Passive Restraint System Patents (Class 280/802)
  • Patent number: 5280959
    Abstract: A shoulder adjuster which comprises: a guide rail shaped into a long plate and formed with a longitudinally extending slot at its central portion; a slider arranged along the vehicular compartment side of the guide rail and made slidable in a longitudinal direction of the guide rail; a female thread formed in the slider for mounting a shoulder anchor; and devices for retaining the slider on the guide rail at a predetermined interval. The slider has a cylindrical portion to be fitted in the slot, and the female thread formed in the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Nanbu
  • Patent number: 5261696
    Abstract: A seat in an automobile is provided with a spring biased, webbing guiding reach arm actuated by a driving motor so as to set the webbing and tongue of a seat belt at a used position at which they can be handled with ease, and at a retracted position where they will not impede a passenger getting in and out of the seat. Thus, handling of the webbing and tongue is facilitated and a passenger is capable of getting in and out of the seat of the vehicle easily without being impeded by the webbing and tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Hamaue
  • Patent number: 5255939
    Abstract: A mechanism connects seat belt webbing to a track of a passive seat belt system of a vehicle. The mechanism comprises a slider slidably engageable with the track. A webbing anchor link includes a first flat portion pivotally connected to the slider and a second flat portion having an opening through which the belt webbing extends. The slider and the first flat portion of the anchor link are pivotally connected in a manner to enable the anchor link to pivot about mutually perpendicular intersecting axes relative to the slider. The first flat portion lies in a first plane and has a first longitudinal axis lying in the first plane. The second flat portion lies in a second plane and has a second longitudinal axis lying in the second plane. The first and second longitudinal axes extend parallel with each other. The first and second planes form between them a predetermined angle. Preferably, the predetermined angle is an angle of 45.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Louis R. Brown, Steven R. Loxton
  • Patent number: 5183290
    Abstract: An automatic seat belt device for motor vehicles, includes a retracting member installed on a vehicle door, and upper and lower webbings wherein each lower end thereof is unified into a composite structure for slidably locking with a seat belt lock and each upper end thereof is movably connected to the retracting member, whereby the upper and lower webbings can be fitted to or released from the seated occupant as the vehicle door is closed or opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Inventor: Tae K. Chung
  • Patent number: 5156417
    Abstract: A seat belt forwarding device having a seat belt forwarding arm which has a base end pivotally mounted on a side of a rear part of a vehicle seat and a free end carrying an end of a seat belt, and can rotate between a waiting position in which the seat belt forwarding arm extends rearward from the seat and an operative position in which the seat belt forwarding arm extends forward along a side of the seat. The device comprises a damper unit and a power unit and an endless belt is used to transmit power therebetween. The damper unit comprises three coaxially and mutually rotatably arranged member, i.e., a driven unit which is driven by the power unit, an arm supporting member carrying the seat belt forwarding arm, and an intermediate member interposed therebetween to allow force to be transmitted from the driven member to the arm supporting member with necessary resiliency to ensure proper functioning of the seat belt forwarding arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuki Motozawa
  • Patent number: 5133425
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system includes a seat belt buckle of a receptacle device having a connecting switch member connected to a battery of a vehicle and a tongue of a webbing so that the vehicle can be actuated or not in response to fastening or unfastening of a seat occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Inventor: Chong K. Han
  • Patent number: 5069483
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a useful improvement in a seat belt mount mechanism of a seat belt for use in an automotive vehicle of the type that an anchor plate adapted to support the seat belt at the middle portion thereof is fixed securely to a door sash element of a vehicle body by way of a fixing bracket, and in which one end of the anchor plate is operatively introduced into an opening formed in a center pillar of a vehicle body in a state that a door is closed, wherein there is provided a latch engagement of a substantially T-shaped cross section at the leading of one end of the anchor plate. With this arrangement, the latch engagement of the anchor plate may positively be held from disengagement with the opening in the center pillar, when the door sash element of the vehicle body is deformed from a shock load, and also this possible deformation of the door sash element of the vehicle body from such a shock load may be prevented to a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor company Limited
