Passenger restraint system for use in automotive vehicle

• US 5,186,494 A
• Filed: 07/11/1991
• Issued: 02/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Shimose, Yoshifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US07/728,473
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 280/727, 280/801, 280/806, 280/748, 280/753, 180/268, 180/282
• US Class Current: 280/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4609 using a plurality of tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/195 with means to tension the belt in an emergency, e.g. means of the through-anchor or splitted reel typeelectrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

A passenger restraint system for use in an automotive vehicle comprises a collision detecting sensor for detecting a collision of the vehicle, a retractor with a preloader for providing a tension to a seat belt in response to a signal from the collision detecting sensor, and an air bag device. The air bag device includes a bag which is broken in response to the signal from the collision detecting sensor, thus forming a clearance between a passenger and a seat back.

Claims

1. A restraint system for a passenger in an automobile vehicle comprising:

a seat including a seat cushion and a seat back;

a seat belt arranged to restrain a passenger to said seat;

means for detecting a collision of the automotive vehicle and generating a signal when said collision of the automotive vehicle is detected;

means for providing a tension to said seat belt in response to said signal;

means for allowing movement of the passenger in a direction opposite to a driving direction of the automotive vehicle in response to said signal said movement allowing means being arranged to said seat back; and

means for driving substantially synchronously said tension providing means and said movement allowing means.

2. A restraint system for a passenger in an automotive vehicle, the restraint system, comprising:

a seat belt;

means for detecting a collision of the automotive vehicle and generating a signal when said collision of the automotive vehicle is detected;

means for providing a tension to said seat belt in response to said signal; and

means for allowing movement of the passenger in a direction opposite to a driving direction of the automotive vehicle in response to said signal, said movement allowing means including a bag of the air filling type, and means for releasing air within said bag.

3. A restraint system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said air releasing means include a pair of links with two supporting portions, a cylinder, an igniter, and an inflator.

4. A restraint system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said air releasing means include a pair of plates each having a hole corresponding to a hole of said bag, a solenoid with a stopper pin, and a plate valve.

5. A restraint system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said movement allowing means include a frame with four tubular supports, a pair of S-springs, a cylinder, an igniter, and an inflator.

6. A restraint system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said collision detecting means include a collision detecting sensor.

7. A restraint system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tension providing means include a preloader device.