Electrically Operated Patents (Class 297/477)
  • Patent number: 12043208
    Abstract: A system includes a seatbelt retractor having a spool and a braking claw selectively engageable with the spool. The system includes an actuator designed to inhibit engagement of the braking claw with the spool. The system includes a processor and a memory storing program instructions executable by the processor to actuate the actuator to inhibit engagement of the braking claw with the spool for a threshold amount of time after detecting an impact of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 8783725
    Abstract: When releasing a connection between a motor and a spool, the value of a drive voltage is increased at start-up of the motor. After the rotating shaft of the motor starts rotating, the value of the drive voltage is set to a minimum value necessary to maintain the rotation of the rotating shaft. By this means, it is possible to prevent the number of revolutions of the rotating shaft of the motor from increasing unnecessarily and reduce the sound produced from the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyuki Tombe
  • Patent number: 8783724
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a gas exhaust device of a retractor pretensioner for a vehicle, including a pinion connected to a belt weaving spool in a retractor body; a rack linearly transferred when engaged with the pinion; a rack transfer path formed between a pretensioner body and the retractor body, configured to guide the rack linearly toward the pinion; and a micro-gas generator (MGG) mounted on a side of a lower end of the pretensioner body to elevate the rack toward the pinion using gas generated by the MGG, wherein a gas moving aperture is formed to allow communication between an upper portion and a lower portion of the rack transfer path in a longitudinal direction in the rack, to elevate the rack using the gas generated from the MGG and simultaneously, move the rack toward the upper portion of the rack transfer path through the gas moving aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyun Mo Yang
  • Patent number: 8632131
    Abstract: Tensioning apparatuses for occupant restraint systems and associated systems and methods. In one embodiment, an occupant restraint system for a vehicle can include a flexible web configured to extend across at least a portion of an occupant seated in the vehicle and an electrically actuated web retractor operably coupled to a proximal end portion of the web. The web retractor is configured to automatically wind and unwind the web. The system also includes an acceleration sensor operably coupled to the electrically actuated web retractor. The acceleration sensor is configured to send an electrical signal to the web retractor in response to a vehicle acceleration above a preset magnitude. In response to the signal, the web retractor is configured to (a) retract the web, and/or (b) at least temporarily prevent the web from moving inwardly or outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: AmSafe, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd J. Humbert
  • Patent number: 8579066
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shotaro Odate, Takeshi Kojima, Yo Ito
  • Patent number: 8528938
    Abstract: The motor drive current has a value increased for a time necessary for the clutch operation to mechanically connect the motor and spool and, after the clutch operation, the drive current has a value necessary only for preventing the rotation of the spool due to the belt tension. In this way, the power necessary only for restraining the occupant is consumed after the operation of the clutch is ensured. Then, it is possible to reduce the motor power consumption and suppress heat generation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyuki Tombe
  • Patent number: 8521369
    Abstract: A method and a device for control or regulation of a restraint system in a vehicle having a safety belt and at least one of an operation or convenience function. The operation and convenience functions of the restraint system adapt in a situation-related fashion and set the belt retraction force that acts on the safety belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Thomas Blaas, Walter Eberle, Martin Lanzerath, Jan Schroeder
  • Patent number: 8457845
    Abstract: A seatbelt control apparatus includes seatbelt control means that controls a motor for retracting a seatbelt; and motor current detecting means that detects a current of the motor. The seatbelt control apparatus further includes jamming determination means, indicator detecting means, and threshold value setting means. The jamming determination means determines whether or not the seatbelt is jammed during take-up operation on the basis of whether or not the motor current detected by the motor current detecting means exceeds a threshold value for jamming determination. The indicator detecting means detects an indicator of a current versus load characteristic of the motor. The threshold value setting means sets the threshold value for jamming determination on the basis of the indicator detected by the indicator detecting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Takao, Daisuke Murakami
  • Publication number: 20130127229
    Abstract: Tensioning apparatuses for occupant restraint systems and associated systems and methods. In one embodiment, an occupant restraint system for a vehicle can include a flexible web configured to extend across at least a portion of an occupant seated in the vehicle and an electrically actuated web retractor operably coupled to a proximal end portion of the web. The web retractor is configured to automatically wind and unwind the web. The system also includes an acceleration sensor operably coupled to the electrically actuated web retractor. The acceleration sensor is configured to send an electrical signal to the web retractor in response to a vehicle acceleration above a preset magnitude. In response to the signal, the web retractor is configured to (a) retract the web, and/or (b) at least temporarily prevent the web from moving inwardly or outwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: AmSafe, Inc.
    Inventor: AmSafe, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8350615
    Abstract: If a power supply is provided to a circuit necessary to control a switch for switching a path after wakeup, or if a buckle switch is switched while a microcomputer is asleep, an electrical current necessary for reliable operation of the buckle switch cannot be supplied during sleep, so that the buckle switch will not operate normally. This creates the possibility that wakeup cannot be performed. To permit the electrical current necessary for reliable operation of the buckle switch to be secured if the buckle switch is switched while the microcomputer is asleep, an FET capable of being kept ON or OFF by a power supply acting during sleep, a resistor connected with the FET, and a resistor of large resistance for blocking excessive dark current if the buckle switch is connected are arranged in parallel. The combined resistance of the parallel combination of these elements is used as a pull-up resistance at the input of a control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroto Nagoshi, Masashi Saito
  • Patent number: 8303043
    Abstract: Tensioning apparatuses for occupant restraint systems and associated systems and methods. In one embodiment, an occupant restraint system for a vehicle can include a flexible web configured to extend across at least a portion of an occupant seated in the vehicle and an electrically actuated web retractor operably coupled to a proximal end portion of the web. The web retractor is configured to automatically wind and unwind the web. The system also includes an acceleration sensor operably coupled to the electrically actuated web retractor. The acceleration sensor is configured to send an electrical signal to the web retractor in response to a vehicle acceleration above a preset magnitude. In response to the signal, the web retractor is configured to (a) retract the web, and/or (b) at least temporarily prevent the web from moving inwardly or outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Phoenix Group)
    Inventor: Todd Humbert
  • Publication number: 20120019042
    Abstract: A safety belt for a vehicle which can be worn in a manner of wearing suspenders to prevent a concentration of pressure to a part of the body of a seat occupant, and to uniformly distribute impact to thereby safely protect the seat occupant even upon the occurrence of an emergency during travel. To accomplish the above-described object, the safety belt for a vehicle according to the present invention comprises a pair of belts spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction on the front surface of a seatback and a connection unit for interconnecting the pair of belts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventor: Nam-Young Park
  • Patent number: 8091821
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric belt retractor (16) which has an electric motor (20) which can drive a belt spool (18) in a belt band retraction direction and/or in a belt band withdrawal direction, and a blocking catch which is able to be guided into blocking teeth in order to block a rotation of the belt spool (18) in the belt band withdrawal direction, comprises the following steps: Operating the electric motor (20) in belt band retraction direction for tensioning the belt band (26); Detecting a possible belt band withdrawal; Determining a stable vehicle state; and Re-operating the electric motor (20) in belt band retraction direction only when a belt band withdrawal is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Burkart, Thomas Busch
  • Publication number: 20110140504
    Abstract: A system is provided for utilizing belt movement information in a motorized seat belt (MSB) control system algorithm to achieve better levels of comfort and safety. The MSB control system algorithm controls execution of multiple modes including a no friction mode, a stowage mode, a slack reduction mode, an out of position warning mode, a medium pull-back mode, and a high pull-back mode. The MSB control system algorithm also controls execution of a low power mode initiated after the other vehicle modules are put to sleep to provide the ability to stow the seat belt after the vehicle has been turned off for some period of time. The MSB control system algorithm also controls belt monitoring functions defined based on a buckle switch state that indicates the buckled or unbuckled state of the seat belt. Belt monitoring consists of belt movement being converted to counts based on a resolution provided by a belt movement sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Todd BOLTON, Fred MOMBLANCO, Susan Yi SONG, Jeff BENNETT, Mohannad MURAD
  • Patent number: 7922254
    Abstract: A prisoner seat security device includes a retractable strap which attaches to a prisoner, preferably by a restraint device on the prisoner, such as hand-cuffs. As the prisoner sits in the seat, the strap retracts. The officer can then lock the retraction mechanism so that the strap will not extend and the prisoner is held in place. When it is desired for the prisoner to get out of the chair, the lock is released, allowing the prisoner to stand and the strap to be disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventors: Keith D. Squires, Omar L. Issa
