Load-limiting seatbelt assembly

• US 10,427,640 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2017
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Vo, Jeffrey Tien, Spahn, Brian Robert, Yilma, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Frisby, Keith J
• Application Number:
  US15/713,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20190092275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 2808011, 280807, 280808, 280805, 297483, 297470
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1818 Belt guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/284 using electric or magnetic braking means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/285 using friction surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/385 with adjustable sensitivity
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4825 for sensing amount of belt winded on retractor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/12 Construction of belts or harnesses B60R21/18 takes precedence ; woven fabrics for safety belts D03D1/0005
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/24 secured to the side, door, or roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/28 incorporating energy-absorbing devices belt anchors provided with energy-absorbing means for protecting the occupants in case of physical contact therewith B60R21/055; belt retractors comprising energy-absorbing means B60R22/341, B60R22/4676
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/36 self-locking in an emergency B60R22/3405 , B60R22/343 take precedence

Abstract

A seatbelt assembly includes a seatbelt retractor, a support spaced from the seatbelt retractor, and a webbing retractably engaged with the seatbelt retractor. The webbing is moveable relative to the support. The seatbelt assembly includes a magnet and a conductive material adjacent the magnet. One of the magnet and the conductive material is fixed to the support, and the other of the magnet and the conductive material is moveable by the webbing relative to the support.

Claims

1. A seatbelt assembly comprising:

a seatbelt retractor;

a D-ring spaced from the seatbelt retractor;

a support disposed between the D-ring and the seatbelt retractor;

a webbing retractably engaged with the seatbelt retractor and moveable relative to the support; and

a magnet and a conductive material adjacent the magnet, one of the magnet and the conductive material being fixed to the support and the other of the magnet and the conductive material being moveable by the webbing relative to the support.

2. The seatbelt assembly of claim 1, wherein the support includes a slot and the webbing extends through the slot.

3. The seatbelt assembly of claim 2, wherein one of the magnet and the conductive material is fixed to the webbing and the other of the magnet and the conductive material is fixed to the support in the slot.

4. The seatbelt assembly of claim 3, wherein the one of the magnet and the conductive material is embedded in the webbing.

5. The seatbelt assembly of claim 3, wherein the webbing is elongated along a webbing axis, and the one of the magnet and the conductive material is at least one strand elongated along the webbing axis.

6. The seatbelt assembly of claim 3, wherein the other of the magnet and the conductive material is a plate.

7. The seatbelt assembly of claim 1, wherein the support includes a first end, the support being pivotable about the first end.

8. The seatbelt assembly of claim 7, further comprising a tension pulley, and wherein the support includes a second end spaced from the first end, the tension pulley being rotationally supported by the second end of the support.

9. The seatbelt assembly of claim 8, wherein the one of the magnet and the conductive material is fixed to the second end of the support and the other of the magnet and the conductive material is fixed to the tension pulley.

10. The seatbelt assembly of claim 8, wherein the tension pulley is engageable with the webbing, the tension pulley being rotatable by the webbing.

11. The seatbelt assembly of claim 10, further comprising a spring connected to the tension pulley, the spring biasing the tension pulley towards the webbing.

12. The seatbelt assembly of claim 10, wherein the webbing and the tension pulley each include a nonslip interface, the nonslip interface of the webbing is engageable with the nonslip interface of the tension pulley.

13. The seatbelt assembly of claim 8, further comprising an anchor pulley spaced from the tension pulley and engaged with the webbing, the tension pulley being moveable by the support relative to the anchor pulley.

14. The seatbelt assembly of claim 1, wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet.

15. The seatbelt assembly of claim 1, wherein the magnet is an electro-magnet.

16. A seatbelt assembly comprising:

a seatbelt retractor;

a support spaced from the seatbelt retractor;

a webbing retractably engaged with the seatbelt retractor and moveable relative to the support; and

a magnet and a conductive material adjacent the magnet, one of the magnet and the conductive material being fixed to the support and the other of the magnet and the conductive material being moveable by the webbing relative to the support;

wherein the support includes a slot and the webbing extends through the slot;

wherein one of the magnet and the conductive material is fixed to the webbing and the other of the magnet and the conductive material is fixed to the support in the slot.

17. The seatbelt assembly of claim 16, wherein the one of the magnet and the conductive material is embedded in the webbing.

18. The seatbelt assembly of claim 16, wherein the webbing is elongated along a webbing axis, and the one of the magnet and the conductive material is at least one strand elongated along the webbing axis.

19. The seatbelt assembly of claim 16, wherein the other of the magnet and the conductive material is a plate.