Language selection

Search

Patent 2574836 Summary

Third-party information liability

Some of the information on this Web page has been provided by external sources. The Government of Canada is not responsible for the accuracy, reliability or currency of the information supplied by external sources. Users wishing to rely upon this information should consult directly with the source of the information. Content provided by external sources is not subject to official languages, privacy and accessibility requirements.

Claims and Abstract availability

Any discrepancies in the text and image of the Claims and Abstract are due to differing posting times. Text of the Claims and Abstract are posted:

  • At the time the application is open to public inspection;
  • At the time of issue of the patent (grant).
(12) Patent Application: (11) CA 2574836
(54) English Title: SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER
(54) French Title: PRETENDEUR DE CEINTURE DE SECURITE
Status: Dead
Bibliographic Data
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • B60N 2/42 (2006.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • BELL, JOHN (United Kingdom)
  • JACK, BRIAN A. (United Kingdom)
(73) Owners :
  • KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. (United States of America)
(71) Applicants :
  • KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. (United States of America)
(74) Agent: SIM & MCBURNEY
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued:
(86) PCT Filing Date: 2005-07-22
(87) Open to Public Inspection: 2006-10-05
Examination requested: 2007-01-22
Availability of licence: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): Yes
(86) PCT Filing Number: PCT/US2005/026156
(87) International Publication Number: WO2006/104505
(85) National Entry: 2007-01-22

(30) Application Priority Data:
Application No. Country/Territory Date
04254459.3 European Patent Office (EPO) 2004-07-26
05251728.1 European Patent Office (EPO) 2005-03-22

Abstracts

English Abstract




A seat belt pretensioner acts upon the sill end of a three point seat belt. A
fixed member (79) of the pretensioner is adapted to be fixed to a load bearing
part of the vehicle. A movable member (99) is connected to the sill end of the
seat belt (14) and is slideable with respect to the fixed member. The movable
member (99) is moved in a direction that is longitudinal relative to the fixed
member (79) to move the sill end of the seat belt in a pretensioning direction
in response to a signal from the crash sensor. In this way the sill end of the
seat belt is free to move along a connecting member when the seat belt is not
under tension either from use in restraining a seat occupant and/or from a
pretensioning operation.


French Abstract

L'invention concerne un prétendeur de ceinture de sécurité qui agit sur l'extrémité de seuil d'une ceinture de sécurité en trois points. Un élément fixe (79) du prétendeur est conçu pour être fixé à une partie portante du véhicule. Un élément mobile (99), relié à l'extrémité seuil de la ceinture de sécurité (14), est coulissant par rapport à l'élément fixe. L'élément mobile (99) est déplacé dans une direction longitudinale par rapport à l'élément fixe (79) afin de déplacer l'extrémité seuil de la ceinture de sécurité dans une direction de pré-tension en réponse à un signal du détecteur d'impact. L'extrémité seuil de la ceinture de sécurité peut ainsi se déplacer librement le long d'un élément de raccordement lorsque la ceinture de sécurité n'est pas sous tension parce qu'elle maintient un passager attaché à son siège et/ou suite à une opération de pré-tension.

Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.



CLAIMS:

1. A pretensioner for a three point seat belt comprising:
a cylinder (79) adapted to be attached to a structural member of a
vehicle and a piston disposed within the cylinder;
a means (22) for moving the piston in a direction that is longitudinal
relative to the cylinder in a pretensioning direction;
a means for attachment (99) located outside of the cylinder to which a
seat belt webbing (14) is attached;
a means (10) for guiding the seat belt webbing in directions that are
longitudinal with respect to the cylinder such that the seat belt webbing and
the means for attachment can freely move in a direction that is longitudinal
with respect to the cylinder so long as the means for moving the piston in a
direction that is longitudinal relative to the cylinder in a pretensioning
direction
has not been activated; and
a means for pulling (20; 50) that extends from the piston to cause the
seat belt webbing (14) to move in a direction that is longitudinal with
respect
to the cylinder in a pretensioning direction along the means (99) for guiding
when the means for moving the piston is activated.


2. A seat belt pretensioner according to claim 1 wherein the means for
attachment comprises a hollow bobbin '(99) around which the seat belt
webbing is looped.


3. A seat belt pretensioner according to claim 1 wherein the means for
guiding is an exterior surface of the cylinder (79).


4. A seat belt pretensioner according to claim 2 wherein the means for
guiding is an exterior surface of the cylinder (79) and the bobbin slides (99)

along the exterior surface of the cylinder.



