Automobile armrest apparatus for presenting restaint system

• US 5,538,283 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 07/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joalto Secured Creditors Trustee Corp.
• Original Assignee: Joalto Design Incorporated
• Inventors: Townsend, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US08/477,200
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801.10, 280/808, 280/907, 297/481, 297/409, 297/473, 297/483, 297/411, 297/417
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/06 slidable; foldable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/688 Particular seat belt attachment and guiding
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/79 Adaptations for additional use of the arm-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1818 Belt guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/03 Means for presenting the belt or part thereof to the wearer , e.g. foot-operated
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

A pivotable armrest is disclosed for presenting a seat belt buckle to a vehicle'"'"'s occupant when the armrest is extended from a retracted position to a working position. The armrest preferably retracts into an upright position along side of the seat back, but alternatively can be made to downwardly retract adjacent to the seat bottom. The armrest movement may be manually or automatically driven. The armrest is preferably attached to the outboard side of a seat, and is used in conjunction with a conventional shoulder and lap belt arrangement. Preferably, the conventional restraint system is integrally mounted within the seat.

Claims

1. A restraint system presentation apparatus for presenting a restraint belt to a vehicle occupant, the apparatus comprising:

an armrest retractable to a withdrawn position and extendable to a working position; and

belt guide means located on a distal end of the armrest for releasably retaining the belt on the distal end of the armrest as the armrest is extended, the guide means presenting the belt in a position conveniently accessible to the occupant when the armrest is in the working position, the guide means allowing the occupant to release the belt therefrom and operate the restraint system.

3. A restraint system presentation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the armrest has a proximal end and a distal end, the armrest being pivotally attached at its proximal end to a seat and movable therewith.

6. A restraint system presentation apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the armrest is pivotally attached to a seat back portion of the seat, the armrest is located adjacent to a seat back portion of the seat when retracted in the withdrawn position, and the armrest is located substantially above and parallel to the seat bottom portion when extended in the working position.

7. A restraint system presentation apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the armrest is pivotally attached to a seat back portion of the seat, the distal end of the armrest is located adjacent to a seat bottom portion of the seat when retracted in the withdrawn position, and the armrest is located substantially above and parallel to the seat bottom portion when extended in the working position.

11. A restraint system presentation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the restraint system includes upper and lower anchor points with the belt extending therebetween when not in use, further wherein the guide means first contacts the belt at a location directly between the upper and lower anchor points as the armrest is extended from the withdrawn position toward the working position.

12. A restraint system presentation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the restraint system includes upper and lower anchor points with the belt extending therebetween when not in use, further wherein a path followed by the guide means as the armrest is extended from the withdrawn position toward the working position lies in a common plane with the upper and lower anchor points.

2. A restraint system presentation apparatus for presenting a restraint belt buckle to a vehicle occupant, the apparatus comprising:

an armrest retractable to a withdrawn position and extendable to a working position; and

belt and buckle guide means located on a distal end of the armrest for releasably retaining the belt on the distal end of the armrest as the armrest is extended, and for releasably retaining a belt buckle in a position conveniently accessible to the occupant when the armrest is in the working position, the guide means allowing the occupant to release the belt buckle therefrom and operate the restraint system.

4. A restraint system presentation apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the armrest includes a driver means for automatically moving the armrest into the working position to present the belt buckle to the occupant when a vehicle door is first closed, and for automatically retracting the armrest into the withdrawn position when the restraint system is unfastened.

5. A restraint system presentation apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the driver means does not move the armrest into the working position unless a pressure sensor located in a seat detects the presence of an occupant in the seat.

8. A restraint system presentation apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the belt and buckle guide means comprises two laterally spaced protrusions for guiding the belt therebetween extending longitudinally outward from the distal end of the armrest.

9. A restraint system presentation apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the two protrusions contact the belt buckle and prevent it from sliding on the belt beyond the distal end of the armrest.

10. A restraint system presentation apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the belt and buckle guide means contacts the buckle and traps it against a stop button located on the belt when the armrest is extended in the working position, thereby presenting the buckle to a vehicle occupant by urging the buckle outward from the distal end of the armrest.

13. An restraint system integrated within a vehicle seat comprising:

a seat bottom;

an upwardly disposed seat back attached to the seat bottom;

a seat belt anchored at one end to a structural portion of the seat bottom and retained at an opposite end of the belt to an upper portion of the seat back by a reel and tensioner unit, the seat belt extending generally vertically along one side of the seat when not in use;

a seat belt buckle slidably retained on the seat belt;

a retractable armrest pivotally attached to a side of the seat back generally below the reel and tensioner unit, the armrest retractable to a withdrawn position and extendable to a working position; and

a belt and buckle guide including two laterally spaced protrusions located on a distal end of the armrest for releasably retaining the belt as the armrest is extended from the withdrawn position to the working position, the guide serving to releasably present the belt buckle to a vehicle occupant at the distal end of the armrest when the armrest is in the working position.