Passive Restraint System Patents (Class 297/469)
  • Patent number: 11897416
    Abstract: A seat belt to increase a force for restraining a passenger's lower body in a sitting state of a relaxation mode while satisfying existing laws in a normal sitting state and to a movement control method thereof includes an anchor unit provided on a lower portion of a first side surface of a seat and configured for allowing webbing of the seat belt to be locked thereto and an anchor moving apparatus configured to move the anchor unit forwards and backwards thereof, and to a movement control method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, SAMSONG INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Dae Woon Kim, Il Chang Sung, Won Ryong Song, Jung Woo Park
  • Patent number: 11584335
    Abstract: A movable anchorage system for a seat belt, having a lockable slide mechanism comprising a slide extending in a longitudinal direction of adjustment, a slider system comprising at least one body configured to move in translation along the slide while being guided by the slide, the body incorporating an anchorage device for the seat belt, an actuator configured to ensure the movement of the slider system along the slide, a mechanism for locking the position of the slider system in the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Semir Hammadi, Fabrice Camus, Roland Faure
  • Patent number: 10457246
    Abstract: A child restraint, in accordance with the present disclosure, includes a juvenile seat and a child-restraint harness. The child-restraint harness may be configured to move to make it easier for a caregiver to seat and unseat a child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Devin J. Coakley, Grant M. Mason, Mei-Hui Lin
  • Patent number: 8847758
    Abstract: Sensor unit (30) for monitoring the state of fasteners, such as ratchet straps, chains, wires, ropes, bars or similar, which are being used for fastening and/or securing and/or anchoring one or more objects (20), which fasteners preferably includes fastening means (14, 104) and means (15, 100) for tensioning of the fasteners. The sensor unit (30) includes one or more measuring elements (32) for measuring tension force and/or tension and/or pressure and/or bending moment and/or shear force for the fastener and/or fastening means (14, 104) of the fastener and/or anchoring devices (22) for fasteners for monitoring the state of the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Tore Eide
  • Publication number: 20140103696
    Abstract: A control device controls driving of a motor such that a clutch of a power transmission mechanism is moved to a disconnecting position and thereby a belt reacher device is moved around in a forward direction of a vehicle by a return spring of the belt reacher device, if a change from an open state to a closed state of a door is detected by a door switch. The control device controls driving of the motor such that a webbing is winded and thereby the belt reacher device is moved around to a retracted position in a backward direction of the vehicle, if a determination is made that no occupant seated in a passenger seat is detected by an output of an OFF signal from a buckle switch of the passenger seat and a determination is made that start-up of the vehicle is detected by an output of an ON signal from an ignition switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shotaro Odate
  • Patent number: 8544889
    Abstract: A motorized fastening device for seat belts of a transportation vehicle, of the kind having a belt unwrapping from a coiler, which is fixedly arranged on a side of a seat, and passing in sequence through a regulator, which is fixedly arranged on the same side of said seat where also said coiler is arranged, a tongue, a housing of said tongue and a blocking point of the extremity of the belt, which is fixedly arranged in proximity of said coiler, wherein said device further has a track for the sliding of a transport carriage for said tongue, obtained on the chassis of said vehicle, defining a path going from a first position, corresponding to a position of non-use of the seat belts, positioned on the chassis of the vehicle, on the same side of the seat with respect to said coiler and said regulator, behind or at the base of the back of the seat and that, passing under the door and within or under the dashboard of the vehicle, arrives to a second position, corresponding to a working position of the seat belts,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: Maurizio Vincenzotti
  • Publication number: 20120326486
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically locking and unlocking a vehicle seat belt, which automatically locks and unlocks seat belts of a driver seat and a passenger seat of a vehicle. The apparatus includes: a first housing 10; a second housing 20; a belt-locking bar 40 having one end coupled to a hinge portion 30 provided at the center of a connection portion between the first and second housings 10 and 20; a movable block 61; a retractor 50; a chest protecting belt 60 having one end connected to the movable block 61; an abdomen protecting belt 70; and a controller 100 for controlling the rotation of the belt-locking bar 40. According to the present invention, the seat belt is automatically locked at the time of a start of a vehicle engine without being manually worn by a driver or a passenger getting in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: MBI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyouk Yu, Tae-Jin Jung, Seong-Cheol An, Chang-min Lee
  • Patent number: 7871132
    Abstract: A seat belt system comprises a seat belt, a tongue, and a buckle. The seat belt includes webbing with a lap portion and a shoulder portion. The buckle receives and latches the tongue. The tongue includes a slot to receive the webbing. The webbing slides within the slot to connect the webbing to the tongue. The tongue further includes a cinching mechanism to cinch the webbing in the slot. The system also includes a cinching control module that initiates the cinching mechanism to cinch the webbing in the slot when a load of about 3.0 kN or more is exerted on the seat belt. The cinching mechanism prevents translation of the seat belt from the lap portion to the shoulder portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. Rogers
  • Patent number: 7823925
    Abstract: A head and neck restraint device controls the motion of the head and forces exerted upon the neck of a seated occupant in a decelerating vehicle. A body defines a collar, right and left legs, and right and left wings. The collar is tethered to the helmet. Each leg has belt interaction surfaces that provide a friction action on the shoulder straps. Left and right extensions or wings residing under the shoulder strap rearward of the legs provide a restriction of rotation of the body and thus a binding action on the shoulder straps. A cantilever action is induced during forward impact by the tethers pulling on the collar of the body and the binding action on the shoulder straps, thus reducing the forward motion of the body. The present restraint device does not attach to the structure of the vehicle, allows travel thereof with respect to the seated occupant, yet controls the motion of the occupant's head in order to substantially reduce neck loads on the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Inventor: Leigh R. Sargent
  • Patent number: 7699401
    Abstract: An anchor for securing seat belt component to a vehicle includes a latch member for securing a tongue portion of the component within a housing. The latch member is movable between a first position wherein a protrusion on the latch member engages the tongue and a second position wherein the protrusion is displaced for releasing the tongue. A biasing member provides a biasing force to maintain the latch in the first position. The housing includes a latch-access area for allowing the latch member to be engaged for manually forcing the latch member to the second position to allow the tongue portion to be removed, so that the anchor does not have a release button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Webber, Michael T. Moury, David G. Hlavaty
  • Patent number: 7625010
    Abstract: A seat belt device allows easy connection of a lap anchor fixed to one end of a seat belt relative to a vehicle body or the like even when a seat weight sensor is installed below a vehicle seat. The seat weight sensor and the vehicle seat are fixed to a vehicle body floor. A hitch member is attached to the seat weight sensor via a mounting bracket by a bolt. A lap anchor is locked to a hitch member by an engaging hook of the lap anchor. The hitch member is directly attached to a mounting bracket of the seat weight sensor. The mounting bracket is positioned between a seat rail and the seat weight sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Fujii, Shigeru Kohama
  • Publication number: 20070228802
    Abstract: A child safety device for a vehicle including a seat including a shell, a harness including at least one strap for retaining an occupant in the seat, and a sensor between a device on the strap and the seat shell indicating a tension status of the harness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventor: Said Nakhla
  • Publication number: 20070205650
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle extender and method enhances convenience and decreases problems associated with using safety restraints with child booster seats. The seat belt buckle extender has a seat belt latch plate on one end and a seat belt buckle on an opposite end. The extender has an additional lengthening segment to improve the position of the buckle relative to the child booster seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventor: Elisabeth Weinstein
  • Patent number: 6669234
    Abstract: A system (20) comprising a buckle presenter (100) and/or a tongue presenter (200) and mechanism to activate and control each presenter. The buckle presenter and tongue presenter (200) are used to respectively move a seat belt buckle (26) and a corresponding tongue (24) from a stowed position to activated positions generally in front of the occupant to make the process of inserting the tongue into the buckle more convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Kohlndorfer, Mark F. Gray, Markell Seitzman, Mohannad F. Murad, Hossam Almasri, Randal Gosk
  • Patent number: 5709408
