Inertia Responsive Locking Or Tightening Of Belt Or Harness Patents (Class 280/806)
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Patent number: 8678440Abstract: A dual spool retractor device for seat belts in a motor vehicle including a frame, two spools rotatably mounted to the frame, and a pretensioning system providing pretensioning rotation for both the spools. The spools are pretensioning through the activation of a micro-gas generator. The gas generator can provide gas to a single or a pair of gas cylinders. One or more flexible numbers such as a metal band or cable is used which is coupled to one or both spools via a pulley. Activation of the gas generator forces a piston to move in a manner which exerts tension on the flexible member(s) thereby unwinding the flexible member from the spool pulley and providing pretensioning rotation of the respective belt spool.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Autoliv Asp, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth Kohlndorfer, Chris Koprowicz, Jon E. Burrow, Chad E. Moore, Bin Wang
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Patent number: 8662538Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt, comprising a belt reel 2 onto which the safety belt is wound when the belt strap is reeled in and from which the safety belt can be unwound when the belt strap is pulled out, a belt strap-sensitive blocking mechanism 12 which blocks extension of the belt strap when the belt strap is extended with excessive acceleration, wherein a retarding device 1 which prevents activation of the belt strap-sensitive blocking mechanism along a specified length of belt strap extension at the beginning of the belt strap extension process is rotatably connected to the belt reel 2.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Martin Specht, Wolff Rainer
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Patent number: 8657340Abstract: A rollover safety system for truck cab sleeper berths and other sleeper berths in moving vehicles. The system includes a rollover sensor which generates a signal in response to a rollover condition. The signal is used by a controller to tension a tether which is attached to a load bearing harness worn by a sleeper berth occupant. The tether is tensioned to prevent the occupant from injuriously contacting the roof and or walls of the berth The system moves the occupant away from the potentially injurious surfaces while allowing freedom of movement when there is no crash.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2012Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Inventor: Keith Friedman
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Patent number: 8641097Abstract: There is provided a pretensioner. The pretensioner includes: a pipe; a gas generator that generates a gas in the pipe in an emergency case; a gas generator mount on which the gas generator is mounted; a spool driving mechanism that rotates a spool in a direction to retract a seatbelt by the gas generated by the gas generator in the emergency case; a discharge hole formed in the pipe so as to allow communication between inside and outside of the pipe; and a blocking member configured to block the discharge hole from inside of the pipe, the blocking member being configured to open the discharge hole when the blocking member is pressed from outside of the pipe with a pressing force equal to or greater than a given pressing force.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2012Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Yuichiro Hodatsu, Hiroshi Tomita
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Publication number: 20140021710Abstract: A serviceable seatbelt buckle mounted belt tensioner for use with a vehicle seat having a seat frame includes a bracket fixed to the seat frame and a pre-tensioning assembly releasably attached to the bracket, the pre-tensioning assembly includes a housing, a seatbelt attachment portion such as a seatbelt buckle, a cylindrical container and a cable connecting the seatbelt buckle and the cylindrical container, the cable passing through the housing. Both the bracket and the housing include attachment interfaces in the forms of flanges, tabs, pins, and slots. A fastener such as a screw or a clip is used to prevent movement of the housing relative to the bracket once the components are fitted together.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2012Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Manoharprasad K. Rao, Curtis David Kalina, Richard Edward Ruthinowski, Dean M. Jaradi
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Patent number: 8628114Abstract: A releasable tether retention system includes a housing having a slot extending therealong and a projection extending into the slot. The projection is coupled to the housing so as to be movable along the housing between a first position along the slot and a second position along the slot. Rotation of the projection is prevented when the projection is in the first position, and rotation of the projection is enabled when the projection is in the second position.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2011Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: TK Holdings, Inc.Inventor: Eduardo L. Quioc
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Patent number: 8622431Abstract: For protection of a dog during travel in a motor vehicle, in one embodiment, a seatbelt harness may include a restraint portion coupled to an attachment portion that may have first and second connectors which are either fixedly or removably attached to the restraint portion. The first connector may be adapted to attach to a seatbelt or a first belt connector in their default positions and the second connector may be adapted to attach to a second belt connector or an anchor. The positions of first and second connectors may be selected for aligning them with the restraint portion such that the attachment portion to act in conjunction with the restraint portion to enable positioning of the pet on a vehicle seat at an intermediate point along a longitudinal path between the first belt connector and the second belt connector or between the first belt connector and the anchor.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2012Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Inventor: Sanjeev Kumar Singh
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Patent number: 8596180Abstract: A vehicle is provided having an active bonnet and a pyrotechnic actuator configured to lift the active bonnet a plurality of times without having to perform maintenance on the pyrotechnic actuator. The pyrotechnic actuator includes a cylinder having an inlet opening, a first chamber and a second chamber that are separated by a central region; a piston that is configured to be displaced through the central region of the cylinder between a first position in the first chamber and a second position in the second chamber; and a carrier having first and second gas generators each being coupled to the inlet opening. The first gas generator is configured to be ignited to lift the active bonnet a first time, and the second gas generator is configured to be ignited independently of the first gas generator to lift the active bonnet a second time.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2012Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Joachim Schaefer, Volker Scheuch, Werner Schmidt, Martin Zilg
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Patent number: 8585091Abstract: An occupant protection device including a pyrotechnical gas generator and a safety valve operating in a temperature-dependent manner and leading to the outside is connected to the gas generator. A sealing element of the safety valve is formed by a pin that includes a pin head, which is inserted from inside into a hole in a wall of a supply element such that the pin head bears against the inner face of the wall. A pin end, which is located on the outer face of the wall and protrudes outwardly through the hole, is plastically reshaped, so that the cross section of the pin end is larger than the cross section of the hole thereby forming a sealing portion which is larger in cross section than the cross section of the hole.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2010Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Takata AGInventors: Jochen Benz, Lars Mast, Jochen Lang, Christoph Pechhold, Robert Fleischmann
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Patent number: 8585090Abstract: A linear pretensioner device for motor vehicle belt restraint systems of the type mountable to a motor vehicle structure and coupled with a belt restraint system component. In one form, the linear pretensioner includes a stroking housing forming a bore and a cable coupled with the stroking housing and to the belt restraint component. A main housing adapted to be fixed to the motor vehicle structure is positioned within the bore of the stroking housing, with the stroking housing telescopically overfitting the main housing. The main housing and the stroking housing form an expanding chamber that enlarges when pressurized by a gas generator. Upon activation, the gas generator drives the stroking housing along the main housing to exert tension on the cable. In another form, the pretensioner has an inner housing positioned within a bore of an outer housing, and the cable is coupled with the inner housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2010Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventor: Wendell Chenney Lane, Jr.
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Patent number: 8579091Abstract: A dynamic energy management restraint anchor device interfaces with a child seat in a vehicle, engaging common child seat attachment clip features. A device restraint anchor is operable to dynamically extract and permit distortion of load bearing deformable member(s) in order to manage the displacement of, and load transferred through, an anchor connected to a child seat. The device may be further operable to limit or prevent restraint anchor displacement and the distortion of said deformable member(s) under quasi-static load conditions in order to meet motor vehicle static load/displacement anchorage performance requirements applicable to certain anchors. Anchor retraction capability and various interlocking configurations for securing the position of an anchor, before or after having extracted, may be incorporated relative to the energy management device interfacing with both a vehicle and a child seat. An indicator may further be provided to identify the functional state of the restraint device.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2008Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Richard Edward Ruthinowski, Ian Brewster Hall, Parakrama Valentine Weerappuli, Brian Robert Spahn
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Patent number: 8579066Abstract: This seat belt device of a vehicle includes a webbing, a belt reel, a motor, a clutch, detection unit, brake control unit and motor control unit. The motor control unit includes a waiting current control unit configured to conduct a current that can maintain the clutch to be in the connection state in the motor when the brake control unit outputs the operation signal and variable current control unit configured to proceed from current control performed by the waiting current control unit when a change in the movement state of the vehicle is detected by the detection unit during the current control performed by the waiting current control unit and adjusts the amount of conduction in the motor based on the movement state of the vehicle that is detected by the detection unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2011Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shotaro Odate, Takeshi Kojima, Yo Ito
