Passenger protecting apparatus

• US 7,021,655 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2003
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fujii, Hiroaki, Higuchi, Masahiro, Kobayashi, Ichizo, Saiguchi, Ryoji, Sakai, Katsuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US10/714,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20040155436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/733, 280/806, 297/216.1, 297/216.13, 297/216.14
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4235 transversal
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42718 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/853 characterised by their adjusting mechanisms, e.g. electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/885 provided with side-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/286 using deformation of material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4614 one pretensioner acting on a plurality of belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23184 Tubular air bags connected to the vehicle at their two extremities
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1951 characterised by arrangements in vehicle or relative to seat belt
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1952 Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/28 incorporating energy-absorbing devices belt anchors provided with energy-absorbing means for protecting the occupants in case of physical contact therewith B60R21/055; belt retractors comprising energy-absorbing means B60R22/341, B60R22/4676

Abstract

A passenger protecting apparatus that prevents a submarine phenomenon of the passenger by the use of an air belt that is configured to inflate to form a sleeve wall. The apparatus includes a seat cushion that includes a seat pad, and an air belt disposed under the seat pad. The apparatus includes a buckle and a lap anchor. The rear end on the right and the left of the air belt are connected to the buckle and the lap anchor via a wire respectively. Upon collision, the air belt is inflated and the front portion of the seat pad is pushed up so that a submarine phenomenon is prevented and the buckle and the lap anchor are pulled down.

Claims

1. An apparatus for protecting a passenger seated in a seat having a seat cushion and a seat back, comprising:

an air belt connected to the seat cushion and the seat back and configured to inflate to form a sleeve wall at a side of the seat cushion; and

a plate disposed under the seating surface of the seat cushion and configured to tilt upward,

wherein a length of the air belt is configured to decrease when the air belt is inflated,and

wherein the air belt is connected to the plate and the seat back.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plate is operatively connected with at least one of a seat belt buckle and a seat belt lap anchor so that when the plate tilts upward the at least one of the buckle and the lap anchor move downward.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a connection between the plate and the at least one of the buckle and the anchor is a wire.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein movement of the wire is limited to one direction.

5. An apparatus for protecting a passenger seated in a seat having a seat cushion and a seat back comprising an air belt connected to the seat cushion and the seat back and configured to inflate to form a sleeve wall at a side of the seat cushion, wherein a length of the air belt is configured to decrease when the air belt is inflated, and wherein the air belt is connected to a plate located under a seating surface of the seat so that when the air belt inflates and decreases in length the plate tilts upward to inhibit the passenger from being subjected to a submarine phenomenon.

6. An apparatus for protecting a passenger seated in a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back comprising an air belt connected to the seat cushion and the seat back and configured to inflate to form a sleeve wall at a same side of the seat cushion and the seat back, wherein a length of the air belt is configured to decrease when the air belt is inflated, wherein the air belt is configured to inflate when the vehicle is detected to be involved in a side crash, and wherein the air belt is configured to pretension a seat belt when the air belt is inflated.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising an upwardly tilting plate located under a seating surface of the cushion, wherein the plate is configured to tilt upwards when the air belt inflates.

8. An apparatus for protecting a passenger seated in a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back, the apparatus comprising:

an air belt connected to the seat cushion and the seat back and configured to inflate to form a sleeve wall at a side of the seat cushion, when the vehicle is detected to be involved in a side crash; and

a belt buckle configured to move downward when the air belt is inflated to thereby apply a pretension to a seat belt, p1 wherein a length of the air belt is configured to decrease when the air belt is inflated.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a plate configured to rotate about a fixed shaft.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plate is disposed under a seating surface of the seat cushion and is configured to tilt upward.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein movement of the belt buckle is limited to the downward direction.

12. An apparatus for protecting a passenger seated in a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back, the apparatus comprising:

an air belt connected to the seat cushion and the seat back and configured to inflate to form a sleeve wall at a side of the seat cushion, when the vehicle is detected to be involved in a side crash; and

a lap anchor configured to move downward when the air belt is inflated to thereby apply a pretension to a seat belt,

wherein a length of the air belt is configured to decrease when the air belt is inflated.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein movement of the lap anchor is limited to the downward direction.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a plate configured to rotate about a fixed shaft.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plate is disposed under a seating surface of the seat cushion and is configured to tilt upward.