Method of Establishing Belt Pullout in an Occupant Restraint System for Vehicles and an Occupant Restraint System for Vehicles

• US 20070256876A1
• Filed: 07/12/2005
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Thomas Dramlitsch
• Inventors: Dramlitsch, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,823,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/288 with means to adjust or regulate the amount of energy to be absorbed
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/322 using automatic actuating means B60R22/321 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/3413 operating between belt reel and retractor frame B60R22/4676 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of establishing belt pullout in an occupant restraint system for vehicles with a safety belt includes the steps: detecting the vehicle acceleration, and establishing the belt pullout in dependence on the detected vehicle acceleration.

Claims

1. A method of establishing belt pullout in an occupant restraint system for vehicles with a safety belt comprising the steps:

detecting the vehicle acceleration, and

establishing the belt pullout in dependence on the detected vehicle acceleration.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein belt pullout occurs only when the detected vehicle acceleration exceeds a predetermined acceleration value.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein belt pullout is established by the amount by which the vehicle acceleration exceeds the predetermined acceleration value.

4. A method as set forth in claim 2 characterised in that the predetermined acceleration value does not exceed sixty times the acceleration due to gravity.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein detection of the vehicle acceleration is effected by means of a reference body of known mass, which is movable relative to the vehicle.

6. An occupant restraint system for vehicles comprising

at least one safety belt (2) allowing belt pullout,

a blocking device (13, 113) for blocking belt pullout, and

a release device (11, 117) acting on the blocking device (13, 113) for definedly enabling belt pullout,

characterised by

an acceleration detection unit (m) which detects the vehicle acceleration and which in dependence on the detected vehicle acceleration acts on the release device (11, 117) for definition of the defined enablement of belt pullout.

7. An occupant restraint system as set forth in claim 6 characterised in that the acceleration detection unit has a reference mass (m) which is movable relative to the vehicle and which is displaceable out of its position against a predetermined force (F) and which upon a change in position against the predetermined force acts on the blocking unit (13, 113) as a release unit for enabling belt pullout.

8. An occupant restraint system as set forth in claim 7 characterised in that the reference mass (m) is adapted to act mechanically on the blocking device (13, 113).

9. An occupant restraint system as set forth in claim 7 characterised in that the force (F) against which the reference mass (m) is displaceable is established by the formula F=B m g, wherein g is the acceleration due to gravity, m is the mass of the reference mass (m) and B is a freely selectable parameter.

10. An occupant restraint system as set forth in claim 9 characterised in that the parameter B is of the dimensionless value 60.