Seat belt apparatus

• US 7,438,150 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2005
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Higashiyama, Yoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Application Number:
  US11/063,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20050205330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 180/268, 180/274, 180/281, 180/282, 280/801.2, 280/806, 280/807, 280/808
• US Class Current: 180/268
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01272 Belt tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01311 monitoring the braking system, e.g. ABS
• 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 21/0134 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 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01564 Manually or key-actuated inhibition switches

Abstract

A seat belt apparatus has a seat belt, a retracting device for the seat belt, a clash predicting means for outputting a clash predicting signal, a control unit for operating the retracting device when it receives the clash predicting signal, and a switching means for prohibiting the operation of the retracting device when the switching means is manually operated to an OFF state. As a result, unpleasant feeling to a vehicle occupant can be reduced.

Claims

1. A seat belt apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a seat belt fastened to a vehicle seat and configured to tightly hold an occupant sitting in the vehicle seat to the vehicle seat;

a retracting device for retracting the seat belt;

multiple crash predicting means for outputting respective crash predicting signals; and

a control unit for operating the retracting device when the control unit receives at least one of the crash predicting signals, so that the seat belt is retracted,

wherein the seat belt apparatus further comprises an OFF switch provided in a passenger room of the vehicle for outputting an OFF signal to prohibit the operation of the retracting device when the OFF switch is placed in an OFF state, and

wherein the control unit operates the retracting device in the case that the crash predicting signals from the multiple crash predicting means are inputted to the control unit even when the OFF signal is outputted from the OFF switch.

2. A seat belt apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the OFF switch is configured to be manually operated by a vehicle passenger.

3. A seat belt apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a seat belt fastened to a vehicle seat and configured to tightly hold an occupant to the vehicle seat;

a retracting device for retracting the seat belt;

one or more crash predicting means for outputting one or more respective crash predicting signals;

an OFF switch provided in a passenger area of the vehicle, the OFF switch having an ON state indicating normal operation of the retracting device and an OFF state indicating an inhibited operation of the retracting device; and

a control unit for controlling operation of the retracting device based in part on the one or more crash predicting signals and whether the OFF switch is in the ON state or the OFF state,

wherein the one or more crash predicting means comprise a plurality of crash predicting means,

wherein the control unit controls the retracting device to retract the seatbelt when the control unit receives at least one but fewer than all of the plurality crash predicting signals, and the OFF switch is in the ON state,

wherein the control unit prohibits operation of the retracting device when the control unit receives at least one but fewer than all of the plurality crash predicting signals, and the OFF switch is in the OFF state, and

wherein the control unit controls the retracting device to retract the seatbelt when the control unit receives all of the plurality crash predicting signals, and the OFF switch is in the OFF state.