Passenger protecting apparatus

• US 20010011810A1
• Filed: 12/28/2000
• Published: 08/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fujii, Hiroaki, Higuchi, Masahiro, Kobayashi, Ichizo, Saiguchi, Ryoji, Sakai, Katsuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 6,715,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4235 transversal
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42718 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/853 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/885 provided with side-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/286 using deformation of material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4614 one pretensioner acting on a plurality of belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23184 Tubular air bags connected to the vehicle at their two extremities
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1951 characterised by arrangements in vehicle or relative to seat belt
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1952 Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat
• 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

Abstract

A passenger protecting apparatus that prevents a submarine phenomenon of the passenger by the use of an air belt, or that can protect the passenger by applying a pretension to the webbing. The apparatus includes a seat cushion that includes a seat pad, and an air belt disposed under the seat pad. The air belt includes a buckle and a lap anchor. The rear end on the right and the left of the air belt are connected to the buckle and the lap anchor via a wire respectively. Upon collision, the air belt is inflated and the front portion of the seat pad is pushed up so that a submarine phenomenon is prevented and the buckle and the lap anchor are pulled down.

Claims

1. A passenger protecting apparatus comprising:

a seat including a seat cushion and a seat back, and

an air belt that decreases in length when inflated for hardening the front portion of said seat cushion in case of emergency.

2. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein said air belt is disposed under said seat cushion and is prevented from moving downward and forward when inflated.

3. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 2

, wherein a back-up member for preventing said air belt from moving downward is provided under said air belt.

4. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 3

, wherein said back-up member includes a projection projecting upward for positioning the air belt.

5. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 4

, wherein said projection deforms when a pressing force not less than a prescribed value is applied from the air belt to said projection, thereby allowing for the frontward movement of said air belt.

6. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein said air belt is disposed extending along the width of the seat cushion, and both ends of said air belt are connected to a structural member of said seat cushion.

13. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 1

, further comprising a seat belt apparatus including a buckle and a lap anchor for restraining a passenger sitting on the seat, and a lowering mechanism for lowering at least one of the buckle and the lap anchor of said seat belt apparatus, wherein said air belt is disposed in the seat as a driving power source of said lowering means so as to be reduced in length when inflated.

14. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 13

, wherein said air belt extends diagonally in the fore-and-aft direction of the seat cushion.

15. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 14

, wherein one end of the air belt is located in the front portion of one of the sides of the seat cushion, and the other end of the air belt is located at the rear portion of the other side of the seat cushion.

16. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 14

, wherein the air belt comprises a first and a second air belt, one end of the respective first and second air belts is located at the front portion of the seat cushion at the central portion of the width between the left and the right, the other end of the first air belt is located at the rear portion on the left side of the seat cushion, and the other end of the second air belt is located at the rear portion on the right side of the sea cushion.

17. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 13

, wherein the end of the air belt and at least one of said buckle and the lap anchor are connected via a linkage.

18. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 13

, wherein the end of the air belt and at least one of said buckle and the lap anchor are connected via a rack-and-pinion mechanism.

19. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 13

, wherein the end of the air belt and at least one of said buckle and the lap anchor are connected via a linear body.

20. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 13

, further comprising a first linear body, a second linear body, and a rotatable body, and wherein one end of the first linear body is connected to the end of the air belt, and one end of the second linear body is connected to said buckle or the lap anchor,

wherein the other end of said first linear body can be wound on the rotatable body and the other end of said second linear body can be wound on said rotatable body.

21. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 13

, further comprising a shock-absorbing mechanism which allows the upward movement of one of the buckle or the lap anchor while applying a drag to one of said buckle or said lap anchor when an upward force not less than the prescribed value is applied to the one of said buckle or said lap anchor lowered by said lowering mechanism.

22. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 21

, wherein the shock-absorbing mechanism is a gas outlet for discharging a gas from the air belt.

23. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 22

, wherein said gas outlet is provided with valve means for opening when a gas pressure reaches or exceeds a prescribed value.

24. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 21

, wherein said shock-absorbing mechanism is a tear seam formed by seaming a part of the air belt wherein a thread is to be broken when the internal pressure reaches or exceeds a prescribed value.

25. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 21

, wherein said shock-absorbing mechanism comprises a gas outlet provided on the air belt, and a tear seam formed by seaming a part of said air belt so as to close said gas outlet, and when the internal pressure of the air belt reaches or exceeds a prescribed pressure, said tear seam is broken so that the air belt is allowed to increase in volume, said gas outlet is opened to discharge a gas through said gas outlet.

26. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 21

, wherein said shock absorbing means is a mechanism that limits deployment of the air belt when the internal pressure is not more than a prescribed value, and releases the limit when the internal value of the air belt reaches or exceeds a prescribed value to allow the air belt to increase in volume.

27. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 13

, further comprising a power transmission mechanism for transmitting a power from said air belt to one of said buckle and said lap anchor, the power transmission mechanism including a shock absorbing mechanism that allows the one of said buckle and said lap anchor to move upward while applying a drag force to the one of said buckle and said lap anchor when a raising force not less than a prescribed value is applied to the one of said buckle and said lap anchor.

28. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 27

, wherein said power transmission mechanism comprises a wire for transmitting a power and a guiding member for said wire, and an impactive force is absorbed by deformation or retraction of said guide member.

29. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 27

, wherein said power transmission mechanism comprises a torsion bar as an axis of rotation for transmitting a power, and an impactive force is absorbed by twisting motion of said torsion bar.

30. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 27

, wherein said power transmission mechanism comprises a webbing for transmitting a power, said webbing includes a seamed portion formed by seaming a part of the webbing with a thread so as to be reduced in length and is constructed to absorb the impactive force by breakage of said thread.

31. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 27

, wherein said power transmission mechanism comprises a first linear body connected to said air belt, a second linear body connected to said buckle or the lap anchor, and a connecting member connecting said first linear body and the second linear body, and is constructed to absorb the impactive force by deformation of said connecting member.

32. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 27

, wherein said power transmission mechanism comprises a linear body provided between said buckle or the lap anchor and said air belt, and a connecting member provided at one end of said linear body so as to connect said linear body to said buckle or the lap anchor or said air belt, and is constructed to absorb the impactive force by deformation of said connecting member.

33. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 27

, wherein said power transmission mechanism comprises a wire for transmitting a power, one end of said wire is connected to said shock-absorbing mechanism, the mid section of said wire is engaged with said buckle or the lap anchor or the air belt.

34. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein said air belt is provided with a shock-absorbing mechanism.

35. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 34

, wherein said shock-absorbing mechanism is a gas outlet for discharging a gas from the air belt.

36. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 35

, wherein said gas outlet is provided with valve means for opening when said gas pressure reaches or exceeds a prescribed value.

37. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 34

, wherein said shock-absorbing mechanism is a tear seam formed by seaming a part of the air belt so that the thread is to be broken when the internal pressure of the air belt reaches or exceeds a prescribed value.

38. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 34

, wherein said shock-absorbing mechanism comprises a gas outlet provided on the air belt, and a tear seam formed by a part of said air belt for closing said gas outlet, and constructed in such a manner that when the internal pressure of the air belt reaches or exceeds a prescribed value, the tear seam is broken to allow said air belt to increase in volume and to open said gas outlet so as to discharge a gas from said gas outlet.

39. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 34

, wherein said shock-absorbing mechanism is a mechanism to limit deployment of the air belt when the internal pressure of the air belt is not more than a prescribed value, and to release the limitation to allow the air belt to increase in volume when the internal pressure of the air belt reaches or exceeds a prescribed value.

46. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein an air belt for protecting a passenger sitting on a rear seat of a vehicle is routed between the left and right B pillars of the vehicle.

47. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 46

, further comprising a seat belt apparatus for protecting the passenger sitting on the seat, wherein said air belt is provided to tow a shoulder anchor of said seat belt apparatus.

48. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 1

, further comprising a deformable metal plate enclosing said air belt, wherein said metal plate encloses said air belt when said air belt is not inflated and extends with inflation of said air belt, and plastically contracts and deforms when applied with an external pressure.

49. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 13

, wherein said seat belt apparatus is provided with a one-way clutch.

50. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 13

, wherein said seat belt apparatus is provided with a shock absorbing means that stretches so as to maintain the upper limit of a tensile strength constant.

51. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein a gas exhaust port of an inflator is inserted into the air belt from one end thereof.

52. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 51

, wherein a flange member is provided on a rear side of the inflator projecting from the air belt, said flange member being fixed to a side frame of the seat.

53. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 51

, wherein said inflator includes a tip portion with a gas guide member for changing a gas injected from said inflator into the direction longitudinally of said air belt.

54. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein an inflator is secured on the side frame of the seat, and a tubular gas duct is provided so as to introduce a gas from said inflator to one side of said air belt.

55. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 54

, wherein a flange member is provided on said gas duct, said flange member being secured on the side frame of the seat.

56. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 54

, wherein the other end of said air belt is mounted to the other side frame.

57. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein said air belt is folded into a narrow strip and stored in a mesh webbing.

7. A passenger protecting apparatus comprising:

a seat including a seat cushion and a seat back, and

a bag body containing a magnetic fluid and comprising an energizing means for hardening said magnetic fluid by supplying a current to said magnetic fluid hardening the front portion of said seat cushion in case of emergency.

8. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 7

, wherein said bag body is disposed in said seat cushion and is prevented from moving downward and forward.

9. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 8

, further comprising a back-up member under said bag body for preventing said bag body from moving downward.

10. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 9

, wherein said back-up member comprises a projection projecting upward for positioning said bag body.

11. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 10

, wherein said projection deforms when a pressing force not less than a prescribed value is applied from the bag body to said projection, thereby allowing the forward movement of said bag body.

12. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 7

, wherein said bag body is disposed extending along the width of said seat cushion and both ends of said bag body are connected to a structural member of said seat cushion.

40. A passenger protecting apparatus comprising:

a seat including a seat cushion and a seat back, and means for forming a sleeve wall at the side of said seat cushion in case of emergency,

wherein said means includes an air belt disposed so as to connect said seat cushion and the seat back,

wherein when said air belt is inflated, said air belt decreases in length so that said air belt extends between said seat cushion and the seat back to form said sleeve wall.

41. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 40

, wherein said air belt is disposed from the side of the seat cushion along the side of the seat back,

wherein said passenger protecting apparatus comprises a plate of which the front side can be turned upward, and said air belt is disposed so as to connect the front end of said plate and the seat back;

wherein said plate interlocks with at least one of said buckle and said lap anchor so that when said plate rotates so that the front end of the plate moves upward, the at least one of said buckle and said lap anchor moves downward accordingly.

42. A passenger protecting apparatus comprising:

an air belt;

wherein said air belt is disposed at the lower portion on the back surface of the seat so as to function as a bag for protecting the lower half of the body including knees of the passenger sitting on the seat rearward of said seat.

43. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 42

, further comprising a seat belt apparatus for restraining the passenger sitting on the seat, said seat belt apparatus including a buckle, a lap anchor, and a lowering mechanism for lowering at least one of said buckle and the lap anchor, and said air belt being disposed in the seat so as to decrease in length by inflation and act as a driving power source of said lowering mechanism.

44. A passenger protecting apparatus comprising:

a seat including a seat cushion, a seat back and a headrest, and means for moving said headrest frontward and diagonally upward in case of emergency,

wherein said means comprises an air belt that decreases in length by inflation and acts as a driving power source for moving said headrest.

45. The passenger protecting apparatus of

claim 44

, wherein said air belt is disposed in the upper portion of the seat cushion, and is inflated so as to narrow the distance between the seat cushion and the passenger when inflated.