Seat belt device

• US 7,416,218 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kohama, Shigeru, Fujii, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris; Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spisich; George D.
• Application Number:
  US10/873,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20040232690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801.1, 280/801.2, 280/806, 297/473, 297/481
• 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 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/022 with means for facilitating access to rear seats in two-door cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/22 secured to the vehicle floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015

Abstract

A seat belt device includes a seat belt for restraining and protecting an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat; a lap anchor fixed to an end of the seat; seat weight sensor installed below the vehicle seat for measuring a seat load; and a hitch member including two ends and a slide bar therebetween. The seat weight sensor and the vehicle seat are fixed to a vehicle body floor. One end of the hitch member is attached to one of the vehicle body, the vehicle seat fixed to the vehicle body, or the seat weight sensor fixed to the vehicle body. A second end of the hitch member is fixed to the vehicle body. The lap anchor is slidably attached to the slide bar.

Claims

1. A seat belt device comprising:

a seat belt for restraining and protecting an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat, wherein the seat belt has a lap anchor located at one end;

a seat weight sensor installed below the vehicle seat for measuring a seat load;

a pin bracket for transmitting the seat load to the seat weight sensor;

a mounting bracket; and

a hitch member including two ends and a slide bar therebetween, wherein one end is attached to the pin bracket via the mounting bracket, and a second end is fixed to the vehicle body,

wherein the lap anchor is slidably attached around an outer periphery of the slide bar.

2. A seat belt device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the two ends is fixed by the insertion of a mounting bolt extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

3. A seat belt device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of the hitch member is arranged above the pin bracket.

4. A seat belt device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the two ends is attached to the mounting bracket by insertion of a mounting bolt extending in a vertical direction of the vehicle.

5. A seat belt device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket is attached to the pin bracket by insertion of a bolt extending in a lateral direction of the vehicle.

6. A restraint system comprising:

a seat belt for restraining and protecting an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat, wherein the seat belt has a lap anchor located at one end;

a seat weight sensor installed below the vehicle seat for measuring a seat load;

a pin bracket for transmitting the seat load to the seat weight sensor;

a mounting bracket; and

a hitch member including two ends and a slide bar therebetween and mounted on the mounting bracket;

wherein the lap anchor is slidably attached around an outer periphery of the slide bar; and

wherein one end of the hitch member is attached to the pin bracket via the mounting bracket so that the operation of the seat weight sensor is not affected by the load applied from the lap anchor to the slide bar.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second end of the hitch member is connected to the vehicle body.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the second end of the hitch member is connected to the vehicle body by a vertically extending bolt.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein one end of the hitch member is arranged above the pin bracket.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the two ends is attached to the mounting bracket by insertion of a mounting bolt extending in a vertical direction of a vehicle.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the mounting bracket is attached to the pin bracket by insertion of a bolt extending in a lateral direction of the vehicle.

12. A seat belt device comprising:

a seat belt for restraining and protecting an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat cushion, wherein the seat belt has a lap anchor located at one end;

a seat weight sensor installed below the vehicle seat cushion for measuring a seat load;

a pin bracket for transmitting the seat load to the seat weight sensor fixed to the vehicle body;

a mounting bracket; and

a hitch member including two ends and a slide bar therebetween, wherein one end is attached to the pin bracket via the mounting bracket, and a second end is fixed to the vehicle body,

wherein the lap anchor is slidably attached around an outer periphery of the slide bar.

13. A seat belt device as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one of the two ends is fixed by the insertion of a mounting bolt extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

14. A seat belt device as claimed in claim 12, wherein one end of the hitch member is arranged above the bracket for transmitting the seat load to the seat weight sensor.

15. A seat belt device as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one of the two ends is attached to the mounting bracket by insertion of a mounting bolt extending in a vertical direction of the vehicle.

16. A seat belt device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the mounting bracket is attached to the pin bracket by insertion of a bolt extending in a lateral direction of the vehicle.