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Hirasawa
  • Patent number: 5060977
    Abstract: A magnet-inclusive component is furnished for use in an occupant protecting system, such as a seat belt system, for a motor vehicle. The component includes a magnet and at least one member located adjacent the magnet. The magnet is molded or cast in situ in the adjcent member, preferably by integrally incorporating a magnetizable member in the adjacent member upon formation of the latter by molding or casting and then subjecting the magnetizable member to magnetization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 5014810
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Mattes, Werner Nitschke, Willi Kuhn, Wolfgang Drobny, Hugo Weller, Peter Taufer, Edmund Jeenicke, Klaus Reischle, Michael Henne, Wilfried Burger
  • Patent number: 4998680
    Abstract: A webbing drive apparatus for a seat belt system which is adapted to fasten a webbing, that is retained by a wire, around a seat occupant of a vehicle or cancelling the application thereof by taking up the wire onto an outer periphery of a rotating drum or paying out the wire from the outer periphery. A guide portion for accommodating and guiding the movement of the paid-out wire is provided in a cover for covering the drum. Accordingly, the wire, when paid out, is moved along the guide section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toaki-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Toshimasa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4997204
    Abstract: A three-point safety harness for use in a motor vehicle consists of two safety belts, each having its own individual retractor mechanism, the retractor mechanisms being mounted on the side of the relevant seat which is furthest from the associated door of the vehicle. One safety belt extends to a carriage movable along a rail mounted on the roof of the motor vehicle extending over the door opening. This safety belt is to form a chest strap. The other safety belt extends to a carriage movable along a rail formed in the door of the motor vehicle. This is the lap strap. The two straps are connected together by means of a slidable element which defines a passage or passages through which the safety belts pass in a sliding manner. The safety belt that forms the lap strap has a thickened portion which cannot pass through the said element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: General Engineering (Netherlands) B.V.
    Inventors: Lars V. Sandvik, Svante O. Mogefors
  • Patent number: 4991874
    Abstract: A webbing retractor for winding a webbing which is fastened around a seat occupant of a vehicle is arranged such that a claw member is engaged with a ratchet wheel fixed to a webbing take-up shaft and rotation of the take-up shaft in a direction in which the webbing is drawn out is thereby prevented when the speed of the vehicle suddenly reduces. Engagement of the claw member with the ratchet wheel is achieved by engaging a rotary wheel which is rotated in the same direction as that in which the take-up shaft is rotated with a driving plate which drives the claw member to cause it to be engaged with the ratchet wheel through a cam ring and an engaging lever. In consequence, the rotational force of the rotary wheel is reliably transmitted to the driving plate by means of the cam ring and the engaging lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tsuge, Shinji Mori
  • Patent number: 4989899
    Abstract: A webbing drive apparatus for an automatic seat belt apparatus in which a webbing is automatically fitted around an occupant by driving one end of the webbing which comprises a screw plate with which one end of a wire for driving the webbing is engaged and which has portions for contact with a drum so as to be rotated through the contact portions by the rotational force of the drum. It is as well as moved in the direction of the rotational axis of the drum, whereby the wire is spirally wound around the drum. Each of the contact portions have a bent portion which is bent substantially at right angles with respect to the rotational direction of the drum. The rotational force of the drum is therefore transmitted to the screw plate through these bent portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yuji Nishimura, Takashi Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 4971358
    Abstract: In an automobile passive seat belt system, a slider carrying an occupant-restraining webbing fastened to an end portion thereof is guided by a drive member between a release position and an restraining position along a slide rail. The end portion is farthest from the slide rail. The slide rail has a first guide portion for guiding the drive member and a second guide portion for guiding the slider. The slider has a projection extending into the first guide portion. The projection constitutes an inner end of a slider portion at which the slider is in contact with the guide rail while sliding along the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4949994
