Vehicle occupant restraint system

• US 4,191,399 A
• Filed: 05/18/1978
• Issued: 03/04/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Garvey, Louis P., Rhamstine, Chester F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Application Number:
  US05/907,116
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 280/747, 280/744, 280/753, 180/112, 296/65 A, 296/65 R, 297/216, 297/379, 297/384, 297/385, 297/389, 297/417, 248/118
• US Class Current: 280/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42781 mechanical triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/43 Safety locks for back-rests B60N2/433
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

The shoulder belt retractor is secured to an upper outboard portion of a seat back frame. Under predetermined vehicle deceleration conditions, the seat back is restrained from forward movement by blocking mechanism mounted on the side door so that the seat back and retractor are held stationary and the occupant using the shoulder belt is effectively restrained.

Claims

1. In a vehicle having a body with a side door pivotally movable between open and closed positions to facilitate entry and exit of a vehicle occupant, a seat for a vehicle occupant operatively mounted within said body adjacent to said door, said seat having a bench and a back disposed laterally of said door, a restraint belt for an occupant sitting in said seat, first anchor means operatively connected to one end of said belt and secured to said seat back, second anchor means operatively connected to said vehicle body disposed laterally from said door, said second anchor means including selectively engageable buckle means for connection with the other end of said belt, and interlock means for securing said seat back directly to said side door to lock said door under predetermined forward load on said seat back and prevent forward movement of said seat back relative to said door and thereby holding said first anchor means stationary relative to said vehicle body.

2. In a vehicle having a body with a side door pivotally movable between open and closed positions to facilitate entry and exit of a vehicle occupant, an occupant seat operatively mounted within said body adjacent to said door, said seat having a horizontal bench and a back extending upwardly from said bench and laterally of said door, a restraining belt for an occupant sitting in said seat, first anchor means operatively connected to one end of said belt and secured to an upper portion of said seat back adjacent to said door, second anchor means operatively connected to said vehicle body disposed laterally from said door, said second anchor means having selectively engageable buckle means for interconnecting the other end of said belt with said second anchor means so that belt can be fitted across the torso of said occupant, and interlock means between said seat back and said side door to lock said door under predetermined forward load on said seat back and prevent forward movement of said seat back relative to said door and thereby holding said first anchor means stationary relative to said vehicle body.

3. In a vehicle having a body with a side door pivotally movable between open and closed positions to facilitate entry and exit of a vehicle occupant, an occupant seat operatively mounted within said body adjacent to said door, said seat having a horizontal bench portion and an upwardly extending back disposed laterally of said door, a restraint belt for an occupant sitting in said seat, first anchor means operatively connected to one end of said belt and secured to an upper outboard portion of said seat back adjacent to said door, second anchor means operatively connected to said vehicle body disposed laterally from said door selectively engageable buckle means for interconnecting the other end of said belt with said second anchor means so that belt can be fitted across the torso of said occupant, cooperating blocking means on said side door and said seat back selectively engageable to prevent forward movement of said seat back relative to said door to thereby hold said first anchor means and an occupant using said restraint belt stationary relative to said vehicle body and cooperating track and slide means supported by said side door to support said blocking means of said side door and pendulum means supported by said slide means for locking said slide means to said track in response to predetermined conditions of vehicle deceleration.

4. In a motor vehicle body having an occupant seat mounted for fore and aft adjusting movement and positioned adjacent a door movable between open and closed positions, and an accupant restraint belt anchorage on the seat, the combination comprising:

track means on the door extending longitudinally thereof;

carriage means mounted on the track means for movement longitudinally thereof;

drive means acting between the carriage means and the track means for moving the carriage means longitudinally thereof;

control means responsive to opening movement of the door for moving the carriage means forwardly and responsive to closing movement of the door for moving the carriage means rearwardly into engagement with the seat generally adjacent the restraint belt anchorage;

and vehicle inertia responsive locking means for locking the carriage means to the track means at its rearwardmost position to block the occupant seat against forward movement by restraint belt loads transferred thereof.

5. In a motor vehicle body having an occupant seat mounted for fore and aft adjusting movement and positioned adjacent a door movable between open and closed positions, and an occupant restraint belt anchorage on the seat, the combination comprising:

track means on the door extending longitudinally thereof,

carriage means mounted on the track means for movement longitudinally thereof;

drive means acting between the carriage means and the track means for moving the carriage means longitudinally thereof;

interlock means operatively connecting said seat and said door when said carriage means is moved to a rearward position adjacent to said seat;

control means responsive to opening movement of the door for moving the carriage means forwardly and responsive to closing movement of the door for moving the carriage means rearwardly into engagement with the seat generally adjacent the restraint belt anchorage;

and vehicle inertia responsive locking means for locking the carriage means to the track means at its rearwardmost position to block the occupant seat against forward movement by restraint belt loads transferred thereto.