SERVICEABLE ASSEMBLY FOR SEATBELT INTEGRATED DEPLOYABLE CUSHION

• US 20090283994A1
• Filed: 05/13/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Spahn, Brian Robert, Ruthinowski, Richard Edward, Jaradi, Dean M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,681,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement

Abstract

A serviceable seatbelt integrated airbag assembly that is removably attached to a vehicle seat which includes an integrated deployable cushion, an inflation device, and a lap belt portion. A bracket may be provided that is removably attached to the seat. The lap belt portion is generally removably attached to the seat structure through connection with a bracket or structural member of the seat assembly and secured by a removable fastener. The airbag cushion is attached to, or contained within, a portion of the lap belt portion seatbelt webbing. An end of the lap belt portion fits through an interfacing joint element attached to one end of the primary seatbelt webbing. The airbag inflation device is connected to the electrical system of the vehicle. Removal of the serviceable seatbelt integrated airbag assembly is accomplished by disconnecting the electrical connector from the electrical system of the vehicle and seatbelt integrated airbag lap belt portion. The removable fastener is removed to disengage the lap belt portion from connection with the seat assembly and the lap belt portion is then released from connection with the primary seatbelt assembly by feeding an end of the lap belt portion through the interfacing joint element Attachment of the serviceable assembly is accomplished by reversing the described steps. Removal of the remaining portion of the seatbelt system, including the retractor and upper seatbelt guide may be achieved after decoupling the seatbelt integrated airbag lap belt portion from the seat structure and primary seatbelt system.

Claims

1. A restraint system for a vehicle comprising:

a seat assembly;

a vehicle structure to which said seat assembly is fixed;

a retractable seatbelt webbing having a first end and a second end;

an interfacing joint element attached to said first end of said retractable seatbelt webbing;

a retractor, to which said second end of said retractable seatbelt webbing is attached;

a lap belt having a first end and a second end, said lap belt being operatively associated with said interfacing joint element, said lap belt portion being removably attached to one or the other of said seat assembly and said vehicle structure; and

a deployable cushion integrated with said lap belt portion.

2. The restraint system of claim 1 which further includes a mounting feature associated with said one or the other of said seat assembly and said vehicle structure and at least one releasable fastener, said first end of said lap belt portion being fixedly attached to said mounting feature, said second end of said lap belt portion being releasably attached to one or the other of said mounting feature and a structural member of said seat assembly by said at least one releasable fastener.

3. The restraint system of claim 2 further including a web anchor formed as part of said mounting feature, said first end of said lap belt being fixedly attached to said web anchor.

4. The restraint system of claim 1 which further includes a mounting feature associated with said one or the other of said seat assembly and said vehicle structure and at least one releasable fastener, at least one of said first end of said lap belt and said second end of said lap belt being releasably attached to said mounting feature by said at least one releasable fastener.

5. The restraint system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first end of said lap belt and said second end of said lap belt is releasably attached to said seat assembly, or to said vehicle structure by said at least one releasable fastener.

6. The restraint system of claim 1 which further includes a deployable cushion inflation device fluidly connected to said deployable cushion.

7. The restraint system of claim 1 which further includes a mounting feature removably attachable to said seat assembly and a deployable cushion inflation device attached to said mounting feature, said deployable cushion inflation device being fluidly connected to said deployable cushion.

8. The restraint system of claim 2 wherein said mounting feature includes an upper portion and a lower portion, and wherein said first end of said lap belt is fixedly attached to said upper portion and said second end of said lap belt is removably attached to said lower portion by a removable fastener.

9. The restraint system of claim 2 wherein said mounting feature includes an upper portion and a lower portion, and wherein said first end of said lap belt is removably attached to said upper portion by a removable fastener and said second end of said lap belt is fixedly attached to said lower portion or to said seat assembly.

10. A deployable cushion and seatbelt assembly for use with a seat assembly being fixed to a vehicle structure and an operatively associated retractable seatbelt webbing, the retractable seatbelt webbing having a first end connected to a seatbelt interfacing joint element and a second end connected to a retractor, the assembly comprising:

a mounting feature operatively associated with one of the seat assembly or the vehicle structure;

a lap belt having a first end and a second end, at least one of said first end or said second end of said lap belt being releasably attachable to said mounting feature, a portion of said lap belt being operatively associated with the seatbelt interfacing joint element of the primary seatbelt assembly;

a releasable fastener and in which both said first end; and

said second end of said lap belt are releasably attached to said mounting feature by said at least one releasable fastener.

11. The deployable cushion and seatbelt assembly of claim 10 which further includes at least one releasable fastener and in which the other of said first end or said second end of said lap belt is fixedly attached to said mounting feature by said releasable fastener.

12. The deployable cushion and seatbelt assembly of claim 11 further including a web anchor formed as part of said mounting feature, the fixedly attached end of said lap belt being fixedly attached to said web anchor.

13. The deployable cushion and seat assembly of claim 12 in which an aperture is formed in said web anchor, wherein a portion of said first end of said lap belt is positioned through said aperture.

15. The deployable cushion and seatbelt assembly of claim 10 wherein said first end of said lap belt includes a first bracket and wherein said second end of said lap belt includes a second bracket, said first bracket having a profile and said second bracket having a profile, said profiles being at least partially matable.

16. The deployable cushion and seatbelt assembly of claim 10 further including a deployable cushion attached to said lap belt.

17. The deployable cushion and seatbelt assembly of claim 16 further including an airbag inflation device fluidly connected to the deployable cushion.

14. (canceled)

18. A restraint system for a vehicle comprising:

a seat assembly;

a vehicle structure, said seat assembly being attached to said vehicle structure;

a mounting feature attachable to one or the other of said seat assembly or said vehicle structure;

a retractable seatbelt webbing having an end;

an interfacing joint element attached to said end of said retractable seatbelt webbing;

a lap belt being operatively associated with said interfacing joint element and being attached to said mounting feature;

a deployable cushion integrated with said lap belt; and

an inflation device fluidly connected with said deployable cushion.

19. The restraint system of claim 18 wherein said lap belt has a first end and a second end and wherein at least one of said first end or said second end is fixedly attached to said mounting feature.

20. The restraint system claim 18 wherein said lap belt has a first end and a second end and wherein at least one of said first end or said second end is releasably attached to said mounting feature.