Four point seat belt restraint system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A four-point seat belt restraint system for a vehicle seat comprising:
- a pair of lap belt members connected at laterally opposite sides of the vehicle and having inner ends transversely connectable to one another across pelvic region of an occupant sitting on the seat;
first and second shoulder belt strap members for the vehicle seat, each of said shoulder strap members having first ends positioned on the occupant side of the vehicle seat and second ends positioned on the rear of the vehicle seat;
said first ends of said shoulder belt strap member being connected to a releasable buckle mechanism together with the inner ends of the lap belt members;
first and second spool mechanisms connected to the two second ends of said shoulder belt strap members, said spool mechanism being biased for coiling and holding portions of said shoulder belt strap members;
a common retractor mechanism operably connected to said first and second spool members for simultaneously operating said first and second spool members whereby said first and second shoulder belt members are coiled and uncoiled simultaneously; and
a pair of gears at predetermined angles coupling said first and second spool members to said common retractor.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A four-point seat belt system for restraining a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat. Two shoulder belts mounted on separate spool members are connected to a common retractor mechanism, which synchronizes web payout and retraction and also shares a load limiting function. The shoulder belts are connected to a lap belt, which is buckled centrally on the abdomen of the occupant. A load limiting system controls occupant motion and reduces force levels on the occupant'"'"'s chest. A single load limiting method can be used to accommodate all occupants of the vehicle with specific force versus belt payout properties.
80 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A four-point seat belt restraint system for a vehicle seat comprising:
-
a pair of lap belt members connected at laterally opposite sides of the vehicle and having inner ends transversely connectable to one another across pelvic region of an occupant sitting on the seat;
first and second shoulder belt strap members for the vehicle seat, each of said shoulder strap members having first ends positioned on the occupant side of the vehicle seat and second ends positioned on the rear of the vehicle seat;
said first ends of said shoulder belt strap member being connected to a releasable buckle mechanism together with the inner ends of the lap belt members;
first and second spool mechanisms connected to the two second ends of said shoulder belt strap members, said spool mechanism being biased for coiling and holding portions of said shoulder belt strap members;
a common retractor mechanism operably connected to said first and second spool members for simultaneously operating said first and second spool members whereby said first and second shoulder belt members are coiled and uncoiled simultaneously; and
a pair of gears at predetermined angles coupling said first and second spool members to said common retractor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12)
-
-
7. A four-point seat belt restraint system for a vehicle seat comprising:
-
a pair of lap belt members connected at laterally opposite sides of the vehicle seat and having inner ends transversely connectable to one another across pelvic region of an occupant sitting on the seat;
first and second shoulder belt strap members for the vehicle seat, each of said shoulder strap members having first ends positioned on the occupant side of the vehicle seat and second ends positioned on the rear of the vehicle seat;
said first ends of said shoulder belt strap member being connected to a releasable buckle mechanism together with the inner ends of the lap belt members;
first and second spool members connected to the two second ends of said shoulder belt strap members, said spool members being biased for coiling and holding portions of said shoulder belt strap members;
a common retractor mechanism operably connected to said first and second spool members for simultaneously operating said first and second spool members whereby said first and second shoulder belt members are coiled and uncoiled simultaneously; and
a load limiting mechanism on said common retractor mechanism for controlling the deceleration of the occupant on the vehicle seat wearing the seat belt restraint system;
wherein said load limiting mechanism comprises;
a sprocket mechanically coupled to said first and second spool mechanisms; and
a deformable metal band mechanically coupled to said sprocket and biasing said first and second spool mechanisms.
