Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Other

Bob L McFalls

Charles E Steffens, Jr

Neal H Delventhal

Kevin M Gillis

John P Wallner

Hans-Peter Betz

Wendell C Lane, Jr

Peter Haas

Keith R Ball

Matthew C Frank

Robert D Sayles

Songwei Zhang

Michael P Gleason

Scott D Devereaux

Jeffery Rosso

Martin R&ouml;hrle

Matthew J McCann

Randall J Wolyniec

Michael Badyna

Todd M Sabalinski

Brian P Malott

John J Donnellon

James M McGowan

Michael W Jagenow

William W Turvill

Andrew F Hartman

John A Giampalmi, Iii

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 of the seat belt through the member into the another inflatable portion of the seat belt.

Seat belt system

A locking tongue has a base part, a webbing slot in the base part and a locking cam. The locking cam is movable between a rest position and a clamping position. A biasing means biases the locking cam towards the rest position. The locking cam can assume the rest position in which the belt webbing can pass freely through the webbing slot, a clamping position in which the locking cam presses the belt webbing against the clamping edge of the webbing slot, the biasing means being able to return the locking cam from the clamping position into the rest position, and a locking position in which the locking cam locks the belt webbing in the webbing slot, the biasing means not being able to return the locking cam from the locking position towards the rest position.

Locking tongue for a safety belt

A head restraint () for helping to protect an occupant () of a vehicle seat () includes a base frame () connected to the vehicle seat. A cushion carrier () is supported on the base frame () by a track assembly () that facilitates movement of the cushion carrier () relative to the base frame () along a deployment axis () from a non-deployed condition to a deployed condition. The track assembly () includes a fixed track member () that forms a portion of the base frame (). The fixed track member () includes spaced axially extending beam portions () with opposing surfaces () that define a channel () between the beam portions (). The track assembly () also includes a sliding track member () that forms a portion of the cushion carrier (). The sliding track member () includes a sliding frame () positioned in the channel () and having portions () positioned in sliding contact with portions () on the opposing surfaces () defining the channel ().

Active head restraint for a vehicle seat

A vehicle occupant protection system () includes seat belt webbing () and a device () coupled to the seat belt webbing () for sensing tension in the seat belt webbing (). The device () is decoupled from the seat belt webbing () in response to the tension in the seat belt webbing () exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Vehicle occupant protection system including a device for sensing tension in seat belt webbing

An apparatus () comprises seat belt webbing (). An elongated member () is connected with the seat belt webbing (). Tension in the seat belt webbing () is transmitted to the elongated member (). An arm () is associated with the elongated member (). The arm () receives a force from the elongated member () when tension in the seat belt webbing () increases. The force acts on the arm () through a moment arm creating a torsion force on the arm (). At least a portion of the arm () moves in response to the torsion force. A device () is responsive to movement of the at least a portion of the arm () due to the torsion force to provide an output signal indicative of the tension in the seat belt webbing ().

Apparatus for measuring tension in seat belt webbing

A closure for a seat belt comprises a release button shiftably mounted on a frame and cooperating with a latch which can be swiveled between a locking position and an opening position around a swiveling axis, and a blocking element that can assume a blocking position in which it blocks the latch in the locking position. The blocking element is mounted on the frame so as to pivot around an axis that passes through a center of gravity of the blocking element, so that it can be swiveled by the release button out of the blocking position into a release position.

Closure for a seat belt

A seat belt webbing guide height adjuster (,) includes a base (,) having a column (,) of openings (,) spaced along an axis (,). A carriage (,) is supported on the base (,) for movement along the axis (,) relative to the base. A seat belt webbing guide (,) is supported on the carriage (,). First and second latch parts (,) on the carriage (,) are independently movable between a first condition not located in any one of the openings (,) and a second condition located in one of the openings to block axial movement of the carriage relative to the base (,). The first and second latch parts (,) are configured and disposed on the carriage (,) so as to be capable of locating in the same opening (,) simultaneously. The height adjuster (,) also includes biasing means (,) for biasing the first and second latch parts (,) into the second condition, and actuatable release means (,) for moving the first and second latch parts to the first condition. The first and second latch parts (,) are movable from the second condition into the first condition in response to upward movement of the carriage (,) relative to the base (,) when the release means (,) is unactuated.

D-ring height adjuster

A seat belt webbing guide height adjuster (10) includes a base (50) having first and second columns of openings (84, 86, 104, 106) disposed in a staggered relationship on opposite sides of an axis (61). A carriage (140) is supported on the base (50) for axial movement relative to the base. A seat belt webbing guide (24) is disposed on the carriage (140). A first latch part (200) on the carriage (140) is movable between a first condition in which the first latch part is movable axially past the first openings (84, 86) and a second condition in which the first latch part is located in one of the first openings to block axial movement of the first latch part and the carriage relative to the base (50). A second latch part (210) on the carriage (140) is movable between a first condition in which the second latch part is movable axially past the second openings (104, 106) and a second condition in which the second latch part is located in one of the second openings to block axial movement of the second latch part and the carriage relative to the base (50). The height adjuster (10) includes springs (228, 246) for biasing the first and second latch parts (200, 210) into the second condition, and a release lever (260) for moving the first and second latch parts to the first condition.