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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: 8550499Abstract: A slider bar for use with two-door style motor vehicles for anchoring the lap belt for front seat occupants. The slider bar allows the lower anchorage point of the lap belt to freely move in the fore and aft direction to enhance rear seat compartment passenger ingress and egress. The slider bar further incorporates a pyrotechnic lap pretensioner (PLP) function for exerting pretensioning motion of the lap belt in response to a vehicle impact. The slider bar incorporates an internal piston which acts on the belt webbing position on the outside of the slider bar tube. Various embodiments are described incorporating alternate means of mounting the lap belt lower end to the slider bar, as well as various configurations for transferring the motion of the internal piston to the lap belt lower anchorage.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2010Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Jeff A. Russell, Timothy J. Cahill, Regis Dutell
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Patent number: 8549975Abstract: A pyrotechnic actuator for an active bonnet is provided that includes, but is not limited to a cylinder, a piston which can be displaced in the cylinder under the influence of a propellant gas and a first gas generator for producing the propellant gas. The actuator includes, but is not limited to at least one further gas generator, which can be ignited independently of the first gas generator.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2006Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Joachim Schäfer, Volker Scheuch, Werner Schmidt, Martin Zilg
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Patent number: 8540283Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a seat belt to a vehicle body, may include a wire integrally having on a first end thereof a belt insert ring, an end of the seat belt being inserted into the belt insert ring, a wire installing unit coupled to a second end of the wire and secured to the vehicle body, and a belt restraining unit coupled to the vehicle body while slidably receiving the seat belt so as to restrain movement of the seat belt which may be inserted into the belt insert ring.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2011Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Ji Yeoun Lee, Choong Sik Shin
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Publication number: 20130241187Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor (10), in particular for triggering a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising an inertia body (20) which has an oscillating bearing (23) permitting an oscillating movement and, in the event of an acceleration, can be set by inertia into an oscillating movement, and a triggering lever (40) which interacts with the inertia body and is deflected when a predetermined amplitude of oscillation is exceeded.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2011Publication date: September 19, 2013Inventors: Peter Baumgartner, Hermann Hasse, Oswald Lustig
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Patent number: 8523230Abstract: An apparatus for displacing an anchor pre-tensioner for a seat belt may include the anchor pre-tensioner which is installed on a lower portion of a center pillar of a vehicle body, and to which a wire is coupled at an angle with the wire exposed above the vehicle body; and a trim guide which is installed on the vehicle body, and which has a guide hole in the middle thereof so as to allow the wire to be fitted into and guided in the guide hole, and a stopper formed at one end of the guide hole so as to allow the wire to be caught in the stopper when the wire is tilted in a backward direction of the vehicle body.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2012Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Young Rok Kim, Choong Sik Shin
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Patent number: 8517425Abstract: An anchor pretensioner structure for cars, may include an inflator mounted on a car-body plate to pull a seat belt upon a collision, a pretensioner wire made of a flexible material and connected to the inflator, a protector mounted to the pretensioner wire coupled to the seat belt, and an angle-adjuster to selectively rotate the pretensioner wire, depending upon whether or not a passenger may be sitting on a seat, so that the pretensioner wire may be allowed to rotate by a predetermined angle.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2012Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp.Inventor: Tae Hoon Kim
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Patent number: 8496095Abstract: A dynamic energy management restraint anchor device interfaces with a child seat in a vehicle, engaging common child seat attachment clip features. A device restraint anchor is operable to dynamically extract and permit distortion of load bearing deformable member(s) in order to manage the displacement of, and load transferred through, an anchor connected to a child seat. The device may be further operable to limit or prevent restraint anchor displacement and the distortion of said deformable member(s) under quasi-static load conditions in order to meet motor vehicle static load/displacement anchorage performance requirements applicable to certain anchors. Anchor retraction capability and various interlocking configurations for securing the position of an anchor, before or after having extracted, may be incorporated relative to the energy management device interfacing with both a vehicle and a child seat. An indicator may further be provided to identify the functional state of the restraint device.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2008Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Richard Edward Ruthinowski, Ian Brewster Hall, Parakrama Valentine Weerappuli, Brian Robert Spahn