14


5. A seat belt pretensioner according to claim 2 wherein the means for
guiding is an exterior surface of the cylinder (79) and the bobbin (99) slides

along the exterior surface of the cylinder, one end of the means for pulling
being attached to the piston and another end of the means for pulling being
attached to a carriage, the carriage being configured to move along the
exterior of the cylinder, the carriage being secured to the cylinder by a
frangible member (76) such that when the means for moving the piston is
activated the frangible member (76) releases the carriage and the carriage
pushes the bobbin (99) along the exterior surface of the cylinder (79) in a
pretensioning direction.


6. A seat belt pretensioner according to claim 1 wherein the means for
guiding is a slider bar (10).


7. A seat belt pretensioner according to claim 2 wherein the means for
guiding is a slider bar and the bobbin slides along the slider bar.


8. A seat belt pretensioner according to claim 2 wherein the means for
guiding is a slider bar (10) and the bobbin (99) slides along the slider bar,
the
means for pulling (20) extending from the piston to the bobbin.


9. A seat belt pretensioner according to claim 2 wherein the means for
guiding is a slider bar and the bobbin slides along the slider bar, the means
for pulling extending from the piston to the bobbin, the bobbin slides along a

portion of the slider bar along which is oriented substantially parallel to a
longitudinal axis of the cylinder.


10. A seat belt pretensioner according to claim 2 wherein the means
for guiding is a slider bar and the bobbin slides along the slider bar, the
means for pulling -extending from the piston to the bobbin, the bobbin slides





along a portion of the slider bar along which is oriented parallel to a
longitudinal axis of the cylinder.


11. A seat belt pretensioner according to claim I further comprising a
means for restraining motion of the end of the seat belt webbing in a non-
pretensioning direction following activation of the means for moving the
piston.


12. A seat belt pretensioner according to claim 1 installed in a motor
vehicle, the cylinder being connected to a structural member of the vehicle
such that the cylinder extends longitudinally with respect to the vehicle.


13. A seat belt pretensioner according to claim 1 installed in a motor
vehicle below a seating surface of a vehicle seat such that the cylinder does
not extend longitudinally with respect to the vehicle.


14. A seat belt pretensioner according to claim 1 installed in a motor
vehicle, the cylinder being connected to a structural member of the vehicle
such that the cylinder extends in a direction that is longitudinal with
respect to
the vehicle, and a load bearing webbing guide causes the seat belt webbing
to follow a path that is generally parallel to a line of force that will be
exerted
by the pretensioner when the means for moving the piston is activated.


15. A seat belt pretensioner according to claim 1 installed in a motor
vehicle, the cylinder being connected to a structural member of the vehicle
such that the cylinder extends in a direction that is longitudinal with
respect to
the vehicle, and a load bearing webbing guide causes the seat belt webbing
to follow a path that is within thirty degrees of parallel to a line of force
that will
be exerted by the pretensioner when the means for moving the piston is
activated.



16

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.



CA 02574836 2007-01-22
WO 2006/104505 PCT/US2005/026156
SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER

The present invention relates t a pretensioner for a vehicle seat belt.
Traditionally a seat belt comprises a length of seat belt webbing
connected at three points to load, bearing parts of a vehicle. Typically one
end is bolted to a door sill. on one side of the seat, and is arranged to pass
laterally across the hips of the vehicle occuparit to a buckle mechanism fixed
to the vehicle on the opposite side of the seat, and then diagonally across
the
torso of the vehicle occupant to a further fastening point on the B pillar of
the
door. The buckle mechanism engages a buckle tongue slideably attached to
the webbing.
To increase the, comfort of the vehicle occupant restrained by the seat
belt a retractor is attached to the pillar end of the webbing. This allows the
webbing to pay out under relatively low loads to enabie limited movement of
the vehicle occupant, for example to reach in-car entertainment controls or
storage compartments. The retractor is biased to keep the webbing relatively
taut about the vehicle occupant and a locking element is included to lock the
retractor against webbing pay out in the event of-a crash being detected. For
example, an acceleration sensor activates if the vehicle undergoes rapid
acceleration or deceleration .indicative of a crash.
In. recent years, pretensioners have been introduced to rapidly pull in a
length of seat belt webbing-to tighten the seat beltabout the vehicle occupant
in of a crash.. This takes up any slack that.may have developed in the seat
belt and helps to more correctly positionthe vehicle occupant in the seat to
maximize the effect of the seat belt protection and of.any secondary safety
restraint such as an a.irbag.
Pretensioners comprise a force reservoir such as a pyrotechnically
operated gas generator to provide an impulse .of sufficient magnitude to
tighten the seat belt in a short space of time, ideally before the crash takes
full effect. A typicai known pretensioner may use rotational means to wind in
a length of seat belt webbing, for examplo by rotating the retractor spool in
a

