Seat belt system

• US 5,076,608 A
• Filed: 07/06/1990
• Issued: 12/31/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Shimose, Yoshifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRAYSAY, TAMARA L
• Application Number:
  US07/548,836
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 180/271, 180/274, 180/268, 280/801, 280/805, 280/806, 280/807, 280/808, 297/464, 297/466, 297/468, 297/474, 297/478, 297/479, 297/480, 297/483
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1825 using rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/001 Knee, leg or head belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/02 Semi-passive restraint systems, e.g. systems applied or removed automatically but not both ; Manual restraint systems knee, leg or head belts B60R22/001; devices for releasing in an emergency, remote or automatic unbuckling devices B60R22/32
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1953 the cable being pulled by mechanical means, e.g. pre-stressed springs, bumper displacement during crash

Abstract

A seat belt system for use with a seat in a motor vehicle comprises a combination belt including a lap belt part and a shoulder belt part, the lap belt part and the shoulder belt part restraining respectively the lap and shoulder portions of a seat occupant when in use; a first mechanism for applying, upon a vehicle collision, the lap belt part with a certain tension thereby increasing the restraining force of the lap belt part; a thigh belt positioned in front of the lap belt part with respect to the seat, the thigh belt restraining the thigh portion of the seat occupant when in use; and a second mechanism for applying, upon the vehicle collision, the thigh belt with a certain tension thereby increasing the restraining force of the thigh belt.

Claims

1. A seat belt system for use with a seat in a motor vehicle, said seat including a seat cushion and a seatback, said system comprising:

a combination belt including a lap belt part and a shoulder belt part, said lap belt part and said shoulder belt part restraining the lap and shoulder portions of a seat occupant to said seat cushion and seatback when in use;

first means for increasing upon a level of deceleration of the vehicle which is greater than a given value, tension applied to said lap belt part thereby increasing the restraining force of said lap belt part;

a thigh belt positioned in front of said lap belt part with respect to said seat cushion, said thigh belt restraining the thigh portion of the seat occupant to a major seating portion of said seat cushion when in use; and

second means for increasing, upon said level of deceleration of the vehicle, tension applied to said thigh belt part thereby to increase the restraining force of said thigh belt part with which the thigh portion of the seat occupant is pressed against the major seating portion of said seat cushion.

2. A seat belt system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the given condition takes place when said vehicle encounters a head-on collision.

3. A seat belt system as claimed in claim 2, in which said first means comprises:

an emergency locking type belt retractor connected to a lower portion of a body of the vehicle, said retractor having one end portion of said combination belt retracted; and

a through ring through which said combination belt passes, said through ring being pivotally connected to an upper portion of the vehicle body.

4. A seat belt system for use with a seat in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a combination belt including a lap belt part and a shoulder belt part which restrain respectively the lap and shoulder portions of a seat occupant when in use;

a thigh belt positioned in front of said lap belt part with respect to said seat, said thigh belt restraining the thigh portion of the seat occupant when in use;

an emergency locking type belt retractor connected to a lower portion of a body of said motor vehicle, said retractor having an upper end portion of said combination belt partially retracted;

a through ring through which said combination belt passes, said through ring being pivotally connected to an upper portion of the vehicle body;

a first anchor plate pivotally connected to one side portion of the seat, said first anchor plate having a slot for having said combination belt slidably passed therethrough;

a second anchor plate pivotally connected to the other side portion of the seat, said second anchor plate having a slot for having the combination belt slidably passed therethrough; and

means for applying, when said motor vehicle decelerates greater than a given amount, said thigh belt with a certain tension thereby increasing the restraining force of said thigh belt.

5. A seat belt system as claimed in claim 4, in which said second means comprises:

an end of said thigh belt, said end being integral with a leading end of said combination belt, so that said thigh belt and said combination belt constitute a single belt;

d

a roller member mounted on a lower portion of the vehicle body, said roller member having said single belt put therearound;

an arm portion defined by said first anchor plate, said arm portion having a leading end of said single belt fixed thereto; and

another arm portion defined by said second anchor plate, said another arm portion having a slot for having the single belt passed therethrough.

6. A seat belt system as claimed in claim 5, in which the pivotal connection between said first anchor plate and said seat is achieved by:

a buckle member pivotally connected to the seat; and

a tongue portion defined by said first anchor plate, said tongue portion being latchingly engageable with said buckle member.

7. A seat belt system for use with a seat in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a combination belt including a lap belt part and a shoulder belt part which restrain respectively the lap and shoulder portions of a seat occupant when in use;

a thigh belt positioned in front of said lap belt part with respect to said seat, said thigh belt restraining the thigh portion of the seat occupant when in use;

an emergency locking type belt retractor connected to a lower portion of a body of said motor vehicle, said retractor having an upper end portion of said combination belt partially retracted;

a through ring through which said combination belt passes, said through ring being pivotally connected to an upper portion of the vehicle body;

a buckle member pivotally connected to the lower portion of the vehicle body;

a second through ring having said combination belt passed therethrough, said second through ring having a tongue portion which is latchingly engageable with said buckle member; and

another through ring pivotally connected to the lower portion of said vehicle body, said another through ring having a leading end of the combination belt fixed thereto.

