Seat belt restraint and energy absorber

• US 20060042850A1
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Mendis, Kolita
• Application Number:
  US11/121,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20060042850A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4609 using a plurality of tensioners
• 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 22/1955 Linear actuators
• 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

The invention relates to a vehicle occupant restraint system comprising a belt extending from two effective belt guides (4) located on each side of a seat (2) and which when fastened around an occupant (1) has a belt configuration defined by at least two effective side positions (P) where the belt emerges on each side of the seat, wherein said effective belt guides (4) are arranged to be movable upon acceleration of the occupant (1) in relation to the seat (2) in a crash situation so as to accomplish a forward displacement of the effective side positions (P) in relation to the seat (2) for altering the belt configuration from a crash restraint configuration to a ride down configuration.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant restraint system comprising a belt extending from two effective belt guides located on each side of a seat and which when fastened around an occupant has a belt configuration defined by at least two effective side positions where the belt emerges on each side of the seat, wherein effective belt guides are arranged to be movable upon forward acceleration of the occupant in relation to the seat in a crash situation so as to accomplish a forward displacement of the effective side positions in relation to the seat for altering the belt configuration from a crash restraint configuration to a ride down configuration.

2. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said belt guides are movable in a forward direction.

3. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 2, wherein the belt guides are arranged to be movable in a forward direction by action of a force acting on the belt due to the forward acceleration of the occupant in relation to the seat.

4. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, comprising a load limiting device being arranged to allow the movement of said effective belt guides when a force acting on the belt due to the forward acceleration of the occupant in relation to the seat exceeds a threshold force.

5. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 3, wherein said load limiting device comprises an energy absorber being arranged so as to allow forward movement of the belt guides when the force acting on the belt exceeds a threshold force.

6. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 5, wherein said energy absorber is connected to the belt guide via at least one moveable piston.

7. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the belt guides is accomplished by action of an actuator being activated upon detection of the deceleration of the vehicle exceeding a threshold value or the acceleration of the occupant in relation to the seat exceeding a threshold value.

8. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, said belt further having a comfort configuration for normal driving situations, from which the effective side positions are displaceable in a rearward direction so as to attain said crash restraint configuration.

9. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 8, wherein said effective side positions are displaceable by movement of the effective belt guides.

10. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 8, wherein a restraint actuator device is arranged to accomplish said displacement of the effective side positions in a rearward direction upon detection of an occurring or impending crash.