Motor Vehicle Safety Restraint System
First Claim
1. A safety restraint system for a motorized vehicle having a passenger compartment with a safety belt assembly mounted therein, the safety belt assembly having a belt webbing, the safety restraint system comprising:
- a tubular member defining an elongate channel;
a piston member operatively disposed inside said channel to selectively translate from an undeployed position to a deployed position;
a linking member operatively connecting the belt webbing to said piston member such that translation of said piston member increases tension of the belt webbing;
a cushion member operable to selectively transition from a non-expanded state to an expanded state; and
an inflation device in fluid communication with both said cushion member and said tubular member, wherein activation of said inflation device operates to transition said cushion member from said non-expanded state to said expanded state and translate said piston member from said undeployed position to said deployed position.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A safety restraint system for selectively restraining an occupant of a motorized vehicle is provided. The safety restraint system includes a cylinder defining an elongate channel therein. A piston is disposed inside the channel, and selectively translates from an undeployed position to a deployed position. A linking member operatively connects the safety belt webbing to the piston such that translation of the piston increases the tension of the belt webbing. The safety restraint system also includes an inflatable cushion operatively attached to the cylinder, and configured to selectively transition from a non-expanded state to an expanded state. An inflation device operable to release inflation fluid is in fluid communication with both the inflatable cushion and the cylinder. Activation of the inflation device operates to transition the cushion from the non-expanded state to the expanded state, and translate the piston from the undeployed position to the deployed position.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A safety restraint system for a motorized vehicle having a passenger compartment with a safety belt assembly mounted therein, the safety belt assembly having a belt webbing, the safety restraint system comprising:
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a tubular member defining an elongate channel; a piston member operatively disposed inside said channel to selectively translate from an undeployed position to a deployed position; a linking member operatively connecting the belt webbing to said piston member such that translation of said piston member increases tension of the belt webbing; a cushion member operable to selectively transition from a non-expanded state to an expanded state; and an inflation device in fluid communication with both said cushion member and said tubular member, wherein activation of said inflation device operates to transition said cushion member from said non-expanded state to said expanded state and translate said piston member from said undeployed position to said deployed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A safety restraint system for selectively restraining an occupant of a motorized vehicle having a passenger compartment with a safety belt assembly mounted therein, the safety belt assembly having a belt webbing operatively mounted proximate to a seat assembly, the safety restraint system comprising:
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an inflator operable to release inflation fluid; a cylinder defining a channel elongated axially therein and in fluid communication with said inflator, said channel having first and second opposing ends, said cylinder further defining at least one vent hole therethrough; a piston disposed inside said cylinder, and operable to selectively axially translate between said first and second ends of said channel from an undeployed position to a deployed position; a linking member operatively connecting the belt webbing to said piston such that translation of said piston retracts a predetermined length of the belt webbing to thereby increase tension of the belt webbing; an inflatable cushion with at least a portion thereof wrapped around said cylinder such that said at least one vent hole fluidly communicates said inflatable cushion with said cylinder, said inflatable cushion being operable to selectively transition from a non-expanded state, in which said cushion is generally stowed, to an expanded state, in which said cushion is deployed into the vehicle passenger compartment; and wherein activation of said inflator operates to transition said inflatable cushion from said non-expanded state to said expanded state and translate said piston from said undeployed position to said deployed position.
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Specification