  • Patent number: 7823679
    Abstract: A method of controlling a motorized retractor includes a spool onto which a webbing belt for restraining an occupant is wound, a motor operated according to a predetermined signal, and a clutch mechanism enabling transmission of power from the motor to the spool. When cancelling power transmission of the clutch mechanism by the operation of the motor, the rotating speed or the driving time period of the motor is varied according to the load on the clutch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Takao, Koji Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20100213753
    Abstract: Tensioning apparatuses for occupant restraint systems and associated systems and methods. In one embodiment, an occupant restraint system for a vehicle can include a flexible web configured to extend across at least a portion of an occupant seated in the vehicle and an electrically actuated web retractor operably coupled to a proximal end portion of the web. The web retractor is configured to automatically wind and unwind the web. The system also includes an acceleration sensor operably coupled to the electrically actuated web retractor. The acceleration sensor is configured to send an electrical signal to the web retractor in response to a vehicle acceleration above a preset magnitude. In response to the signal, the web retractor is configured to (a) retract the web, and/or (b) at least temporarily prevent the web from moving inwardly or outwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: AmSafe, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Humbert
  • Patent number: 7717215
    Abstract: A seat belt apparatus to be installed in a vehicle is structured such that a motor for rotating a spool of a seat belt retractor is controlled to drive in the belt winding direction to apply a first tension on a seat belt before a vehicle collision and the motor is controlled to drive in the belt winding direction to apply a second tension on the seat belt during the vehicle collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20090102271
    Abstract: A prisoner seat security device includes a retractable strap which attaches to a prisoner, preferably by a restraint device on the prisoner, such as hand-cuffs. As the prisoner sits in the seat, the strap retracts. The officer can then lock the retraction mechanism so that the strap will not extend and the prisoner is held in place. When it is desired for the prisoner to get out of the chair, the lock is released, allowing the prisoner to stand and the strap to be disconnected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Keith D. Squires, Omar L. Issa
  • Patent number: 7517025
    Abstract: As an occupant releases the latching between a buckle and a tongue, a seat belt retractor winds up the seat belt at a winding-up speed S1 as a first high speed. Accordingly, the seat belt moves away from the occupant immediately. As a time period (T1-T0) elapses from the buckle release, the seat belt retractor winds up the seat belt at a winding-up speed S2 as a low speed. Accordingly, the seat belt is slowly wound up so that the tongue is less likely to strike and thus scratch an interior panel. As a time period (T2-T1) further elapses, the seat belt retractor winds up the seat belt at a winding-up speed S3 as a second high speed. Accordingly, the winding of the seat belt is promptly completed so that the seat belt is less likely to be caught by a door when the occupant gets out of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Tanaka, Masato Takao, Koji Inuzuka
  • Patent number: 7506833
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor includes a spring for rotating a reel in a belt winding direction to wind up a seat belt, and a motor for generating rotational power capable of rotating the reel in the belt winding direction to wind up the seat belt. A motor control unit controls the motor to generate the rotational power to wind up the seat belt with a desired winding force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20090026828
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat belt apparatus for motor vehicles comprising a seat belt, a belt retractor and a drive, which preferably comprises an electric motor, for the retractor, wherein a unidirectionally effective blocking member is integrated into the powertrain between the drive and the retractor which, starting from a normal blocking state, amplifies the blocking effect with a force transmission starting from the belt and reverses it into a release state with a force transmission starting from the drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Julius Adomeit, Steve Marshall
  • Publication number: 20080246327
    Abstract: The patron restraint system for amusement rides includes a locking receiver with a locking assembly for engaging a restraining strap. The engagement of the restraining strap in the locking receiver can be verified by a ride operator by visual or physical inspection, or by a sensor system indicating the locked or unlocked state of the locking receiver. A latching ratchet mechanism may be provided in the receiver to restrict movement of the restraining strap until it is released by the ride operator. The sensor system includes an acoustic sensor that detects alignment of an aperture with a piezoelectric acoustic emitter and an acoustic detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: David L. Collins, Sirzat Sayin, David Althoff
