Door-mounted seat belt restraint system and method
First Claim
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1. A system for compensating for tension in a secured seat belt to accurately measure weight on a vehicle seat, the system being in combination with a vehicle and comprising:
- a door-mounted retractor for the seat belt;
a door-mounted lower anchor for the seat belt;
a vehicle seat having a seat weight sensor operatively mounted thereto;
means for simulating the mounting of the door-mounted anchor to the vehicle seat to substantially cancel out generally downward directed forces applied to an object on the vehicle seat by the secured seat belt and allow for the seat weight sensor to accurately measure weight of the object on the seat; and
a passenger compartment of the vehicle in which the vehicle seat is disposed, and the simulation means includes cooperating portions of the door-mounted lower anchor or seat belt and the vehicle seat with the vehicle seat portion lacking a permanent connection to the seat belt.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are provided for cancelling out downward directed tension forces generated on an object on a vehicle seat. In active, door-mounted seat belt systems, the belt tension force cancellation system includes a simulator that is operable to transfer upward forces on a door-mounted, lower anchor to the vehicle seat without requiring a permanent anchor point for the seat belt in the vehicle compartment. The simulator can either automatically transfer the forces upon securing the belt about the object, or be selectively operable.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for compensating for tension in a secured seat belt to accurately measure weight on a vehicle seat, the system being in combination with a vehicle and comprising:
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a door-mounted retractor for the seat belt; a door-mounted lower anchor for the seat belt; a vehicle seat having a seat weight sensor operatively mounted thereto; means for simulating the mounting of the door-mounted anchor to the vehicle seat to substantially cancel out generally downward directed forces applied to an object on the vehicle seat by the secured seat belt and allow for the seat weight sensor to accurately measure weight of the object on the seat; and a passenger compartment of the vehicle in which the vehicle seat is disposed, and the simulation means includes cooperating portions of the door-mounted lower anchor or seat belt and the vehicle seat with the vehicle seat portion lacking a permanent connection to the seat belt. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system for compensating for tension in a secured seat belt to accurately measure weight on a vehicle seat, the system comprising:
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a door-mounted retractor for the seat belt; a door-mounted lower anchor for the seat belt; and a vehicle seat having a seat weight sensor operatively mounted thereto; means for simulating the mounting of the door-mounted anchor to the vehicle seat to substantially cancel out generally downward directed forces applied to an object on the vehicle seat by the secured seat belt and allow for the seat weight sensor to accurately measure weight of the object on the seat, wherein the simulating means includes cooperating arms of the vehicle seat and the lower anchor that engage with the seat belt secured about an object on the seat. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A system for compensating for tension in a secured seat belt to accurately measure weight on a vehicle seat, the system comprising:
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a door-mounted retractor for the seat belt; a door-mounted lower anchor for the seat belt; and a vehicle seat having a seat weight sensor operatively mounted thereto; means for simulating the mounting of the door-mounted anchor to the vehicle seat to substantially cancel out generally downward directed forces applied to an object on the vehicle seat by the secured seat belt and allow for the seat weight sensor to accurately measure weight of the object on the seat, wherein the vehicle seat includes a frame rail to which the seat weight sensor is mounted, and the simulating means includes a mechanical linkage between the door-mounted lower anchor and the seat frame rail that is operable with the seat belt secured about the object on the seat. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A system for compensating for tension in a secured seat belt to accurately measure weight on a vehicle seat, the system comprising:
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a door-mounted retractor for the seat belt; a door-mounted lower anchor for the seat belt; a vehicle seat having a seat weight sensor operatively mounted thereto; and means for simulating the mounting of the door-mounted anchor to the vehicle seat to substantially cancel out generally downward directed forces applied to an object on the vehicle seat by the secured seat belt and allow for the seat weight sensor to accurately measure weight of the object on the seat, wherein the simulating means comprises user-operated means for allowing a user to selectively cancel out the downward directed forces applied to an object on the vehicle seat by the secured seat belt. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A passenger restraint system for a vehicle having a door providing access to a seat in a passenger compartment, the passenger restraint system comprising:
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a retractor for seat belt webbing with the retractor being mounted to the vehicle door; a lower anchor to which the seat belt webbing is secured with the lower anchor being mounted to the vehicle door adjacent an outboard side of the seat; at least one seat weight sensor arranged for measuring weight of an object on the seat; a buckle having an anchor on an inboard side of the seat; a tongue plate carried on the seat belt webbing for being latched in the buckle anchor; and a lower anchor simulator for the seat that allows a connection between the seat belt webbing or the lower anchor for the webbing and the seat to be established that is operable with the seat belt webbing secured about the object on the seat with the simulator connection being separate from the latched tongue plate and buckle, wherein the lower anchor simulator includes cooperating portions of the lower anchor and the seat which are operably engaged with the seat belt secured about an object on the seat to form the simulator connection, the seat includes a frame rail to which the seat weight sensor is mounted, and the cooperating portions comprise arms of the seat frame rail and the lower anchor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A seat belt tension force cancelling method comprising:
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securing a door-mounted seat belt about an object on a vehicle seat; transferring upward directed forces on a door-mounted, lower anchor for the seat belt to the vehicle seat; and cancelling downward directed forces generated by the secured seat belt on the object by the transferred upward directed forces, wherein the upward directed forces are transferred selectively.
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15. A seat belt tension force cancelling method comprising:
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securing a door-mounted seat belt about an object on a vehicle seat; transferring upward directed forces on a door-mounted, lower anchor for the seat belt to the vehicle seat; and cancelling downward directed forces generated by the secured seat belt on the object by the transferred upward directed forces, wherein the upward directed forces are transferred by engaging portions of the seat belt or lower anchor and the vehicle seat with the seat belt secured about an object on the seat, the portions include cooperating portions of the lower anchor and a frame member of the seat, and the lower anchor and frame portions are engaged automatically as a result of securing the seat belt about the object on the seat. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A seat belt tension force cancelling method comprising:
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securing a door-mounted seat belt about an object on a vehicle seat; transferring upward directed forces on a door-mounted, lower anchor for the seat belt to the vehicle seat; and cancelling downward directed forces generated by the secured seat belt on the object by the transferred upward directed forces, wherein the upward directed forces are transferred by engaging portions of the seat belt or lower anchor and the vehicle seat with the seat belt secured about an object on the seat, the portions include cooperating portions of the seat belt and frame member of the seat, and the seat belt and frame portions are engaged selectively. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification