Passive restraint control system

• US 4,781,267 A
• Filed: 11/20/1987
• Issued: 11/01/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Bray, Martin L., Freeman, Kenneth A., Waineo, Keith R.
• Primary Examiner(s): FERRITER, KARIN L
• Application Number:
  US07/123,434
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 180/268, 280/802, 280/804
• US Class Current: 180/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/06 having the belt or harness connected to a member slidable in a vehicle-mounted track

Abstract

An improved motorized passive seatbelt system for an automotive vehicle includes an intertia responsive switch mounted on the vehicle which operates to prevent operation of the motor to move the seatbelt from an occupant restraining position to a free position when a predetermined impact occurs.

Claims

1. In an automobile passive seatbelt system of the type wherein a seatbelt retractor is mounted on the automobile body and a seatbelt extends from the retractor to an anchor mounted in a track mounted proximate a door opening of the body, the anchor being movable along the track between a position restraining an occupant of the automobile and an open position permitting ingress and egress of an occupant to and from the automobile, under the influence of an electric motor to which power is supplied by the automobile electrical system and to which the anchor is drivingly engaged, and having means for operating the motor to drive the anchor from the restraining position to the open position in response to the opening of the automobile door, an improvement comprising

inertia responsive switch means for sensing the occurrence of a predetermined level of impact on the automobile, and

means responsive to the switch means for preventing operation of the electric motor to effect movement of the anchor between the restraining and open positions.

2. In an automobile passive seatbelt system of the type wherein a seatbelt retractor is mounted on the automobile body and a seatbelt extends from the retractor to an anchor mounted in a track mounted proximate a door opening of the body, the anchor being movable along the track between a position restraining an occupant of the automobile and an open position permitting ingress and egress of an occupant to and from the automobile, under the influence of an electric motor to which power is supplied by the automobile electrical system and to which the anchor is drivingly engaged, and having means for operating the motor to drive the anchor from the restraining position to the open position in response to the opening of the automobile door, an improvement comprising

means for sensing the occurrence of a predetermined level of impact on the automobile, and

means responsive to the sensing means for preventing operation of the electric motor to effect movement of the anchor between the restraining and open positions.

3. A motorized passive seatbelt system for an automotive vehicle having:

a source of electrical power,

an electric motor mounted on the vehicle,

a seatbelt anchor slidably mounted on the vehicle for movement between an occupant restraining position and a free position,

means for drivingly engaging the motor with the anchor to effect the movement thereof,

control means operatively connected to the electrical power source for effecting operation of the motor,

means for sensing open and closed conditions of a door of the vehicle,

means for effecting operation of the control means to drivingly operate the motor to drive the anchor from the occupant restraining position to the open position upon the sensing means sensing the open condition of the vehicle door, and

means for sensing the occurrence of a predetermined level of impact on the vehicle and for preventing the driving operation of the motor.

4. A motorized passive seatbelt system as defined in claim 3 wherein the impact sensing means comprises inertia responsive switch means mounted on the body.

5. A motorized passive seatbelt system as defined in claim 4 wherein the inertia responsive switch means is mounted on the vehicle at a position remote from the door.

6. A motorized passive seatbelt system as defined in claim 3 wherein the means for sensing and preventing comprises:

inertia responsive switch means mounted on the body and operatively connected to the electrical power source;

other switch means operatively connected between the inertia responsive switch means and the control means and operative to prevent operation of the motor when the door sensing switch means senses a door open condition.

7. A motorized passive seatbelt system as defined in claim 6 wherein the other switch means are transistors.

8. A motorized passive seatbelt system as defined in claim 3 wherein the control means comprises:

a power circuit for selectively operating the motor for movement between the restraining and free positions; and

a control circuit operatively connected to the power circuit for enabling the operation of the power circuit;

and the sensing and preventing means comprises;

switch means operative to prevent operation of the power circuit.

9. A motorized passive seatbelt system as defined in claim 4 wherein the means for sensing and preventing comprises:

inertia responsive switch means mounted on the body and operatively connected to the electrical power source;

other switch means operatively connected between the inertia responsive switch means and the control means and operative to prevent operation of the motor when the door sensing means senses a door open condition.

10. A motorized passive seatbelt system as defined in claim 4 wherein the control means comprises:

a power circuit for selectively operating the motor for movement between the restraining and free positions; and

a control circuit operatively connected to the power circuit for enabling the operation of the power circuit;

and the sensing and preventing means comprises;

switch means operative to prevent operation of the power circuit.

11. A motorized passive seatbelt system as defined in claim 9 wherein the other switch means are transistors.

12. A motorized passive seatbelt system for an automotive vehicle having:

a source of electrical power,

an electric motor mounted on the vehicle,

a seatbelt anchor slidably mounted on the vehicle for movement between an occupant restraining position and a free position,

means for drivingly engaging the motor with the anchor to effect the movement thereof,

control means operatively connected to the electrical power source for effecting operation of the motor,

means for sensing open and closed conditions of a door of the vehicle,

means for effecting operation of the control means to drivingly operate the motor to drive the anchor from the occupant restraining position to the open position upon the sensing means sensing the open condition of the vehicle door,

inertia responsive switch means mounted on the body and operatively connected to the electrical power source; and

other switch means operatively connected between the inertia responsive switch means and the control means and operative to prevent operation of the motor when the door sensing means senses door open condition.