    Abstract: A mounting bracket is mounted on the vehicle and has a plurality of teeth displayed in an arcuate path about a pivot. The mounting bracket also has a vertically extending guide slot interposed between the pivot and the teeth. An arm is mounted on the pivot and has teeth thereon engageable with the teeth of the mounting bracket to lock the arm against pivotal movement. The arm also has a guide slot extending radially with respect to the pivot. A guide loop having the belt slidable therethrough is connected to a guide pin which is slidably guided in both the vertical guide slot of the mounting bracket and the radial slot of the arm so that pivotal movement of the arm about the pivot moves the guide loop vertically along the vertical guide slot of the mounting bracket to adjust the height of the shoulder belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Zawisa
  • Patent number: 4902039
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system for automatic fastening or unfastening of a seat belt in response to the boarding and exiting of a seat occupant has an overload for detector for detecting the presence of an overload in the movement of a movable anchor of the seat belt, and a controller adapted for stopping a motor for moving said movable anchor in response to the detection of an overload in the movement of the movable anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Kawai, Shunzi Mizumura
  • Patent number: 4878692
    Abstract: A structure for supporting a guide rail of an automatic seat belt apparatus of a vehicle on a side wall of the compartment via a holder engageable with the sides of the guide rail that are arranged in the widthwise direction of the compartment, the guide rail slidably supporting a slider and being adapted to guide the slider in the to-and-fro direction of the compartment, the slider being kept in engagement with one end of a webbing adapted to be worn by an occupant of the vehicle. The holder is engaged with the side portion of the guide rail that is outward in the widthwise direction of the compartment at an engagement portion formed in the vicinity of the end portion of the guide rail that is remote from the webbing with respect to the slider. Therefore, the holder is kept from readily being disengaged from the engagement portion even when the guide rail is, via the slider, subjected to a lateral force acting to pull the webbing inwardly of the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Takayuki Ando, Kazuyoshi Ishiguro, Kenji Matsui, Tatsuo Yamashita, Toshikatsu Kondo
  • Patent number: 4858952
    Abstract: A door checker which can be advantageously utilized for driving automotive equipment such as a seat belt reacher system in synchronization with the opening and closing action of the vehicle door. By appropriate arrangement of a spring and a taper in the door checker member, the force required to open and close the door is not unduly increased. By proper arrangement of the spring, the side thrust from the door checker member is always directed in one direction, whereby the structure for supporting the side thrust is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiichi Sasaki, Tadanori Honda, Hidetoshi Saruwatari, Kazuo Higuchi
  • Patent number: 4852908
    Abstract: A webbing driving device which is capable of maintaining a constant gap or space between a wire and a sheet around the periphery of a drum. The webbing driving device includes a rotatable drum, a screw plate to which the wire is connected and is movable in the axial direction of the drum when rotated together with the drum, a wire driver for winding the wire around the drum in helical fashion, a first sloping surface formed on the screw plate parallel to the direction in which the wire is wound around the drum so as to define one end of the wire winding area and a second sloping surface formed parallel to the direction the wire is wound around the drum so as to define the other end of the wire winding area. The gap is formed by the first and second sloping surfaces. The gap between the wire and the two sloped surfaces is constant around the periphery of the drum, and the gap between the wire and the sheet can be set to a constant value around the periphery of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Yuji Nishimura
  • Patent number: 4844507
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system for controllably restraining a passenger in an automotive vehicle in response to the opening and closing states of a vehicle door. The passive seat belt system is comprised of a seat belt which selectively takes a passenger releasing position at which the passenger is released from restraint and a passenger restraining position at which the passenger is restrained. A door switch is provided to output first and second signals when a vehicle door is in opening and closing states, respectively. A control circuit is electrically connected to the door switch and arranged to output a third signal in response to the first signal. A driving device is electrically connected to the control circuit and arranged to drive the seat belt in the direction of the passenger releasing position when being supplied with the third signal from the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Niles Parts Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sachiro Kataoka, Yoichi Iizima, Masaji Kuwahara, Seiei Takeoka, Kazuzi Katsutani
  • Patent number: 4836323