  • Patent number: 7240923
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor for winding a seatbelt includes a spool for winding the seatbelt, a motor for generating rotational torque to rotate the spool, and a clutch mechanism. The clutch mechanism connects a power transmission path to transmit the rotational torque of the motor to the spool in a connected mode, and disconnects the power transmission path in a disconnected mode. A noise preventing device prevents noise when the clutch mechanism is in the disconnected mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Tanaka, Koji Inuzuka
  • Patent number: 6848717
    Abstract: In a belt tensioner of a seat belt in a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, for the return movement of the belt, a return spring is provided which is able to be tensioned by a motor as a function of parameters. The motor may also be used for a reversible tightening of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Bullinger, Walter Eberle, Christian Mayer, Markus Woldrich, Kai Wustlich
  • Patent number: 6655743
    Abstract: The seat belt module is electronically controlled using magneto-rheological fluid. A CPU delivers a signal to an electromagnetic coil within the module at the beginning of a crash to cause the viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid to increase sufficient to lock the spool on which the seat belt is wound against rotation. Thereafter, a subsequent signal is delivered by the CPU to the coil to reduce the magnetic field and the viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid allowing the spool to be unwound in a programmed manner so as to reduce the forces imposed on an occupant by the seat belt. The CPU may be pre-programmed in response to signals from sensors throughout the vehicle that deliver signals corresponding to the characteristics of the occupant and may be programmed in response to signals from these sensors and from an air bag to respond in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Island Pyrochemical Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Amnon Parizat, Marek Tarczynski
  • Patent number: 6550810
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor (12) comprises a frame (40), a seat belt webbing spool (42) rotatably mounted in the frame (40), and an actuator (70) for locking the seat belt webbing spool (42) against rotation in at least one direction (B) in the frame (40). The actuator (70) is mounted to the frame (40). An accelerometer (82) provides an electrical output signal indicative of vehicle deceleration. The accelerometer (82) is mounted on the frame (40). A controller (84) monitors the electrical output signal and causes the actuator (70) to lock the seat belt webbing spool (42) against rotation in the at least one direction (B) upon the occurrence of a predetermined amount of vehicle deceleration. The controller (84) is mounted on the frame (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Barney J. Bauer, Roger H. Garrell
  • Patent number: 6533321
    Abstract: The belt retractor of the occupant restraint system comprises a frame, a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame, a locking mechanism for selectively blocking the belt reel and a vehicle-sensitive sensor. The locking mechanism is actuated by an actor. An electronic control unit is provided with an input interface and an output interface. The vehicle-sensitive sensor is connected to the input interface and the actor is connected to the output interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Class, Thomas Kielwein, Michael Lüders
  • Patent number: 6448907
    Abstract: An airline passenger management system selectively and positively retains passengers within their seats, thereby eliminating potential airborne threats due to terrorists being able to move about the cabin of the aircraft. The system includes a seat belt latch assembly having a mechanism which selectively disables the latch release, thereby preventing the passenger from releasing his/her seat belt latch and restraining the passenger in his/her seat. The system further includes monitoring and control panels, with a monitoring panel in the passenger cabin and a control panel on the flight deck. These panels indicate the status of each passenger position, with the flight deck panel including a belt latch release control for each passenger position. The system provides for selective release of limited numbers of passengers at any one time during flight, and considers the risk level of each passenger according to statistics entered in a database prior to flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Naclerio
  • Publication number: 20010030255
