Seat-occupant restraining apparatus

• US 6,336,657 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2000
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Okazaki, Hidetsugu, Akaba, Hiroshi, Utsumi, Hidetoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/621,330
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 280/733, 280/736, 280/730.1, 280/741, 180/268
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/026 at least two ends of the belt being retractable after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01558 monitoring crash strength
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239

Abstract

A seat-occupant restraining apparatus is provided which includes a bag, accommodated in a shoulder belt, for restraining a seat occupant in a seat, and when a vehicle collides, expands the bag with a high-pressure gas produced by an inflator. A relief valve, which opens according to an increase in the internal pressure of the bag, is provided in a gas passage for supplying the high-pressure gas from the inflator to the bag. If the bag is completely expanded by the high-pressure gas from the inflator and the internal pressure of the bag reaches an appropriate value, the relief valve opens and discharges an extra high-pressure gas from the bag, whereby the internal pressure of the bag can be controlled to the appropriate value without causing variations. According to the above-described constriction, it is possible to realize a stable air vent function superior to that of a vent hole, without providing a vent hole in the bag of an air belt assembly.

Claims

1. A seat-occupant restraining apparatus comprising:

a belt, in which a bag, which is expandable, is accommodated, and which is supported at a first end on a first fixed portion;

a tongue device, which is provided at a second end of said belt;

a buckle assembly, which is supported on a seat base as a second fixed portion to be swingable forwardly and rearwardly through an anchor member which is swingably supported on said seat-base by means of a pivot pin, and to which said tongue device is connected;

an inflator which is supported on said seat base for producing a high-pressure gas; and

a flexible pipe, which can be bent and connects said inflator to said buckle assembly, said flexible pipe being connected to said buckle assembly at a position offset with respect to said anchor member in a longitudinal direction of said seat base, wherein when a vehicle collides, said bag is expanded by supplying said high-pressure gas produced by said inflator to said bag through said flexible pipe, said buckle assembly, and said tongue device.