    Abstract: A vehicular voltage regulating system is mounted on an automotive vehicle equipped with an on-board electronic control device which is required to operate even when an ignition switch is turned OFF. The electronic control device is adapted to control operation of a passive seat belt arrangement. The voltage regulating system is comprised of detecting means for detecting starting operation for the electronic control device and outputting a first signal. Voltage regulation commanding means is provided to command voltage regulation by outputting a second signal for a predetermined time from a time at which the detecting means outputs the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Niles Parts Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sachiro Kataoka, Yoichi Iizima, Masaji Kuwahara, Seiei Takeoka, Kazuzi Katsutani
  • Patent number: 4796915
    Abstract: A seat belt extender for positioning a seat belt being unwound from a seat belt retractor includes two or more multiplastic sleeves telescopically slidable relative one another between retracted and extended positions and having belt passages through which the belt passes from the retractor toward the occupant. A detent mechanism acts between the belt and the endmost of the sleeves to releasably couple the belt and the endmost of the sleeves so that the unwinding and extension of the belt from the retractor causes the belt to carry the endmost sleeve therewith and thereby extend the other sleeve to their extended positions so that the sleeves support the belt at a lifted position relative to the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Kaurich, Paul E. Rishel
  • Patent number: 4781267
    Abstract: An improved motorized passive seatbelt system for an automotive vehicle includes an intertia responsive switch mounted on the vehicle which operates to prevent operation of the motor to move the seatbelt from an occupant restraining position to a free position when a predetermined impact occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Keith R. Waineo, Kenneth A. Freeman, Martin L. Bray
  • Patent number: 4730874
    Abstract: A seat for use in a vehicle equipped with an automatic seatbelt system includes a seat cushion for supporting the buttocks of an occupant. The seat cushion is provided with a passage for a webbing of the seatbelt system. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the contact between the webbing and the seat cushion when the webbing is wound up into and unwound from a webbing retractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsushi Kubota, Mitsuo Inukai, Kazuyoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 4730844
    Abstract: A passive vehicle seat belt system includes measures to prevent overheating of the drive motor and obstruction of system operation. Drive motor excess current demand is sensed to effect motor de-energization and/or disabling of latching means of a retractor included in the system and/or operation of an indicator light. The indicator light can prompt manual motor de-energization. Disabling of retractor latching means can be effected by a belt movement command signal. Retractors with means for signalling operation of latching means, with solenoid means for disabling latching means, and with means for indicating when a predetermined belt length has been received therein, are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: ASE (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Michael Patterson
  • Patent number: 4722552
    Abstract: A webbing intermediate portion retaining apparatus for use in an automatic seatbelt system for a vehicle arranged such that, when an occupant enters the vehicle, an occupant restraining webbing is automatically fastened to the occupant's body, whereas, when the occupant leaves the vehicle, the webbing is automatically unfastened from his body. The apparatus enables the intermediate portion of the webbing to be retained by a hook provided on a door of the vehicle when the occupant leaves the vehicle. The apparatus effects control such that, when the occupant is going to leave the vehicle, the hook is moved to a position for retaining the intermediate portion of the webbing, whereas, after the occupant has entered the vehicle, the hook is moved to a position for canceling the retaining of the intermediate portion of the webbing. Accordingly, when the occupant enters and leaves the vehicle, it is possible to ensure a sufficient space for him to move smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Gyoda, Mitsuaki Katsuno, Tatsushi Kubota, Chikao Nagasaka, Kazuyoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 4655476
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-positioning device for safety belts of the passive type, capable of shifting a movable point of positioning of the same belt, to the purpose of fastening and of releasing the occupant of the seat, by means of the door's shutting and opening stroke, of the type comprising a rack rod of curved shape, rigidly fastened at one of its ends on to the car's body, and a pinion inmeshing with it, rotatably supported by the door and operatively linked to an amplifier mechanism in its turn operatively linked to the belt and capable of transforming the rotary movement of the pinion into an amplified movement of rectilinear type of the same positioning point along a guide diagonally positioned on the door, the rock rod being an anular sector and being partly toothed, so as to operate over a portion of the door's shutting and opening stroke only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Alfa Romeo Auto S.p.A.