-
-
9. A four-point seat belt restraint system for a vehicle seat:
-
a pair of lap belt members connected at laterally opposite sides of the vehicle seat and having inner ends transversely connectable to one another across pelvic region of an occupant sitting on the seat;
first and second shoulder belt strap members for the vehicle seat, each of said shoulder strap members having first ends positioned on the occupant side of the vehicle seat and second ends positioned on the rear of the vehicle seat;
said first ends of said shoulder belt strap member being connected to a releasable buckle mechanism together with the inner ends of the lap belt members;
first and second spool members connected to the two second ends of said shoulder belt strap members, said spool members being biased for coiling and holding portions of said shoulder belt strap members;
a common refractor mechanism operably connected to said first and second spool members for simultaneously operating said first and second spool members whereby said first and second shoulder belt members are coiled and uncoiled simultaneously;
a momentum sensor mechanism operably associated with said common retractor mechanism for locking said retractor mechanism under certain sudden deceleration events; and
a gimble mechanism operably associated with said momentum sensor mechanism.
-
-
10. A four-point seat belt restraint system for a vehicle seat comprising:
-
a pair of lap belt members connected at laterally opposite sides of the vehicle seat and having inner ends transversely connectable to one another across pelvic region of an occupant sitting on the seat;
first and second shoulder belt strap members for the vehicle seat, each of said shoulder strap members having first ends positioned on the occupant side of the vehicle seat and second ends positioned on the rear of the vehicle seat;
said first ends of said shoulder belt strap member being connected to a releasable buckle mechanism together with the inner ends of the lap belt members;
first and second spool members connected to the two second ends of said shoulder belt strap members, said spool members being biased for coiling and holding portions of said shoulder belt strap members;
a common retractor mechanism operably connected to said first and second spool members for simultaneously operating said first and second spool members whereby said first and second shoulder belt members are coiled and uncoiled simultaneously; and
a dual payout single retractor connected to the outer ends of the lap belt members.
-
-
13. A vehicle seat system comprising:
-
a four-point seat belt restraint system for a vehicle seat comprising;
a pair of lap belt members connected at laterally opposite sides of the vehicle and having inner ends transversely connectable to one another across pelvic region of an occupant sitting on the seat;
first and second shoulder belt strap members for the vehicle seat, each of said shoulder strap members having first ends positioned on the occupant side of the vehicle seat and second ends positioned on the rear of the vehicle seat;
said first ends of said shoulder belt strap member being connected to a releasable buckle mechanism together with the inner ends of the lap belt members;
first and second spool mechanisms connected to the two second ends of said shoulder belt strap members, said spool mechanism being biased for coiling and holding portions of said shoulder belt strap members;
a common refractor mechanism operably connected to said first and second spool members for simultaneously operating said first and second spool members whereby said first and second shoulder belt members are coiled and uncoiled simultaneously;
a pair of gears at predetermined angles coupling said first and second spool members to said common retractor; and
a seat ramp;
said four-point seat belt restraint system and said seat ramp preventing “
submarining”
of an occupant.- View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A vehicle seat system comprising:
-
a four-point seat belt restraint system for a vehicle seat comprising;
a pair of lap belt members connected at laterally opposite sides of the vehicle and having inner ends transversely connectable to one another across pelvic region of an occupant sitting on the seat;
first and second shoulder belt strap members for the vehicle seat, each of said shoulder strap members having first ends positioned on the occupant side of the vehicle seat and second ends positioned on the rear of the vehicle seat;
said first ends of said shoulder belt strap member being connected to a releasable buckle mechanism together with the inner ends of the lap belt members;
first and second spool mechanisms connected to the two second ends of said shoulder belt strap members, said spool mechanism being biased for coiling and holding portions of said shoulder belt strap members;
a common retractor mechanism operably connected to said first and second spool members for simultaneously operating said first and second spool members whereby said first and second shoulder belt members are coiled and uncoiled simultaneously;
a pair of gears at predetermined angles coupling said first and second spool members to said common retractor;
a load limiting mechanism on said common refractor mechanism for controlling the deceleration of the occupant on the vehicle seat wearing the seat belt restraint system;
a third and fourth biased spool mechanisms connected to the outer ends of the lap belt members; and
a seat ramp;
said four-point seat belt restraint system and said seat ramp preventing submarining of an occupant.
-
Specification