Passenger restraint system

• US 4,984,651 A
• Filed: 02/08/1990
• Issued: 01/15/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Grosch, Lothar, Zeidler, Falk, Bossenmaier, Alban, Katz, Egon
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Finlay, Tamara L.
• Application Number:
  US07/478,839
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/801, 280/806, 280/807, 280/808, 280/734, 280/733, 180/268, 180/282, 307/480, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 180/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343

Abstract

A passenger restraint system for motor vehicles is equipped with a safety belt, a belt tensioner, an inflatable airbag and with a switch member which detects the functional position of the safety belt and which is arranged in a belt lock of the safety belt. Activation of the airbag and of the belt tensioner takes place in dependence on the functional position of the safety belt. In order to reduce the risk of injury by the safety belt at medium speeds during the operative period of the airbag, an activatable belt-clamping device on the belt lock and an activatable belt pull-out detent for the shoulder belt are provided. In the presence of a second threshold signal indicating a moderate to serious injury, the airbag is released, the belt-clamping device is arrested. Additionally, the belt pull-out detent is released during the operative period of the airbag.

Claims

1. Passenger restraint system for motor vehicles comprising:

at least one safety belt including a lap belt portion and a shoulder belt portion for which belt tensioner means is provided;

at least one airbag;

at least one switch means is a belt lock of the safety belt for detecting a functional position of the safety belt;

a sensor which transmits threshold signals at least in dependence on effective changes of speed of the vehicle;

wherein an activation of the airbag and of the belt tensioner means takes place in dependence of a functional position of the safety belt as detected by the switch means;

wherein there is an activatable belt-clamping device on the belt lock and an activatable belt pull-out detent for the shoulder belt portion of the safety belt;

wherein the sensor transmits at least three different threshold signals; and

wherein there is a control unit means which, when the safety belt is fastened and when a second of the three threshold signals occurs to indicate a moderate to serious accident, releases the airbag, arrests the belt-clamping device and releases the belt pull-out detent during an operative releasing period of the airbag and which, when the safety belt is fastened and when the third threshold signal occurs to indicate a very serious accident, arrests the belt pull-out detent.

2. Passenger restraint system according to claim 1, wherein during the presence of the second threshold signal, the control unit activates a pelvic-belt tensioner and, after the operative releasing period of the airbag, arrests the belt pull-out detent and actuates a shoulder-belt tensioner.

3. Passenger restraint system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor transmits a fourth threshold signal which indicates that the vehicle has overturned.

4. Passenger restraint system according to claim 3, wherein the fourth threshold signal causes the control unit to activate the belt tensioner means to tension both the pelvic-belt and shoulder-belt portions and also arrests the belt pull-out detent.

5. Passenger restraint system according to claim 4, wherein, when the safety belt is not fastened as sensed by the switch means and in the presence of a first threshold signal that indicates a minor accident, the airbag is released.

6. Passenger restraint system according to claim 3, wherein, when the safety belt is not fastened as sensed by the switch means and in the presence of a first threshold signal that indicates a minor accident, the airbag is released.

7. Passenger restraint system according claim 2, wherein, when the safety belt is not fastened as sensed by the switch means and in the presence of a first threshold signal that indicates a minor accident, the airbag is released.

8. Passenger restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor transmits a fourth threshold signal which indicates that the vehicle has overturned.

9. Passenger restraint system according to claim 8, wherein the fourth threshold signal causes the control unit to activate the belt tensioner means to tension both the pelvic-belt and shoulder-belt portions and also arrests the belt pull-out detent.

10. Passenger restraint system according to claim 9, wherein when the safety belt is not fastened as sensed by the switch means and in the presence of a first threshold signal that indicates a minor accident, the airbag is released.

11. Passenger restraint system according to claim 8, wherein, when the safety belt is not fastened as sensed by the switch means and in the presence of a first threshold signal that indicates a minor accident, the airbag is released.

12. Passenger restraint system according to claim 1, wherein, when the safety belt is not fastened as sensed by the switch means and in the presence of a first threshold signal that indicates a minor accident, the airbag is released.

13. Passenger restraint system according to claim 12, wherein the switch member in the belt lock has a first switch contact which when the safety belt is fastened, breaks a first control line which is connected to an output of the sensor transmitting the first threshold signal and via which the airbag is activated.

14. Passenger restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the switch member possesses further switch contacts which are arranged in further control lines connected to further outputs of the sensor.

15. Passenger restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit means activates the belt pull-out detent of the shoulder belt via two flip-flop elements from which outputs are connected to the belt pull-out detent via an AND element.

16. Passenger restraint system according to claim 15, wherein in a reset state, logically inverted output signals are present at the outputs of the two flip-flop elements.

17. Passenger restraint system according to claim 16, wherein a setting input of a first of the two flip-flop elements is connected to a second control line that operates the airbag and the pull-out detent and

wherein there is a resetting input for the second flip-flop element which is activated by means of a timing element.

18. Passenger restraint system according to claim 17, wherein the belt-clamping device is controlled via a third flip-flop element which has a setting input connected to the second control line via another control line.

19. Passenger restraint system according to claim 18, wherein there is a resetting input of the first of the two flip-flop elements and of a third flip-flop element and the setting input of the second of the two flip-flop elements are all activatable by means of a resetting device.