Anti-submarine vehicle occupant restraint system
First Claim
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1. A vehicle occupant restraint system for restraining a lower part of a vehicle occupant in a vehicle crash situation, comprising:
- a vehicle seat incorporated with a seat belt;
a sensor for detecting an impact;
a restraining member supported by a vehicle seat so as to be moveable from a retracted position concealed inside the seat to a deployed position projecting upward from said retracted position to restrain a forward movement of a hip area of the vehicle occupant;
said restraining member at said deployed position engaging a frame of said vehicle seat at a location above a top surface of a rear end of said vehicle seat and between about 180 mm and about 350 mm ahead of said rear end of said vehicle seat; and
a power actuator provided in association with said vehicle seat for actuating said restraining member to said deployed position according to a detection signal from said sensor;
said power actuator being adapted to deploy said restraining member substantially before said seat belt effectively restrains the vehicle occupant.
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Abstract
Provided is a vehicle occupant restraint system which can reduce the load on the chest and head of the vehicle occupant in an impact situation while reliably preventing the submarine phenomenon. By restraining the pelvis and the adjacent parts of the vehicle occupant before the load is applied to the chest and head, the load is more favorably distributed, and the critical parts are favorably protected. This can be accomplished by activating a restraining member for raising an appropriate part of the vehicle seat immediate upon detecting an impact.
64 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A vehicle occupant restraint system for restraining a lower part of a vehicle occupant in a vehicle crash situation, comprising:
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a vehicle seat incorporated with a seat belt;
a sensor for detecting an impact;
a restraining member supported by a vehicle seat so as to be moveable from a retracted position concealed inside the seat to a deployed position projecting upward from said retracted position to restrain a forward movement of a hip area of the vehicle occupant;
said restraining member at said deployed position engaging a frame of said vehicle seat at a location above a top surface of a rear end of said vehicle seat and between about 180 mm and about 350 mm ahead of said rear end of said vehicle seat; and
a power actuator provided in association with said vehicle seat for actuating said restraining member to said deployed position according to a detection signal from said sensor;
said power actuator being adapted to deploy said restraining member substantially before said seat belt effectively restrains the vehicle occupant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vehicle occupant restraint system for restraining a lower part of a vehicle occupant in a vehicle crash situation, comprising:
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a vehicle seat incorporated with a seat belt;
a sensor for detecting an impact;
a restraining member supported by a vehicle seat so as to be moveable from a retracted position concealed inside the seat to a deployed position projecting upward from said retracted position to restrain a forward movement of a hip area of the vehicle occupant;
said restraining member at said deployed position engaging a frame of said vehicle seat at a horizontal distance between about 180 mm and about 350 mm from a rear end of said vehicle seat; and
a power actuator provided in association with said vehicle seat for actuating said restraining member to said deployed position according to a detection signal from said sensor;
said power actuator being adapted to deploy said restraining member substantially before said seat belt effectively restrains the vehicle occupant. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A vehicle occupant restraint system for restraining a lower part of a vehicle occupant in a vehicle crash situation, comprising:
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a vehicle seat incorporated with a seat belt;
a sensor for detecting an impact;
a restraining member supported by a vehicle seat so as to be moveable from a retracted position concealed inside the seat to a deployed position projecting upward from said retracted position to restrain a forward movement of a hip area of the vehicle occupant;
said restraining member at said deployed position engaging a frame of said vehicle seat at a horizontal distance between about 31% to about 66% of the fore-and-aft length of said vehicle seat from a rear end of said vehicle seat; and
a power actuator provided in association with said vehicle seat for actuating said restraining member to said deployed position according to a detection signal from said sensor;
said power actuator being adapted to deploy said restraining member substantially before said seat belt effectively restrains the vehicle occupant. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification