Automotive seat safety mechanism

• US 20030136598A1
• Filed: 01/06/2003
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koji Korechika
• Original Assignee: Koji Korechika
• Inventors: Korechika, Koji, Korechika, Noriko
• Granted Patent: US 6,935,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2809 with additional tether connected to the top of the child seat and passing above the top of the back-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4228 due to impact coming from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42745 of the back-rest B60N2/433 takes precedence; higher part of the back-rest moving together with the headrest B60N2/888
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42781 mechanical triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

An automotive seat safety mechanism includes a seat back and a webbing arranged between the seat back and a vehicle roof. A retractor urges the webbing in a winding direction while simultaneously permitting the webbing to be drawn out in an unwinding direction when in a normal state and prevents the webbing from being drawn out when acceleration of the vehicle becomes greater than a predetermined value. A bypassing mechanism is arranged above the seat back. A pretensioner is included in the retractor. The retractor is arranged above and rearward from the seat back. The webbing extends between an upper position of the seat back and the retractor bypassing the bypassing mechanism. The webbing is disengaged from the bypassing mechanism when forward acceleration becomes greater than a predetermined value. The pretensioner is activated to quickly draw in the webbing in response to the forward acceleration.

Claims

1. An automotive seat safety mechanism including an automotive seat having a seat cushion and a seat back, which is arranged on a rear portion of the seat cushion, and a webbing arranged between the seat back and an upper portion of a vehicle, wherein a retractor urges the webbing in a winding direction to draw in the webbing while simultaneously permitting the webbing to be drawn out of the retractor in an unwinding direction when in a normal state and prevents the webbing from being drawn out when acceleration of the vehicle becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the automotive seat safety mechanism comprising:

a bypassing mechanism arranged above the seat back; and

a pretensioner included in the retractor;

wherein the retractor is arranged rearward from the seat back in the upper portion of the vehicle;

wherein the webbing has an end secured to an upper position of the seat back and is extended through the bypassing mechanism to the retractor;

wherein the webbing is disengaged from the bypassing mechanism when forward acceleration of the vehicle becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value; and

wherein the pretensioner of the retractor is activated to quickly draw in the webbing in the winding direction in response to the forward acceleration.

2. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the retractor is arranged in a roof of the vehicle, and the webbing between the bypassing mechanism and the retractor is accommodated in the roof.

3. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the bypassing mechanism is accommodated in the roof.

4. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the bypassing mechanism locks the engagement with the webbing when rearward acceleration of the vehicle becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

5. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the webbing is engaged with and disengaged from the bypassing mechanism by means of a guide for supporting the webbing in a suspended manner.

6. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the guide is dropped with the webbing when the guide is disengaged from the bypassing mechanism and then supported by the webbing, to which tension is applied between the upper position of the seat back and the retractor.

7. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a rear seat passenger air bag is installed in the seat back.

8. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the webbing between the upper position of the seat back and the bypassing mechanism is used as a screen on which a projector projects an image.

9. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a seat belt of a front seat is secured to the automotive seat.

10. An automotive seat safety mechanism including an automotive seat having a seat cushion and a seat back, which is arranged on a rear portion of the seat cushion, and a webbing arranged between the seat back and an upper portion of a vehicle, wherein a retractor urges the webbing in a winding direction to draw in the webbing while simultaneously permitting the webbing to be drawn out of the retractor in an unwinding direction when in a normal state and prevents the webbing from being drawn out when acceleration of the vehicle becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the automotive seat safety mechanism comprising:

a bypassing mechanism arranged above the seat back; and

a pretensioner included in the retractor;

wherein the retractor is arranged in an upper portion of the seat back;

wherein the webbing has an end secured to the upper portion rearward from the seat back and is extended through the bypassing mechanism to the retractor;

wherein the webbing is disengaged from the bypassing mechanism when forward acceleration of the vehicle becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value; and

wherein the pretensioner of the retractor is activated to quickly draw in the webbing in response to the forward acceleration.

11. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the retractor is accommodated in a head rest arranged above the seat back.

12. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the retractor is fixed to a frame of the seat back.

13. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the bypassing mechanism is accommodated in a roof of the vehicle.

14. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the bypassing mechanism locks the engagement with the webbing when rearward acceleration of the vehicle becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

15. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the webbing is engaged with and disengaged from the bypassing mechanism by means of a guide for supporting the webbing in a suspended manner.

16. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 15, wherein the guide is dropped with the webbing when the guide is disengaged from the bypassing mechanism and then supported by the webbing, to which tension is applied between the upper position of the seat back and the retractor.

17. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 10, wherein a rear seat passenger air bag is installed in the seat back.

18. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the webbing between the upper position of the seat back and the bypassing mechanism is used as a screen on which a projector projects an image.

19. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 10, wherein a seat belt of a front seat is secured to the automotive seat.

20. An automotive seat safety mechanism including an automotive seat having a seat cushion and a seat back, which is arranged on a rear portion of the seat cushion, a child seat detachably installed on the automotive seat, and a webbing arranged between the seat back and an upper portion of a vehicle, wherein a retractor urges the webbing in a winding direction to draw in the webbing while simultaneously permitting the webbing to be drawn out of the retractor in an unwinding direction when in a normal state and prevents the webbing from being drawn out when acceleration of the vehicle becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the automotive seat safety mechanism comprising:

a bypassing mechanism arranged above the seat back; and

a pretensioner included in the retractor;

wherein the retractor is arranged rearward from the seat back in the upper portion of the vehicle;

wherein the webbing has an end secured to an upper position of the seat back and is extended through the bypassing mechanism to the retractor;

wherein the webbing is disengaged from the bypassing mechanism when forward acceleration of the vehicle becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value;

wherein the pretensioner of the retractor is activated to quickly draw in the webbing in the winding direction in response to the forward acceleration; and

wherein the child seat is fixed to the upper position of the seat back by a fastening belt, wherein the fastening belt includes a load limiter.

21. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 20, wherein the retractor is arranged in a roof of the vehicle, and the webbing between the bypassing mechanism and the retractor is accommodated in the roof.

22. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 20, wherein the bypassing mechanism is accommodated in the roof.

23. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 20, wherein the bypassing mechanism locks the engagement with the webbing when rearward acceleration of the vehicle becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value.