Restraint belt

• US 6,523,856 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Original Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Inventors: Braun, Eleouore, Adomeit, Heinz-Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Toan C
• Application Number:
  US09/949,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20020030353A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 280/733, 280/801.1, 280/801.2, 280/803, 280/808, 280/806
• 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 22/02 Semi-passive restraint systems, e.g. systems applied or removed automatically but not both ; Manual restraint systems knee, leg or head belts B60R22/001; devices for releasing in an emergency, remote or automatic unbuckling devices B60R22/32
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/023 Three-point seat belt systems comprising two side lower and one side upper anchoring devices B60R22/022, B60R22/03 take precedence

Abstract

A restraint belt for occupants of vehicles having an air bag module which is provided in the pelvic area. The restraint belt extends as a double belt in the lap of the occupant. The first section of the double belt rests directly on the body of the occupant. The second section rests at least partially on the side of the first section facing away from the body of the occupant. The belt reverses direction as it transitions from the first section into the second section. The airbag module is placed on the second section of the double belt. The configuration of the restraint belt provides for a restraint effect of any airbag at the same time that the tension of the belt is increased, and to attain an additional tensioning effect.

Claims

1. A restraint belt for an occupant positioned in a seat of a vehicle comprising:

a lap belt having a first and a second section integrally connected at a belt-deflecting point, wherein the first section is configured to contact the occupant and the second section overlies the first section; and

an airbag module connected to the second section;

wherein the airbag module is fixed to the second section at two points; and

wherein each of the two points are displaceable away from the first section in response to inflation of an airbag included in the air bag module to tighten the lap belt on the occupant.

2. The restraint belt of claim 1, wherein the belt-deflecting point is located in the area of a belt buckle.

3. The restraint belt of claim 1, further comprising a shoulder section integrally connected to the first section of the lap belt.

4. The restraint belt of claim 1, wherein the airbag module includes a pocket for retaining an airbag.

5. The restraint belt of claim 1, wherein a gas generator is connected to the airbag module via a gas supply line.

6. The restraint belt of claim 5, wherein the gas generator is arranged under the seat or on the seat.

7. The restraint belt of claim 5, wherein the gas generator is located in the trunk of the vehicle.

8. A lap belt for an occupant positioned in a seat of a vehicle comprising:

a first section;

a second section integrally connected to the first section at a belt-deflecting point, wherein the first section is configured to contact the occupant and the second section overlies the first section; and

an airbag module connected to the second section;

wherein the second section is displaceable with respect to the first section in response to inflation of an airbag included in the air bag module to tighten the first section against the occupant.

9. The lap belt of claim 8, wherein the airbag module includes an airbag positioned so that when the airbag inflates the first section remains in contact with the occupant.

10. A three-point belt for an occupant positioned in a seat of a vehicle comprising:

a lap belt having a first section and a second section integrally connected at a first belt-deflecting point, and wherein the first section is configured to contact the occupant and the second section overlies the first section;

a shoulder section integrally connected to the first section of the lap belt at a second belt-deflecting point; and

an airbag module connected to the second section of the lap belt;

wherein the second section is displaceable with respect to the first section in response to inflation of an airbag included in the air bag module to tighten the first section against the occupant.

11. A restraint belt for an occupant positioned in a seat of a vehicle comprising:

a lap belt which slidably passes through a belt deflecting point so as to have a first section which directly contacts the seat occupant and a second section that passes back over the first section so as to overlie the first section; and

an airbag module connected to the second section so that inflation of an air bag module forces the second section away from the first section and draws some of the first section through the belt deflecting point tightening the remaining first portion of the belt against the occupant.

12. A restraint belt for an occupant positioned in a seat of a vehicle comprising:

a belt tightening arrangement comprising;

a lap belt slidably passes through a belt deflecting point so as to have a first section which directly contacts the seat occupant and a second section that passes back over the first section so as to overlie the first section; and

an airbag module connected to the second section so that at least a portion of an air bag of the air bag module deploys between the first and second sections of the belt and forces the second section away from the first section causing a portion of the first section to slide through the belt deflecting point and cause the first portion to tighten against the occupant.