    Abstract: Motorized shoulder and lap belts are moved to restraining positions by a drive belt along a track around a doorway of a vehicle. A catch in a slot in the drive belt engages the shoulder belt to move with the lap belt which is attached to the drive belt. An adjustable height stop in the track stops and disengages the shoulder belt in the shoulder belt restraining position from the catch while the lap belt continues to move and stops in the lap belt restraining position. A persons weight in a seat of the vehicle and closing the vehicle door, if the vehicle ignition is turned on, activates a switch which moves the shoulder and lap belts into their restraining positions. With the person seated, the shoulder and lap belts are retracted by turning the vehicle ignition off, or by activating a switch located in the vehicle door handle, door post, or elsewhere in the vehicle. Sleeves located near where the shoulder and lap belts enter retractors are disposed around ends of the shoulder and lap belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Inventor: Bruce H. Carraway, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5609396
    Abstract: A seat belt positioning assembly (30) for seat belt webbing (16) includes a structure (50) that has an opening (52) through which the webbing (16) extends. The assembly (30) also includes a movable closure member (60) that blocks the opening (52) and a support assembly (70) for the closure member (60). The closure member (60) has a slot (62) through which the seat belt webbing (16) extends. The support assembly (70) supports the closure member (60) for simultaneous pivotal adjustment about a center (74) as well as for rotational adjustment about a central axis (72).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Loxton, Donald P. Czarnecki
  • Patent number: 5586503
    Abstract: A passive passenger restraint system adapted for use with aerial, cable-supported chairlifts includes a passive restraint that is driven by the motion of the chairlift. A seatbelt automatically deploys across the laps of the passengers. The seatbelt restrains the passengers until the end of the trip and then releases the restraint just before unloading the passengers. After unloading, the restraint system automatically resets for the next passengers and the next deployment cycle. A similar passenger restraint system for use in vehicles restrains passengers individually using a shoulder belt and a lap belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Inventor: Don W. Rehorn
  • Patent number: 5540482
    Abstract: The seat for a vehicle which is preferably intended to be used with a seat belt capable of assuming an active position in which it is able to keep an occupant in his seat with the aid of a strap (S) held by at least one anchoring point (A), and which comprises a seat part (10) with a cushion (11) carried by a framework (12) mounted on a subframe (14), a backrest (20) with a cushion (21) carried by a framework (22), characterized in that the framework (12) of the seat part (10) cushion (11) is mounted on the subframe (14) by interposition of a turntable (13) so that the seat part (10) cushion (11) can rotate about an axis (130) between a normal position and a turned access position and in that an anchoring point (A) of the strap (S) of the seat belt is placed, directly or indirectly, on the framework (12) of the seat part (10) cushion (11).Application to land-based motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Cesa-compagnie Europeene de Siges pour Automobiles
    Inventors: Frederick Baret, Fran.cedilla.ois Fourrey
  • Patent number: 5452918
    Abstract: Motorized bi-level safety belts having a lap belt and a shoulder belt with a base end of each anchored to a separate retractor at an inside portion of a vehicle seat. Moveable ends of the lap belt and shoulder belt are attachable to a moveable base that is separable into a shoulder level and a seat level. The moveable base travels in a rail from a body-release mode in a position at a front of a vehicle door to a body-restraint mode in which the moveable base is separable into a shoulder level and a seat level at the back of the door. The rail is attached to a frame of the door. Curved accurately shaped, rigid areas of the belts are provided to prevent contact of a lap belt and a shoulder belt with a body of an individual on a vehicle seat and to prevent contact of the safety belts with a steering wheel of a car in transit between body-release and body-restraint modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Inventor: Bruce H. Carraway, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5431446
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignees: Ford Motor Company, TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Donald P. Czarnecki, Louis R. Brown, Steven R. Loxton, Roger P. Daniel, Timothy G. Laske
  • Patent number: 5280958
    Abstract: An automatic seat belt device for motor vehicles includes a retracting member for slidably moving in a C-shaped channel, a webbing connected to the retracting member at one end thereof, and a two-way motor for rotating a capstan pulley in the counter-clockwise or clockwise direction so as to move forward or return the retracting member within the channel, whereby the webbing can be effectively fitted to or easily released from the occupant seated within the vehicle as the two-way motor rotates in two directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Inventor: Tae K. Chung