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Patent number: 8496269Abstract: The invention relates to a belt buckle presenter for a seat belt system of a vehicle comprising a belt buckle which is coupled to a spindle drive (16) through force transmission means (14), the force transmission means (14) including a locking member (40) which in normal operation is movable along a threaded spindle (30) of the spindle drive (16) in axial direction and in the case of restraint can be deformed by a restraining force acting on the belt buckle (12) so as to adopt a locking position in which the locking member (40) positively engages in the threaded spindle (30).Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2011Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Wolfgang Holbein, Artur Klein, Nathalie Kramer, Martin Prokscha, Stefano Roehm
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Patent number: 8494714Abstract: Disclosed herein are stability display apparatus and methods. One apparatus comprises a driving state detection unit configured to detect a driving state of a vehicle in operation; a controller comprising an instability estimation unit configured to estimate an instability index indicating driving instability of the vehicle based on the driving state of the vehicle detected by the driving state detection unit and configured to determine changes in the instability index; and a display unit configured to display the instability index estimated by the instability estimation unit in a display region within a range less than or equal to an upper limit that is a limit of display and configured to display in the display region a representation of the changes of the instability index when the instability index is beyond the upper limit.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuyuki Kuge, Takayuki Kondoh, Yoshiki Yasuno
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Patent number: 8479863Abstract: An occupant restraint system for a vehicle seat has a belt with a shoulder-belt portion extending diagonally across the seat between an upper portion of first side of the seat and a lower portion of a second side of the seat. An upper belt guide is mounted adjacent to the upper first side of the seat and engages the shoulder-belt to allow it to slide along the guide during belt retraction and extension. A safety sensor/control system generates a signal indicating a condition requiring improved occupant restraint in the seat. A guide actuator is activated in response to the safety sensor/control system signal and displaces the upper belt guide in a transverse direction relative to the seat. The displacement of the guide moves the shoulder-belt portion closer to the neck and/or shoulder of the seat occupant to more securely restrain the occupant.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2012Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Volvo Car CorporationInventors: Peter Adolfsson, Gert Aldeborg
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Patent number: 8474873Abstract: A seat belt system in motor vehicles includes a seat belt disposed at a front seat and a shoulder-belt portion and a lap-belt portion, which at its outer anchorage point, is retained in the area of a door sill of the motor vehicle on a belt tensioner that is connected to the lap-belt portion via a connecting device. The connecting device is disposed out of view below a door-sill molding.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2009Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventors: Carsten Moeker, Stefan Grutzeck
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Patent number: 8474872Abstract: There is provided a passive safety device which can prevent an occupant from moving when an acceleration that causes the occupant to move in a vehicle is working on the occupant, and which can improve the ride comfort. A passive safety device of the present invention comprises an acceleration detecting unit that detects an acceleration of a vehicle, a seat adjusting unit that expands a seat side of a seat in order to prevent an occupant sitting down the seat from moving, a safety belt adjusting unit that controls tension of a safety belt worn by the occupant, and a control unit that controls an expansion of the seat side and/or the tension of the safety belt through the seat adjusting unit and the safety belt adjusting unit, based on the detected acceleration of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2010Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shotaro Odate
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Patent number: 8469400Abstract: Various embodiments of seat harness pretensioning devices for use in land, air, and sea vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, a seat unit for use in a military land vehicle or helicopter includes a stroking device that enables the seat to move downwardly in response to an explosion or hard landing, respectively. The seat unit also includes a seat belt or harness that extends around the occupant in the seat. Downward movement of the seat in response to an explosion or hard landing causes a tensioning system to automatically pretension the seat harness.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2010Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Phoenix Group)Inventors: David T. Merrill, Todd Humbert
