Method and safety restraint device for restraining an occupant on a vehicle seat
First Claim
1. Method for restraining an occupant on a vehicle seat, comprising:
- pulling the occupant into the vehicle seat with a predetermined pullback force by a reversible belt tensioner when a critical driving state is detected so that the occupant moves backward toward the vehicle seat, wherein the critical driving state may, but does not necessarily, lead to an accident, subsequently holding the occupant in a pulled-back position on the vehicle seat with a predetermined holding force, wherein the predetermined holding force is lower than the predetermined pullback force, and if the critical driving state ceases at any time without an accident, reversing the reversible belt tensioner to release pulling or holding force.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for restraining an occupant on a vehicle seat, the occupant being pulled into the vehicle seat is provided with a force by a belt tensioner when a critical driving state is detected and then held in a pulled-back position on the vehicle seat with a holding force. The holding force selected is lower than the force for pulling the occupant back. A forward-looking detection system for a dangerous driving state and an occupant-position detection system unprovided, in which, when a dangerous driving state is detected, a belt tensioner is subjected to a force and the occupant is thereby pulled into the vehicle seat, and in which the occupant is held in a pulled-back position on the vehicle seat with a holding force which is lower than the force for pulling the occupant back.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. Method for restraining an occupant on a vehicle seat, comprising:
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pulling the occupant into the vehicle seat with a predetermined pullback force by a reversible belt tensioner when a critical driving state is detected so that the occupant moves backward toward the vehicle seat, wherein the critical driving state may, but does not necessarily, lead to an accident, subsequently holding the occupant in a pulled-back position on the vehicle seat with a predetermined holding force, wherein the predetermined holding force is lower than the predetermined pullback force, and if the critical driving state ceases at any time without an accident, reversing the reversible belt tensioner to release pulling or holding force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Safety restraint device for restraining the occupant on a vehicle seat during a critical driving state, comprising:
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a safety belt, a reversible safety belt tensioner, a forward-looking detection system for detecting a dangerous driving state, an occupant-position detection system, and a control unit operable to control the safety belt tensioner to apply a predetermined pullback force on the safety belt to pull an occupant into the vehicle seat in response to detection of a critical driving state by the forward looking detection system so that the occupant moves backward toward the vehicle seat, wherein the critical driving state may, but does not necessarily, lead to an accident, to subsequently apply a predetermined holding force on the safety belt to hold the occupant in a pulled back position on the vehicle seat, wherein the predetermined holding force is less than the predetermined pullback force, and to reverse the reversible belt tensioner to release pulling or holding force if the critical driving state ceases at any time without an accident. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. Safety restraint device for restraining the occupant on a vehicle seat during a critical driving state, comprising:
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a safety belt, a safety belt tensioner, an occupant position detection system, a detection system for detecting a dangerous driving state, and a control unit operable to control the safety belt tensioner to apply a predetermined pullback force on the safety belt to pull an occupant into the vehicle seat in response to detection of a critical driving state so that the occupant moves backward toward the vehicle seat, wherein the critical driving state may, but does not necessarily, lead to an accident, to subsequently apply a predetermined holding force on the safety belt to hold the occupant in a pulled back position on the vehicle seat after the occupant position detection system has detected that the occupant has been pulled back and is in an uncritical position, wherein the predetermined holding force is less than the predetermined pullback force. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification