Seatbelt system having seamless inflatable member
First Claim
1. In a combination for protecting an occupant in a vehicle in the event of a collision involving the vehicle, the vehicle (102) having a support structure (106, 125) and having a seat (108) for the occupant with an inboard side and an outboard side and having a first retainer means (122) at the inner side of the occupant'"'"'s seat and having second retainer means (124) at the outer side of the occupant'"'"'s seat, a unitary belt (100) including an inflatable belt portion (104) and a lap belt portion (112), the inflatable belt portion (104) extending diagonally across the chest of the occupant, the inflatable belt portion having first and second opposite ends and being constructed to be attached at the first end to the support structure (106) in the vehicle (102), the inflatable belt portion comprising a seamless hollow textile structure (200, 210, 220), the lap belt portion (112) having first and second ends and being attached at the first end to the second end of the inflatable belt portion and extending across the lap of the occupant from the second end of the inflatable belt portion (104), the second end of the lap belt portion having a coupling member (116) for coupling to the first retainer means (122) in the vehicle, the lap belt portion (112) having a second coupling member at a position near the inflatable belt portion for coupling to the second retainer means (124) in the vehicle, and means (124, 116) operatively coupled to the lap belt portion (112) for extending the lap belt portion upwardly in the direction of the inflatable belt portion (104) and for providing for a tightening of the lap belt portion against the lap of the occupant when the inflatable belt portion becomes inflated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A passenger restraint system (100) for an occupant of a vehicle (102) includes an inflatable belt portion comprising a seamless hollow inflatable textile member that becomes inflated upon the occurrence of a collision. The inflatable textile member may vary in size and construction along its length. The belt portion (104, 112) tightens against the occupant'"'"'s body when the inflatable belt portion becomes inflated.
38 Citations
45 Claims
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1. In a combination for protecting an occupant in a vehicle in the event of a collision involving the vehicle, the vehicle (102) having a support structure (106, 125) and having a seat (108) for the occupant with an inboard side and an outboard side and having a first retainer means (122) at the inner side of the occupant'"'"'s seat and having second retainer means (124) at the outer side of the occupant'"'"'s seat,
a unitary belt (100) including an inflatable belt portion (104) and a lap belt portion (112), the inflatable belt portion (104) extending diagonally across the chest of the occupant, the inflatable belt portion having first and second opposite ends and being constructed to be attached at the first end to the support structure (106) in the vehicle (102), the inflatable belt portion comprising a seamless hollow textile structure (200, 210, 220), the lap belt portion (112) having first and second ends and being attached at the first end to the second end of the inflatable belt portion and extending across the lap of the occupant from the second end of the inflatable belt portion (104), the second end of the lap belt portion having a coupling member (116) for coupling to the first retainer means (122) in the vehicle, the lap belt portion (112) having a second coupling member at a position near the inflatable belt portion for coupling to the second retainer means (124) in the vehicle, and means (124, 116) operatively coupled to the lap belt portion (112) for extending the lap belt portion upwardly in the direction of the inflatable belt portion (104) and for providing for a tightening of the lap belt portion against the lap of the occupant when the inflatable belt portion becomes inflated.
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11. In a combination for protecting a human occupant in a vehicle (102) in the event of a collision involving the vehicle, the vehicle having a support structure (106, 125) and having a seat for the occupant with an inboard side and an outboard side,
a unitary belt (100, 160) including an inflatable belt portion (104, 160) comprising a seamless hollow textile member (180, 200, 210, 220) extending across the body of the occupant, the inflatable belt portion (104, 160, 180) having first and second opposite ends extending between the inboard side and the outboard side of the seat (108) and being constructed to be attached to the support structure (106, 125) in the vehicle (102), the construction of the inflatable belt portion providing for a tightening of the belt against the occupant when the inflatable belt portion becomes inflated, and inflator means (10) disposed relative to the first end of the inflatable belt portion providing gas inflation of the inflatable belt portion when the vehicle is in a collision.
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36. In a combination for protecting an occupant in a vehicle (102) in the event of a collision involving the vehicle, the vehicle having a support structure (106, 125) and having a seat (108) for the occupant with an inboard side and an outboard side and having a first retainer means (122) at the inner side of the occupant'"'"'s seat and having second retainer means (124) at the outer side of the occupant'"'"'s seat,
a unitary belt (100) including a lap belt portion (112) and an inflatable belt portion (104), the lap belt portion (112) being disposed to extend across the lap of the occupant and having a first end for attachment to the first retainer (122), the lap belt portion having a second end opposite the first end, the inflatable belt portion (104) extending diagonally across the chest of the occupant, the inflatable belt portion having first and second opposite ends and being constructed to be attached at the first end to the support structure in the vehicle (106), the inflatable belt portion comprising a seamless hollow textile member (180, 200, 210, 220), the inflatable belt portion (104) being attached to the lap belt portion (112) at the second end of the lap belt portion, means disposed at the second end of the lap belt portion (112) for coupling to the second retainer (124) and for guiding the lap belt portion to the inflatable belt portion, means disposed at the second end of the inflatable belt portion (104) for attaching the inflatable belt portion to the support structure, and a retractor (124) disposed relative to the lap belt portion near the second coupling member for minimizing slack in the lap belt portion upon attachment of the first coupling member to the first retainer (122) and for preventing the length of the lap belt portion from increasing when a force above a predetermined value is imposed on the lap belt portion for increasing the length of the lap belt across the lap of the occupant.
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37. In a combination for protecting an occupant in a vehicle (102) in the event of a collision involving the vehicle, the vehicle having a support structure (106, 125) and having a seat (108) connected to the support structure (125) for the occupant with a first side and a second side and having a first retainer means (122) at the first side of the occupant'"'"'s seat and having second retainer means (124) at the occupant'"'"'s seat,
a unitary belt (100) including an inflatable lap belt portion (112, 160) comprising a seamless hollow textile member (180, 200, 210, 220), the inflatable lap belt portion (112, 160) being disposed to extend across the lap of the occupant and having a first end affixed to a first coupling member (116) for detachable attachment to the first retainer mean (122), the lap belt portion (112) having a second end opposite the first end coupled to the second retainer means (124), guide means (103) for guiding the lap belt portion (112) from the second side of the seat to extend across the lap of the occupant, a retractor (124) disposed relative to the lap belt portion (112, 160) for minimizing slack in the lap belt portion upon attachment of the first coupling member (116) to the first retainer means (122) and for preventing the length of the lap belt portion from increasing when a force above a predetermined value is imposed on the lap belt portion for increasing the length of the lap belt across the lap of the occupant, and inflator means (10)disposed relative to the inflatable belt portion providing gas inflation of the inflatable belt portion when the vehicle is in a collision.
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39. In a combination for protecting an occupant in a vehicle (102) in the event of a collision involving the vehicle, the vehicle having a support structure (106, 125) and having a seat (108) connected to the support structure (125) for the occupant with a first side and a second side and having a first retainer means (122) at the first side of the occupant'"'"'s seat and a second retainer means (103) at the second side of the occupant'"'"'s seat,
a unitary belt (112) including an inflatable lap belt portion (160) comprising a seamless hollow textile member (160, 180, 200, 210, 220), the inflatable lap belt portion (160) being disposed to extend across the lap of the occupant and having a first end affixed to a first coupling member (116) for detachable attachment to the first retainer means (122), the lap belt portion having a second end opposite the first end coupled to the second retainer means (103, 124), guide means (103) for guiding the lap belt portion (112, 160) from the second side of the seat to extend across the lap of the occupant, and a retractor (124) disposed at the second side of the seat for minimizing slack in the lap belt portion upon attachment of the first coupling member to the first retainer means and for preventing the length of the lap belt portion from increasing when a force above a predetermined value is imposed on the lap belt portion for increasing the length of the lap belt across the lap of the occupant, and inflator means (10) disposed relative to the inflatable belt portion providing gas inflation of the inflatable belt portion when the vehicle is in a collision.
Specification