Seat belt device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A seat belt device comprising:
- a seat belt for constraining an occupant to a seat;
tension varying means constructed and arranged for applying a tension to the seat belt, wherein the tension varying means is provided at a first part supporting the seat belt or a second part supporting the seat belt;
tension detecting means for detecting an actual tension on the seat belt, wherein the tension detecting means is provided at the first part supporting the seat belt or the second part supporting the seat belt; and
failure detecting means for comparing the tension applied by the tension varying means to the actual tension detected by the tension detecting means, to detect failures of at least one of the tension varying means and the tension detecting means when a difference between the tension applied by the tension varying means and the actual tension measured by the tension detecting means is greater than a predetermined value, wherein the predetermined value is selected as a value larger than a tension loss from the tension varying means to the tension detecting means.
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Abstract
A seat belt for constraining an occupant to a seat is provided with both a tension varying means 16 allowing for providing a tension to the seat belt to vary, and a tension detecting means for detecting an actual tension on the seat belt. There is provided failure detecting means, which detects failures of at least one of the tension varying means and the tension detecting means by comparing the tension provided by the tension varying means to the actual tension detected by the tension detecting means the difference in tensions thereof exceeding a predetermined value.
15 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A seat belt device comprising:
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a seat belt for constraining an occupant to a seat; tension varying means constructed and arranged for applying a tension to the seat belt, wherein the tension varying means is provided at a first part supporting the seat belt or a second part supporting the seat belt; tension detecting means for detecting an actual tension on the seat belt, wherein the tension detecting means is provided at the first part supporting the seat belt or the second part supporting the seat belt; and failure detecting means for comparing the tension applied by the tension varying means to the actual tension detected by the tension detecting means, to detect failures of at least one of the tension varying means and the tension detecting means when a difference between the tension applied by the tension varying means and the actual tension measured by the tension detecting means is greater than a predetermined value, wherein the predetermined value is selected as a value larger than a tension loss from the tension varying means to the tension detecting means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A seat belt device comprising:
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a three point seat belt for constraining an occupant to a seat, one end of the belt being supported at an electromotive retractor in such a manner as to be freely wound, other end of the belt being supported at a lap anchor part, and a midportion of the belt being supported at a buckle stay part; tension varying means constructed and arranged for applying a tension to the seat belt, wherein the tension varying means is provided at the electromotive retractor; tension detecting means for detecting an actual tension on the seat belt, the tension detecting means is provided at the lap anchor part; and failure detecting means for comparing the tension applied by the tension varying means to the actual tension detected by the tension detecting means, to detect failures of at least one of the tension varying means and the tension detecting means when a difference between the tension applied by the tension varying means and the actual tension measured by the tension detecting means is greater than a predetermined value, wherein the predetermined value is selected as a value larger than a tension loss from the tension varying means to the tension detecting means.
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7. A seat belt device comprising:
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a three point seat belt for constraining an occupant to a seat, one end of the belt being supported at an electromotive retractor in such a manner as to be freely wound, other end of the belt being supported at a lap anchor part, and a midportion of the belt being supported at a buckle stay part; tension varying means constructed and arranged for applying a tension to the seat belt; tension detecting means for detecting an actual tension on the seat belt; an attachment/detachment detecting means for detecting an attachment of the seat belt, which is provided at the buckle stay part; failure detecting means for comparing the tension applied by the tension varying means to the actual tension detected by the tension detecting means, to detect failures of at least one of the tension varying means and the tension detecting means when a difference between the tension applied by the tension varying means and the actual tension measured by the tension detecting means is greater than a predetermined value, wherein the predetermined value is selected as a value larger than a tension loss from the tension varying means to the tension detecting means, and wherein the failure detecting means is actuated when the attachment/detachment detecting means is detecting the attachment of the seat belt; and the tension varying means is provided at the retractor and the tension detecting means is provided at the buckle stay part, or the tension varying means is provided at the buckle stay part and the tension detecting means is provided at the lap anchor part, or the tension varying means and the tension detecting means are provided at the buckle stay part.
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8. A method of detecting an error in a seat belt device comprising a seat belt for constraining an occupant to a seat, tension varying means constructed and arranged for applying a tension to the seat belt, tension detecting means for detecting an actual tension on the seat belt;
- and failure detecting means for comparing the tension applied by the tension varying means to the actual tension detected by the tension detecting means, the method comprising;
applying a tension to the seat belt using the tension varying means; measuring the actual tension on the seat belt using the tension detecting means; using the failure detecting means to measure a difference between the tension applied by the tension varying means and the actual tension measured by the tension detecting means; and if the difference is greater than a predetermined value determining that an error has occurred in at least one of the tension varying means or the tension detecting means, wherein the predetermined value is selected as a value larger than a tension loss from the tension varying means to the tension detecting means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
- and failure detecting means for comparing the tension applied by the tension varying means to the actual tension detected by the tension detecting means, the method comprising;
Specification