121 |
ENERGY ABSORPTION APPARATUS, SEATBELT RETRACTOR, AND SEATBELT APPARATUS |
US15124964 |
2015-02-23 |
US20170088093A1 |
2017-03-30 |
Hayato UCHIBORI; Daichi NEMOTO |
To provide an energy absorption apparatus, a seatbelt retractor, and a seatbelt apparatus that are capable of changing the energy absorption amount according to increases and decreases in the rotation speed between objects that rotate relative to each other and capable of improving endurance. The energy absorption apparatus includes a first plate connected to one of the objects and having a wave-shaped groove formed in an annular shape, a second plate connected to another one of the objects, disposed so as to be adjacent to the first plate, and having a plurality of radial grooves formed at locations that face the wave-shaped groove, a plurality of driving pins that are inserted, at one end, in the wave-shaped groove and inserted, at another end, in the radial grooves, and a plurality of follower bodies that are housed in the wave-shaped groove or the radial grooves and that slide along the wave-shaped groove as the driving pins move. |
122 |
WEB POSITION ADJUSTMENT AND ATTENUATION APPARATUS |
US15338854 |
2016-10-31 |
US20170043744A1 |
2017-02-16 |
Guy R. Dingman; Jeffrey A. King; James T. Anthony |
A web position and attenuation apparatus includes an elastically deformable body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, one of the first and second ends configured to be affixed to a frame of a movable vehicle, a web coupling member received on the elastically deformable body, the web coupling member movable relative to, and positionable along, the elastically deformable body, the web coupling member defining a web slot, and a flexible web extending through the web slot, the flexible web part of a restraint system to restrain an occupant of a vehicle seat mounted within the vehicle. The elastically deformable body is responsive to dynamic loads applied by the occupant through the flexible web to the web coupling member to absorb energy and attenuate tension in the flexible web via elastic deformation of the elastically deformable body. |
123 |
Safe belt |
US14647687 |
2013-11-26 |
US09561777B2 |
2017-02-07 |
John Bell |
A vehicle seat belt system (20) has a seat belt webbing (22) which is attached to a tongue (30) that fastens into a buckle mechanism (6) fixed to a load bearing part of the vehicle. The belt system (20) has a seat belt retractor (40), a seat belt webbing (22) with a lap belt portion (23) appropriately anchored and shoulder harness portion (25), a self-adjustable webbing guide (65) and a vertical strap webbing (55). The self-adjusting webbing guide (65) includes a pivoting guide (66) connected to a locking mechanism (70) activated by a forward movement of the occupant (1, 100) extending the shoulder webbing (25). |
124 |
Web position adjustment and attenuation apparatus |
US14811455 |
2015-07-28 |
US09499121B2 |
2016-11-22 |
Guy R. Dingman; Jeffrey A. King; James T. Anthony |
A web position and attenuation apparatus includes an elongated body extending in a longitudinal direction between opposite ends thereof, a bracket mounted to one of the opposite ends of the elongated body and configured to be affixed to a frame of a movable vehicle, a web coupling member slidably received on the elongated body and positionable along the elongated body. The web coupling member defines a first web slot, and a flexible web extends through the first web slot. The elongated body attenuates forces applied by the flexible web to the web coupling member in non-parallel directions relative to the longitudinal direction by elastically deforming in the non-parallel directions. |
125 |
Resettable Load-Limiting Adaptive Seatbelt Apparatus |
US13726466 |
2012-12-24 |
US20160318472A1 |
2016-11-03 |
Michael R. Schramm |
The present invention is a resettable load-limiting adaptive seatbelt apparatus having the means to readily allow release or disengagement of the seatbelt apparatus at a predetermined load in response to a first situation, and having the means to prevent release or disengagement of the seatbelt apparatus at the predetermined load in response to a second situation, and yet having the means to allow limited non-disengagement load-limiting payout of the seatbelt apparatus at a variable predetermined load in response to a third situation. |
126 |
SEAT-BELT MOUNTING SYSTEM |
US14639273 |
2015-03-05 |
US20160257284A1 |
2016-09-08 |
Iskander Farooq; Mohammed Omar Faruque; Dean M. Jaradi |
An apparatus includes a mounting plate having at least one deformable opening arranged to receive a securing member. The opening is configured to deform when a load on the mounting plate exceeds a predetermined threshold. The apparatus includes a ring member connected to the mounting plate. The ring member includes an opening to receive a strap there-through. |
127 |
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR AND SEAT BELT APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH SAME |
US15030220 |
2014-11-21 |
US20160244021A1 |
2016-08-25 |
Koji HIRAMATSU; Tetsuya YAMAMOTO |
[Object] To provide a seat belt retractor that is capable of generating a more stable load when restricting a load acting on the seat belt and when absorbing energy, and a seat belt apparatus including the same.[Solution] A seat belt retractor 3 includes a frame 11, a seat belt 4, a spool 12 that is rotatably supported by the frame 11 and that retracts the seat belt 4, a lock mechanism 60 that allows rotation of the spool 12 while not in operation and that prevents rotation of the spool 12 in a seat belt withdrawing direction while in operation, and an energy absorption mechanism 20 that restricts a load acting on the seat belt 4 and that absorbs energy of an occupant. In the seat belt retractor 3, the energy absorption mechanism 20 includes a first energy absorption member 21 that absorbs energy through a rotational difference between the spool 12 and the lock mechanism 60, a first energy transmission member 22 that is attached on one end side of the first energy absorption member 21, a second energy transmission member 23 that meshes with the first energy transmission member 22, and a second energy absorption member 24 that absorbs energy through a rotational difference between the second energy transmission member 23 and the spool 12. |
128 |
WEB POSITION ADJUSTMENT AND ATTENUATION APPARATUS |
US14811455 |
2015-07-28 |
US20160137160A1 |
2016-05-19 |
Guy R. Dingman; Jeffrey A. King; James T. Anthony |
A web position and attenuation apparatus includes an elongated body extending in a longitudinal direction between opposite ends thereof, a bracket mounted to one of the opposite ends of the elongated body and configured to be affixed to a frame of a movable vehicle, a web coupling member slidably received on the elongated body and positionable along the elongated body. The web coupling member defines a first web slot, and a flexible web extends through the first web slot. The elongated body attenuates forces applied by the flexible web to the web coupling member in non-parallel directions relative to the longitudinal direction by elastically deforming in the non-parallel directions. |
129 |
A SEAT BELT SYSTEM |
US14369323 |
2014-03-14 |
US20150367800A1 |
2015-12-24 |
Songwei Zhang; Bob L. McFalls |
A seat belt system for restraining movement of an occupant of a vehicle includes a seat belt and a member having an opening through which the seat belt extends. A first inflatable portion of the seat belt extends in a first direction from the member. A second inflatable portion of the seat belt extends in a second direction from the member. A source of inflation fluid is connected in fluid communication with one of the first and second inflatable portions of the seat belt and connected in fluid communication with another of the first and second inflatable portions of the seat belt through the member. The one inflatable portion of the seat belt enables inflation fluid to flow from the source of inflation fluid into the one inflatable portion of the seat belt and to flow from the one inflatable portion through the member into the other inflatable portion. |
130 |
Seat belt retractor with wedge clamp and load limiter |
US14475885 |
2014-09-03 |
US09168890B1 |
2015-10-27 |
Dean M. Jaradi; Mohammed Omar Faruque; Iskander Farooq |
A seat belt system includes a spool, a harness, a wedge clamp, and a load limiting plate. The harness is at least partially wound about the spool. The wedge clamp selectively engages the harness. The load limiting plate, which has deformable teeth, is operably attached to the spool. The teeth engage a pin. The pin deforms the teeth after a vehicle impact. |
