Vehicle occupant side crash protection system

• US 6,592,166 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2002
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2001
• 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: Motozawa, Yasuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLE, PATRICIA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US10/171,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20020195832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 296/68.1, 296/65.02, 296/188, 296/189, 296/65.11, 296/65.12, 297/216.1, 297/216.16, 297/216.18
• US Class Current: 296/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/062 transversally slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4235 transversal
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4256 the shape of the seat being specially adapted for a particular purpose or for particular vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42736 of the whole seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42781 mechanical triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/80 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/986 Side-rests B60N2/2872, B60N2/885 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/007 Means for adjusting or regulating the crash absorption capacity of the vehicle, e.g. when detecting an impending collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/027 Four-point seat belt systems, e.g. with the two upper points connected together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/02 Occupant safety arrangements or fittings , e.g. crash pads seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839
• 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 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

A vehicle seat is mounted on a floor in a laterally inwardly moveable manner, and is accelerated by a power actuator inwardly upon detection of a vehicle side crash. The vehicle occupant is firmly held to the seat. By thus appropriately controlling the time history of the lateral acceleration of the vehicle occupant at the time of a side crash, the maximum acceleration acting on the vehicle occupant can be controlled. The inward movement of the seat provides a wider space between the vehicle occupant and door panel, and this contributes to the prevention of the injury to the vehicle occupant owing to the intrusion of the door panel into the passenger compartment at the time of a side crash.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant protection system, comprising

a seat fitted with a seat belt for restraining a vehicle occupant and laterally moveably supported by a floor, said seat belt having two ends attached to the seat;

a power actuator for accelerating the seat laterally toward a central part of the vehicle body upon detection of a side crash; and

brake means for applying an opposite force to the seat after it has traveled a certain distance toward the central part of the vehicle body.

2. A vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 1, wherein the seat is provided with a restraining member for restraining the vehicle occupant from moving laterally outwardly with respect to the vehicle body.

3. A vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 2, wherein the restraining member comprises a belt having an end attached to an upper part of a seat back toward the central part of the vehicle body.

4. A vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 2, wherein the restraining member comprises an extension of a seat back extending forward from an outboard side thereof.

5. A vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 1, wherein the brake means comprises a member adapted to undergo a controlled deformation by a part of the seat as it travels toward the central part of the vehicle body.

6. A vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 1, wherein the seat is supported by the floor via a laterally extending rail which is in turn guided by a longitudinally extending rail attached to the floor for a fore-and-aft adjustment of the seat.

7. A vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 6, wherein the power actuator is attached to the floor, and has a working end connected to the seat via a coupling for accommodating the fore-and-aft adjustment of the seat.

8. A vehicle occupant protection system according to claim 1, wherein the power actuator comprises a piston-cylinder arrangement powered by a propellant.