1


CA 02574836 2007-01-22
WO 2006/104505 PCT/US2005/026156
webbing rewind direction to take in the required length of webbing prior to
the
retractor locking against webbing pay out.
However, known pretensioners tend to be bulky, and are particularly
difficult to use for the driver.and front passenger seats of a two
door.vehicle
because of the requirement to allow access to the rear.of the vehicle past the
front seats. Using a traditional retractor pretensioner mechanism in a front
seat of a two door vehicle causes an unacceptable obstruction.
Seat travel is greater in atnio door vehicle than in a four door vehicle to
provide access to the rear seat and to accommodate this the door sill end of
the webbing i's usually 'attached to a so-cailed slider bar of well known
design,
instead of being bolted to the floor.. This allows the sill end of the webbing
to
be moved forward and rearward to facilitate rear seat access and front seat
movement. The present invention provides an improved pretensioning
mechanism that can be used in two-door, front seat applications.
It has -been difficult to design suitable pretensioners for use with slider
bars andl or for use iri three-door vehicles without obstructing the function
of
the slider bar or obstructing access to the 'rear seats.
The present invention provides an improved pretensioning device.
According to the'present invention there is provided a seat belt
pretensioner that acts upon the sill end of.a three point seat belt,
comprising:
a fixed member adapted.to be fixed,to a load bearing part of the vehicle, a
movable member connected to the sill end of the seat belt, means for moving
the movable member in directions that are longitudina( relative to the fixed
member, to move the sill end of the seat belt in a pretensioning direction in
response to a signal from a crash sensor, and an elongate connecting
member to which the siii end of the seat belt is slidably attached. In this
way
the sill end of the:seat belt is free to move along the connecting member
when the seat belt 'is not.unde.r tension either from use in, restraining a
seat
occupant and / or from a pretensioning operation..
Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of a pretensioner according to
a first embodiment of the present invention.

2


CA 02574836 2007-01-22
WO 2006/104505 PCT/US2005/026156
Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation view of part of the pretensioner of
Fig. 1 before pretensioning.
Fig:. 3 is an eniarged side ele.vation view.of part of the pretensioner of
Fig. 1 after pretensioning.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation view of ari .alternativo arrangement of the
pretensioner of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the carriage and rail
components the pretensioner of Fig. 1.
. ...
Fig. 6 is a schematic side elevation view of a pretensioner according to
a second embodiment of the presenfi invention.
Fig. 7 is a side elevation view of a pretensioner according to a third
embodiment of the present inventioh.
Fig. 8 is a perspective'view-of the pretensioner of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a pretensioner according to a fourth
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig: 10 is a side view of a pretensioner accoxding to a fifth embodiment
of the present invention.
Figs. 11A and 11 B are side views of a.pretensioner according to a sixth
embodiment of the present invention.
Figs. 12A and 12B are side views of a pretensioner,according to a
seventh embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 13 is a side view of a front vehicle seat according to a further
embodiment of the present invention. .
Figs. 14A and 148 are front views of-a front vehicle seat according to
another embodiment'of the present invention.
As used'herein and in the claims terms: such- as "forward" and
"rearward", "front" and 1jback" and similarterms are understood to be
correlated to the front and rear of a vehicle,in which the seat belt
pretensioning apparatus of the invention is installed. Furthermore, as used
herein and in the claims terms such as "above" and "below", and highee' and
"lower" are understood to be correlated to the root artd 'floor of the
passenger

