SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM WITH INFLATABLE PELVIS RESTRAINT DEVICE

• US 20160059814A1
• Filed: 08/27/2014
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: SCHNEIDER, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,533,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42718 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/688 Particular seat belt attachment and guiding
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/263 Front seats
• 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 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

A safety restraint system for a vehicle seat having a seat back, a seat cushion and a frame includes an inflatable pelvis restraint device having a flexible member extending laterally across the seat cushion and having a first end and a second end. The flexible member includes at least a portion that is inflatable for increasing a height of the seat proximate a forward edge of the seat. In one embodiment, both the first and second ends are attached to the frame. In another embodiment, the safety restraint system includes a continuous webbing that defines a pelvis restraint portion, a lap belt portion and a shoulder belt portion. The lap belt portion, the shoulder belt portion, or both may be additionally inflatable.

Claims

1. A safety restraint system in combination with a vehicle seat comprising:

a seat including a frame, a seat back, and a seat cushion supported on the frame; and

an inflatable pelvis restraint device including a flexible member extending laterally across the seat cushion and having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends attached to the frame, the flexible member includes at least a portion that is inflatable for increasing a height of the seat proximate a forward edge of the seat.

2. The safety restraint system of claim 1, wherein the flexible member is a webbing.

3. The safety restraint system of claim 1, wherein the flexible member is a tubular webbing.

4. The safety restraint system of claim 1, wherein the flexible member is disposed within the seat cushion.

5. The safety restraint system of claim 1, wherein inflation of the inflatable pelvis restraint device increases a cushion angle to provide improved pelvis restraint for an occupant of the seat.

6. The safety restraint system of claim 1, further comprising an inflator for inflating the inflatable pelvis restraint device.

7. The safety restraint system of claim 6, wherein the inflator is attached to the frame.

8. A safety restraint system in combination with a vehicle seat comprising:

a seat including a frame, a seat back and a seat cushion supported on the frame;

a continuous webbing including a first end and a second end;

a first bracket securing the first end to the frame proximate a first lateral side of the seat;

at least one additional bracket slidably retaining a portion of the continuous webbing to the frame proximate a second lateral side of the vehicle seat;

a tongue carried by the continuous webbing;

a buckle for receiving the tongue, the buckle disposed proximate the first lateral side of the seat;

the continuous webbing defining a pelvis restraint portion between the first and second brackets, a lap belt portion between the second bracket and the tongue and a shoulder belt portion between the tongue and the second end, the pelvis restraint portion being inflatable.

9. The safety restraint system of claim 8, wherein the continuous webbing continuously extends from the first end to the second end and defines each of the pelvis restraint portion, the lap belt portion and the shoulder belt portion along a length thereof between the first and second ends.

10. The safety restraint system of claim 8, wherein the flexible member is a tubular webbing.

11. The safety restraint system of claim 8, wherein the flexible member is disposed within the seat cushion.

12. The safety restraint system of claim 8, wherein the continuous webbing is flexible.

13. The safety restraint system of claim 8, wherein inflation of the pelvis restraint portion pretensions the continuous webbing.

14. The safety restraint system of claim 8, further comprising an inflator for inflating the pelvis restraint portion.

15. The safety restraint system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the lap belt portion and the shoulder belt portion is inflatable.

16. A safety restraint device for a seat having a seat back, a frame and a seat cushion, the safety restraint device comprising:

a continuous webbing defining a pelvis restraint portion, a lap belt portion and a shoulder belt portion;

the pelvis restraint portion being inflatable and adapted to extend across the seat cushion between a first lateral side of the seat and a second lateral side of the seat;

the lap belt portion adapted to be positioned above the seat cushion and extend across the seat from the second lateral side to the first lateral side; and

the shoulder belt portion adapted to extend from the first lateral side to the second lateral side.

17. The safety arrangement of claim 16, wherein the continuous webbing continuously extends from the first end to the second end and defines each of the pelvis restraint portion, the lap belt portion and the shoulder belt portion along a length thereof between the first and second ends.

18. The safety arrangement of claim 16, wherein the continuous webbing is flexible.

19. The safety arrangement of claim 16, wherein inflation of the pelvis restraint portion pretensions the continuous webbing.

20. The safety arrangement of claim 16, wherein at least one of the lap belt portion and the shoulder belt portion is inflatable.