 7111872Abstract: A restraint system is provided for a mobile machine (1), in particular an industrial truck, with a driver's seat (2) and a safety belt (3). The restraint system has a variable-length mechanical connection (6) between a front part (4) of the roof that covers the driver's seat or the driver's cab and the safety belt (3). The variable-length mechanical connection (6) makes it easier for the operator to attach the safety belt (3). The operator will also attach the safety belt (3) because otherwise it will be difficult or impossible to use the control elements (5). The variable-length mechanical connection (6) simultaneously prevents bypassing of a device to detect whether the safety belt (3) is closed.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2003Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: STILL GmbHInventor: Patrick Arand
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Patent number: 6969088Abstract: A combination seat belt buckle presenter and seat belt use reminder includes an actuator to cause the extension and retraction of a buckle to improve buckle accessibility. A flexible support member transmits force from the actuator to the buckle. A self-locking device prevents forward or upward movement of the buckle. The self-locking mechanism is preferably configured as an energy-absorbing seat belt load limiter. The seat belt buckle presenter is preferably automated.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2003Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventor: Jenne-Tai Wang
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Patent number: 6899353Abstract: The seat belt incorporates a self-adjusting retractable shoulder belt and a continuous lap belt into an arrangement that is easy to use and provides increased safety in the case of front end collision or roll over.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2003Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Inventor: Karl E. Volk
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Patent number: 6883834Abstract: A buckle presenter system is provided that shifts the buckle to a more accessible latching position for latching with a tongue plate or tip and then shifts the latched buckle to a performance position for achieving the desired performance. This is achieved by sensing the occupant's need for latching the buckle as when the occupant enters the vehicle and is seated and then automatically shifting the buckle to a latching position for providing better accessibility for inserting the latch plate into the buckle and then automatically returning the latched buckle to the performance position.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2003Date of Patent: April 26, 2005Assignee: Takata Seat Belts, Inc.Inventors: Richard M. Grabowski, Albert R. Bernat
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Patent number: 6836715Abstract: A vehicle seat having a load sensor arranged on a seat body for generating a load signal corresponding to a load applied to the seat body, a detecting means for detecting whether a seat belt is buckled to the vehicle seat and generating a detection signal, and a determining means for comparing the load signal and a predetermined value in response to the detection signal when the seat belt is buckled and judging that an adult is not seated on the seat body when the load signal is less than the predetermined value. The seated condition of the vehicle seat is detected properly by the determination result of the determining means.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2001Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Morio Sakai, Kazunori Sakamoto, Koji Aoki, Hiromichi Yasunori, Osamu Fujimoto
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Patent number: 6802537Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for height adjustment of the upper attachment point of a safety belt, arranged in a vehicle with a vehicle seat which is spring-mounted in the vertical direction, where the upper attachment point is arranged displaceably in the vertical direction on the body of the vehicle. Said height adjustment takes place as a function of the springing movement of the vehicle seat, which results in the upper attachment point always remaining correctly positioned in the vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2002Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar ABInventors: Ulf Tolfsen, Johan Horsrud
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Patent number: 6786510Abstract: A seat belt system for securing a seated occupant to a seat, the system comprising: a single continuous length of seat belt webbing, the seat belt including first and second ends; a first anchor located near the juncture of the seat belt and seat cushion with a buckle positioned on the other side of the cushion, a movable anchor guide or second web guide for orientating portions of the seat belt relative to the seat; second means for moving the seat belt away from the seat to encourage the occupant's entry onto the seat and for thereafter manipulating the seat belt about the seated occupant so that a portion of the seat belt forms a lap belt about the seated occupant and wherein other portions of the seat belt form two relatively criss-crossed shoulder belt segments of seat belt in front of the seated occupant.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2002Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Raj S. Roychoudhury, Peter C. Kempf, Richard W. Koning
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Publication number: 20040117217Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to safety systems and related insurance offerings to encourage increased use of passenger restraint safety devices, such as seat belts. In a particular embodiment, a method to encourage use of a passenger restraint device in a vehicle that relates to a financial incentive and an insurance offering is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2002Publication date: June 17, 2004Inventors: Richard R. Reber, Cary A. McGregor
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Publication number: 20040036270Abstract: A seat belt system for securing a seated occupant to a seat, the system comprising: a single continuous length of seat belt webbing, the seat belt including first and second ends; a first anchor located near the juncture of the seat belt and seat cushion with a buckle positioned on the other side of the cushion, a movable anchor guide or second web guide for orientating portions of the seat belt relative to the seat; second means for moving the seat belt away from the seat to encourage the occupant's entry onto the seat and for thereafter manipulating the seat belt about the seated occupant so that a portion of the seat belt forms a lap belt about the seated occupant and wherein other portions of the seat belt form two relatively criss-crossed shoulder belt segments of seat belt in front of the seated occupant.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2002Publication date: February 26, 2004Applicant: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.Inventors: Raj S. Roychoudhury, Peter C. Kempf, Richard W. Koning
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Publication number: 20030197363Abstract: The seat belt incorporates a self-adjusting retractable shoulder belt and a continuous lap belt into an arrangement that is easy to use and provides increased safety in the case of front end collision or roll over.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2003Publication date: October 23, 2003Inventor: Karl E. Volk
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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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Patent number: 6591176Abstract: A crash notification system (12) has a main battery (58) and a backup battery (60). The main battery has a main battery voltage and the backup battery has a backup battery voltage. A telematics control unit (16) senses the voltage of the main battery and receives an emergency notification signal from a restraints control module (18). In response to a change of state of the emergency notification signal and the main battery dropping below a predetermined battery the backup battery may be used. In addition, if an SOS button (52) is employed in the system, and the main battery voltage drops below a predetermined voltage the backup battery (60) may also be used.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2002Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Frank Perry, Gurpreet Aulakh, James W. Helmke, Mark A. Cuddihy
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Patent number: 6543101Abstract: A multi-point buckle assembly includes a body having a top opening on a top surface, a plurality of side openings, and a plurality of channels, a release button disposed within the top opening, a plurality of main tongues, and a plurality of side tongues, wherein each of the plurality of main tongues is adapted to fit into each of the plurality of side openings and each of the plurality of side tongues is adapted to fit into each of the plurality of channels.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2001Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., Ltd.Inventors: James A. Sack, Arthur L. Gehr, Jr., Glenn E. Gehr
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Publication number: 20030038472Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for tightening a restraint, including a base having a passage for receiving the restraint and a one or more receptacles communicating with the passage, and one or more retention members movable between a first position and a second lockable position, wherein the restraint is loosened in the first position and the restraint is tightened in a second position. The present invention also relates to a method of tightening a restraint by inserting a restraint into a passage formed within a base, the passage communicating with one or more receptacles in the base and forming the restraint into the receptacles by moving one or more retention members between a first position and one or more second lockable positions, whereby the restraint is urged into a labyrinth configuration defined by the receptacles and the retention members in a second lockable position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2001Publication date: February 27, 2003Inventors: Daniel A. O'Connell, J. Derek O'Neal
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Patent number: 6428049Abstract: A seat belt release mechanism for use in conjunction with vehicle seats, such as upon a bus, and the like, including a sleeve fixed to the approximate rear of each vehicle seat, a tube provided therein, the tube cooperating with the sleeve to lock the back ends of the seat belts into position fixing them for securement of the seat occupants in place, during routine usage. Each tube extends a distance outwardly from its respective sleeve, and is provided with a lever, attaching with a drive mechanism, whether it be a cable or rod, such that when the drive mechanism is shifted, either manually by a winch, or automatically by a motor mechanism, the back ends of the seat belts may be locked into position for routine usage, or immediately released, for allowing the occupants to be freed from their securement within the vehicle seats in the event that an emergency is encountered.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Inventor: John H. Nichols
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Patent number: 6276721Abstract: A three-point passenger restraint system for a passenger seat including a lap belt having a first end connected to a lap belt retractor and a second end. A torso belt having a first end connected to the second end of the lap belt and a second end. The second end of the torso belt is attached to an anchor arm that is pivotally mounted to a passenger seat or vehicle side structure, wherein the anchor arm is rotationally biased to remove slack in the torso belt. The anchor arm rotates and thus functions (i) as the upper height adjusting anchor point for the three-point restraining system and (ii) to adjust belt length to comfortably accommodate passenger sizes in the range of a 5th percentile female to a 95th percentile male.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2000Date of Patent: August 21, 2001Assignee: Simula, Inc.Inventor: David Joseph Romeo