3


CA 02574836 2007-01-22
WO 2006/104505 PCT/US2005/026156
cornpartment of a vehicle in which.the seat-beit pretensioning apparatus of
the invention is instal{ed.
In the first embodiment of Fig. 1., a slider bar 10 is positioned adjacent
to a front seat 12 of a vehicle. One end of seat belt webbing 14 passes
around the slider'bar 10 and is free to move. backand forth along the slider
bar 10.
The seat belt webbing 14 is of a conventional design and is attached at
one end to a retractor mounted, adjacent a seat, to a structural member of the
vehicle such as a vehicle side pillar (not shown). The webbing passes
through a shoulder support aiso attached to the side pillar and has a buckle
tongue, which is insertabfe into a buckle (not shown) located ori the other
side
of the. seat.
When in use, the seat belt webbing 14, is at one end of the slider
bar 10 in the load. bearing position shown in Fig. 'I. When the seat belt is
not
in use the end of the webbing 14 may be moved in a rearward direction along
the slider bar 1 Q so that it does not ob.struct access to the rear seat of
the
vehicle.
One end of the slider bar 10 is attache.d to a carriage 16 that is
mounted on a rail 18. The..use of a rail is particularly beneficial since the
pretensioning action can be' constrained to a linear motion in one direction
in
a simple manner and without the rieed for complicated or bulky rotating parts.
A cable 20 ezctends between the carriage 1.6 and a pyrotechnic unit 22. The
pyrotechnic unit 22 is of a,known type and contains a piston within a
cylindrical housing and a gas generator. The. gas generator is pyrotechnically
activated to provide an impulse that forces the piston in a rearward direction
and tensions the cable 20. The pyrotechnically.operated gas driven piston-
cylinder . . . . . ..
arrangement, functions as a.force reservoir. . Such a pyrotechnic unit
is particular(y suited to this application: since it-provides an impulse of
the
required magnitude over a short time. period. Positioning the piston and
cyfinder below the rail advantageously reduces the overall size of the
pretensioner. The piston-cyiirzder arrangement may incorporate means to

4


CA 02574836 2007-01-22
WO 2006/104505 PCT/US2005/026156
allow the second member to only move ih.a pretensioning direction, for
example by ratchet teeth on the inside of the cylinder and at least one
cooperating tooth on the piston.
Fig. 2 shows one arrangement of.the carriage 16 and the rail 18 in
greater detail. The rail .18 is attached at each end:to support members 26
'that are attached to.a load bearing chassis member 24 by means of bolts 28.
Such a load bearing chassis member 24 may be a structural member
extending in a longitudinal direction down each side of fihe vehicle, or a
load
bearing door sill and provides a suitable load bearing anchorage zone for the
slider bar 10 adjacent to and slightly to the rear of each of.the vehicle
doors,
in a known three-door vehicle.
Prior to pretensioning,the carriage 16 is positioned for normal use of
the seat belt webbing 14 at its forward most positiori, at the right hand side
as
shown in Fig. 2 of the rail 18. Upon sensing an acceleration of the vehicle
above a predetermined criteria, a crash sensor generates a signal indicative
of a crash condition which causes the pyrotechnic unit 22 to fire, creating a
tensiori in the meta1 cable 20. Advantageousfy the crash'sensor is activated
when the vehicle exceeds a predetermined acceleration or deceleration
threshold. The tension in the cable 20 pulls the carriage 16 and the slider
bar 10 in a rearward direction i.e. the direction indicated by an arrow A in
Fig. 2. The carriage 16 can be arranged .to.rrtove rearwardly a distance in
the
region of 50 to 150 mm.depending on the vehicle size and requirements.
The sudden movement of'the slider bar 10 in a rearward direction
provides tension.iri the seat belt webbing. 14, which ,takes up any slack in
the
webbing 14 and pulls a vehicle occupant backwards into the seat 12 to
correctly position the vehicle occupant within the seat 12 to maximize the
benefit of the seat. belt and correctly position the vehicle occupant for
maximum effect of any secondary restraint such as an, air bag..
Fig. 3 shows the position of the carriage immediately after
pretensioning. Afterthe pyrotechriic unit has fired, the carriage 16 is
prevented from returning to its original position under the, forward momentum



CA 02574836 2007-01-22
WO 2006/104505 PCT/US2005/026156
of the vehicle occupant during a crash, by a ratchet mechanism within the
carriage forming the second.member 16. This ratchet mechanism is shown
more clearly in Fig. 5.
Fig. 5 is an exploded view showing the'ratchet mechanism. The rail 18
is attached at each of its ends to respective support members 26 by bolts 36
passing through cylindrical holes 38 at each end of the rail 18. The bolts 36
are secured with appropriate washers or spacers 55 and nuts 56. Locking
ratchet teeth 30.are formed in one surface of the rail 18. The carriage 16 has
two end plates 40 and a base plate 42. attached :to a side wall 44. . A
locking
lever 32 extends from the base plate 42. Each of the end plates 40 and the
(ocking lever 32 have a slot, allowing the rail 18 to pass through the center
of
the carriage 16.
An inrier surface of the locking lever 32 is in contact with the teeth 30
in the surface of the rail 18 and is orientated at an angle such that the
locking
lever 32 can pa'ss over the 'teeth 30 in one direction. However the locking
lever 32 is biased such that if it tries to move in the opposite direction, a
locking edge of the inrier surface of the locking lever 32 will be caught
against a tooth 30 on the upper surface of the rail 18 and.thus prevents the
carriage 16 from sliding in a reverse direction. To facilitate this the teeth
30 '
may be of a saw-tooth.form. Locicing the pretensiorier against return
movement in this way prevents a loss of tension in the seat belt after
pretensioning has been carried out.
The slider bar 10, the carriage 16 and ratchet mechanism, the rail 18,
the support members 26 and the boits 28, 36 and 46 are all 'preferab#y made
of metal. Ratchet mechanisms are.known for different seat belt restraint
applications and so the pretensioner of the presenf invention can
advantageously be constructed using standard parts and manufacturing
processes, and thus offers a relatively low cost locking rriechanism. The
ratchet mechanism and. the carriage 16- may be formed from.parts of a height
adjuster traditionally used to alter the height of the belt shoulder support.

