Seat belt device

• US 7,625,010 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2008
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fujii, Hiroaki, Kohama, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spisich; George D.
• Application Number:
  US12/081,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20080277915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801.1, 297/469, 242/65.H, 246/015, 245/991, 241/92, 241/89
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01265 Seat belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1806 for buckles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/022 with means for facilitating access to rear seats in two-door cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/22 secured to the vehicle floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 45/023 the closing member pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the hook
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4074 Hook attached
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4755 Hook

Abstract

A seat belt device allows easy connection of a lap anchor fixed to one end of a seat belt relative to a vehicle body or the like even when a seat weight sensor is installed below a vehicle seat. The seat weight sensor and the vehicle seat are fixed to a vehicle body floor. A hitch member is attached to the seat weight sensor via a mounting bracket by a bolt. A lap anchor is locked to a hitch member by an engaging hook of the lap anchor. The hitch member is directly attached to a mounting bracket of the seat weight sensor. The mounting bracket is positioned between a seat rail and the seat weight sensor.

Claims

1. A seat belt device comprising a seat belt for restraining and protecting an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat, and a lap anchor fixed to an end of the seat belt,

wherein the seat belt is connected to a vehicle component on a side of the vehicle seat via the lap anchor, a seat weight sensor installed below the vehicle seat measures a seat load applied to said vehicle seat, and the action of the seat belt device is controlled on the basis of the measured value of the seat load,

wherein said lap anchor is locked to a hitch member by an engaging hook of the lap anchor, and wherein the hitch member is directly attached to a mounting bracket of the seat weight sensor, the mounting bracket positioned between a seat rail and the seat weight sensor.

2. The seat belt device of claim 1, wherein the hitch member includes a supporting member and a casing, the supporting member connected to the mounting bracket, and the casing including an insertion opening to receive the engaging hook.

3. The seat belt device of claim 1, wherein the engaging hook includes an engaging concavity to engage and lock with the hitch member.

4. The seat belt device of claim 1, wherein the lap anchor is unreleasably locked to the hitch member.

5. The seat belt device of claim 1, wherein the lap anchor is releasably locked to the hitch member.

6. A seat belt device, comprising:

a hitch member directly attached to a mounting bracket of a seat weight sensor, the mounting bracket positioned between a seat rail and the seat weight sensor;

a lap anchor attached to a hitch member;

wherein the lap anchor comprises an engageable hook to lock to the hitch member.

7. The seat belt device of claim 6, wherein the seat weight sensor is positioned underneath a vehicle seat.

8. The seat belt device of claim 6, further comprising a buckle attached to the seat weight sensor.

9. The seat belt device of claim 6, wherein the lap anchor is unreleasably locked to the hitch member.

10. The seat belt device of claim 6, wherein the lap anchor is releasably locked to the hitch member.