Vehicle restraint system

• US 8,348,306 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2010
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Tamura, Atsutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sliteris, Joselynn Y
• Application Number:
  US12/852,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20120032428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 180/268, 280/801.1, 280/801.2, 280/806, 280/807, 280/808, 297/468, 297/480, 297/216.1, 297/216.15, 297/216.16, 297/216.18, 297/470, 297/471, 297/472
• 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 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/023 Three-point seat belt systems comprising two side lower and one side upper anchoring devices B60R22/022, B60R22/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/20 adjustable in position, e.g. in height

Abstract

An automotive passenger restraint system of the lapbelt/diagonal shoulder belt type wherein a sensor and lookup table are used to detect the onset of a collision and provide a programmed (a) relocation of the inboard seatbelt anchor point to increase pelvic area restraint and (b) asymmetric airbag deployment.

Claims

1. An automotive passenger restraint system composed of a passenger seat having a seat base, wherein said seat base has an upper surface, an inward side edge, an outward side edge, and a middle of said upper surface between said inward side edge and said outward side edge as defined along a longitudinal axis of an associated vehicle, a high-mounted outboard anchor point and a hip area inboard anchor point and a belt interconnecting said anchor points wherein the improvement comprises:

a sensor for detecting the onset of a collision and generating a signal related thereto; and

an actuator system responsive to the generation of said signal for translating the inboard anchor point from a first position to a second position, wherein the second position is both lower and inwardly closer to said middle of said upper surface of said seat base, wherein the second position overlies said upper surface of said seat base.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuator system comprises:

a rotor operatively connected to a motor;

a lever arm having a curved central region and opposed first and second ends, wherein the inboard anchor point is connected to the lever arm at the first end and the rotor is connected to the lever arm at the second end, the lever arm rotating inwardly from a first position to a second position overlying said upper surface of said seat base.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the translation is in the order of 60 mm.

4. The restraint system described in claim 1 further comprising an inflatable airbag system positioned to restrain a passenger in the event of a collision;

said airbag system being responsive to the generation of said signal to inflate.

5. The restraint system defined in claim 4 wherein the airbag system comprises asymmetric portions.

6. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the sensor includes an accelerometer.

7. The system described in claim 1 wherein the belt interconnecting said anchor points comprises lap and shoulder portions, both of which extend to and/or through the inboard anchor point.

8. The restraint system defined in claim 1 including an electronic control unit configured to regulate the degree of movement of the inboard anchor point.

9. The restraint system defined in claim 8 wherein said electronic control unit comprises a computer having a lookup table containing information about a passenger being restrained.

10. The restraint system of claim 2 wherein the lever arm has at least one curved region and is oriented such that the lever arm curves toward the associated passenger seat.

11. The restraint system of claim 9 wherein the degree of movement of the inboard anchor point is controlled by information of the passenger being restrained, the information including at least one of age, height, weight, hip width and gender.