  • 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: 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: 5163707
    Abstract: An automatic seat belt system in which a slider supported by a guide rail and adapted to be worn by a vehicle occupant is moved from a webbing-application canceling position to a webbing applying position so as to apply the webbing around the occupant. The automatic seat belt system includes a slider holding portion for retaining the slider at the webbing applying position and movable along the guide rail in the retaining state, and a lock pin for retaining the slider holding member onto a chassis by being inserted in a hole provided in the chassis and for setting the slider holding member in a movable state as the lock pin is pulled out of the hole. Also provided is a controller for moving the slider by a predetermined distance from the webbing applying position toward the webbing-application canceling position by reversely rotating the motor before the lock pin is pulled out of the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yasutaka Watanabe, Takashi Kawaharazaki
  • 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: 5141249
    Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic seat-belt applying system for motorcars, comprising a guide rail located laterally relative to a seat and disposed on the vehicle body of a motorcar to extend along a path of movement of a seat belt and a self-propelled anchor movable along the guide rail for holding the seat belt at one end, the self-propelled anchor including a motor for moving the anchor along the guide rail, whereby the seat belt can be automatically applied around a crew sitting on the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Saitoh, Yoshiharu Takanashi, Tatsuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5106121
    Abstract: An occupant restraint belt system for a motor vehicle of the type having front driver and passenger side doors and a single rear side door on the passenger side of the vehicle. A two-passenger bench seat structures and a three-passenger seat structure are adapted to be removably coupled to the vehicle floor pan. The invention enables a single occupant restraint belt system to be selectively used by an outboard occupant of either one of the seat structures. The occupant restraint seat belt system has its one free end provided with a snap-action hook adapted for selective engagement with either a floor pan anchorage or a vehicle wall anchorage depending upon which seat structure is being used in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Marion C. Boone
  • Patent number: 5071165
    Abstract: An emergency lock for a passive seat belt system restrains the seat belt anchor in a secured rear position in emergency situations. A pivotal lock bar which blocks movement of the anchor in a forward direction along a track member independently of a driven tape is mounted and contained entirely within the track member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Louis R. Brown
  • Patent number: 5060978
    Abstract: A lip suitable for use in covering a rail of a passive seat belt system is coated with an abrasion-resistant material at a slide surface. The lip can be produced coating the slide surface of the lip with the abrasion-resistant material while using an integral flange as a coating flow limiter. Preferably, the flange is a burr formed upon molding of the lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takanobu Sasaki
  • Patent number: 4948170
    Abstract: A guide rail for guiding a movable anchor upon driving the movable anchor by a drive member is constructed to a first guide portion for slidably guiding the movable anchor and a second guide portion combined as a unitary member with the first guide portion and adapted to slidably guide the drive member. The first and second portions are formed of discrete members. The second guide portion is made of a material softer than the first guide portion. The first guide portion and second guide portion are formed separately and are then assembled together into the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuyasu Ono
  • Patent number: 4906022
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a passive seat belt arrangement mounted in a vehicle which has a roof side rail and a center pillar which are connected with each other to form a smoothly curved inner edge at a jointed portion therebetween. The arrangement comprises a guide rail attached to the roof side rail and the center piller to extend along the same thereby to form a curved portion thereof at the jointed portion. A carrier carrying one end of a webbing is slidably guided by the guide rail. The carrier has a substantially linear edge portion which faces toward the smoothly curved inner edge portion of the jointed portion when assuming a position of the guide rail on the roof side rail. When the carrier is at the curved portion of the guide rail, an angle defined between the linear edge of the carrier and any tangent line which touches the smoothly curved inner edge is not less than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumi Hira, Kenro Otsuka, Takashi Nakamori
  • Patent number: 4902040
