Submarining avoidance system

• US 10,696,197 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2018
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waymo LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Waymo LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: McCool, Courtney, Daniel, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Gabler, Philip F
• Application Number:
  US16/026,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20200010000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42718 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/433 Safety locks for back-rests, e.g. with locking bars activated by inertia
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/919 Positioning and locking mechanisms B60N2/16, B60N2/18, B60N2/22, B60N2/225 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/967 the locking system prevents tilt of whole seat by retaining and locking the seat in a vertical storage position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/027 Four-point seat belt systems, e.g. with the two upper points connected together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4808 Sensing means arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/023 Three-point seat belt systems comprising two side lower and one side upper anchoring devices B60R22/022, B60R22/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to reducing the likelihood of injury to a passenger in a collision. In one example, a system for reducing the likelihood of a passenger submarining, may include a restraining device for restraining the passenger. A second restraining device for further restraining the passenger may also be included in the system. A locking mechanism may be configured to prevent a seat back from reclining when the second restraining device is not activated.

Claims

1. A system for reducing the likelihood of a passenger submarining under a restraining device when reclined in a seat of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first restraining device for restraining the passenger; and

a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to prevent a seat back of the seat from reclining beyond a predefined angle unless the first restraining device is activated.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to allow the seat back to recline beyond the predefined angle when the first restraining device is activated.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second restraining device, wherein the second restraining device is a three-point seatbelt.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first restraining device includes a strap, wherein a first end of the strap is attached to the seat and a second, opposite end includes a tongue.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a buckle mounted to the seat, wherein the strap is looped onto a lap belt of a second restraining device.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising a buckle,

wherein the first restraining device is activated upon the tongue being buckled into the buckle, and the locking mechanism is configured to allow the seat back to recline beyond the predefined angle upon the first restraining device being activated.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a buckle,

wherein the first restraining device includes a shoulder strap and a leg strap.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

a first end of the leg strap is attached to the seat and a second, opposite end of the leg strap includes a first tongue; and

a first end of the shoulder strap is attached to the seat and a second, opposite end of the shoulder strap includes a second tongue.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first restraining device is activated upon the first and second tongues being buckled into the buckle, and wherein the locking mechanism is configured to allow the seat back to recline beyond the predefined angle upon the first restraining device being activated.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first restraining device is integrated into a base of the seat.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first restraining device is attached to a lever, and upon the lever being rotated, the first restraining device is rotated above the base of the seat.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first restraining device is configured to automatically rotate above the base of the seat as the seat back approaches or reaches the predefined angle.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the first restraining device is activated upon being rotated above the base of the seat, and

wherein, the locking mechanism is configured to allow the seat back to recline beyond the predefined angle upon the first restraining device being activated.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the predefined angle is around 30 degrees from vertical relative to the base of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 1 further comprising a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to determine whether the first restraining device is activated.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor is mounted within a buckle and the first restraining device is configured to attach to the buckle.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes a brake for preventing rotation of the seat back.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes an actuator and a blocking component.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the locking mechanism includes one or more cutout plates, each cutout plate having a cutout, and

wherein the actuator is configured to position the blocking component in the cutouts of the one or more cutout plates.

20. A system for reducing the likelihood of a passenger submarining under a restraining device when reclined in a seat, the system comprising:

a first restraining device for restraining the passenger within the seat;

a second restraining device for preventing the passenger from submarining under the first restraining device; and

a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to prevent a seat back of the seat from reclining beyond a predefined angle unless the second restraining device is not activated.