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Publication number: 20130147175Abstract: An apparatus for displacing an anchor pre-tensioner for a seat belt may include the anchor pre-tensioner which is installed on a lower portion of a center pillar of a vehicle body, and to which a wire is coupled at an angle with the wire exposed above the vehicle body; and a trim guide which is installed on the vehicle body, and which has a guide hole in the middle thereof so as to allow the wire to be fitted into and guided in the guide hole, and a stopper formed at one end of the guide hole so as to allow the wire to be caught in the stopper when the wire is tilted in a backward direction of the vehicle body.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2012Publication date: June 13, 2013Applicant: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Young Rok KIM, Choong Sik SHIN
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Patent number: 8419068Abstract: A side wall portion of a housing is provided with an arm-protective extending portion below a pawl and a mechanical arm. The arm-protective extending portion extends inwardly at a substantially right angle. Further, a side wall portion of the housing is provided with a shaft-protective extending portion which extends inwardly from the lower edge portion of a horizontally long opening portion. The horizontally long opening portion is formed so as to face a coupling shaft over its full length. Below this shaft-protective extending portion, there is formed a bolt insertion hole through which a bolt is inserted at the time of mounting the housing to a fastening piece of a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2010Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takatoshi Nakaoka, Eri Yamane
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Patent number: 8414027Abstract: A seat belt tensioner for motor vehicle, having a belt shaft (12) rotatably supported in housing as a carrier of a seat belt wound thereon and with a tensioner drive coupled thereto by a metal strip (18), the drive rotatable driving the belt shaft (12) when triggered by action on the metal strip (18) and the movement thereof, the metal band (18) before triggering the tensioning drive (10) surrounds an extension (13) of the belt shaft. The metal strip (18) is wound around the extension (13) of the belt shaft (12) in at least one winding turn serving as winding supply (20) for the movement thereof. The winding reserve (20) is held at a radial gap (21) to the extension (13) of the belt shaft (12) by a holding element (22) releasing the metal band (18) in case of tensile force acting on the metal strip caused by activation of the belt tensioner causing the metal stripto engage and rotate the belt shaft extension.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2009Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventors: Erik Arthur Rydsmo, Linus Karl Axel Larsson
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Patent number: 8414028Abstract: A seatbelt device comprises a seatbelt including a shoulder belt to restrain a passenger's upper body and a lap belt to restrain a passenger's waist portion, a tongue fixed to the seatbelt and parting the seatbelt into the shoulder belt and the lap belt, a first retractor fixed to a pillar and coupled to a tip of the shoulder belt, a second D ring attached to a position of an inner panel of a side sill below the pillar and supporting the lap belt so as to let the lap belt slide therein, and a second retractor fixed to another position of the inner panel of the side sill located in front of the second D ring and below a seat slide rail, the second retractor being coupled to a tip of the lap belt.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2011Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Yoichi Miyajima, Hiroaki Takeshita
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Patent number: 8412417Abstract: A seatbelt device of a vehicle, the seatbelt device comprising: a belt reel around which a webbing, used to tie down a passenger seated in the vehicle, is wrapped up; a motor transmitting a driving force to the belt reel; an electric current detection unit detecting an electric current flowing through the motor; a vehicle-condition detection unit detecting a condition of the vehicle; a rotation detection unit detecting a rotational position of the belt reel; and a control unit that sets a target electric current corresponding to a predetermined vehicle condition detected by the vehicle-condition detection unit and controls the motor so that the electric current detected by the electric current detection unit equals the target electric current.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2009Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shotaro Odate
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Patent number: 8403365Abstract: A mounting concave portion with a predetermined depth is formed on a gas-pressure-receiving-side surface of a piston. Further, a plate-like sealing member includes a mounting convex portion which is erected at a position meeting with the mounting concave portion on the gas-pressure-receiving-side surface of the piston. When the piston and the sealing plate are assembled together, the mounting convex portion is fitted in the mounting concave portion. By merely pushing the mounting convex portion in the mounting concave portion, the sealing plate and the piston can be integrated, which improves productivity in assembly. Further, the sealing plate will not get twisted, deviated or displaced due to friction against inner wall of the pipe cylinder when the sealing plate and the piston are integrally inserted in the pipe cylinder. Deterioration of sealing function due to improper mounting of the sealing plate can be avoided.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2009Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masataka Tanaka, Kazunori Yamasaki