131 |
SHOULDER BELT LATCH LOAD-LIMITING SYSTEM |
US13958297 |
2013-08-02 |
US20150035265A1 |
2015-02-05 |
Stephen William Rouhana |
A seat belt arrangement includes a vehicle floor, a seat, and a latch assembly including a deformable element. Shoulder and lap belt webbings are attached to the latch assembly. The shoulder belt webbing is associated with the deformable element. According to one embodiment the latch assembly includes a latch plate to which the shoulder belt webbing is attached at an attachment point. This point includes the deformable element that may be a deformable pin or an insert fitted to the latch plate, or may be a relatively soft material. Alternatively the latch assembly includes a movable element and a fixed element having a deformable element fitted there between. When deformed, the deformable element allows movement of the movable element toward the fixed element, thereby limiting the forces of an impact applied by the shoulder belt to the lower portion of the chest of a vehicle occupant wearing the disclosed belt system. |
132 |
Force limiting device for a motor vehicle |
US13063490 |
2009-09-04 |
US08529398B2 |
2013-09-10 |
Ronald Jabusch |
A load limiting mechanism for a motor vehicle, comprising at least two parts (1, 2, 10, 12, 16, 20, 21, 46, 22, 40) controlled relative to one another with a frequency controlled oscillating movement. The parts (1, 2, 10, 12, 16, 20, 21, 46, 22, 40) moving relative to one another comprise interlocking gears (3, 4, 13, 15, 24, 25, 26, 27) and the frequency controlled oscillating movement results thereby that at least one of the parts (1, 10, 21, 22) compared to the other part (2, 12, 16, 20, 40, 46) executes a wavelike oscillating feed motion, in which the gears (3, 4, 13, 15, 24, 25, 26, 27) alternately become engaged and disengaged thereby dissipating energy. |
133 |
Belt tensioner for a seat belt system |
US12514750 |
2007-08-21 |
US08210569B2 |
2012-07-03 |
Walter Eberle; Till Heinrich |
A vehicle seat belt tensioner comprises a traction element that transmits a tensioning force to a seat belt strap. The traction element may be formed for example of a flexible rope or a wire, or a thrust element which can transmit traction and thrust forces. A force limiting unit, which limits the retaining force exerted by the seat belt strap on a passenger has a functional element coupled to the traction or thrust element, which is displaceable by means of a displaceable piston element in the effective direction of the tensioning force. The vehicle belt tensioner according to the invention includes means for the parallel application of tensioning force to both the piston element and the traction or thrust element, concurrently. |
134 |
Energy absorbing seat anchor restraint system for child safety seats |
US11608716 |
2006-12-08 |
US08104841B2 |
2012-01-31 |
Reddy Malapati; Chris O'Connor; Rodney Simon; Pardeep Kumar |
An attachment assembly for securing a child safety seat to a mounting portion of a vehicle is provided. The attachment assembly may include a guide having a channel, and a metal strap positioned in the channel of the guide in a retracted configuration such that a free end of the metal strap is adjacent to a front face of the guide, a fixed end of the metal strap is secured to a side of the channel, and a body of the strap is bent along a radius so as to double back between the free end and the fixed end. When pulled in tension, the metal strap is configured to transition from the retracted configuration to an extended configuration, and the guide is configured to constrain the strap during this transition so that the strap rolls along the radius within the guide, thereby absorbing energy. |
135 |
Adaptive load-limiting seat belt buckle presenter |
US12720717 |
2010-03-10 |
US07997620B1 |
2011-08-16 |
Ke Dong; Jenne-Tai Wang; Tito R. Huffman |
