Passive seat belt system for vehicle

• US 5,037,133 A
• Filed: 09/24/1987
• Issued: 08/06/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakamori, Takashi, Kataoka, Sachiro, Iizima, Yoichi, Otsuka, Kenro
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FERRITER, KARIN L
• Application Number:
  US07/100,374
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 280/804, 280/802, 280/803, 297/469, 297/473, 340/52 E, 307/10 SB, 307/10 R, 307/10.1, 180/286, 180/282, 180/271, 180/268
• US Class Current: 280/804
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/04 Passive restraint systems, i.e. systems both applied and removed automatically, e.g. by movement of the vehicle door

Abstract

A passive seat belt system for an automotive vehicle has a webbing which takes a passenger restraining position or a passenger releasing position. Impact detecting means is provided to detect impact applied to the vehicle. Door state change detecting means is provided to detect change in closing and opening states of a vehicle door. When the change is detected, signal output regulating means selectively outputs closing and opening signals for a predetermined time. Additionally, the signal output regulating means is adapted to prohibit the closing and opening signals from being output when the impact signal is output from the impact detecting means. Webbing driving means is provided to move the webbing to the passenger restraining and releasing positions respectively in response to the closing and opening signals output from the signal output regulating means. The system allows vehicle escape in an emergency, if the door is opened.

Claims

1. A passive seat belt system for a vehicle, comprising:

a webbing for restraining a vehicle passenger, said webbing capable of selectively taking a first position for restraining the passenger and a second position for releasing the passenger from restraint;

a first means for detecting impact of the vehicle and for outputting an impact signal;

a second means for detecting a change in closing and opening states of a vehicle door;

a third means for selectively outputting first and second signals for a predetermined time when said change is detected by said second means, and for prohibiting said first and second signals from being outputted when said impact signal is outputted from said first means; and

a fourth means for moving said webbing to the first and second positions respectively in response to said first and second signals outputted from said third means.

2. A passive seat belt system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fourth means includes a fifth means for preventing said webbing from continuously moving in the direction of one of said first and second positions even in response to one of said first and second signals which are output from said third means.

3. A passive seat belt system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined time is at least the time required to move said webbing from said first position to said second position.

4. A passive seat belt system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said predetermined time is longer than the time required to move said webbing from said first position to said second position.

5. A passive seat belt system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third means includes a sixth means for outputting first and second signals respectively when said second means detects a change of the vehicle door from the opening state to the closing state, and when said second means detects a change of the vehicle door from the closing state to the opening state.

6. A passive seat belt system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second means includes a door switch adapted to be turned ON to output said second signal and to be turned OFF to output said first signal.

7. A passive seat belt system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first means includes a relay switch adapted to be turned ON to output said impact signal.

8. A passive seat belt system for a vehicle, comprising:

a webbing for restraining a vehicle passenger, said webbing capable of selectively taking a first position for restraining the passenger and a second position for releasing the passenger from restraint;

a first means for detecting impact of the vehicle and for outputting an impact signal;

a second means for detecting a door state change in closing and opening states of a vehicle door;

a third means for selectively outputting first and second signals for a predetermined time when said door state change is detected by said second means, and for prohibiting said first and second signals from being outputted when said impact signal is outputted from said first means, said third means including means for initiating output of said first and second signals in response to a door state change immediately after said impact signal is outputted; and

a fourth means for moving said webbing to the first and second positions respectively in response to said first and second signals outputted from said third means.

9. A passive seat belt system for a vehicle, comprising:

a webbing for restraining a vehicle passenger, said webbing capable of selectively taking a first position for restraining the passenger and a second position for releasing the passenger from restraint;

a first means for detecting impact of the vehicle and for outputting an impact signal;

a second means for detecting a door state change in closing and opening states of a vehicle door;

a third means for selectively outputting first and second signals for a predetermined time when said door state change is detected by said second means, and for prohibiting said first and second signals from being outputted when said impact signal is outputted from said first means, said third means including means for initiating output of said first and second signals in response to a door state change made within said predetermined time, from a timing signal generated when said impact signal is outputted; and

a fourth means for moving said webbing to the first and second positions respectively in response to said first and second signals outputted from said third means.