Automotive seat safety mechanism

• US 6,935,456 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2003
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koji Korechika, Noriko Korechika, Sayoko Korechika, Yusuke Korechika
• Original Assignee: Koji Korechika, Noriko Korechika, Sayoko Korechika, Yusuke Korechika
• Inventors: Korechika, Koji, Korechika, Noriko
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US10/338,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20030136598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 180/268, 180/271, 280/806, 280/808, 296/68.1, 296/65.02, 297/216.1, 297/216.12, 297/216.13, 297/216.14
• US Class Current: 180/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2809 with additional tether connected to the top of the child seat and passing above the top of the back-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4228 due to impact coming from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42745 of the back-rest B60N2/433 takes precedence; higher part of the back-rest moving together with the headrest B60N2/888
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42781 mechanical triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

An automotive seat safety mechanism includes a seat back and a webbing arranged between the seat back and a vehicle roof. A retractor urges the webbing in a winding direction while simultaneously permitting the webbing to be drawn out in an unwinding direction when in a normal state and prevents the webbing from being drawn out when deceleration of the vehicle becomes greater than a predetermined value. A bypassing mechanism is arranged above the seat back. A pretensioner is included in the retractor. The retractor is arranged above and rearward from the seat back. The webbing extends between an upper position of the seat back and the retractor bypassing the bypassing mechanism. The webbing is disengaged from the bypassing mechanism when forward deceleration becomes greater than a predetermined value. The pretensioner is activated to quickly draw in the webbing in response to the forward deceleration.

Claims

1. An automotive seat safety mechanism including an automotive seat having a seat cushion and a seat back, which is arranged on a rear portion of the seat cushion, and a webbing arranged between the seat back and an upper portion of a vehicle, wherein a retractor urges the webbing in a winding direction to draw in the webbing while simultaneously permitting the webbing to be drawn out of the reactor in an unwinding direction when in a normal state and prevents the webbing from being drawn out when acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the automotive seat safety mechanism comprising:

a bypassing mechanism arranged above the seat back; and

a pretensioner included in the retractor;

wherein the retractor is arranged rearward from the seat back in the upper portion of the vehicle;

wherein the webbing has an end secured to an upper position of the seat back and is extended to the retractor through a guide that is engaged with the bypassing mechanism;

wherein the guide with the webbing is disengaged from the bypassing mechanism when forward deceleration of the vehicle becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value; and

wherein the pretensioner of the retractor is activated to quickly draw in the webbing in the winding direction in response to the forward deceleration.

2. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the retractor is arranged in a roof of the vehicle, and the webbing between the bypassing mechanism and the retractor is accommodated in the roof.

3. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the bypassing mechanism is accommodated in the roof.

4. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the bypassing mechanism locks the engagement with the guide with the webbing when forward acceleration of the vehicle becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

5. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the guide is arranged to support the webbing in a suspended manner.

6. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the guide is dropped with the webbing when the guide is disengaged from the bypassing mechanism and then supported by the webbing, to which tension is applied between the upper position of the seat back and the retractor.

7. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a rear seat passenger air bag is installed in the seat back.

8. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the webbing between the upper position of the seat back and the bypassing mechanism is used as a screen on which a projector projects an image.

9. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a seat belt of a front seat is secured to the automotive seat.

10. An automotive seat safety mechanism including an automotive seat having a seat cushion and a seat back, which is arranged on a rear portion of the seat cushion, and a webbing arranged between the seat back and an upper portion of a vehicle, wherein a retractor urges the webbing in a winding direction to draw in the webbing while simultaneously permitting the webbing to be drawn out of the retractor in an unwinding direction when in a normal state and prevents the webbing from being drawn out when acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the automotive seat safety mechanism comprising:

a bypassing mechanism arranged above the seat back; and

a pretensioner included in the retractor;

wherein the retractor is arranged in an upper portion of the seat back;

wherein to webbing has an end secured to the upper portion rearward from the seat back and is extended to the retractor through a guide that is engaged with the bypassing mechanism;

wherein the guide with the webbing is disengaged from the bypassing mechanism when forward deceleration of the vehicle becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value; and

wherein the pretensioner of the retractor is activated to quickly draw into webbing in response to the forward deceleration.

11. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the retractor is accommodated in a head rest arranged above to seat back.

12. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the retractor is fixed to a frame of the seat back.

13. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the bypassing mechanism is accommodated in a roof of the vehicle.

14. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the bypassing mechanism locks the engagement with the guide with the webbing when forward acceleration of the vehicle becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

15. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the guide is arranged to support the webbing in a suspended manner.

16. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 15, wherein the guide is dropped with the webbing when the guide is disengaged from the bypassing mechanism and then supported by the webbing, to which tension is applied between the upper position of the seat back and the retractor.

17. The automotive seat safety mechanism according claim 10, wherein a real seat passenger air bag is installed in the seat back.

18. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the webbing between the upper position of the seat back and the bypassing mechanism is used as a screen on which a projector projects a image.

19. The automotive seat safety mechanism according to claim 10, wherein a seat belt of a front seat is secured to the automotive seat.