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Patent number: 6257363Abstract: An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle has a seatbelt and operates to restrain an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant. An electric retractor has a DC motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt. An MPU applies voltage having a predetermined waveform to the DC motor, and then detects a waveform of current flowing to the DC motor. The MPU carries out fault diagnosis of the DC motor, based upon the detected waveform of current when the voltage having the predetermined waveform is applied to the DC motor. Thus, accurate fault diagnosis of the apparatus can be achieved.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1998Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventors: Yukinori Midorikawa, Osamu Kawai
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Patent number: 6224105Abstract: An arrangement for seat-belts for vehicles having a seat for a passenger, an area where the passenger has his shoulder when seated in a normal position, a forward direction and a rearward direction, comprises a belt which runs from the area in the vehicles where the passenger has his shoulder when seated in a normal position to an attachment point at the side of the passenger. The arrangement has a connection fixed to the vehicle behind the seat for moving the belt in a rearward direction, keeping the belt at the passenger's shoulder so that the belt is in contact with the passenger regardless of the angle of the seat's backrest.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1998Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: AB VolvoInventor: Jan Lake
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Patent number: 5884940Abstract: A height-adjustable fastening system for a safety belt of a vehicle has a guide track and a slide slidably connected to the guide track and arrestable in various positions along the guide track. A fastening or guiding bracket is connected to the slide. A Bowden cable arrangement has a first end connected to the slide and a second end connected to a vehicle seat displaceable on a first and second seat tracks. The Bowden cable arrangement includes a sleeve and a cable pull displaceably guided within the sleeve. A stationary guide is positioned in the vicinity of the first seat track. The Bowden cable arrangement is guided about the stationary guide and the sleeve is connected to the stationary guide. The cable pull is connected with a first end to the vehicle seat at a fastening location remote from the stationary guide. The cable pull transmits a displacement movement of the vehicle seat onto the slide.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1997Date of Patent: March 23, 1999Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventors: Jan Baumann, Reinhard Flossel, Thomas Moller, Birte Wermann
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Patent number: 5443577Abstract: The invention provides an automatically put-on automobile safety belt. Conventionally, it is very troublesome to put on the safety belt, because it has to be manipulated manually. The present invention overcomes these disadvantages. That is, the automatically put-on safety belt includes: a winder for winding a belt 1; a fixed member for securing the other end of the belt; a buckle for being coupled with a hook; and the above three elements constituting the three securing points for the belt. Here, the winder is installed on the automobile floor at the rear of a seat; the fixed member is installed on the automobile floor at a side of the seat; the buckle is installed on the lower edge of a door; a guide ring 8 supported by an elastic rod is installed over the top of the seat; and the hook is provided with guide rings supported by arcuate elastic rods and.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1994Date of Patent: August 22, 1995Inventor: Jong K. Kim
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Patent number: 5431446Abstract: A seat belt presenter (10) for an active seat belt system (14) for restraining a vehicle occupant includes a guide (82) having surfaces (87) which surround opposite major side surfaces (41, 43) of belt webbing (40). A lift arm (74) has an end portion (78) to which the guide (82) is attached. The lift arm (74) is movable between a presented position in which the guide (82) supports a tongue assembly (48) adjacent to the vehicle occupant and a stored position in which the guide is disposed when the tongue assembly is engaged with a buckle (50). A spring (110) biases the lift arm (74) and the guide (82) to the presented position. A motor (130) when energized moves the lift arm (74) and the guide (82) to the stored position. The guide (82) is maintained at a constant attitude angle as the lift arm (74) moves between the presented and stored positions.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1994Date of Patent: July 11, 1995Assignees: Ford Motor Company, TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Donald P. Czarnecki, Louis R. Brown, Steven R. Loxton, Roger P. Daniel, Timothy G. Laske
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Patent number: RE36122Abstract: In a method for controlling the release of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, an acceleration signal is measured and integrated with respect to time to obtain a velocity signal. A release threshold value for the velocity signal is determined. If the velocity signal then falls below the release threshold value, thus indicating a vehicle collision, the passenger restraint system is released. The release threshold value is controlled depending on the type of accident situation and upon the operating parameters of the vehicle to increase the release sensitivity of the passenger restraint system. For example, the release threshold value is adjusted based on the value of the velocity signal. If the velocity signal decreases in value, then the release threshold is lowered to a more sensitive value.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 1997Date of Patent: March 2, 1999Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Bernhard Mattes, Werner Nitschke, Willi Kuhn, Wolfgang Drobny, Hugo Weller, Peter Taufer, Edmund Jeenicke, Klaus Reischle, Michael Henne, Wilfried Burger