    Abstract: A mounting assembly comprises a rigid bracket having an essentially U-shaped portion and an elastic plate, the tip of which is fixed to the tip of the bracket. A guide rail of a passive seat belt system is inserted into a space between the inner surface of the shaped portion and the elastic plate to be secured to a vehicle body by a bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Company, Limited, NSK-Warnar Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazumi Hira, Kenro Otsuka, Shunichi Kiyono
  • Patent number: 4898402
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a structure for fixing an anchor base on a stationary base of a vehicle. The structure is suited for use in an automatic seat belt system of the type that a movable anchor travels along a guide member. The anchor base surrounds transversely the guide member on the side of an occupant-restraining position and extends in the direction of the length of the guide member. The anchor base is provided with a support portion to support the movable anchor on the anchor base. An engaging portion is formed at one side of the anchor base, said side facing the stationary base, and is hooked with an engaged portion provided on the side of the stationary base, whereby the anchor base is fixed on the stationary base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoharu Igarashi, Yoshiniro Yokote, Kazuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4872703
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system includes a guide rail, a webbing-carrying movable member and a bracket for mounting the guide rail on a stationary base. The guide rail has an elongated top wall, an elongated bottom wall and two elongated side walls. The movable member extends through a slot formed in the guide rail and is driven along the guide rail. The bracket includes a rail-holding portion enclosing externally one end portion of the guide rail and an extension extending out longitudinally from the one end portion of the guide rail and defining a mounting portion for mounting the bracket on the stationary base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 4834425
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system is constructed of a guide rail, a slider movable along the guide rail, a force-transmitting member connected to the slider so as to move the slider, a drive unit for driving the force-transmitting member, said drive unit having a rotatable member connected to the force-transmitting member, an acceleration/deceleration sensing mechanism which actuates upon application of an acceleration/deceleration of at least a predetermined value to a vehicle with the passive seat belt system mounted thereon, and a lock device engageable with the rotatable member upon actuation of the sensing mechanism so as to prevent rotation of the rotatable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Kawai
  • Patent number: 4832365
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system includes a timer and a control means. The timer is capable of reaching a time-up state upon an elapsed time of a predetermined interval of time after closure of an associated door and releasing the time-up state upon opening of the door. The control means allows a retractor to lock a webbing after the timer has reached the time-up state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Kawai, Shuichi Asano
  • Patent number: 4796917
    Abstract: According to the invention, the roof rail mounted track for a shoulder belt carriage extends down along the windshield pillar. A belt supporting hook is pivotally mounted on the body at the juncture between the roof rail and the windshield pillar and has a spring means acting to urge the hook to a normal position extending into the path of movement of the carriage along the track. The spring yields upon engagement of the carriage with the hook to temporarily pivot the hook away from the belt to permit movement of the carriage past the hook. Then, the spring returns the hook into the path of movement so that the hook supports the belt at the juncture of the roof rail and the windshield pillar during the further forward and downward movement of the carriage along the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Larry D. Miller
  • Patent number: 4789184
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system is equipped with a guide rail, a slide anchor movable along the length of the guide rail and connected to one end of an occupant restraining webbing, and a drive means for causing the slide anchor to move along the length of the guide rail between an occupant restraining position and an occupant releasing position. Both end faces of the slide anchor as viewed in both running directions of the slide anchor flare out form the side of the webbing toward the side of the guide rail in the respective running directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 4765651
    Abstract: An adjustable seat belt system having a plurality of anchor fittings where one or more anchoring slide block fittings comprise a gear mounted to the anchoring slide block for positioning the anchoring slide block along a track by a manual rotation device or electric motor for rotating the gear interacting with a rack located on the track. The anchoring slide block fitting can also be repositioned by rotating a screw which repositions the anchor. A double-pole double-throw switch is activated to energize the motor to move the block to a selected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: American Safety Equipment Corporation
