Door-mounted seat belt restraint system and method
First Claim
1. A system for compensating for tension in a secured seat belt to accurately measure weight on a vehicle seat, the system comprising:
- a door-mounted retractor for the seat belt;
a door-mounted lower anchor for the seat belt;
a vehicle seat having a seat weight sensor operatively mounted thereto; and
means for simulating the mounting of the door-mounted anchor to the vehicle seat to substantially cancel out generally downward directed forces applied to an object on the vehicle seat by the secured seat belt and allow for the seat weight sensor to accurately measure weight of the object on the seat.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are provided for cancelling out downward directed tension forces generated on an object on a vehicle seat. In active, door-mounted seat belt systems, the belt tension force cancellation system includes a simulator that is operable to transfer upward forces on a door-mounted, lower anchor to the vehicle seat without requiring a permanent anchor point for the seat belt in the vehicle compartment. The simulator can either automatically transfer the forces upon securing the belt about the object, or be selectively operable.
48 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for compensating for tension in a secured seat belt to accurately measure weight on a vehicle seat, the system comprising:
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a door-mounted retractor for the seat belt;
a door-mounted lower anchor for the seat belt;
a vehicle seat having a seat weight sensor operatively mounted thereto; and
means for simulating the mounting of the door-mounted anchor to the vehicle seat to substantially cancel out generally downward directed forces applied to an object on the vehicle seat by the secured seat belt and allow for the seat weight sensor to accurately measure weight of the object on the seat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A passenger restraint system for a vehicle having a door providing access to a seat in a passenger compartment, the passenger restraint system comprising:
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a retractor for seat belt webbing with the retractor being mounted to the vehicle door;
a lower anchor to which the seat belt webbing is secured with the lower anchor being mounted to the vehicle door adjacent an outboard side of the seat;
at least one seat weight sensor arranged for measuring weight of an object on the seat;
a buckle having an anchor on an inboard side of the seat;
a tongue plate carried on the seat belt webbing for being latched in the buckle anchor; and
a lower anchor simulator for the seat that allows a connection between the seat belt webbing or the lower anchor for the webbing and the seat to be established that is operable with the seat belt webbing secured about the object on the seat with the simulator connection being separate from the latched tongue plate and buckle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A seat belt tension force cancelling method comprising:
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securing a door-mounted seat belt about an object on a vehicle seat;
transferring upward directed forces on a door-mounted, lower anchor for the seat belt to the vehicle seat; and
cancelling downward directed forces generated by the secured seat belt on the object by the transferred upward directed forces. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification