Patent Application
20070235999
The present invention pertains generally to an improved seat belt apparatus.
It is well known in motor vehicles to restrain a seated occupant with a seat belt apparatus such as a conventional three-point seat belt. The three-point seat belt typically includes a lap belt and a shoulder belt which reach around and thereby secure an occupant to the car seat. The seat belt apparatus may also include a seat belt tensioning device or pre-tensioner which forcibly tensions the seat belt in response to a vehicle condition such as vehicle deceleration or an impact.
The seat belt apparatus of the present invention is configured to restrain an occupant seated in a vehicle car seat having a seat back portion and a seat base portion. The seat belt apparatus includes a lap belt defining an inboard portion and an outboard portion. The seat belt apparatus also includes a tether defining a first end portion and a second end portion. The second end portion of the tether is secured to the outboard portion of the lap belt. A pre-tensioner is positioned below, rearward and inboard of the occupant's outboard hip. The pre-tensioner is selectively configured to retract the tether thereby applying force to the occupant in a downward and inboard direction.
The seat belt apparatus may include an electronic device configured to transmit a signal to actuate the pre-tensioner.
The second end portion of the tether may be secured to the outboard portion of the lap belt with stitching.
The second end portion of the tether may define a loop through which the outboard portion of the lap belt is passed in order to secure the tether to the lap belt.
The seat belt apparatus may include a pulley configured to engage the tether in order to re-direct the line of force applied by the pre-tensioner.
The pre-tensioner may include a pyrotechnic charge.
The pre-tensioner may include a re-settable mechanical storage device.
The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components,
Alternatively, the tether 30 may include two connectable portions (not shown) to facilitate assembly. The first connectable portion of the tether 30 would preferably be installed into a vehicle as part of the three-point seat belt apparatus 32, and the second connectable portion of the tether 30 would be pre-assembled to the base portion 18 of the seat 14. Therefore, after separately installing the seat 14 and the three-point seat belt apparatus 32 into a vehicle, the first and second connectable portions of the tether 30 can be connected together to simplify the installation of the seat belt assembly 24. The alternative tether 30 composition including two connectable portions also allows for the use of two different materials such as, for example, a seat belt material for the portion of the tether 30 that engages the occupant and a metallic strap or cable for the portion of the tether 30 that is operatively connected to the pre-tensioner 56.
The three-point seat belt apparatus 32 includes a single belt 34 defining a shoulder belt portion 36 and a lap belt portion 38. When the three-point seat belt apparatus 32 is in its applied position shown in
The seat belt tether 30 includes a first end portion 52 and a second end portion 54 opposite the first end portion 52. The first end portion 52 of the seat belt tether 30 is operatively connected to a belt tensioning device or pre-tensioner 56. The pre-tensioner 56 is selectively configured to rapidly retract at least a portion of the tether 30. The pre-tensioner 56 typically retracts the tether in response to a signal generated by existing electrical hardware 58 which may otherwise be implemented to deploy side airbags and/or roof rail airbags (not shown) during side impact or rollover events.
According to the preferred embodiment, the pre-tensioner 56 includes a pyrotechnic charge device (not shown) that may be ignited to retract the tether 30 in the event of an accident. According to an alternate embodiment, the pre-tensioner 56 includes a mechanical energy storage device (not shown) such as a spring which may be actuated to retract the tether 30 in the event of an accident. Advantageously, the mechanical energy storage device is re-settable such that servicing the device after actuation is less expensive than with a pyrotechnic device which is typically deployable only once.
As shown in
Alternatively, the pre-tensioner 56 may be positioned nearer the inboard side 20 of the base portion 18 (similar to the positioning of the pre-tensioner 70 shown in
The second end portion 54 of the seat belt tether 30 engages the outboard portion 48 of the lap belt 38. According to the preferred embodiment shown in
According to another alternate embodiment of the present invention, a car seat (not shown) having an integral torso airbag module (not shown) may be modified to transmit an airbag deployment signal to actuate the pre-tensioner 56. In other words, instead of implementing the existing electrical hardware 58 to actuate the pre-tensioner 56, the pre-tensioner could be actuated by an electrical or pneumatic signal from the airbag module such that the integral torso airbag (not shown) is deployed and generally simultaneously the tether 30 is also retracted.
Having described the structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, its operation will now be explained. Referring again to
Referring to
The tether 30 is operatively connected to the pre-tensioner 70 and is also engaged with the outboard portion 48 of the lap belt 38. The tether 30 is shown stitched to the lap belt 38; however, other forms of engagement such as, for example, the slidable loop 62 of
A pelvic airbag 74 is disposed within the base portion 18 of the seat 14 in close proximity to the outboard side 22. The pelvic airbag 74 is operatively connected to an energy producing device 76 which is also operatively connected to the pre-tensioner 70. The energy producing device 76 is selectively configured to both actuate the pre-tensioner 70 and deploy the pelvic airbag 74. Therefore, during an event such as an impact to the side door panel 12, the pre-tensioner 70 retracts the tether 30 to apply a force to the occupant in a downward and inboard direction, and the pelvic airbag 74 is inflated to protect the occupant's pelvic region.
According to the preferred embodiment shown in
While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.