    Inventor: Hans Unger
  • Patent number: 4743043
    Abstract: A removable and foldable guard rail for a collapsible stroller having spaced apart side rails comprises an articulated rail member with opposite ends and a latch assembly pivotally connected to each of the opposite ends of the rail member. Each latch assembly has a latch plate with a semicircular recess for receiving one of the side tubes. A hook member is pivotally mounted to each latch plate and can be engaged over the side rail to capture the side rail in the latch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Inventor: Louis Shamie
  • Patent number: 4717174
    Abstract: A seatbelt system for a vehicle which enables a webbing to be automatically fastened to the body of an occupant includes a tape subjected to driving force derived from a motor. The distal end portion of the tape is provided with a plurality of neck portions. Projecting members are provided on a slider which retains the webbing. The projecting members are fitted into the neck portions, respectively, so that the driving force from the motor is transmitted to the slider while being distributed among a plurality of portions of the tape. Thus, even when the tape has a relatively small width, the driving force is reliably transmitted to the slider and hence the webbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Yuji Nishimura
  • Patent number: 4708367
    Abstract: This invention relates to an automatically fastening seatbelt assembly which causes an occupant of a vehicle to be automatically held to a seat in the vehicle by a restraining webbing, after the occupant is positioned on the seat in the vehicle.The seatbelt assembly includes a guide rail, a slider and adjustment device. The guide rail includes a longitudinal groove therein, and the guide rail is mounted on a vehicle body. The slider is displaceable along the longitudinal groove of the guide rail and a restraining webbing is fastened at one end thereof to the slider. The adjustment device includes a stop member and the adjustment device is slidably mounted on the guide rail. The stop member is displaceable with the adjustment device along the guide rail and the adjustment means is adapted to be selectively position and locked at one of a plurality of anchor positions. The stop member crosses a path of the slider along the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritada Yoshitsugu
  • Patent number: 4667904
    Abstract: In the operation of modern tactical aircraft, crew members are subjected to periodic high acceleration loads that cause fatigue and a decrease in operating capacity. Restraining the torso of a crew member and pulling the crew member back against the ejection seat (2) of the aircraft would help prevent such fatigue. Known restraint and haul back apparatus for use during ejection are not adapted for repeated in flight use. The invention provides a single mechanism that retracts torso restraint straps (6) any number of times during in flight maneuvering and also retracts straps (6) for ejection. A loop (7) of each strap (6) extends around an inflatable member (28). When in flight acceleration loads exceed a preset limit, engine bleed air inflates member (28) to expand loops (7). This retracts straps (6) and positions the crew member. Member (28) is allowed to deflate when the acceleration subsides. When the ejection procedure is initiated, a gas generator (44) inflates member (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Gerald F. Herndon
  • 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: 4575120
    Abstract: An installation in a passive safety belt actuating mechanism for the displacement of an entrainment member for a safety belt and of an unlocking element for unlocking the entrainment member from a locking mechanism, along a guide profile by means of an elongated flexible member extending in a guide profile, on which the entrainment member is secured for limited longitudinal displacement while the unlocking element is non-displaceably secured thereon; the elongated flexible member consists of a cable rigid in tension and compression with a plastic sleeve which is removed in the longitudinal displacement section of the entrainment member and in a fastening area of the unlocking element adjoining the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Volk, Herbert Becker, Michael Forkel
  • 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: 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: 4509798
    Abstract: A vehicle seat harness which is self-actuating for movement from an inoperative position wherein it is situated to allow unobstructed access to the seat and an operating position wherein it restrains forward motion of the occupant, such movement being effected when the occupant is first seated. The seat harness is constructed with a pair of pivot arms hingedly mounted to the vehicle seat and a body restraining portion operatively associated with the pivot arms. An actuating mechanism is provided for moving the harness from the inoperative to the operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Inventor: John Strothers
  • 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