Seat belt control device

• US 6,374,938 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fujita, Hitoshi, Tanaka, Koji, Fujii, Hiroaki, Yano, Ryuji, Yano, Hideaki, Tanji, Hiromasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US09/734,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20010004030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 180/268, 180/270, 180/271, 280/801.1, 280/801.2, 280/806, 280/807
• US Class Current: 180/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/444 the additional retraction device being an electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/44 with means for reducing belt tension during use under normal conditions not included in the retractor B60R22/19; B60R22/3405 takes precedence

Abstract

In a seat belt control device of the invention, when a buckle switch detects disengagement of a buckle and a tongue plate of a seat belt, the seat belt is retracted through a motor. In addition, the seat belt is re-retracted, through a motor, when a passenger detector detects that no passenger is present in an automobile, when a door switch detects that a door opens, or when an engine key switch detects that an engine key is pulled out or is in an off state. Thus, the seat belt can be positively retracted. Therefore, when a passenger gets off or is going to get off, the seat belt can be securely retracted to thereby prevent the seat belt from being caught by a projection in a compartment or by the door of the automobile.

Claims

1. A seat belt control device for controlling retraction of a seat belt, comprising:

a motor connected to a seat belt retractor to which the seat belt is attached, to retract the seat belt,

at least one mechanism selected from a group consisting of a passenger detector situated in a compartment of an automobile for detecting a passenger, a door switch for detecting a condition of a door, and an engine key switch for detecting if an engine key is pulled out or the engine key is in an off condition, and

a control section connected to the motor, passenger detector, the door switch and the engine key switch for retracting the seat belt, said control section actuating the motor for retracting the seat belt when the passenger detector detects that no passenger is present in the compartment or when a non-passenger condition is held for a predetermined time;

when the door switch detects that the door is open or when a door open condition is held for a predetermined time; and

when the engine key switch detects that the engine key is pulled out, the engine key is in an off state, or an off state condition of the engine key is held for a predetermined time.

2. A seat belt control device according to claim 1, wherein when said control section receives a retraction signal from one of the passenger detector, door switch and engine key switch, the motor is actuated for a predetermined time to retract the seat belt.

3. A seat belt control device according to claim 2, further comprising a buckle switch connected to the control section for detecting whether the seat belt is fastened, said control section retracting the seat belt when the buckle switch detects that the seat belt is unfastened.

4. A seat belt control device according to claim 2, wherein said control section includes a contact electrically communicating with the motor of the seat belt retractor so that when one of the passenger detector, door switch and engine key switch is actuated to control the motor, said contact is closed for said predetermined time to actuate the motor.

5. A seat belt control device according to claim 4, further comprising a clutch situated between the motor and the seat belt retractor to connect the motor and the seat belt retractor, said control section further including a clutch switching mechanism situated between the clutch and the contact so that when the contact is closed, the clutch between the motor and the seat belt retractor is connected and the motor is actuated to retract the seat belt.

6. A seat belt control device according to claim 5, further comprising a spring mechanism connected to the seat belt retractor for retracting the seat belt when the motor is not connected to the retractor through the clutch.