Seatbelt device

• US 6,874,817 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2002
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nakayama, Tadahiro, Nakano, Yoshiyuki, Iwai, Masahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Teri Pham
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAYES, BRET C
• Application Number:
  US10/064,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20020185852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 280/805, 280/806, 606/38
• US Class Current: 280/805
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1952 Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor

Abstract

A seat belt device including a shock absorbing mechanism to gently stop a pull-in member and to prevent a large impact force from being exerted on the pull-in member when the pull-in member is pulled in by a pre-tensioner. The device may include a wire pulled by operation of a buckle pre-tensioner at the time of an emergency, a buckle is pulled in towards a bracket while a cover contracts. Before the cover contracts to a maximum permissible contraction position, the buckle comes into contact with the free end of a shock absorbing member, and, then, is pulled in while the shock absorbing member is caused to contract. By the contraction of the shock absorbing member, the shock absorbing member absorbs impact energy of the buckle.

Claims

1. A seatbelt device comprising:

a pre-tensioner for tensioning a seatbelt by moving a member connected to the seat belt; and

a shock absorbing mechanism for absorbing shock resulting from stopping the movement of the member,

wherein the shock absorbing mechanism includes two compressible members, the second compressible member surrounding the first compressible member.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the two compressible members include accordion folds.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first compressible member includes a compressible portion and a rigid portion.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the second compressible member is configured to begin compressing immediately upon movement of the moving member due to operation of the pre-tensioner in order to absorb shock due to movement of the member.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the first mentioned compressible member is configured to begin compressing after the second compressible member has undergone a predetermined amount of compression.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the compression of the second compressible member is limited by a rigid portion of the first compressible member.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the second compressible member covers a wire connected to the pre-tensioner.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the member connected to the seatbelt comprises a buckle.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the member connected to the seatbelt comprises a lap anchor.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a wire connected to the member and connected to the pre-tensioner.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the shock absorbing mechanism is configured to hold the wire at a predetermined angle from the direction in which the member moves.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the shock absorbing mechanism limits the movement of the movable member.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the shock absorbing mechanism is configured to prevent a direct collision between the member and a bracket connected to the pre-tensioner when the pre-tensioner is activated.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the second compressible member comprises accordion folds.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the first compressible member includes a compressible portion and a rigid portion.

12. A seat belt device comprising:

a pre-tensioner;

a movable member connected to the seat belt;

a wire connected to the pre-tensioner and the movable member, wherein during operation of the pre-tensioner the wire is pulled causing the movable member to move and the seat belt to be tensioned; and

a shock absorbing mechanism configured to absorb shock associated with movement of the member;

wherein the shock absorbing mechanism includes two compressible members positioned around the wire.

13. A seat belt device comprising:

a pre-tensioner;

a movable member connected to the seat belt;

a wire connected to the pre-tensioner and the movable member, wherein during operation of the pre-tensioner the wire is pulled causing the movable member to move and the seat belt to be tensioned; and

a shock absorbing mechanism configured to absorb shock associated with movement of the member;

wherein the shock absorbing mechanism includes two compressible members, the first compressible member surrounding the second compressible member and wherein the second compressible member includes a relatively rigid portion to limit the movement of the movable member.