    Inventor: Ferdinando Paludetto
  • Patent number: 4608501
    Abstract: Tripping apparatus in vehicles for an occupant protection apparatus in impact restraining systems is provided with a test circuit which permits a testing of the evaluation circuit and of the switching stage of the tripping apparatus by means of an alternating voltage signal without interrupting the functional readiness of the apparatus. The test circuit consists of a series arrangement of a filter, a maximum value rectifier and an integrator and is inserted between the output of the switching stage and the input of the evaluation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rudolf Andres, Hansjurgen Scholz, Heinz W. Knoll, Luigi Brambilla, Volker Petri, Alban Bossenmaier
  • Patent number: 4580812
    Abstract: In a seatbelt system in which an occupant restraining webbing, one end thereof being secured to a door of a vehicle, is moved in directions of a front and a rear of the vehicle in accordance with an opening and a closing of the door and an occupant is automatically fastened by the webbing, when a motor of a webbing retractor is driven in response to a signal from a switch detecting an opened degree of the door, so that a tension of the webbing is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noritada Yoshitsugu, Motonobu Sugiura, Yutaka Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 4568105
    Abstract: An automatic safety seatbelt apparatus for extending a seatbelt from a seatbelt retractor apparatus, through a guide ring fixed on a lower side face of a longitudinal floor tunnel, to a shoulder anchor mounted on an upper portion of the vehicle body. The guide ring ensures a proper diagonal extension of the seatbelt across an upper half of the body of a seated passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1986
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Ryu, Noritada Yoshitsugu
  • Patent number: 4568106
    Abstract: A passive restraint for a vehicle seat comprising a seat belt is disclosed which is designed so as to secure the security of an occupant. In this passive restraint, since a retractor is mounted in the inside front portion of one of side frame sections of a cushion frame and a belt guide is installed in the outside rear portion of the same one side frame section, an input from the seat belt will be little applied to the intermediate portion of the cushion frame, and points of the input is located adjacent to the front and rear points of installation of a slide rail. As a result of this, loads of the seat belt are distributed directly over the side of the slide rail, which offers an advantage to the cushion frame from the standpoint of strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1986
    Assignee: Tachikawa Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sho Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 4558887
    Abstract: In a passive restraint seatbelt assembly, a first belt, attached to the interior of the vehicle through an inertia sensitive locking retractor reel, and a fixed length slideable belt are joined by a snubbing slip ring which allows free sliding of the slideable belt therethrough in normal conditions but frictionally restrains the slideable belt in emergency situations. The snubbing slip ring is formed with a snubbing bar slideable within a housing by a reverse bend portion of a looped end of the first belt. During tension of the belts, the reverse bend tends to straighten out forcing the snubbing bar against the slideable belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Assignee: Gateway Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald A. Doty
  • Patent number: 4537446
    Abstract: A safety seat assembly for use with industrial vehicles, such as fork lift trucks, that employs both upper and lower body restraints to prevent the ejection of the operator from the vehicle cab area in the event of a lateral overturn. The lower body restraint is provided by the cooperation of the arm rests and a safety belt which is selectively engageable with the arm rests. The left arm rest pivots outwardly and the belt hinges to an upright position, facilitating access to the seat. The upper body restraint is provided by forwardly extending guard members attached to arms which project laterally from the back support on each side of the seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: Thomas W. Roney, Maynard L. Adams
  • Patent number: 4536010
    Abstract: An automatic system for use in a motor vehicle has an outer webbing, both ends of which are secured to a vehicle door and an inner webbing, one end of which is connected to the intermediate portion of the outer webbing through a ring joint movable along the outer webbing and the other end of which is retracted by a retractor on a vehicle floor. A guide lever is provided at an inner side of an occupant's seat, which includes a main body fixed to the inner side of the seat and a webbing guide portion on the top of the main body. The webbing guide portion has an opening through which the inner webbing passes and is rotatable around an axis extending laterally of the vehicle, whereby the webbing guide portion presents a suitable position and angle to guide the inner webbing at any condition, for example, with or without an occupant on the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1985
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Muneharu Matsunami, Hiroshi Tsuge, Tatsushi Kubota, Hisashi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 4529249
    Abstract: A passive restraint using a seat belt is disclosed which serves to secure the safety of an occupant in a vehicle seat. In this passive restraint, a front frame section of a cushion frame of the seat is formed with a recessed portion, a belt retractor is fitted into and fixed to this recessed portion, and a belt guide is provided in the rear portion of one of side frame sections of the cushion frame which continues from a corner portion where the recessed portion is formed, whereby the seat belt that is guided from the belt retractor is extended along the outer surface of the above-mentioned one side frame section, inserted through the belt guide, and then turned over upwardly of a seat cushion of the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Assignee: Tachikawa Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Ino
