Anti-submarine vehicle occupant restraint system

• US 20020003365A1
• Filed: 04/03/2001
• Published: 01/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NHK Spring Company Limited
• Original Assignee: NHK Spring Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Hiroyoshi, Shono, Hajime
• Granted Patent: US 6,604,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/216.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42718 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42763 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42781 mechanical triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering

Abstract

Provided is a vehicle occupant restraint system which can reduce the load on the chest and head of the vehicle occupant in an impact situation while reliably preventing the submarine phenomenon. By restraining the pelvis and the adjacent parts of the vehicle occupant before the load is applied to the chest and head, the load is more favorably distributed, and the critical parts are favorably protected. This can be accomplished by activating a restraining member for raising an appropriate part of the vehicle seat immediate upon detecting an impact.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant restraint system for restraining a lower part of a vehicle occupant in a vehicle crash situation, comprising:

a vehicle seat incorporated with a seat belt;

a sensor for detecting an impact;

a restraining member supported by a vehicle seat so as to be moveable from a retracted position concealed inside the seat to a deployed position projecting upward from said retracted position to restrain a forward movement of a hip area of the vehicle occupant; and

a power actuator provided in association with said vehicle seat for actuating said restraining member to said deployed position according to a detection signal from said sensor;

said power actuator being adapted to deploy said restraining member substantially before said seat belt effectively restrains the vehicle occupant.

2. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein a vertical height of said restraining member at said deployed position is equal to or higher than an ischium of the vehicle occupant seated in said seat.

3. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 2, wherein a vertical height of said restraining member at said deployed position is at least 20 mm higher than an ischium of the vehicle occupant seated in said seat, and projects 20 mm or less into the part of the thighs of the vehicle occupant immediately above said restraining member at said deployed position.

4. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said restraining member at said deployed position is higher than an ischium of the vehicle occupant seated in said seat, and is 80 mm to 220 mm ahead of the ischium of the vehicle occupant.

5. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 4, wherein a vertical height of said restraining member at said deployed position is at least 20 mm higher than an ischium of the vehicle occupant seated in said seat, and at least 20 mm lower than a lower surface of the part of the thighs of the vehicle occupant immediately above said restraining member at said deployed position.

6. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said power actuator comprises a cylinder, a piston received therein, and a propellant received in said cylinder for rapidly increasing an inner pressure of said cylinder so as to produce a thrust that will rapidly push said piston out of said cylinder.

7. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said restraining member comprises a laterally extending main member supported by free ends of a pair of arms having base ends pivotally supported by a seat frame.

8. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 7, wherein said pivotally supported base end of each arm is located behind the main part of the restraining member.

9. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 8, wherein said power actuator is located behind of the main part of the restraining member.

10. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 7, wherein said pivotally supported base end of each arm is located ahead of the main part of the restraining member.

11. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 10, wherein said power actuator is located ahead of the main part of the restraining member.

12. A vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, further comprising a one-way lock mechanism for substantially preventing a reversing movement of said restraining member once it is deployed.