An adaptive load-limiting seat belt buckle presenter includes a plow assembly movable within a tube and connected to the buckle by cables. Movement of the plow assembly presents the buckle at various positions relative to the occupant. The plow assembly has a plurality of plow elements that engage with the tube to plow troughs in the tube when an occupant restraining load moves the plow assembly within the tube. A plow actuator mechanism selects a number of the plurality of plow elements to be engaged or not engaged with the tube to thereby adapt the load-limiting capability of the presenter. A controller and various sensors cooperate to operate an adjusting motor for translating the plow assembly within the tube to present the buckle at a desired position and to also operate a rotary actuator to select the number of plow elements that will be engaged or not engaged. |
136 |
MOVEMENT DAMPING APPARATUS |
US13060092 |
2009-08-21 |
US20110148071A1 |
2011-06-23 |
Stefan Battlogg; Juergen Poesel; Gernot Elsensohn |
A movement damping apparatus has a flow path through which a magneto-rheological fluid is pressed. A device that generates a variable magnetic field has a core around which a coil is wound as well as pole surfaces in the flow path. The magnetic field acts on the magnetorheological fluid by way of the pole surfaces. The coil is arranged within the flow path along with the core, the axis of the coil extending perpendicular to the direction of flow of the magnetorheological fluid. The flow path has a jacket made of a magnetically conducting material. |
137 |
Energy absorbing seat anchor restraint system for child safety seats |
US11608720 |
2006-12-08 |
US07866702B2 |
2011-01-11 |
Mark Murphy; Reddy Malapati |
An energy absorbing anchor for securing a child safety seat to a mounting portion of a vehicle and coupling to a tether of the child safety seat is provided. The energy absorbing anchor comprises a bracket including a first end having a tether coupling portion, and a tapered hole having a wide portion adjacent to the first end and a narrow portion opposite to the first end; and a protrusion extending through the tapered hole to secure the bracket to the mounting portion of the vehicle wherein the protrusion is positioned to be adjacent to the wide portion of the tapered hole and wherein the narrow portion of the tapered hole is narrower than a width of the protrusion; wherein, when the bracket is pulled in tension, the protrusion is drawn along a length of the tapered hole towards the narrower portion, thereby deforming a portion of walls of the tapered hole to widen the tapered hole, the walls of tapered hole being configured to increasingly absorb energy as a width of the tapered hole decreases. |
138 |
Sliding carriage for a height adjuster of a safety belt system |
US12215570 |
2008-06-30 |
US07866701B2 |
2011-01-11 |
Markus Hersacher; Frank Ramsak |
A sliding carriage for a height adjuster of a safety belt system has a carrier plate and an attachment structure for a deflector fitting, the attachment structure being made in one piece with the carrier plate. The carrier plate includes a bending portion in which the carrier plate becomes bent when a predetermined force acting on the deflector fitting is exceeded. |
139 |
Reusable safety apparatus for reducing the forward velocity of an occupant of a vehicle |
US12196972 |
2008-08-22 |
US07862087B2 |
2011-01-04 |
Borislav Martinovic |
A reusable safety apparatus for reducing the forward velocity of an occupant of a vehicle involved in a collision or another event that imparts forward velocity to the occupant of a vehicle comprising essentially of a casing member, a piston member substantially housed in the casing member, a piston resistance mechanism, and a piston release mechanism; the apparatus is fixedly attached in between a seatbelt anchor of a vehicle and the webbing material of a seatbelt. |
140 |
Seat belt load limiting device |
US12147537 |
2008-06-27 |
US07784831B2 |
2010-08-31 |
Ke Dong |
A load limiting device for mounting a seat belt buckle includes a plow shoe attached to one of the buckle and the vehicle and a pair of opposed plates attached to the other of the buckle and the vehicle. The plates have the plow shoe captured therebetween so that upon imposition of an occupant restraint load on the buckle, the plow shoe travels therebetween the plates and absorbs energy by deforming at least one of the plates. An adjuster mechanism adjusts the distance between the opposed plates to selectively increase or decrease the energy absorbing capacity of the load limiting device by determining the extent of metal deformation occurring upon the travel of the plow shoe. |