  • Patent number: 4508362
    Abstract: A passive seat belt device having a seat belt with both ends attached to a vehicle body, directly or indirectly with at least one seat belt end connected to a seat belt wind-up retractor. A powered guide member on a track or pivoting arm at the center of the vehicle guides the seat belt in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle between forward and rearward positions for either releasing or loading the seat belt, respectively, for the occupant. A switching circuit is provided in association with the guide member and other vehicle levers, such as the gear shift or hand brake, which functions to stop the movement of the guide member whenever such a lever is in a position to interfere with the forwardly moving path of the guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuo Higuchi
  • Patent number: 4486031
    Abstract: A passive belt system includes a continuous-loop belt having a shoulder belt portion fixedly mounted on the upper rear corner of the door and a lap belt portion mounted on the lower rear corner of the door by a storage retractor. The storage retractor normally holds the belt at a fully extended length therefrom but winds the lap belt portion upon disconnect of a release buckle connecting the loop belt with an anchor belt retractably mounted on the inboard side of the vehicle seat. An auxiliary buckle arrangement for converting the system for restraint of a child occupant or child seat includes a pushbutton buckle slidable along the lap belt portion of the continuous-loop belt and a latch plate on the door adjacent the storage retractor which is releasably engageable by the buckle to normally store the buckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: J. Ronald Holler, Francis E. Wojciechowski
  • Patent number: 4470617
    Abstract: In a webbing lock device, there are provided a pair of lock members for clamping the intermediate portion of an occupant restraining webbing so as to bring an occupant into a restrained state in the event of an emergency situation of a vehicle, and resin material deformable in accordance with irregularities on the surfaces of the webbing, when the webbing is clamped, is provided on the surface of at least one of the lock members, whereby frictional resistances between the webbing and the lock members are increased and concentration of stress is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Makoto Yamada, Toshio Gyoda, Takashi Kawaharazaki
  • Patent number: 4458916
    Abstract: An automatic seat belt device for a vehicle, which has a switch inserted into a driving circuit for opening the driving circuit upon releasing of an emergency buckle. Thus, this device can disable the guide arm driving device when an adult's seat belt attached to a seat is not used like when a children's seat belt is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Yamada, Takayoshi Masutani
  • Patent number: 4452470
    Abstract: A new and improved tension relieving mechanism is provided which may be easily controlled and which has few operating parts. The tension relieving mechanism utilizes a coiled spring for clutching a turnable member connected to the seat belt reel shaft. Members associated with the seat belt retractor provide camming and stopping surfaces to engage end portions of the clutch spring to alternately expand and allow contraction of the spring coil to release or grip a frictional surface of the turnable member. With the clutch spring abutting a stopping surface and urged by the reel spring in a belt retraction direction so that the natural contraction of the clutch spring on the frictional surface is encouraged, the reel shaft is locked against rotation in the belt retraction direction providing a release of tension on the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1984
    Assignee: Gateway Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald A. Doty
  • Patent number: 4451061
    Abstract: A belt transfer arrangement for a passive vehicle restraint belt system includes a pivoting arm mounted on the inboard side of the vehicle seat and carrying a guide ring at its upper end through which a restraint belt freely passes. A motion transfer device coupled between the arm and the vehicle door shifts the arm between a rearward, restraint position and a forward, release position in response to movement of the door between the closed and partly open positions. The transfer device includes a drive wire contained within a wire sheath that is fastened at both ends and constrains the wire for motion transfer. A lost-motion coupling that enables the door to be moved between the partly open and fully open positions without substantial movement of the arm is interposed between the door and the pivoting arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1984
    Inventor: Juichiro Takada
  • Patent number: 4433858
    Abstract: A passive restraint belt system in which one end of an occupant restraint belt is mounted on the vehicle body inboard the seat and the other end is mounted on the vehicle door so that belt is unwound from a retractor provided at one of the belt ends when the door opens to automatically move the belt somewhat forwardly of the occupant to facilitate occupant ingress and egress. An arm is associated with the belt and is pivotally mounted inboard the occupant for pivotal movement between a position in which the arm lowers the belt to the normal restraining position across the occupant lower torso and a pivotally raised position in which the lap belt is raised above the occupant lower torso to facilitate occupant ingress and egress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1984
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Edward F. Taylor, James C. O'Kane
