Seat belt load limiting device
First Claim
1. A load limiting device for mounting a seat belt buckle on a vehicle comprising:
- a plow shoe attached to one of the buckle and the vehicle;
a pair of opposed plates attached to the other of the buckle and the vehicle;
said plates having the plow shoe captured therebetween so that upon imposition of an occupant restraint load on the buckle, the plow shoe travels therebetween the plates and absorbs energy by deforming at least one of the plates;
and an adjusting mechanism adjusting the distance between the opposed plates to selectively increase or decrease the energy absorbing capacity of the load limiting device by determining the extent of metal deformation occurring upon the travel of the plow shoe.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A load limiting device for mounting a seat belt buckle includes a plow shoe attached to one of the buckle and the vehicle and a pair of opposed plates attached to the other of the buckle and the vehicle. The plates have the plow shoe captured therebetween so that upon imposition of an occupant restraint load on the buckle, the plow shoe travels therebetween the plates and absorbs energy by deforming at least one of the plates. An adjuster mechanism adjusts the distance between the opposed plates to selectively increase or decrease the energy absorbing capacity of the load limiting device by determining the extent of metal deformation occurring upon the travel of the plow shoe.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A load limiting device for mounting a seat belt buckle on a vehicle comprising:
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a plow shoe attached to one of the buckle and the vehicle; a pair of opposed plates attached to the other of the buckle and the vehicle;
said plates having the plow shoe captured therebetween so that upon imposition of an occupant restraint load on the buckle, the plow shoe travels therebetween the plates and absorbs energy by deforming at least one of the plates;and an adjusting mechanism adjusting the distance between the opposed plates to selectively increase or decrease the energy absorbing capacity of the load limiting device by determining the extent of metal deformation occurring upon the travel of the plow shoe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A load limiting device for mounting a seat belt buckle on a vehicle comprising:
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a plow shoe attached to one of the buckle and the vehicle; a pair of opposed plates attached to the other of the buckle and the vehicle, said plates each having a first end a second end, and said plow shoe being captured between the plates so that upon imposition of an occupant restraint load on the buckle the plow shoe travels between the plates and absorbs energy by deforming at least one of the plates; and a motor operated adjuster mechanism adjusting the distance between the opposed plates at the first end and the second end to selectively increase or decrease the energy absorbing capacity of the load limiting device by determining the extent of metal deformation occurring upon the travel of the plow shoe; a plurality of sensors sensing conditions from which can be determined the need for adjusting the distance between the opposed plates; and a controller for controlling the motor operated adjuster mechanism to adjust the distance between the opposed plates in response to the sensed conditions. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A load limiting device for mounting a seat belt buckle on a vehicle comprising:
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a plow shoe attached to the buckle; a pair of opposed plates attached to the vehicle, said plates each having a first end a second end and at least one of the plates having a groove therein capturing the plow shoe between the plates so that upon imposition of an occupant restraint load on the buckle the plow shoe travels along the groove between the plates and absorbs energy by deforming at least one of the plates; a motor operated adjuster mechanism adjusting the distance between the opposed plates at the first end and the second end including motor operated screw mechanisms provided between the opposed plates at opposite ends thereof to selectively increase or decrease the energy absorbing capacity of the load limiting device by changing the distance between the opposed plates and thereby determining the extent of metal deformation occurring upon the travel of the plow shoe; and a plurality of sensors sensing at least one condition such as for example vehicle speed, occupant weight, occupant position and seat position from which can be determined the need for adjusting the distance between the opposed plates; and a controller for controlling the motor operated adjuster mechanism to adjust the distance between the opposed plates in response to the sensed conditions.
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Specification