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Patent number: 8393644Abstract: A seat belt pretensioner for a belt retractor includes a member that rotates relative to a frame of the belt retractor in response to a vehicle condition to rotate a spool of the belt retractor relative to the frame. A drive device rotates the member in response to the vehicle condition. The drive device applies a first torque to the member during a first stage of rotation of the member and the spool and applies a second torque greater than the first torque during a second stage of rotation of the member and the spool. A flexible drive member rotates the member relative to the frame. The flexible drive member extends around an axis of the member more than 360° after activation of the pretensioner.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2012Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventor: John A. Lee
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Patent number: 8381367Abstract: A belt holder device is provided having a housing having a first fixing device, a plate having a second fixing device mounted on the housing for displacement in a displacement direction, wherein the belt holder device is held on an application via one fixing device and a belt is held on the other fixing device, a transmitter-sensor device arranged in the housing and by which the relative position of the plate to the housing is determinable, and a spring device via which the plate is supported on the housing and which provides a return force, wherein the spring device is formed by a flexural spring device, wherein the transmitter is integrated in the plate, wherein the transmitter is arranged in a recess of the plate, and wherein the transmitter in the recess is a magnet and is surrounded by a magnetically insulating enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2011Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: BAG Bizerba Automotive GmbHInventor: Frank Metzger
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Patent number: 8376406Abstract: A pretensioner mechanism comprising webbing capable of restraining a vehicle occupant; a cylinder member into which gas is supplied when specific conditions occur; a movement member provided so as to be capable of moving inside the cylinder member, the movement member being formed with a communication hole that communicates a first side and a second side of the movement member; a closure member that is inserted into the communication hole and substantially closes off the communication hole to such an extent that pressure from the gas supplied into the cylinder member causes the movement member to move towards the first side and the restraining force of the webbing on the occupant is increased; and a communication groove formed between the communication hole and the closure member to communicate a first side of the closure member with a second side of the closure member.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2011Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoInventors: Tomonori Nagata, Katsuki Asagiri
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Patent number: 8376407Abstract: A seat belt system for a vehicle has a shoulder-belt extending diagonally across the seat. A belt tensioner applies tension to the belt in response to detection/prediction of a potentially unsafe situation by a safety sensor/control system. A support arm has an upper end mounted to the vehicle structure above an upper outboard portion of the seat. The support arm extends downwardly and a guide member is attached to the lower end of the support arm and engages the belt. The lower end of the support arm is movable relative to the upper end/mounting point such that when the tensioner is activated, the belt urges the guide member from a comfort position relatively far from the neck and/or upper shoulder of a seat occupant to a safety position closer to the seat.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2012Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Volvo Car CorporationInventors: Peter Adolfsson, Gert Aldeborg
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Patent number: 8376405Abstract: An anchor pretensioner structure for cars, may include an inflator mounted on a car-body plate to pull a seat belt upon a collision, a pretensioner wire made of a flexible material and connected to the inflator, a protector mounted to the pretensioner wire coupled to the seat belt, and an angle-adjuster to selectively rotate the pretensioner wire, depending upon whether or not a passenger may be sitting on a seat, so that the pretensioner wire may be allowed to rotate by a predetermined angle.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2011Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp.Inventor: Tae Hoon Kim
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Publication number: 20130038048Abstract: An anchor pretensioner structure for cars, may include an inflator mounted on a car-body plate to pull a seat belt upon a collision, a pretensioner wire made of a flexible material and connected to the inflator, a protector mounted to the pretensioner wire coupled to the seat belt, and an angle-adjuster to selectively rotate the pretensioner wire, depending upon whether or not a passenger may be sitting on a seat, so that the pretensioner wire may be allowed to rotate by a predetermined angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2012Publication date: February 14, 2013Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