A tongue assembly (10) is movable along seat belt webbing (16) and includes a latch plate sub-assembly (74) for engaging a buckle (26). A cinch bar (130) is carried by the latch plate sub-assembly (74) for pivotal movement relative to the latch plate sub-assembly between a disengaged position enabling the seat belt webbing and the latch plate sub-assembly to move relative to one another and an engaged position clamping the seat belt webbing against the latch plate sub-assembly. A method of assembling the tongue assembly (10) comprises the step of inserting a first end (138) of the cinch bar (130) into a first opening (128) in the latch plate sub-assembly (74) by movement of the cinch bar in a first direction (C). A second end (139) of the cinch bar (130) is inserted into a second opening (129) spaced away from the first opening (128) in the latch plate sub-assembly (74) by movement of the cinch bar in a second direction (E) opposite the first direction (C). The first end (138) of the cinch bar (130) is maintained in the first opening (128) while the second end (139) of the cinch bar is inserted in the second opening (129).

Method of assembling a tongue assembly for use with a seat belt system

A tongue assembly (10) includes a metal plate member (34) having a first portion (36) with a buckle latch receiving first opening (42) and a second portion (46) offset from the first portion. The metal plate member (34) has a second opening (60) between the first and second portions (36 and 46) through which seat belt webbing (16) extends. The first portion (36) of the metal plate member (34) is positionable on one side of the belt webbing (16). The second portion (46) of the metal plate member (34) is positionable on the other side of the belt webbing (16). A seat belt webbing cinch bar (130) is attached to the metal plate member (34) and located on the other side of the belt webbing (16). The cinch bar (130) has a first position in which the belt webbing (16) is located between the first portion (36) of the metal plate member (34) and the cinch bar (130). The cinch bar (130) is pivotable to a second position in which the belt webbing (16) partially encircles the cinch bar (130) and is clamped by the cinch bar to block relative movement of the cinch bar and the belt webbing. The cinch bar (130) has a first surface portion (144) which engages the belt webbing (16) and effects pivotal movement of the cinch bar to the second position in response to force applied to the first surface portion by the belt webbing.

Tongue assembly

A latch member for a vehicle occupant restraint apparatus has an anchor portion, a first tongue portion and a second tongue portion. The anchor portion connects the latch member to a lap belt. The first tongue portion of the latch member is movable into a passage in a seat belt buckle, and has a first opening for receiving a locking element in the seat belt buckle to lock the first tongue portion in the buckle. The second tongue portion of the latch member is movable into a passage in another seat belt buckle, and has a second opening for receiving a locking element in the other seat belt buckle to lock the second tongue portion in the other buckle.

Vehicle occupant restraint apparatus

A seat belt system (10) for restraining a vehicle occupant includes a retractor (18), a first locking tongue (40), a second locking tongue (46) and a buckle (20). The retractor (18) includes a spool (60) which is rotatable in a webbing winding direction and a webbing unwinding direction. The retractor (18) further includes a lock bar (70) which blocks rotation of the spool (60) in the webbing unwinding direction when the lock bar (70) is in a locking position. The first locking tongue (40) is connected with one length (26) of seat belt webbing (16). The second locking tongue (46) is connected with another length (28) of seat belt webbing (16). The buckle (20) has a locking mechanism (82, 90) for locking the first and second tongues (40) and (46) in a buckle (20). The seat belt system (10) further includes an actuator (130) for moving the lock bar (70 ) in the retractor (20) into the locking position in response to locking of the first and second tongues (40) and (46) in the buckle (20). The actuator (130) moves the lock bar (70) into the locking position only in response to locking of both the first and second tongues (40) and (46) in the buckle.

Seat belt system with buckle-responsive retractor lock

A connector assembly includes a buckle member (46) which interconnects with a tongue member (48) to position shoulder belts relative to a child in a vehicle. An indicator (72) connected to the tongue member has a first portion (74) of red color and a second portion (76) of green color. The buckle member has an opening (100) through which the first and second portions of the indicator are exposed to view as the buckle and tongue members are interconnected. As the buckle and tongue members (46, 48) are interconnected, the first portion (74) of red color is initially exposed through the opening (100) and then the second portion (76) of green color is exposed through the opening to indicate that the buckle and tongue members are securely interconnected.

Chest harness for use in a child restraint system

A buckle assembly (36, 36A) for use in a safety belt system (10) has a first insertion path for receiving a first tongue (38) and a second insertion path spaced from the first insertion path for receiving a second tongue (40). A latch (50) mounted on a base (44) is movable between an engaged position blocking movement of the tongues out of the buckle assembly and a release position allowing movement of the tongues out of the buckle assembly. The latch has a tab portion (108) disposed intermediate the first and second tongue insertion paths which maintains the tongues in engagement with the latch when the tongues are inserted in the buckle assembly. The latch may include first and second latch members (50A, 50B) mounted on the base, for independently controlling latching of the first and second tongues in the buckle assembly. A pushbutton (88) is pivotally mounted on the base. The pushbutton is manually actuatable to move the latch from the engaged position to the release position to allow movement of the tongues out of the buckle assembly. A divider member (130) attached to the pushbutton at the mouth (68) of the buckle assembly guides the first tongue into the first insertion path and guides the second tongue into the second insertion path.

Buckle assembly

A buckle assembly (36) includes a latch member (50) which is movable between an engaged position and a release position. A pushbutton (88) is manually actuatable from a first position to a second position to move the latch member from the engaged position to the release position. The latch member is movable from the engaged position to the release position against force provided by only a latch spring (64) upon insertion of a tongue (38, 40) into the buckle assembly. The pushbutton is manually actuatable from the first position to the second position against a combined force provided by the latch spring and a coil spring (92). A one-piece plastic locator member (112) is mounted on a base (44) of the buckle assembly. The locator member extends into a belt receiving opening (46) in the base to protect the belt (32) against abrasion by the metal base. The locator member has a first recess (118) which receives an end portion of the coil spring and a second recess (122) which receives an end portion ( 82) of the latch spring. The coil spring extends from the recess in the locator member, through an opening (95) in the latch member, into engagement with the pushbutton.

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Shelby Township, MI, United States of America

Bob L McFalls