    Abstract: The belt retractor for an occupant restraint system has a frame, a belt spool having a pair of flanges and rotatably mounted in the frame and a locking mechanism for selective blocking of the belt spool. A wheel member provided with an external toothing is mounted on one flange of the belt spool. A locking pawl is biased by a spring that engages with the wheel member. During the normal operating state of the belt retractor, the locking pawl is held by means of an solenoid so that it is disengaged from the wheel member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Cornelius Peter
  • Patent number: 6267430
    Abstract: A slide rail for a removable vehicle seat comprises a fixed section and a shuttle sliding on this section. The shuttle carries a connector connected to the seat, and this connector is connected to an electrical circuit belonging to the vehicle floor by means of a flexible electrical cabling which is arranged under a flange of the fixed section and which is held taut by a resilient return drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Equipments SA
    Inventor: Gilles Cresseaux
  • Patent number: 5655619
    Abstract: A control system for controlling the locking and unlocking of a vehicle's seat belt retractors in response to detection of the state of the vehicle's doors and the state of the vehicle's ignition switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Suran, Ronald E. Fassnacht
  • Patent number: 5634664
    Abstract: A safety seat belt device for use in a motor vehicle has a seal belt for constraining an occupant of the motor vehicle. The seat belt includes a shoulder belt portion for extending across the thorax of the occupant and a lap belt portion for extending across the lower waist of the occupant. The safety seat belt device also includes a lock device for locking both the shoulder belt portion and the lap belt portion when the motor vehicle undergoes a forward or rearward collision, and locking only the lap belt portion when the motor vehicle undergoes a lateral collision. The lock device may include a lock mechanism for locking the shoulder belt portion upon a forward or rearward collision, and a lock mechanism for locking the lap belt portion immediately when the seat belt is fastened by the occupant regardless of whether the motor vehicle suffers a lateral collision or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Seki, Yasuki Motozawa
  • Patent number: 5611604
    Abstract: A safety restraint system in which the retractor for the shoulder webbing is pivotably mounted to a structural member associated with the back of the seat. The retractor is pivotable about a horizontal axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The retractor has a shaft normal to the spool of the retractor and is pivotably locked in a sleeve of a mounting bracket attached to the structural member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Rudy V. Thomas, Philip H. Goniea
  • Patent number: 5568939
    Abstract: A vehicle seat belt retractor system (10) includes two seats (16, 18) each having its own integrated seat belt webbing retractor (60, 112). Each retractor (60, 112) includes a locking assembly (76, 80) for blocking belt withdrawal in response to an electrical signal. At a central location in the vehicle spaced from the seats (16, 18), a sensor (24) is disposed for sensing vehicle deceleration exceeding a predetermined deceleration and for providing a control signal indicative thereof. An RF transmitter (42) is electrically connected with the sensor (24) and is actuatable in response to the control signal to transmit an RF signal. An RF receiver (100, 114) on each vehicle seat (16, 18) receives the RF signal and provides an output signal to actuate the locking assembly (76, 80) of the two seat belt retractors (60, 112).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Blackburn, Louis R. Brown, Joseph E. Mazur, Scott B. Gentry
  • Patent number: 5520263
    Abstract: A control system for controlling the locking and unlocking of the seat belt retractor used in a vehicle in response to the state of the vehicle's doors, the state of the vehicle's ignition switch, and the state of use of the vehicle's seat belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Suran, Dennis J. Hachey
  • Patent number: 5490575
    Abstract: Control system for controlling the locking and unlocking of seat belt retractors in response to the opened/closed state of the vehicle doors and also the on/off state of the ignition switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Suran, Michel Trumbo
  • Patent number: 4951966
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a combination in a motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Ohi Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Nihei
  • Patent number: 4936600
    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: March 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Kawai, Asano Shuichi
  • Patent number: 4767161
    Abstract: A safety belt arrangement, especially one having a lap belt as a constituent of the belt system. One end of the lap belt is connected to a part that is secured to the vehicle, and the other end of the lap belt is provided with a belt buckle part. An anchoring member is provided as a carrier for the other belt buckle part, with the ends of the lap belt, as well as the anchoring member, being connected with a tensioning mechanism that operates in opposite directions. This tensioning mechanism is disposed between the anchoring elements that act as guide elements for the lap belt portion and for the anchoring member, which includes a cable section. The tensioning mechanism is secured to the one end of the lap belt and to the anchoring member via connections that are freely movable in the direction toward the guide elements, and are also movable relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH & Co. Fahrzeugtechnik