8. A seat belt system as claimed in claim 7, in which said second means comprises:

an emergency locking type belt retractor mounted on the lower portion of the vehicle body, said retractor having one end portion of said thigh belt retracted;

a tongue member having the other end of said thigh belt fixed thereto;

a buckle member with which said tongue member is latchingly engageable; and

a mechanism for pulling said buckle member in a direction to increase the fastening force of said thigh belt when said head-on collision occurs.

9. A seat belt system as claimed in claim 8, in which said mechanism comprises:

an elongate portion defined by said buckle member;

a support member mounted on the lower portion of the vehicle body, said support member having said elongate portion of the buckle member slidably held thereon;

a stopper pin engaged with both of said elongate portion and said support member to suppress relative displacement therebetween;

a wire having one end fixed to said elongate portion;

a roller member positioned below said support member, said roller member having said wire put therearound;

a pivotal link pivotally connected to the vehicle body, said pivotal link having first and second arm portions, said first arm portion being connected to the other end of said wire; and

a push rod having one end pivotally connected to said second arm portion of said pivotal link and the other end which abuts against a back face of a front bumper of the vehicle.

10. A seat belt system for use with a seat in a motor vehicle, comprising:

an emergency locking type belt retractor mounted on a lower portion of the vehicle body;

a shoulder anchor plate pivotally connected to an upper portion of the vehicle body, said plate having a slot formed therethrough;

a first anchor plate including first and second arm portions each having a slot formed therethrough, said first anchor plate having a tongue porton;

a buckle member pivotally connected to one side portion of the seat, said buckle member being capable of catching said tongue portion;

a second anchor plate pivotally connected to the other side portion of the seat and including first and second arm portions each having a slot formed therethrough; and

a roller member mounted on the lower portion of the vehicle body near said second anchor plate; and

a single belt having one end portion retracted by said retractor, the belt extending from said retractor being threaded through the slot of said shoulder anchor plate, the slot of the first arm portion of the first anchor plate, the slot of the first arm portion of the second anchor plate, said roller member, the slot of the second arm portion of said second anchor plate and finally tied to the second arm portion of said first anchor plate.

11. A seat belt system for use with a seat in a motor vehicle, comprising:

an emergency locking type belt retractor mounted on a lower portion of the vehicle body;

a shoulder anchor plate pivotally connected to an upper portion of the vehicle body, said plate having a slot formed therethrough;

a first buckle member pivotally connected to a lower portion of the vehicle body;

a first tongue member latchingly engageable with said buckle member, said tongue member having a slot formed therethrough;

a terminal anchor plate pivotally connected to a lower portion of said vehicle body at a position opposite to the position where the buckle member is located;

a lap-shoulder combination belt having one end portion retracted by said retractor, said belt extending from said retractor being threaded through the slot of said sholder anchor plate, the slot of the tongue member and finally fixed to said terminal anchor plate;

a thigh belt;

an emergency locking type belt retractor mounted on a lower portion of the vehicle body, said retractor having one end portion of said thigh belt retracted;

a second tongue member having the other end of said thigh belt fixed thereto;

a second buckle member with which said second tongue member is latchingly engageable;

an elongate portion defined by said second buckle member;

a support member mounted on a lower portion of the vehicle body, said support member having said elongate portion of the second buckle member slidably held thereon;

a stopper pin engaged with both of said elongate portion of said support member to suppress relative displacement therebetween;

a wire having one end fixed to said elongate portion;

a roller member positioned below said support member, said roller member having said wire put therearound;

a pivotal link pivotally connected to the vehicle body, said pivotal link having first and second arm portions, said first arm portion being connected to the other end of said wire; and

a push rod having one end pivotally connected to said second arm portion of said pivotal link and the other end which abuts against a back face of a front bumper of the vehicle.

12. A seat belt system for use with a seat in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a combination belt including a lap belt part and a shoulder belt part which restrain respectively the lap and shoulder portions of a seat occupant when in use;

a thigh belt positioned in front of said lap belt part with respect to said seat, said thigh belt restraining the thigh portion of the seat occupant when in use;

an emergency locking type belt retractor connected to a body of said motor vehicle, said retractor having an upper portion of said combination belt partially retracted;

a first anchor plate pivotally connected to one side portion of the seat, said first anchor plate having a slot for having said combination belt slidably passed therethrough;

a second anchor plate pivotally connected to the other side portion of the seat, said second anchor plate having a slot for having the combination belt slidably passed therethrough; and

means for applying, upon a given condition of deceleration of the vehicle, said thigh belt with a certain tension thereby increasing the restraining force of said thigh belt.

13. A seat belt system for use with a seat in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a combination belt including a lap belt part and a shoulder belt part which restrain respectively the lap and shoulder portions of a seat occupant when in use;

a thigh belt positioned in front of said lap belt part with respect to said seat, said thigh belt restraining the thigh portion of the seat occupant when in use;

a first emergency locking type belt retractor connected to a body of said motor vehicle, said retractor having an upper portion of said combination belt partially retracted;

a second emergency locking type belt retractor mounted on a lower portion of the vehicle body, said retractor having one end of said thigh belt partially retracted; and

a mechanism which, upon a given condition of deceleration of the vehicle, pulls another end of said thigh belt in a direction to increase the restraining force of the thigh belt.