Inflatable safety restraint system

• US 6,406,058 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1999
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Universal Propulsion Company Incorporated (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Butera, Mark J., Devonport, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bottorff, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US09/444,731
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 180/268, 280/730.1, 280/733, 280/801.1, 280/805, 280/807, 297/468, 297/469, 297/470
• US Class Current: 280/733
• 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 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a stationary plenum to receive hot inflation gases from a vehicle safety system gas inflator and for such plenum to supply such gases to an inflatable member which protects a vehicle occupant.

Claims

1. A belt restraint system for protecting an occupant of a seat mounted in a vehicle, comprising:

an enclosure associated with the seat and having a plenum;

an inflator in fluid communication with the enclosure for supplying gas to the plenum; and

an inflatable member comprising;

a gas receiving portion attached thereto, wherein the gas receiving portion is slideably mounted within the enclosure and has a first opening in fluid communication with the plenum and a second opening in fluid communication with the inflatable member; and

a belt portion extending through a first end of the enclosure toward the occupant.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a belt web connected to the gas receiving portion.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the belt web extends through the second end of the enclosure.

4. The system of claim 3, farther comprising a valve that reduces gas loss through the second end of the enclosure when the enclosure is pressurized.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the valve is pressure operated.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the valve is a reed valve.

7. The system of claim 2 in which the belt web is fed from a retractor.

8. The system of claim 2 in which the belt web is fed from a retractor.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein a crossbar connects the belt web and gas receiving portion.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein a sensor activates the inflator upon deceleration.

11. A belt restraint system for protecting an occupant of a seat mounted in a vehicle comprising:

a stationary enclosure associated with the seat and having a plenum;

an inflator in fluid communication with the enclosure for supplying gas to the plenum;

an inflatable member having a gas receiving portion attached thereto, wherein the gas receiving portion slideably mounted within the stationary enclosure and has a first opening in fluid communication with the plenum and a second opening in fluid communication with the inflatable member; and

a belt web connected to the gas receiving portion and extending towards a second end of the enclosure.

12. The system of claim 11 in which the belt web is fed from a retractor.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the belt web extends through the second end of the enclosure.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a valve that reduces gas loss through the second end of the enclosure when the enclosure is pressurized.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the valve is pressure operated.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the valve is a reed valve.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein a sensor activates the inflator upon deceleration.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein a crossbar connects the belt web and gas receiving portion.