Safety restraint for motor vehicles

• US 5,330,228 A
• Filed: 05/27/1992
• Issued: 07/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Krebs, Bernd, Dulin, Jacques M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyson, Karin L.
• Application Number:
  US07/861,888
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 280/808 R, 280/801 A, 280/751, 297/483, 297/410
• US Class Current: 280/801.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/821 with continuous positioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/829 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/879 with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers
• 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

Abstract

A safety belt restraint arrangement for a motor vehicle which automatically adjusts the height of the head rest to an optimal position during a collision. In a principle embodiment a seat belt guide or follower member is formed into the side of the head rest for directing the seat belt, from an upwardly and rearwardly disposed seat belt deflecting member associated with the motor vehicle interior, to pass obliquely downward across the front portion of vehicle seat for connection with the seat belt buckle assembly in a conventional way. The follower member includes a pressure or stopping face for the seat belt so that, upon collision, the tightening of the seat belt acts against the pressure face of the follower to automatically raise the head rest to a pre-selected desired optimal position. The pre-selected optimal height adjustment is accomplished by positioning the follower member with respect to the head rest. During an impact the head rest moves upwardly until a straight line is formed in the belt under tension between the upper deflection point and the point of contact between the passenger and the shoulder belt. In a preferred embodiment the head rest guide or follower member is formed as an eye to fully surround the seat belt to effectively couple the seat belt with the head rest at all times. In an alternative embodiment, the eye is adjustable with respect to the head rest. In another embodiment, the inner faces of the eye include pressure switches which, upon closing by pressure of the belt, signal a motor to raise or lower the head rest until pressure is release.

Claims

1. In a safety restraint for motor vehicles of the kind wherein a seat belt is provided to a seat having a height adjustable freely vertically movable head rest for restraining the lap and chest portions of a passenger seated thereon and wherein the seat belt is directed from an upper deflection point mounted along an inner surface of the vehicle compartment above and behind said seat to pass obliquely downward over an upper corner portion of the seat back and over the shoulder portion of a passenger to connect with a buckle assembly disposed at the opposite hip portion of said seat, the improvement comprising in operative combination:

a) means for preselectively adjusting the vertical location of said upper deflection point of said seat belt to compensate for different passenger head heights;

b) means for coupling said safety belt to said head rest;

i) said coupling means includes at least one face having a contact surface engaging said seat belt to provide a force component sufficient to move said head rest upward or downward when said over the shoulder portion of said seat belt is brought into tension in a substantially straight line between said passenger shoulder and said upper deflection point by sudden forward movement of a passenger; and

c) said head rest moves automatically to a pre-determined optimal anti-whiplash height position in relation to said straight line upon application of said force component by said over the shoulder portion of said seat belt engaging said coupling means contact surface when said seat belt undergoes said sudden tension and engages said coupling means face.

2. An improved torso safety restraint system as in claim 1 wherein:

a) said coupling means includes an eye member; and

b) said eye member is disposed adjacent a side surface of said head rest.

3. An improved torso safety restraint system as in claim 2 wherein said eye member is height adjustable with respect to said head rest.

4. An improved upper body safety restraint for adjusting the height of a head rest of a vehicle seat to an optimal whiplash-reducing height comprising in operative combination:

a) a belt for restraining at least the chest portion of a passenger seated thereon, said belt being directed from an upper deflection point mounted along an inner surface of the vehicle compartment above and behind said seat to pass obliquely downwardly over an upper corner portion of the seat back to connect with a buckle assembly disposed at the opposite hip portion of said seat;

b) motor means mounted on said seat for adjusting the height of said head rest;

c) means for coupling said safety belt to said head rest wherein;

i) said coupling means includes an eye member;

ii) said eye member is disposed on a side surface of said head rest;

d) sensor means comprising pressure-sensitive switches disposed along top and bottom seat belt contacting surfaces, respectively, of said eye member for detecting seat belt pressure against said coupling means disposed adjacent a seat belt contact surface of said coupling means and in communication with said motor means; and

e) said sensor means providing a signal to operate said motor means to move said head rest to an optimal whiplash-reducing height as said seat belt undergoes a tension force.