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Publication number: 20130038047Abstract: A pretensioning device (10) for a safety belt, of a motor vehicle, having a gas generator (17), a piston (21) guided in a tube (16), which closes a pressure area (20) in the tube (16) that is pressurized by the gas generator (17) whereupon the piston (21) is able to move in a pretensioning movement which is able to be conveyed to the safety belt by means of an inertia body (19a) resting on a front face (9) of the piston (21). The piston (21) forms a pass-through opening (1) releasable upon exceeding of a predetermined pressure and a recess (26) is provided in the front face (9) with an inertia body (19a) resting thereon, so that a flow connection is created from the pass-through opening (1) to the area (25) located behind the piston (21) in the direction of the pretensioning movement (S).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2011Publication date: February 14, 2013Applicant: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT ABInventors: Thomas Schmidt, Martin Schmidt, Christian Fischer, Michael Pech, Matthias Steinberg, Tobias Voss
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Patent number: 8371613Abstract: A pipe includes a cutout portion through which levers of a ring gear enter the pipe. An inner peripheral surface of the pipe opposing the cutout portion includes a curved inner peripheral surface in a curved portion of the pipe, a linear inner peripheral surface in a linear portion of the pipe, and a transition portion from the curved inner peripheral surface to the linear inner peripheral surface. The transition portion is located closer to a position where balls start to press the levers of the ring gear, than an intersection where an imaginary straight line ? extending from a cutout end portion of the cutout portion intersects an imaginary extension line of the inner peripheral surface of the linear portion of the pipe at a right angle.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2011Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Yuichiro Hodatsu, Hiroshi Tomita
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Patent number: 8366151Abstract: A pretensioner (1) for a seat belt system (7) of an automobile includes a gas generator (2), a gas pipe (3), a piston (5) and a coupling mechanism (6). The gas generator is adapted to generate a high-pressure gas when a shock occurs in the automobile due to a collision, a sudden stop, etc. The gas pipe is formed to receive therein the gas generator. The gas pipe is adapted to guide the high-pressure gas released from the gas generator to the piston. The piston is adapted to be moved or displaced by the pressure of the high-pressure gas guided by the gas pipe. The coupling mechanism is connected to each of the piston and a buckle (8) of the seat belt system (7). The coupling mechanism is adapted to wind up or pull a seat belt (9) in accordance with the movement of the piston to increase a restraining force of the seat belt.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2007Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignees: Autoliv Development AS, Matsumoto Heavy Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihiro Yokote, Kazuhiko Tanaka, Hiroyuki Kimura
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Publication number: 20130015648Abstract: A seat belt apparatus for a vehicle may include a seat belt sectioned into a shoulder webbing and a lap webbing, based on a buckle tongue, and a retractor-integrated pretensioner fastened to a vehicle body, the retractor-integrated pretensioner being configured such that an end of the shoulder webbing and an end of the lap webbing may be wound up or unwound together by the retractor-integrated pretensioner, and when a vehicle accident occurs, the retractor-integrated pretensioner simultaneously winds up the shoulder webbing and the lap webbing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2011Publication date: January 17, 2013Applicant: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Choong Sik Shin
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Publication number: 20130009391Abstract: Personal restraint systems for use in recreational utility vehicles (RUVs) are disclosed herein. A personal restraint system configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a web configured to extend around an occupant and a locking retractor having a motorized spool. A control module is electrically coupled to the locking retractor and the motorized spool is operably coupled to the web. A sensor is electrically coupled to the control module and is configured to detect dynamic characteristics of the RUV. In one embodiment, the sensor detects acceleration events that indicate a level of ride quality and the locking retractor adjusts the tension in the web based on the level of ride quality.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: AmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.Inventors: Peter E. Miller, Tom Fisher, Jeffrey Miller, Michael A. Wiseman, Jeff Wood, Wayne Carter, Robert Desmarais
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Patent number: 8348306Abstract: An automotive passenger restraint system of the lapbelt/diagonal shoulder belt type wherein a sensor and lookup table are used to detect the onset of a collision and provide a programmed (a) relocation of the inboard seatbelt anchor point to increase pelvic area restraint and (b) asymmetric airbag deployment.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2010Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventor: Atsutaka Tamura
