Vehicle occupant protection apparatus

• US 6,000,717 A
• Filed: 01/15/1998
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Rayford, Joan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US09/007,746
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 180/271, 180/274, 297/410
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors

Abstract

An apparatus (10) encloses a movable vehicle seat (12) and an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) which is inflatable into engagement with an occupant of the seat (12). An electric motor (42) is operatively connected to the seat (12) to move the seat (12) when the motor (42) is actuated. A first actuating means (50) actuates the motor (42) in response to input from the occupant so as to move the seat (12) to a position selected by the occupant. A second actuating means (92) actuates the motor (42) in response to crash conditions so as to move the seat (12) with reference to the crash conditions.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a movable vehicle seat;

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device which is inflatable into engagement with an occupant of said seat;

an electric motor which is operatively connected to said seat to move said seat when said motor is actuated;

first actuating means for actuating said motor in response to input from the occupant so as to move said seat to a position selected by the occupant; and

second actuating means for actuating said motor in response to crash conditions so as to move said seat with reference to said crash conditions.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said motor is one of a plurality of motors which are operatively connected to said seat to move said seat in a corresponding plurality of directions, said second actuating means selecting and actuating one or more of said motors so as to move said seat in a corresponding one or more of said directions in response to said crash conditions.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said protection device is mounted at a location spaced from said seat and is inflatable toward said seat, said directions including a direction extending away from said protection device.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said crash conditions comprise a vehicle condition and a vehicle occupant condition.