Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

John L Sullivan

Kirsten Marie Carr

John Matthew Ginder

Paul Ralph Schulz

Dean M Jaradi

Stephen William Rouhana

Paul George Bedewi

Sundeep Venkat Kankanala

Tiffani Michelle Natalini-Whitmore

A four-point seat belt system for restraining a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat is disclosed. Two shoulder belts are provided which are buckled together with a pair of lap belts. The convergence of the shoulder belts created at the buckles defines a V-shaped configuration which aids in occupant safety and comfort. Movably-adjustable retractors are provided to anchor the upper end of each shoulder belt to the vehicle seat. A movable headrest having a pair of laterally-adjustable belt loops is provided to further enhance occupant security and comfort.

Four point seat belt system

A programmable seat belt damper assembly for a seat belt in a motor vehicle. The programmable seat belt damper assembly includes a retractor operatively connected to the seat belt for winding and unwinding the seat belt. The programmable seat belt damper assembly also includes a rotary damper operatively connected to the retractor and having a magneto-rheological (MR) fluid therein. The programmable seat belt damper assembly further includes a controller electrically connected to the rotary damper to control an apparent viscosity of the MR fluid to increase and decrease a damping torque of the rotary damper for the unwinding of the seat belt.

Programmable seat belt damper assembly

A programmable seat back damper assembly for a motor vehicle includes a generally horizontal seat cushion portion and a generally upright back portion operatively connected to the seat cushion portion. The programmable seat back damper assembly includes a recliner for operative connection to the seat back portion and the seat cushion portion. The programmable seat back damper assembly also includes a damper for operative connection to the seat back portion and the seat cushion portion and having a magneto-rheological (MR) fluid therein. The programmable seat back damper assembly further includes a controller electrically connected to the damper to control an apparent viscosity of the MR fluid to increase and decrease damping of the damper for adjusting an angle of the seat back portion relative to the seat cushion portion.

Programmable seat back damper assembly for seats

A seat belt restraint system is provided for a vehicle seat having a seat back extending between a top and bottom portion and a seat cushion extending between an inboard and outboard side. The seat belt restraint system includes a clasp interconnecting an inboard shoulder belt webbing with an inboard lap belt webbing adjacent the inboard side of the seat cushion. The seat belt restraint system further includes a buckle interconnecting an outboard shoulder belt webbing with an outboard lap belt webbing adjacent the outboard side of the seat cushion. The seat belt restraint system includes a buckle anchor mounted to the inboard side of the seat cushion for lockably receiving the buckle. The buckle includes an outboard connect mechanism for releasably locking the clasp to the buckle and define a four point seat belt configuration with the buckle and clasp positioned midway between the inboard and outboard side of the seat cushion. The buckle also includes an inboard connect mechanism for releasably locking the buckle to the buckle anchor and define a three point seat belt configuration with the clasp latched to the buckle and the buckle latched to the buckle anchor adjacent the inboard side of the seat cushion.

Seat belt restraint system

A programmable seat back damper assembly for a motor vehicle includes a generally horizontal seat cushion portion and a generally upright back portion operatively connected to the seat cushion portion. The programmable seat back damper assembly includes a recliner for operative connection to the seat back portion and the seat cushion portion. The programmable seat back damper assembly also includes a damper for operative connection to the seat back portion and the seat cushion portion and having a magneto-rheological (MR) fluid therein.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

John L Sullivan