Restraining Device for an Occupant of a Vehicle

• US 20090076685A1
• Filed: 12/23/2004
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Bernzen, Werner, Reutter, Dominic, Christmann, Xavier, Schmitt, Juergen, Zenker, Florian, Beisheim, Dirk
• Granted Patent: US 8,068,956 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4685 with means to adjust or regulate the tensioning force in relation to external parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/469 reusable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0155 sensing belt tension
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1951 characterised by arrangements in vehicle or relative to seat belt
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/46 Reels with means to tension the belt in an emergency by forced winding upelectrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01 ; tensioners using reels only guiding the belt during normal use, e.g. splitted reels B60R22/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/4628 characterised by fluid actuators, e.g. pyrotechnic gas generators actuating a cable B60R22/4619

Abstract

In a restraining device for an occupant of a vehicle, having a belt that can be drawn out or retracted by a lockable retractor, and a reversible seat-belt tightener, in the case of an impending but still avoidable first event the reversible seat-belt tightener automatically exerts and maintains a first tightening force on the belt and/or reduces the first tightening force if the first event is no longer impending. In the case of an impending, no longer avoidable second event, automatically exerts a second tightening force on the belt which is greater than the first tightening force. The first tightening force and the second tightening force acting constantly in the retracting direction.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A restraining device for an occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

a lockable retractor;

a belt which can be drawn out or retracted by the lockable retractor; and

a reversible seat-belt tightener;

wherein;

in the case of an impending but still avoidable first event the reversible seat-belt tightener automatically exerts and maintains a first tightening force on the belt and reduces the first tightening force if the first event is no longer impending; and

in the case of an impending, no longer avoidable second event the reversible seat-belt tightener automatically exerts a second tightening force on the belt which is greater than the first tightening force; and

the first tightening force and the second tightening force act constantly in a retracting direction of the seat belt.

17. The restraining device as claimed in claim 16, wherein, when a third event is detected, the seat-belt tightener automatically exerts a third tightening force on the belt, which third lightening force is greater than the second tightening force.

18. The restraining device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the third tightening force acts constantly in the retracting direction.

19. The restraining device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the third force is exerted by the triggering of an explosive charge.

20. The restraining device as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

in the case of the first event, the seat-belt tightener exerts a fourth tightening force;

the fourth tightening force has a magnitude of which lies between the first force and the second force; and

the fourth tightening force is exerted after a first delay interval following exertion of the first tightening force, and prior to exertion of the second tightening force.

21. The restraining device as claimed in claim 16, wherein in the case of the first event, the seat-belt tightener exerts a fourth tightening force, which is followed immediately by a delay interval prior to exertion of the second tightening force, and the magnitude of which lies between the first force and the second force.

22. The restraining device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the fourth tightening force acts exclusively in the retracting direction.

23. The restraining device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the seat-belt tightener is arranged in proximity to the retractor.

24. The restraining device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the seat-belt tightener displaces the retractor by means of at least one of the tightening forces.

25. The restraining device as claimed in claim 22, wherein:

the retractor is automatically locked prior to the exertion of at least one of the tightening forces; and

the locking of the retractor is automatically canceled prior to the reduction of the relevant tightening force.

26. The restraining device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the seat-belt tightener retracts the belt by means of at least one of the tightening forces.

27. The restraining device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the belt is a three-point belt.

28. The restraining device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the second event is a vehicle collision.

29. The restraining device as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least one radar distance-measuring device is provided for detecting the impending occurrence of at least one or more of the events.

30. The restraining device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the restraining device is arranged on a driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle.