Automotive vehicle occupant protection system

• US 20030030264A1
• Filed: 07/17/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Motozawa, Yasuki
• Granted Patent: US 6,863,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1952 Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1953 the cable being pulled by mechanical means, e.g. pre-stressed springs, bumper displacement during crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1955 Linear actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

An end of a seat belt is connected to an actuator that can selectively remove a slack from the seat belt. The actuator includes a main actuator unit, a flywheel which provides a maximum inertia effect for a given space, and a cushioning member for decelerating a movement of the moveable end of the seat belt following a certain initial travel of the moveable end. The main actuator unit produces an early rise in the vehicle occupant deceleration, and the cushioning member smoothly connects the time history of the vehicle occupant deceleration to a ride-down condition whereby the deceleration acting on the vehicle occupant is favorably spread over time, and the maximum level of the deceleration can be minimized. The flywheel contributes to a favorable shaping of the time history of the vehicle occupant deceleration.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle occupant protection system, comprising:

a seat supported on a floor of a vehicle body;

a seat belt provided in association with said seat and including a moveable end;

an actuator connecting said moveable end of said seat belt to a part of said vehicle body to selectively remove a slack from said seat belt; and

a control unit including a deceleration sensor for detecting a frontal vehicle crash meeting a prescribed condition;

said actuator including a mass member attached to said moveable end of said seat belt, an arrangement for amplifying an inertia effect of said mass on a movement of said moveable end of said seat belt, and a main actuator unit adapted to move said mass member in a direction to remove a slack from said seat belt immediately upon detection of a frontal vehicle crash.

2. An automotive vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 1, wherein said actuator further comprises a cushioning member for decelerating a movement of said moveable end following a certain initial travel of said moveable end.

3. An automotive vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 1, wherein said seat belt comprises three anchor points including a shoulder anchor, a seat bottom side anchor provided near a seat bottom on a same side as said shoulder anchor, and a buckle anchor provided near said seat bottom on an opposite side of said shoulder anchor.

4. An automotive vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 3, wherein all or part of said anchors are attached to corresponding parts of said seat.

5. An automotive vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 1, wherein said mass member comprises a flywheel.

6. An automotive vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 5, wherein said actuator comprises wire including a first end connected to a working end of said main actuator unit, an intermediate part wound around a rotary shaft having said flywheel functionally attached thereto, and a second end attached to said moveable end of said seat belt.

7. An automotive vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 6, wherein said main actuator unit includes a cylinder integrally attached to a side of a seat bottom of said seat, a piston slidably received in said cylinder, and a pyrotechnic gas generator provided on one end of said cylinder, said wire being attached to said piston.

8. An automotive vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 1, wherein said actuator is provided with a member for preventing a reversing movement of said actuator.