VEHICLE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT APPARATUS

• US 20090322067A1
• Filed: 06/23/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Nezaki, Takuya
• Granted Patent: US 8,016,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/807
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/688 Particular seat belt attachment and guiding
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/027 Four-point seat belt systems, e.g. with the two upper points connected together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1843 comprising an elongated sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4609 using a plurality of tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4858 for sensing pressure on seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/03 Means for presenting the belt or part thereof to the wearer , e.g. foot-operated
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus includes: a retracting device that retracts one end side of a webbing for restraining an occupant so that the webbing can be withdrawn; a webbing holding portion that holds the other end side of the webbing; and a fixing member to which the retracting device and the webbing holding portion are attached.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus comprising:

a retracting device that retracts one end side of a webbing for restraining an occupant so that the webbing can be withdrawn;

a webbing holding portion that holds the other end side of the webbing; and

a fixing member to which the retracting device and the webbing holding portion are attached.

2. The vehicle occupant restraint apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member to which the retracting device and the webbing holding portion have been attached is fixed to a vehicle seat.

3. The vehicle occupant restraint apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the webbing includes

a pair of right and left hip restraining portions for restraining a hip of the occupant;

a pair of right and left upper body restraining portions for restraining an upper body of the occupant, wherein lower end sides of the pair of right and left upper body restraining portions are respectively connected to the pair of right and left hip restraining portions;

an engaging portion that is provided between any one set of the right hip restraining portion and right upper body restraining portion or the left hip restraining portion and left upper body restraining portion; and

an engaged portion that is provided between the other one set of the right hip restraining portion and right upper body restraining portion or the left hip restraining portion and left upper body restraining portion, wherein the engaging portion can be engaged with or disengaged from the engaged portion.

4. The vehicle occupant restraint apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the engaging portion and the engaged portion are movable in a longitudinal direction of the webbing.

5. The vehicle occupant restraint apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the webbing includes a first webbing and a second webbing,

the first webbing includes a first hip restraining portion for restraining a hip of the occupant;

a first upper body restraining portion for restraining an upper body of the occupant, wherein a lower end side of the first upper body restraining portion is connected to the first hip restraining portion; and

an engaging portion that is provided between the first hip restraining portion and the first upper body restraining portion, and

the second webbing includes a second hip restraining portion for restraining the hip of the occupant;

a second upper body restraining portion for restraining the upper body of the occupant, wherein a lower end side of the second upper body restraining portion is connected to the second hip restraining portion; and

an engaged portion that is provided between the second hip restraining portion and the second upper body restraining portion, wherein the engaging portion can be engaged with or disengaged from the engaged portion.

6. The vehicle occupant restraint apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fixing member includes

a body portion that covers a back surface side of the vehicle seat;

and

side plate portions that extend forward from both ends of the vehicle seat in a width direction and that cover both sides of the vehicle seat.

7. The vehicle occupant restraint apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the fixing member supports a lower end side of the webbing so that the lower end side of the webbing is angularly displaceable about an axis in a vehicle width direction with respect to the vehicle seat.

8. The vehicle occupant restraint apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fixing member is formed so that a first member fixed to a seat cushion frame is connected to a second member fixed to a seat back frame.

9. The vehicle occupant restraint apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fixing member includes a cover member that covers a back surface side of a seat back.

10. The vehicle occupant restraint apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an inflatable portion that is provided for the webbing, wherein the inflatable portion is supplied with gas to inflate and deploy into a predetermined shape to protect the occupant; and

a gas supply device that is provided for the fixing member, wherein the gas supply device is activated to supply gas to the inflatable portion.

11. The vehicle occupant restraint apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a cover portion that covers the inflatable portion, wherein the cover portion has a seam portion that breaks as the inflatable portion inflates.

12. A vehicle seat that is provided with the vehicle occupant restraint apparatus according to claim 1.