Method of and an apparatus for presenting a seat belt buckle

• US 20030200019A1
• Filed: 01/28/2003
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Takata Seat Belts Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Seat Belts Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Grabowski, Richard M., Bernat, Albert R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,883,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1806 for buckles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/03 Means for presenting the belt or part thereof to the wearer , e.g. foot-operated

Abstract

A buckle presenter system is provided that shifts the buckle to a more accessible latching position for latching with a tongue plate or tip and then shifts the latched buckle to a performance position for achieving the desired performance. This is achieved by sensing the occupant'"'"'s need for latching the buckle as when the occupant enters the vehicle and is seated and then automatically shifting the buckle to a latching position for providing better accessibility for inserting the latch plate into the buckle and then automatically returning the latched buckle to the performance position.

Claims

1. A buckle presenter system in a seat belt system for shifting the buckle to a latching position with a tip and for returning the latched buckle and tip to a performance position, the buckle presenter system comprising:

a buckle for latching with a tongue plate;

a drive mechanism for shifting the buckle along a predetermined path of travel from the performance position where the buckle is located for enhanced performance to the latching position for latching with the tip; and

a timing-device for timing the time for the buckle to be at the latching position to allow latching of the buckle to the tongue plate and then causing the drive mechanism to return the buckle to the performance position.

2. A buckle presenter system in accordance with claim 1 comprising:

a locking mechanism for locking the buckle and tip at the performance position to resist loads applied thereto at the time of an emergency usage of the system belt system.

3. A buckle presenter system in accordance with claim 2 comprising:

diagnostic circuitry including a sensor for detecting proper locking of the buckle at the performance position by the locking mechanism and activating a warning indicator if proper locking has not occurred.

4. A buckle presenter system in accordance with claim 1 comprising:

an electrical control system for operating the drive mechanism to shift between its latching and performance positions.

5. A buckle presenter system in accordance with claim 4 comprising:

a sensor for sensing that a seat occupant is in the seat and ready for latching the buckle to the tongue plate.

6. A buckle presenter system in accordance with claim 5 wherein:

the sensor comprises a door switch for sensing the opening and closing of a vehicle door used by the occupant.

7. A buckle presenter system in accordance with claim 6 wherein the electrical control system comprises:

a controller receiving signal inputs from the door switch and the timer to cause operation of the drive mechanism to shift the buckle between the performance and latching positions.

8. A buckle presenter system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the drive mechanism comprises:

a motor; and

a buckle carrier moved by the motor along the predetermined path between the latching and the performance positions.

9. A buckle presenter system in accordance with claim 8 wherein the buckle carrier comprises:

an elongated screw thread rotatable by the motor and extending between the latching position and the performance position; and

a carrier carrying the buckle and having threaded engagement with the screw thread and translating along the screw thread as it is turned by the motor.

10. A buckle presenter system in accordance with claim 7 comprising:

a buckle position sensor for sensing the position of the buckle at its latching and performance positions.

11. A buckle presenter system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the buckle position sensor comprises:

a switch operated by the buckle when it is at the latching position; and

a switch operated by the buckle when it is at the performance position.

12. A buckle presenter system for presenting a buckle to a seated occupant at a latching position for latching to a tip and for shifting the latched buckle to a performance position;

the system comprising;

a buckle for latching to a tip at the latching position;

sensors for sensing the opening and closing of a door by the occupant;

a motor driven carrier for carrying the buckle between the latching and the performance positions;

a controller operable by signals from the sensor to operate the motor driven carrier to shift the buckle to the latching position and, after latching to a tip, to shift the buckle to the performance position; and

a locking mechanism operable by the controller to lock the buckle and buckle carrier at the performance position.

13. A buckle presenter system in accordance with claim 12 wherein the sensors comprise at least one door switch operable by the door opening and closing to send signals to the controller to begin the shifting of the buckle to the latching position.

14. A buckle presenter system in accordance with claim 13 comprising:

a switch operable with the buckle in the latching position to signal the controller that the buckle is in the latching position;

a timer associated with the controller operable by the switch to time out a period for a latching operation; and

a switch operable with the buckle in the performance position to signal the controller that the latched buckle is in the performance position.

15. A buckle presenter system in accordance with claim 14 comprising:

diagnostic circuitry including a sensor for detecting proper locking of the buckle at the performance position by the locking mechanism and activating a warning indicator if proper locking has not occurred.

16. A buckle presenter system in accordance with claim 12 wherein the motor driven carrier comprises:

a motor operable by the controller; and

a rotatable screw drive driven by the motor and connected to the buckle to shift it between the latching and the performance positions.

17. A method of presenting a seat belt buckle in a seat belt system to a vehicle occupant and for returning the same to a performance position, the method comprising:

sensing the opening and closing of a vehicle door signifying the entry of an occupant for seating in a vehicle seat;

shifting the seat belt buckle from a performance position to a latching position for easier latching by the seated occupant;

latching of the buckle to a tip at the latching position; and

returning the latched buckle to the performance position.

18. A buckle presenting method in accordance with claim 17 comprising:

securing the latched buckles at the performance position to the vehicle to withstand predetermined loads on the buckle.

19. A buckle presenting method in accordance with claim 17 comprising:

timing out a period for latching of the buckle and tip and returning the latched buckle after the timing period.

20. A method in accordance with claim 17 comprising:

sensing the buckle being at the latching position; and

sensing the buckle being at the performance position.