Passive seatbelt system

• US 4,238,129 A
• Filed: 05/08/1979
• Issued: 12/09/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yasumatsu, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Pekar, John A.
• Application Number:
  US06/037,159
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 280/804, 280/803, 280/802, 280/808, 280/801, 297/469, 297/483, 297/468
• US Class Current: 280/802
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/04 Passive restraint systems, i.e. systems both applied and removed automatically, e.g. by movement of the vehicle door
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/12 Construction of belts or harnesses B60R21/18 takes precedence ; woven fabrics for safety belts D03D1/0005

Abstract

A passive seatbelt system wherein the outer end of the passenger restraining belt moves forward or backward, permitting passenger entrance or exit and to automatically fasten or unfasten the belt about the passenger. The passive seatbelt system further includes at least one elastic piece coupled to the outer end of the belt whose rigidity gradually decreases from the outer end of the belt towards the center of the belt whereby when the belt is fastened the belt separates sufficiently from the passenger while still being able to be fastened normally when the belt is automatically fastened.

Claims

1. In a passive seatbelt system which automatically fastens or unfastens a belt about a passenger as a result of the outer end of the passenger restraining belt separating from the passenger to permit entering or exiting of the passenger, said passive seatbelt system being characterized by at least one elastic piece coupled to said belt, said elastic piece'"'"'s rigidity gradually decreasing from the outer end of the belt towards the central portion of the belt, thereby causing the outer end of said belt to sufficiently separate from said passenger.

2. A passive seatbelt system according to claim 1, wherein said elastic piece is fastened to a shoulder anchor together with the belt, and the shoulder anchor is fastened to a slider which can move forward or backward along a roof side of the vehicle.

3. A passive seatbelt system according to claim 2, wherein a slot is formed in said shoulder anchor and said belt is folded back through said slot and encloses said elastic piece.

4. A passive seatbelt system according to claim 3, wherein said folded back belt encloses said elastic piece and is closed by seams.

5. A passive seatbelt system according to claim 4, wherein said elastic piece is constructed from several pieces of spring sheet of differing lengths.

6. A passive seatbelt system according to claim 5 wherein said elastic piece extends from said shoulder anchor inclined towards the front of and in a longitudinal vertical plane of said vehicle.

7. A passive seatbelt system according to claim 4, wherein said elastic piece decreases in width from the outer end towards said central portion of said seatbelt.

8. A passive seatbelt system according to claim 4, wherein said elastic piece comprises a plurality of rod-shaped elastic material of differing lengths.

9. A passive seatbelt system according to claim 2, wherein said elastic piece is a plastic cover enclosing the outer end of the belt.

10. A passive seatbelt system according to claim 2, wherein said elastic piece is fastened to the shoulder anchor together with the belt and said shoulder anchor is anchored to a door of said vehicle whereby the belt is caused to separate from the passenger by the opening and closing of the door.

11. A passive seatbelt system according to claim 10, wherein said belt is fastened to the door by the engagement of said shoulder anchor and a buckle device fasten to the door.