Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Other

Stephen William Rouhana

Paul George Bedewi

Sundeep Venkat Kankanala

Dean M Jaradi

Mohamed Ridha Baccouche

Krish E Aekbote

Jianbo Lu

Manoharprasad K Rao

Brian Robert Spahn

Robert William McCoy

Alex Maurice Miller

Alex G Meduvsky

Joseph John Zwolinski

Kirsten Marie Carr

John L Sullivan

Frank A MacKenzie

Keith Ball

Tiffani Michelle Natalini-Whitmore

An energy absorbing seat belt retractor used with a seat belt assembly of a motor vehicle. The seat belt retractor includes a reel for winding and unwinding the seat belt and an elongated shaft, with the reel attached to the shaft. In one example, a movable disc is connected to and moves longitudinally along the shaft. At least one of the reel or movable disc includes a friction layer providing a friction surface such that when the movable disc is driven axially toward the reel there is frictional engagement between the reel and movable disc that absorbs impact energy on the occupant and limits the load applied to the seat belt.

Energy absorbing seat belt retractor

A vehicle impact is determined to be likely to occur. Determinations are made that a vehicle speed is below a first predetermined threshold, that a vehicle pedal condition is met, and that a vehicle acceleration is below a second predetermined threshold. At least one instruction is then provided that includes at least one of an instruction to override an acceleration request and an instruction to suppress a throttle.

Vehicular post-impact forward movement mitigation

An energy absorbing seat belt retractor used with a seat belt assembly of a motor vehicle. The seat belt retractor includes a reel for winding and unwinding the seat belt and an elongated shaft, with the reel attached to the shaft. In one example, a movable disc is connected to and moves longitudinally along the shaft. At least one of the reel or movable disc includes a friction layer providing a friction surface such that when the movable disc is driven axially toward the real there is frictional engagement between the reel and movable disc that absorbs impact energy on the occupant and limits the load applied to the seat belt.

A four-point seat belt system for restraining a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat is disclosed. The system includes a four-point seat belt restraint system mounted on a vehicle seat that includes a first lap belt portion having a back side and a second lap belt portion having a back side. A portion of at least one of the back side of the first lap belt portion or the back side of the second lap belt portion has a contour which substantially corresponds to the contour of the lap of the seated vehicle occupant. The contour is defined by a convex surface. Each of the buckle portion and the tongue portion may include a button release.

Buckle-tongue arrangement for four point seat belt system

A seat belt system for a vehicle that is reversible between a 3-point arrangement and a 4-point arrangement is provided. The seat and seat belt arrangement includes a seat having a centerline, a seat back and a seat base. The seat and seat belt arrangement further includes a pair of shoulder belts, a pair of moveable shoulder belt guides and associated moveable retractors. A pair of lap belts is also provided. A buckle assembly is also provided to which the shoulder belts and lap belts are attached. Lap belt retractors are provided. One of the retractors is selectively movable between a retracted position in which the buckle assembly is to one side of the centerline and non-retracted position in which the buckle assembly is generally on the centerline. In the retracted position the moveable guides are moved away from the centerline while in the non-retracted position the moveable guides are moved toward the centerline.

Reversible 3-point to 4-point seat belt system

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.

Shoulder belt latch load-limiting system

An environment monitor has a plurality of sensors for detecting predetermined safety risks associated with a plurality of potential destination regions around a vehicle as the vehicle moves over a roadway. The environment monitor selects one of the potential destination regions having a substantially lowest safety risk as a target area. A path determination unit assembles a plurality of plausible paths between the vehicle and the target area, monitors predetermined safety risks associated with the plurality of plausible paths, and selects one of the plausible paths having a substantially lowest safety risk as a target path. An impact detector detects an impact between the vehicle and another object. A stability control is configured to autonomously steer the vehicle onto the target path when the impact is detected.

Post-impact path assist for vehicles

A buckle switch arrangement for a multi-point seat belt system. A restraints control module is provided to receive signals from sensors operatively associated with the vehicle seat which determine and identify seat occupancy and also to receive signals from other sensors operatively associated with the vehicle seat which sense seat belt webbing payout. The signals obtained by the restraints control module are interpreted and, based on the interpretation, a telltale device may be activated to warn the vehicle operator that a seat occupant is not in compliance with seat belt usage.

Intelligent arrangement buckle switch for seat belts

A transportation vehicle has an inflatable restraint mounted proximate to a passenger seating location which is configured to inflate in an appropriate manner to interact with a passenger during an impact. The inflatable restraint is of a type not inflated in response to a frontal impact when the passenger seating location is empty. For enhanced protection of a driver, a restraint controller detects a far side impact that initiates at the side of the vehicle opposite from the driver, detects that the passenger seating location is empty, and causes inflation of the inflatable restraint to interact with the driver in response to the far side impact and the passenger seating location being empty.

Far side impact protection for driver

A vehicle structural reinforcement system includes: a first pillar; a second pillar; a vehicle door between the first and second pillars; a first crossbeam attached to the door; and a first locking hinge attached to the second pillar. The first crossbeam comprises a first hooked end configured to engage the first locking hinge. The second pillar includes a reinforcement ring and wherein the first locking hinge is attached to the reinforcement ring.

Vehicle structural reinforcement system

The present disclosure relates to various vehicle structural reinforcement systems and methods of manufacturing the same. A latching system is included in the vehicle to mechanically link two vehicle structural members under preselected conditions.

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 four-point seat belt system for restraining a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat. Two shoulder belts mounted on separate spool members are connected to a common retractor mechanism, which synchronizes web payout and retraction and also shares a load limiting function. The shoulder belts are connected to a lap belt, which is buckled centrally on the abdomen of the occupant. A load limiting system controls occupant motion and reduces force levels on the occupant's chest. A single load limiting method can be used to accommodate all occupants of the vehicle with specific force versus belt payout properties.

Four point seat belt restraint system

A four-point seat belt restraint system having a lap belt movable between a comfort position wherein the portions of the belt extending over the outsides of the occupant's thighs are generally vertical, and a crash restraint position wherein the same portions extend at an angle downward and to the rear. Belt guides disposed adjacent opposite sides of the seat engage the lap belt as it extends from the anchor points toward the seat cushion. During normal vehicle operations, the belt guide is located in a comfort position that causes the portion of the lap belt passing over and around the outsides of the occupant's thighs to have a relatively vertical orientation. In the event of an actual or impending crash or other rapid vehicle deceleration, a restraints control module commands an actuation mechanism to move the belt guides rearward with respect to the comfort position, allowing the lap belt to extend in a substantially straight line to the rear-located anchor point. The lap belt thus extends downward and rearward at an angle in order to provide better restraint against forward movement of the occupant's pelvis.

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Plymouth, MI, United States of America

Stephen William Rouhana