Takata Corporation

Yoshinori Ohishi

Misao Kamiyama

Tsuneo Chikaraishi

Yoshihiko Tanaka

Kazuo Zeze

An inflatable seat belt apparatus is formed of an inflatable portion which is usually maintained in a band shape and has an envelope part inflated and deployed in a spindle shape by introducing gas generated by a gas generating device, the gas generating device acting in case of exceeding a predetermined threshold, a webbing having the inflatable portion extending over at least a range directly contacting with an occupant, a tongue fixed to an end of the inflatable portion and having a gas path from the gas generating device and a buckle to which the tongue is detachably engaged. The inflatable portion has an elastic inflatable unit inserted into the envelope part and is inflated and deployed by introducing the gas generated by the gas generating device into the elastic inflatable unit via a filter.

Inflatable seat belt having bag filter

Disclosed is an infant-restraining protective seat having an inflatable seat belt, in which an infant seat belt (6) is maintained in the shape of a belt under ordinary conditions. When the a tongue (5) is engaged with a buckle device (4) in order to fasten the belt, gas flow holes (4a) and (5a) are brought into registration to form a single gas flow passageway. Under ordinary conditions, however, the gas flow holes (4a), (5a) are closed by caps (11), (12). Since a gas generator (9) does not operate under ordinary conditions, the protective seat (1) exhibits an infant-restraining function similar to that of the conventional protective seat for infants. At the time of an emergency, the gas generator 9 generates a high-pressure gas that breaks the caps (11), (12) and flows into the infant seat belt (6). As a result, the infant seat belt 6 inflates substantially instantaneously and in reliable fashion. Accordingly, a seated infant is restrained by the inflated seat belt 6 in a reliable manner.

Infant-restraining protective seat having inflatable seat belt

An infant-restraining protective seat having an inflatable seat belt, in which the protective seat has an infant seat belt (6) and a chest-contact pad (7). The infant seat belt (6) has a pair of bag-shaped shoulder belts (6a) and a bag-shaped chest belt (6b). A tongue (5) is connected to the distal end of the chest belt (6). The chest-contact pad 7 is made with a chest-contact portion 7a having a comparatively large areas, and a cylindrical portion (7b) formed at the distal end of the chest-contact portion (7a). The chest belt (6b) is retained by retaining portions (7c), (7d) of the chest-contact portion (7a), thereby attaching the chest-contact pad (7) to the infant seat belt (6). The retaining portions (7c), (7d) are formed to have grooves (7e), (7f). The chest-contact portion (7a) breaks from the grooves (7e), (7f) under the expansion force of the chest belt (6b) when the gas is introduced. Owing to the breakage of the chest-contact portion (7a), the chest belt (6b) and the shoulder belts (6a) inflate instantaneously and in reliable fashion.

Growing community of inventors

Ohtsu, Japan

Yoshinori Ohishi