  • Patent number: 4428600
    Abstract: In a seat belt retractor having a rewind spring and a tension relieving mechanism for removing spring tension from the belt worn by the user, a device for releasing the tension relieving mechanism to allow for belt retraction exerting a resistance to door closing which decreases from initial door-release device contact through full door closure. The release device includes a door-actuated lever, which pivots between a release position engaging the tension relieving mechanism and a non-release position, and a spring that biases the lever to its release position when the door is opened. The spring, having tension directed through its longitudinal axis is connected at one end to the lever outward of its pivotal axis and pivotably connected at the other end to the retractor frame at a location eccentric to the pivotal axis of the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Gateway Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald A. Doty
  • Patent number: 4426102
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatically fastening seatbelt system wherein webbings for restraining an occupant are automatically fastened about the occupant upon his entering the vehicle, to thereby improve the safety of the occupant. This seatbelt system is of an arrangement that, when the occupant enters or leaves the vehicle, an webbing is positioned forward in looking from the vehicle to prevent the webbing to slide on the lap of the occupant and the like, so that the actions of the occupant entering or leaving the vehicle can be facilitated. This seatbelt system can drive a guide arm for moving the intermediate portion of the webbing and a sprocket wheel for moving an anchor of the webbing by use of a single motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1984
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Katsuno, Shigeru Moriya
  • Patent number: 4423887
    Abstract: A passive safety belt system has a lap element 14, a diagonal element 16 and a common element 20 interconnected by a ring 18. First puller mechanism 30 is connected to the shoulder element 16 at 32 and then runs through the ring 18 and a second ring 34 which is slidable on the common strap 20. The other end of the first puller mechanism 30 is connected to a traveller 36 on a track 38. Second puller mechanism 46 has one end connected to the second ring 34 and then runs through the traveller 36 to a spool 48 coupled to a spindle of a retractor 28 for the common element 20, so as to pay out the second puller mechanism as the common strap is wound in. The effect of this is to move the point of action of the first puller mechanism 30 nearer to the center of the car without interfering with retraction of the common strap 20 on to the retractor 28.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1984
    Assignee: Britax (Wingard) Limited
    Inventor: Simon D. Packington
  • Patent number: 4420172
    Abstract: A ring joint used in a three-point seatbelt system having an outer webbing and an inner webbing, interposed between the intermediate portion of the outer webbing and the forward end of the inner webbing and adapted to allow the outer webbing to move freely in the longitudinal direction thereof in a normal condition, but preventing the outer webbing from moving in an emergency. Furthermore, a guide means prevents the inner webbing from moving in the widthwise direction thereof relative to the ring joint, whereby the inner webbing is not shifted in the widthwise direction thereof in an emergency, thereby enabling an occupant to be secured in a positively restrained state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1983
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki-Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Ikuzo Kojima
  • Patent number: 4417751
    Abstract: A passive safety belt system consists of a lap strap (14), a shoulder strap (16) and a common strap (20) interconnected to form a 3-point safety belt with the free ends of the lap and shoulder straps (14 & 16) connected to the rear edge of a vehicle door (26) and the free end of the common strap (20) connected to an inertia reel. A flexible element (30) interconnects the junction of the three straps (14, 16 & 20) of the safety belt with a traveller (36) on the track (38). An arm (46) has a loop (48) at one end, through which the common strap (20) runs. The other end of the arm (46) is pivotally mounted on the front inboard corner of a seat (10), a stop member (50) on the common strap (20) engages with the loop (48) to lift the arm (46) when a predetermined length of said common strap has been pulled off the inertia reel (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Assignee: Britax (Wingard) Limited
    Inventor: Simon D. Packington
  • Patent number: 4416468
    Abstract: A three point safety belt system has its lap and diagonal elements 14 and 16 fastened to anchorage points 22 and 24 at the bottom and top rear corners of an adjacent vehicle door 26. The common element 20 is lead through a loop 37 in the end of an arm 30 which is pivotally mounted at 34. As the car door opens the resulting tension in the belt causes the arm 30 to pivot upwardly and forwardly, lifting the belt away from the body of the seat occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1983
    Assignee: Britax (Wingard) Limited
    Inventor: Douglas J. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 4413841
    Abstract: A safety seat belt arrangement for protecting an automotive seat occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hideoki Matsuoka, Yoshinobu Kondoh
  • Patent number: 4411448
    Abstract: A belt transfer system for a passive vehicle occupant restraint belt system comprises a DC power source, a reversible DC motor and circuits for connecting the motor across to the power source for reversible operation and for braking the motor at the end of each operation by connecting both sides of the motor armature to the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Inventor: Juichiro Takada