    Inventors: Gerhard Sedlmayr, Jurgen Grassmuck
  • Patent number: 4723793
    Abstract: A construction of a door glass guide in a motor vehicle includes a door frame in a door of the motor vehicle; a buckle assist secured to the door frame and detachably connected to a tongue plate of a seat belt; a door glass run provided in a guide portion of the door frame, with a main body of the door glass run facing an end edge of a door glass and with lips extending from the main body of the door glass run and being in slidable contact with glass surfaces at the end edge of the door glass, for guiding the door glass in a direction of opening or closing the door glass; and a wire harness disposed in the guide portion in the longitudinal direction of the door glass run and connected to a device for providing a signal when the tongue plate and the buckle assist are unlatched. A wire harness holding portion for holding the wire harness is provided on a surface of the main body of the door glass run which is opposed to the guide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kato, Motonobu Sugiura
  • Patent number: 4703949
    Abstract: The drive means of the passive safety belt is provided with a coupling which is disposed between the takeoff side of the worm gearing and a cable drum (28) and which is formed by a toothed slider (20) and two internally toothed rings (29, 30) at the inner face of the cable drum (28). Said coupling is controlled by an inertia disk (25) in whose radial grooves (23, 24) guide studs (21, 22) of the toothed slider (20) are guided slidingly. The coupling is not engaged until an adequately high drive speed is reached, said engagement being effected in that the toothed slider (20) is moved radially outwardly and with one of its coupling teeth (31, 32) comes into engagement with the corresponding internally toothed ring (29, 30). When the coupling is disengaged the end fitting of the safety belt can be easily displaced by hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1987
    Assignee: TRW Repa GmbH
    Inventor: Artur Fohl
  • Patent number: 4700974
    Abstract: A triggering arrangement is described for restraint systems in motor vehicles, in which, in a joint, metallic electromagnetically shielding housing arranged directly at the restraint system, all elements of the triggering arrangement are integrated, including a separate power supply unit. Outside said housing, no electrical leads are required, resulting in an extensive shielding from electromagnetic interference signals and a high saving of costs. Contemplated usage includes with are airbags, belt tighteners, etc., in the case of seats that are firmly anchored to the vehicle, and also in the case of removable seats and seats for children.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Andres, Heinz Knoll, Volker Petri, Harald Pfistner
  • Patent number: 4688825
    Abstract: There is provided an improvement in a seat belt retractor mechanism of the type having a seat belt reel rotatably mounted in a support frame adapted to be assembled on a movable door of a vehicle, wherein the reel has at least on one end a generally circular ratchet plate for engaging a locking element movably mounted on the support frame between a first position allowing the reel to payout the belt freely and a second position engaging the ratchet plate to hold the reel against rotation to payout the seat belt. An inertia sensing element carried by the support frame shifts this locking element into the locked position upon being moved by inertia forces caused by rapid acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle to which the mechanism is mounted. In addition, an electromagnet is employed for increasing the amount of inertia force needed to move the inertia sensor element during such rapid changes in speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Wickes Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Arbogast, Ben J. Charboneau, Robert A. Hair
  • Patent number: 4572543
    Abstract: A retractable safety belt system for restraining a vehicle occupant in a seat comprising a seat belt secured at one end to a reel of an electric-motor driven retractor. The retractor motor is controlled by control means (9) having a drive circuit (92G) and a reverse rotation or protraction rotation detection circuit (94A) which senses the reverse rotation of the motor as the seat belt is protracted and energizes the motor to retract the seat belt, thereby removing any slack in the seat belt. Preferably, the control means includes an increasing voltage circuit (94C) for gradually increasing the voltage applied to the motor, thereby reducing the motor torque at the initial stage of retraction. Also, the control means preferably includes a load sensing circuit (94B) which de-energizes the motor as the load on the motor and, hence, the tension in the seat belt reaches a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Tsuge, Satosi Kuwakado, Masahiro Taguchi, Toshio Yasui
  • Patent number: 4519652
    Abstract: A strap retractor assembly of a vehicular seat belt arrangement including a retaining strap to be fitted to a vehicle occupant, comprising a reel shaft having the strap anchored thereto at one end of the strap, a spring urging the reel shaft to turn in a direction to have the strap re-wound on the reel shaft, a ratchet wheel rotatable with the reel shaft, a pawl member movable into and out of a position engaging the ratchet wheel and prohibiting the reel shaft from being turned in the aforesaid direction, a switch unit to produce first pulses in response to rotation of the reel shaft in one direction and second pulses in response to rotation of the reel shaft in the opposite direction, a pulse counter to count the first pulses forwardly and the second pulses backwardly, a comparator to compare the number of the pulses counted by the counter with a predetermined number of pulses and to produce a control signal when the former equals the latter, and a solenoid-operated actuator to drive the pawl member into the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1985
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Ken Kamijo
  • Patent number: 4445604
    Abstract: A belt carriage is movable along a vehicle body mounted track to move an occupant restraint belt between an occupant restraint position and a stowed position permitting occupant ingress and egress. A plastic drive tape is attached to the carriage and has perforations which mesh with a toothed tape drive gear for driving the drive tape and carriage back and forth along the track. An electric motor and a speed reduction gear unit are connected to the tape drive gear by a clutch which couples with the drive gear only when the electric motor is energized so that whenever the electric motor is not energized the occupant may grip the belt carriage and manually move the belt carriage and the drive tape to move the restraint belt between the occupant restraint and stowed positions independently of the motor. The clutch is preferably a centrifugal clutch in which clutch pawls are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force to engage with the tape drive gear when the motor is energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1984
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Lloyd W. Rogers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4437684
    Abstract: An automatic seatbelt system in which a pair of sprocket wheels are driven by a single driving motor to move both shoulder and lap webbings in response to an occupant entering or leaving a vehicle. A flexible shoulder tape is connected to the shoulder webbing through a guide member slidable along a roof side of the vehicle, and extends along a vehicle body to mesh with one of the sprocket wheel. A flexible lap tape is connected to the lap webbing through a guide member slidable along an inner surface of a vehicle door, and extends along the vehicle door and body to mesh with the other of the sprocket wheel. When the sprocket wheels rotate, both shoulder and lap seatbelt webbings are simultaneously moved through the tapes toward either the front side of the vehicle to provide an enough space for the occupant to enter the vehicle, or the rear side of the vehicle to place the webbings over the occupant at a seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1984
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Shigeru Moriya, Akio Yoshida, Muneharu Matsunami, Tatsushi Kubota, Hiroshi Tsuge, Yuji Nishimura
  • Patent number: 4401320
    Abstract: A door for an automobile disclosed herein comprises a glass run rubber embraced in a door frame for guiding a window glass, the glass run rubber formed with a channel for receiving a wire harness extending from a buckle for releasing a seat belt in an emergency to a belt wearing alarm device for warning with a signal a driver of a disconnection of the seat belt to the buckle, thereby eliminating a notch formed in the door frame which would reduce the rigidity of the door, preventing the wire harness from being cut by an edge of a notch formed in the door frame and eliminating extra parts for retaining the wire harness in the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroo Okuyama, Hideoki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 4280584
    Abstract: An emergency locking retractor comprises a lock member capable of assuming a position in which it engages an engaging portion integral with a webbing take-up shaft to lock the rotation of the shaft in webbing draw-out direction and a position in which it does not engage the engaging portion. A speed change sensing member is adapted, when it senses a greater speed change of a vehicle than a predetermined value, to shift from a first condition to a second condition and thereby move the lock member to the engaging position. The retractor also includes a switch-actuated electrical system for moving the lock member independently of the sensing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Makishima