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Patent number: 8335614Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a reversible seat belt pretensioner in a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of detecting the speed and the steering angle of the vehicle, calculating an expected turning rate of the vehicle about its vertical axis from the speed and the steering angle and calculating an upper and a lower turning rate limiting value using the expected turning rate, detecting the actual turning rate of the vehicle about its vertical axis and activating the seat belt pretensioner of the vehicle if the actual turning rate of the vehicle is greater than the upper turning rate limiting value or is less than the lower turning rate limiting value. The present invention also relates to a safety arrangement for implementing the method according to the invention.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2006Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Klaus Bauer, Simon Hesse, Horst Kettern-Kohler, Ulrich Rick
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Publication number: 20120299282Abstract: The invention relates to a belt buckle presenter for a seat belt system of a vehicle comprising a belt buckle which is coupled to a spindle drive (16) through force transmission means (14), the force transmission means (14) including a locking member (40) which in normal operation is movable along a threaded spindle (30) of the spindle drive (16) in axial direction and in the case of restraint can be deformed by a restraining force acting on the belt buckle (12) so as to adopt a locking position in which the locking member (40) positively engages in the threaded spindle (30).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Inventors: Wolfgang Holbein, Artur Klein, Nathalie Kramer, Martin Prokscha, Stefano Roehm
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Patent number: 8317228Abstract: A belt tensioner of a vehicle occupant restraint system, especially a belt buckle tensioner, comprises a coupling member (12) to the vehicle seat belt, a drive unit (18), a flexible tension transmitting means (14) and a deflector (26). The flexible tension transmitting means (14) is connected at least indirectly to the coupling member (12) and is moved via the drive unit (18) in the event of tensioning. The deflector (26) deflects the tension transmitting means (14) in the direction of the coupling member (12). The tension transmitting means (14) is moved along the deflector (26) in the event of tensioning. According to the invention, the drive unit (18) is coupled in terms of drive to the deflector (26) such that the drive unit (18) moves the deflector (26) upon activation and thus displaces the coupling member (12) in the tensioning direction (R).Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2010Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbHInventor: Mark Mages
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Publication number: 20120286501Abstract: A tongue assembly for use in an occupant restraint system also having a buckle mechanism and a webbing. The tongue assembly includes a tongue member configured to selectively engage the buckle mechanism, a body formed over a portion of the tongue member, a cam, and a biasing member configured to rotationally bias the cam. The body includes a contact surface. The cam includes a cam surface and is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation between a first locking position and a second free position. When the cam is positioned in the second free position the tongue assembly is free to slide along the length of the webbing, and when the cam is positioned in the first locking position a portion of the webbing is clamped between the cam surface and the contact surface thereby preventing the tongue assembly from sliding along the length of the webbing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2011Publication date: November 15, 2012Inventors: Darren W. GOUDEAU, Jonathon M. BOUGHNER
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Patent number: 8302994Abstract: A shield cover assembly for a vehicle, may include a shield cover main body, on which a slot is formed thereon in one direction and another direction of the vehicle, and a sliding cover disposed on a bottom surface of the shield cover main body such that the slot is not exposed outside the shield cover main body, wherein the sliding cover has a penetration portion formed in a hollow shape thereon and an anchorage pretensioner member is fixed to a cushion frame through the penetration portion, and wherein the sliding cover is slidable along the bottom surface in the one direction and the another direction in accordance with a movement of the shield cover main body.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2010Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Hyun Ko
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Patent number: 8302995Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system provides protection during a collision and subsequent rollover. Left and right shoulder belt retractors are actuated differentially in reaction to a lateral component of the crash force to lock one of the shoulder belts while allowing the other shoulder belt to extend under loading applied by a seat occupant. If a subsequent rollover is detected, the second shoulder belt retractor is actuated to lock or retract the second shoulder belt. The second shoulder belt may be retracted to achieve a specified level of tension and/or to achieve an extended length approximately equal to the extended length of the first shoulder belt.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2009Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: BeiBei Xu, Fubang Wu