Seat belt of vehicle with air belt

• US 7,481,451 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2004
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Deug Won
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; John Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spisich; George D.
• Application Number:
  US10/990,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20060055158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• Field of Search: 280/733, 280/801.2, 280/804
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/208 by automatic or remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/203 the locking means being movably mounted on the slider

Abstract

A seat belt of a vehicle including an air belt to stably and reliably protect an occupant during a vehicle crash. The seat belt includes a cover made of a fabric material, upper and lower webbings respectively fixed to opposite ends of the cover, a D-ring fixed to the upper webbing and arranged within an occupant compartment of the vehicle, a retractor fixed to the lower webbing to wind and unwind the lower webbing; and an air belt to rapidly supply a high-pressure gas into a bag held in the cover during a vehicle crash, and thus, to inflate the bag. Since the bag is covered by the fabric cover, an improvement in wearing comfort is achieved.

Claims

1. A seat belt of a vehicle comprising:

a cover made of a fabric material;

upper and lower webbings respectively fixed to opposite ends of the cover;

a D-ring fixed to the upper webbing and arranged within an occupant compartment of the vehicle;

a retractor fixed to the lower webbing to wind and unwind the lower webbing;

an air belt to rapidly supply a high-pressure gas into a bag held in the cover during a vehicle crash, and thus, to inflate the bag;

a dual inflator having two gas generating components which are configured to inject different amounts of gas, respectively; and

a level adjuster arranged in the occupant compartment to adjust a vertical level of the D-ring, the D-ring being mounted to the level adjuster such that the vertical level of the D-ring is adjustable in accordance with an operation of an occupant,

wherein only the gas generating component configured to inject a greater amount than that of the other gas generating component injects gas when an impact level is less than a predetermined level, and

wherein the level adjuster includes a fixed member fixedly mounted to a center filler, a movable member to carry the D-ring, a retractable locking member mounted in the movable member to protrude from the movable member, and a spring interposed between the movable member and the locking member to apply an elastic force to the locking member.

2. The seat belt according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower webbings are fixed to the cover by stitches.

3. The seat belt according to claim 1, wherein the upper webbing has one end extended through the D-ring, folded, and then fixed to a portion of the upper webbing by stitches, so that the upper webbing and the D-ring are fixed to each other.

4. The seat belt according to claim 1, wherein the retractor is arranged within a center filler included in the vehicle.

5. The seat belt according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes a tear line to be torn when the bag inflates.

6. The seat belt according to claim 1, wherein the D-ring is pivotally mounted to the level adjuster.

7. The seat belt according to claim 1, wherein the air belt comprises:

the bag to receive the high-pressure gas from the inflator, and thus, to be rapidly inflated; and

a tube to connect the inflator and the bag.

8. The seat belt according to claim 7, wherein the inflator is arranged within a center filler included in the vehicle.

9. The seat belt according to claim 7, wherein the tube is made of a soft material having a high flexibility.

10. The seat belt according to claim 9, wherein:

the upper webbing is fixed to the cover by stitches; and

the tube is inserted between the upper webbing and the cover, and is connected to the bag.

11. The seat belt according to claim 10, wherein the tube is arranged on a main surface of the upper webbing facing a center filler included in the vehicle such that the tube is hidden from the view of an occupant.

12. The seat belt according to claim 11, wherein the inflator is arranged within the center filler, and is connected to the tube arranged on the main surface of the upper webbing facing the center filler.

13. The seat belt according to claim 7, wherein the dual inflator injects an amount of gas determined between different amounts in accordance with an impact generated during a vehicle crash.

14. The seat belt according to claim 7, wherein:

the dual inflator is arranged within a center filler included in the vehicle at an upper portion of the center filler; and

the retractor is arranged within the center filler at a lower portion of the center filler.

15. The seat belt according to claim 7, wherein the upper and lower webbings are fixed to the cover by stitches.

16. The seat belt according to claim 7, wherein the upper webbing has one end extended through the D-ring, folded, and then fixed to a portion of the upper webbing by stitches, so that the upper webbing and the D-ring are fixed to each other.

17. The seat belt according to claim 7, wherein the cover includes a tear line to be torn when the bag inflates.

18. The seat belt according to claim 17, wherein the tear line faces the front side of the vehicle.

19. A seat belt of a vehicle comprising:

a cover made of a fabric material;

upper and lower webbings respectively fixed to opposite ends of the cover;

a D-ring fixed to the upper webbing and arranged within an occupant compartment of the vehicle;

a retractor fixed to the lower webbing to wind and unwind the lower webbing;

an air belt to rapidly supply a high-pressure gas into a bag held in the cover during a vehicle crash, and thus, to inflate the bag;

a dual inflator having two gas generating components which are configured to inject different amounts of gas, respectively; and

a level adjuster arranged in the occupant compartment to adjust a vertical level of the D-ring, the D-ring being mounted to the level adjuster such that the vertical level of the D-ring is adjustable in accordance with an operation of an occupant,

wherein only the gas generating component configured to inject a greater amount than that of the other gas generating component injects gas when an impact level is less than a predetermined level, and

wherein the level adjuster is configured to lock the D-ring using frictional force, and

wherein the level adjuster includes a shaft fixed to a center filler, an inner housing movable along the shaft, an outer housing fitted around the inner housing to apply an external force to move the inner housing along the shaft, and a bearing arranged between the inner housing and the outer housing to minimize generation of friction.