Seatbelt apparatus

• US 7,232,155 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2002
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2001
• 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: Nishizawa, Muneo
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FREEDMAN, LAURA
• Application Number:
  US10/118,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20020149191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,897 Days
• Field of Search: 280/805, 280/806, 280/807, 180/268, 188/371, 188/376, 188/377
• US Class Current: 280/805
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1806 for buckles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/288 with means to adjust or regulate the amount of energy to be absorbed
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4609 using a plurality of tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/023 Three-point seat belt systems comprising two side lower and one side upper anchoring devices B60R22/022, B60R22/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/16 using belts which become permanently deformed, i.e. one time use
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/4604 characterised by arrangements in vehicle or relative to seat belt

Abstract

A seatbelt apparatus with two pretensioners and a load limiter. The seatbelt apparatus has a seatbelt retractor, a belt guide, a lap belt anchor, a tongue, and a buckle. The seatbelt retractor and the lap belt anchor are provided with pretensioners. The buckle is fixed to an inner portion of a car body such as the car floor through a load limiter. This configuration allows the seatbelt apparatus to restrain a passenger more effectively.

Claims

1. A three point seat belt apparatus comprising:

a three point webbing comprising three points;

a first pretensioner is mounted directly on a first one of the three points;

a second pretensioner is mounted directly on a second one of the three points; and

a load limiter connected to a third one of the three points, wherein no pretensioners are connected to the third one of the three points.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a lap belt anchor which is fixed to an outer side of a compartment of a car body and which is connected to the first one of the three points;

a tongue slidably mounted on the webbing; and

a buckle which is fixed to an inner side of the compartment of the car body, which can engage with the tongue, and which is connected to the third one of the three points,

wherein a seatbelt retractor fixed to the car body includes the second pretensioner.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first one of the three points is connected to a lap portion of the webbing,

wherein the second one of the three points is connected to a shoulder portion of the webbing;

wherein a retractor includes the second pretensioner for retracting the shoulder portion of the webbing; and

wherein an anchor is connected to the second one of the three points.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a buckle connected to the load limiter.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the buckle is configured to engage a tongue connected to the webbing.

6. A seatbelt apparatus comprising:

a seatbelt retractor fixed to a car body;

a lap belt anchor which is fixed to an outer side of a compartment of the car body and which is connected to an end of a seatbelt extending from the seatbelt retractor;

a tongue slidably mounted on the seatbelt;

a buckle which is fixed to an inner side of the compartment of the car body and which can engage with the tongue, wherein the buckle is not directly connected to a pretensioner for applying tension on the seatbelt during an emergency;

a first pretensioner mounted on the lap belt anchor for applying tension on the seatbelt during the emergency;

a second pretensioner mounted on the retractor for applying tension on the seatbelt during the emergency; and

a load limiter disposed at the buckle for limiting a load exerted on the seatbelt during the emergency to a predetermined level.

7. A safety apparatus for an occupant of a vehicle comprising:

a seat belt having a shoulder portion and a lap portion;

a plurality of pretensioners comprising at least a first pretensioner and a second pretensioner;

a retractor for retracting the shoulder portion of the seat belt, the retractor including the first pretensioner;

an anchor for securing the lap portion to the vehicle, the anchor including the second pretensioner; and

a load limiter for limiting the load applied to the occupant by the seat belt, wherein the load limiter is positioned away from all pretensioners of the plurality of pretensioners.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a buckle connected to the load limiter.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the buckle is configured to engage a tongue connected to the seat belt.