Automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus

• US 7,040,444 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd. (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd. (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Midorikawa, Yukinori, Kawai, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US11/060,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20050146128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 180/268, 180/286, 280/807
• US Class Current: 180/286
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01313 monitoring the vehicle steering system or the dynamic control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/029 Belt storage; Devices or systems for controlling winding up of unused seat belt
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/444 the additional retraction device being an electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4473 using an electric retraction device combined with a spring B60R2022/444, B60R2022/4466
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4609 using a plurality of tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4657 comprising a plurality of charges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4666 characterised by electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4685 with means to adjust or regulate the tensioning force in relation to external parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/405 responsive to belt movement and vehicle movement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/44 with means for reducing belt tension during use under normal conditions not included in the retractor B60R22/19; B60R22/3405 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/46 Reels with means to tension the belt in an emergency by forced winding upelectrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01 ; tensioners using reels only guiding the belt during normal use, e.g. splitted reels B60R22/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/4633 Linear actuators, e.g. comprising a piston moving along reel axis and rotating along its own axis

Abstract

An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle having doors, and a seatbelt, for restraining an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant includes an electric retractor having a motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt, a controller for controlling the motor, and a door opening/closing detector for detecting opening and closing of a predetermined one of the doors. When the door opening/closing detector detects the opening of the predetermined one of the doors, the controller controls the motor to carry out retraction of the seatbelt at a higher speed than when the door opening/closing detector detects the closing of the predetermined one of the doors.

Claims

1. An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle having doors, and a seatbelt, for restraining an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant, comprising:

an electric retractor having driving means for retracting and protracting the seatbelt;

control means for controlling said driving means; and

door opening/closing detecting means for detecting opening and closing of a predetermined one of the doors;

wherein when said door opening/closing means detects the opening of the predetermined one of the doors, said control means controls said driving means to carry out retraction of the seatbelt at a higher speed than when said door opening/closing means detects the closing of the predetermined one of the doors.

2. An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus as defined by claim 1, including vehicle reverse detecting means for detecting a reverse of the automotive vehicle, and seatbelt attaching detecting means for detecting attaching of the seatbelt to the occupant or disconnection of the seatbelt from the occupant, and wherein said control means inhibits said driving means from retracting the seatbelt when the attaching of the seatbelt to the occupant is detected by said seatbelt attaching detecting means, the opening of the predetermined one of the doors is detected by said door opening/closing detecting means and at the same time the reverse of the automotive vehicle is detected by said vehicle reverse detecting means.