Dual spool retractor in belt-in-seat

• US 7,806,440 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Clute, Gunter K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): VERLEY, NICOLE T
• Application Number:
  US12/111,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20090267332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280806-808, 297/468, 297/469, 297/479, 297/480, 297/483
• US Class Current: 280/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2615 for diverting the gas into a plurality of bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/026 at least two ends of the belt being retractable after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/4628 characterised by fluid actuators, e.g. pyrotechnic gas generators actuating a cable B60R22/4619

Abstract

A restraint assembly of a type including a seat belt assembly and a side impact air bag assembly. The seat belt assembly and side impact assembly are preferably mounted to a motor vehicle seat. The seat belt assembly includes one or two retractors, preferably each having roto pretensioners. A single gas source is used to actuate retractor pretensioning functions, as well as providing a gas source for initiating the production of inflation gas for the side impact air bag assembly. Preferably, these elements are all mounted to a motor vehicle seat.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system of a type including a seat belt assembly and an air bag, the seat belt assembly having webbing defining a shoulder belt section adapted to extend across the upper torso of an occupant and a lap belt section adapted to extend across the lower torso of the occupant, the restraint system comprising:

a first retractor connected with an end of the shoulder belt section of the seat belt webbing and having a spool for storing the webbing and allowing extension and retraction of the webbing,

a seat belt anchorage connected with an end of the lap belt section of the seat belt webbing for connecting the webbing to structure of the vehicle,

a gas source mounted to the first retractor for generating a deployment gas in response to a deployment signal from a firing line,

a first pretensioner for retracting the webbing for pretensioning the webbing, the first pretensioner actuated by the deployment gas, and

the air bag providing impact protection independent of the seat belt assembly and being deployable upon generation of the deployment gas by the gas source wherein the deployment signal from the firing line causes the gas source to provide the deployment gas which actuates the first pretensioner and initiates deployment of the air bag.

2. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising each of the first retractor, the anchorage, the gas source, and the air bag mounted to a motor vehicle seat.

3. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising, the first pretensioner in the form of a roto-pretensioner coupled with the first retractor spool.

4. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising, the anchorage in the form of a second retractor connected with the end of the lap belt section of the seat belt webbing and having a second spool, and a second pretensioner acting on the second retractor spool for retracting the webbing for pretensioning the webbing, the second pretensioner actuated by the deployment gas from the gas source.

5. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system in accordance with claim 4 further comprising the second pretensioner in the form of a roto-pretensioner.

6. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system in accordance with claim 4 wherein the gas source communicates with the first pretensioner by a first tube for transferring the deployment gas to the first pretensioner and with the second pretensioner by a second tube for transferring the deployment gas to the second pretensioner and by a third tube communicating with the air bag.

7. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the air bag having a cold gas inflator actuated to generate inflation gas upon generation of the deployment gas by the gas source.

8. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system of a type including a seat belt assembly and an air bag, the seat belt assembly having webbing defining a shoulder belt section adapted to extend across the upper torso of an occupant and a lap belt section adapted to extend across the lower torso of the occupant, the restraint system comprising:

a first retractor connected with an end of the shoulder belt section of the seat belt webbing and having a spool for storing the webbing and allowing extension and retraction of the webbing,

a seat belt anchorage connected with an end of the lap belt section of the seat belt webbing for connecting the webbing to structure of the vehicle,

a gas source mounted to the first retractor for generating a deployment gas in response to a deployment signal from a firing line,

a first pretensioner connected with the first retractor spool for retracting the webbing for pretensioning the webbing, the first pretensioner actuated by the deployment gas, and

the air bag providing impact protection independent of the seat belt assembly and being deployable upon generation of the deployment gas by the gas source wherein the deployment signal from the firing line causes the gas source to provide the deployment gas which actuates the first pretensioner and initiates deployment of the air bag.

9. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system in accordance with claim 8 further comprising each of the first retractor, the anchorage, the gas source, and the air bag mounted to a motor vehicle seat.

10. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system in accordance with claim 8 further comprising, the first pretensioner in the form of a roto-pretensioner.

11. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system in accordance with claim 8 further comprising, the anchorage in the form of a second retractor connected with the end of the lap belt section of the seat belt webbing and having a second spool, and a second pretensioner acting on the second retractor spool for retracting the webbing for pretensioning the webbing, the second pretensioner actuated by the deployment gas from the gas source.

12. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system in accordance with claim 11 further comprising the second pretensioner in the form of a roto-pretensioner.

13. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the gas source communicates with the first pretensioner by a first tube for transferring the deployment gas to the first pretensioner and with the second pretensioner by a second tube for transferring the deployment gas to the second pretensioner and by a third tube communicating with the air bag.

14. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system in accordance with claim 8 further comprising the air bag having a cold gas inflator actuated to generate inflation gas upon generation of deployment gas by the gas source.

15. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system of a type including a seat belt assembly and a side impact air bag, the seat belt assembly having webbing defining a shoulder belt section adapted to extend across the upper torso of an occupant and a lap belt section adapted to extend across the lower torso of the occupant, the restraint system comprising:

a gas source for providing a deployment gas upon a deployment signal from a firing line,

a first retractor connected with an end of the shoulder belt section of the seat belt webbing and having a first spool for storing the webbing and allowing extension and retraction of the webbing,

a first pretensioner connected with the first retractor spool for retracting the webbing for pretensioning the webbing, the first pretensioner actuated by the deployment gas,

a second retractor coupled to an end of the lap belt section of the belt webbing and having a second spool,

a second pretensioner coupled to the second retractor spool for retracting the webbing for pretensioning the webbing, the second pretensioner actuated by the deployment gas, and

a side impact air bag providing impact protection independent of the seat belt assembly and being deployable upon initiation by the deployment gas from through the gas source wherein the deployment signal from the firing line causes the gas source to provide the deployment gas which actuates the first pretensioner and initiates deployment of the air bag.

16. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising each of the first retractor, the second retractor, the gas source, and the side impact air bag mounted to a motor vehicle seat.

17. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising, the first pretensioner in the form of a roto-pretensioner.

18. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising the second pretensioner in the form of a roto-pretensioner.

19. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising the side impact air bag having a cold gas inflator actuated to generate inflation gas upon generation of gas by the inflator.

20. A motor vehicle occupant restraint system in accordance with claim 15 wherein the gas source communicates with the first pretensioner by a first tube for transferring the deployment gas to the first pretensioner and with the second pretensioner by a second tube for transferring the deployment gas to the second pretensioner and by a third tube communicating with the air bag.