Seatbelt apparatus

• US 8,079,616 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2010
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Higuchi, Masahiro, Itoga, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US12/662,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20100276532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 241/70, 241/91, 241/93, 242/65.BC, 241/97, 280/806, 280/808, 280/801.1
• US Class Current: 280/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1812 Connections between seat belt and buckle tongue
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4609 using a plurality of tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1855 the means being sensitive to belt tension
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/4604 characterised by arrangements in vehicle or relative to seat belt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4016 Pivoted part or lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45623 and operator therefor

Abstract

A seatbelt apparatus is provided which can constrain a passenger by ensuring removal of a slack of a lap belt when two pretensioners are activated under two different time frames. A pretensioner of a seatbelt retractor is activated first, and a shoulder belt and a lap belt are pulled in a direction toward the seatbelt retractor. Subsequently, a pretensioner of a belt anchor portion is activated and pulls a seatbelt toward the belt anchor portion, and hence a one-way tongue catches and locks the seatbelt. Accordingly, the shoulder belt is prevented from moving toward the lap belt through the tongue. Therefore, removal of the slack of the lap belt is ensured, and hence a lumber of the passenger is firmly fixed.

Claims

1. A method for operating a seatbelt apparatus to restrain a vehicle occupant, wherein the seatbelt apparatus includes a seatbelt including a shoulder belt and a lap belt that is disposed in a seatbelt retractor, the method comprising the steps of:

activating a first pretensioner at a first time and activating a second pretensioner at a second time, wherein each may be provided in at least two devices selected from the seatbelt retractor, a belt anchor portion and a buckle, wherein the first and second pretensioners are activated to pull the seatbelt in case of emergency; and

activating a belt one-way movement preventing mechanism to prevent the shoulder belt from moving toward the lap belt when the second pretensioner is activated.

2. A method for operating a seatbelt apparatus to restrain a vehicle occupant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second pretensioners are adapted to be activated under two time frames in such a manner that the second pretensioner is activated after having activated the first pretensioner.

3. A method for operating a seatbelt apparatus to restrain a vehicle occupant as claimed in claim 1, wherein when a predetermined pulling force toward the shoulder belt is applied to the seatbelt and, in this state, a force larger than the predetermined pulling force is applied to the seatbelt in the direction toward the lap belt, the method further comprising the steps of:

preventing the shoulder belt from moving toward the lap belt; and

allowing the lap belt to move toward the shoulder belt.

4. A method for operating a seatbelt apparatus to restrain a vehicle occupant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat belt apparatus further comprises:

a plate covered by a mold;

a webbing guide for preventing webbing from moving in a direction when a predetermined force is applied to the seatbelt, the webbing guide including a lock bar configured so that the webbing is secured between the lock bar and the mold when the force is applied;

a revolving shaft set across a tongue body;

a through hole for rotatably supporting the webbing guide;

the lock bar supported by the webbing guide so as to be capable of relative rotation;

a pair of guide shafts for rotatably supporting the lock bar; and

a bar spring mounted to the mold and the lock bar for urging the lock bar constantly in one direction, the method further comprising the steps of;

rotating the webbing guide counterclockwise against a moment generated by a urging force of the bar spring when a force larger than a predetermined magnitude is applied to the webbing guide;

moving the pair of guide shafts linearly along a plurality of guide grooves of the mold while the lock bar rotates clockwise about the pair of guide shafts; and

catching and locking the seatbelt between a corner of the lock body and the portion of the mold.