6


CA 02574836 2007-01-22
WO 2006/104505 PCT/US2005/026156
In Fig. 4 the pyrotechnic unit is shown stored beneath the rail 18 and
the bolts 36 and corresponding holes 38 in therail may be used to fix the
pyrotechnic unit 22 in relation to the: rail 18. The operat'ian of the
pretensioner
in Fig. 4 is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 1, except that the
cable 20 bends 180 to compensate for the different orientation of the
pyrotechnic unit 22:
According to the further erribodiments that are described below the
slider bar function is carried out by having the seat belt webbing connected
to
an elongate flexible member suGh as, for example, a cable, around which the
seat belt webbing passes. One end of the cable is moveable and the other
end is fixed. The flexible member thus preferably form a loop, in the general
form of a slider bar, to provide the flexibility of movement for the webbing
and
access to the rear of a vehicle, required in two-door applications.
Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment in which the siider bar of the first
embodiment is replaced by a flexible cable 50.. The flexible cable 50
preferably forms a loop, in the general form of'a slider bar, to provide the
flexibility of movement for the seat belt webbing and access to the rear of a
vehicle, required in.two door vehicle applications. The flexible cable may be
directly attached to, or form at least a part of, the piston of the piston-
cyiinder
arrangement which is preferably operated pyrotechnically. Thus this
embodiment can provide an even more space saving alternative for two-door
applications of pretensioners.
The seat belt webbing (not shown) is- looped round the cable 50 in the
same manner as with the slider.bar 10 of Fig. 1and the cable provides similar
versatilltyof movement for the webbing mounting, and at ieast the same
degree of access to the rear'seats of the.vehicle.
4ne end 51 'of the cable'50 is attached to a structural member of the
vehicle such as the sill, and the other end is attached to a piston 53 of a
piston-cylinder pyrotechnic unit 52 which is attached to a structural member
of
the vehicle such as the floor of the'vehicle, particularly to retain the door
. . . . .. . .
profile and avo'id inhibiting access.through the door.

7-


CA 02574836 2007-01-22
WO 2006/104505 PCT/US2005/026156
The cable 50 forms a loop profile as shown in the figure and can -be
encouraged to hold such a profile in normal use by retaining clips or by an
elastomeric plastic coating. Alternatively a flexible elastomeric plastic tube
may cause the cable 50 to increase its stiffness to the appropriate degree.
When a crash sensor indicates that'a sudderi deceleration or
acceleration is taking place, the pyrotechnic unit 52 is pyrotechnically
activated to release gas fio push the pistori along the cylinder in the
direction
indicated by the arrow A, causing the cable 50 to retract to the profile
indicated by the broken line 50'. This causes the seat:belt webbing mounted
on the cabie 50 to.be p.ulled back.in the direction indicated by the arrow A
thus effecting the required pretensioning. .
A ratchet or other forrn of non-return mechanism may be built into the
pyrotechnic unit 52.
Fig. 7 is a side elevation view of a pretensioner according to a third
embodiment of the present invention and Fig. 8'is a perspective view of the
pretensioner of Fig. 7. The cable may be a double cable, looped over the end
of the cylinder and attached at the end in a releasable manner, for example
by a member that shears, or by amechanically releasable means. In this
third embodiment a cable 50 is, attached to the piston at one end of the
cylinder of the pretensioner; and this cabie is attached to the other end 71
of
the cylinder. In this embodirnent the cable. 50 is folded.to form a double
cable
and the free end is formed as a laop, 70 which extends around the cylinder 79
of the pyrotechnic unit 52 and is tiooked over an end 71 of the cylinder of
the
pyrotechnic unit. The loop 70 is secured around the cylinder 79 by a frangible
or mechanically releasable means for securing which in Figs. 7 and 8 is
shown as a plastic attachment 76*mounted over the end 71 of the cylinder 79
with restraining abutments 77, 78 on either longituclinal side of ttie cable
50.
As used herein. and in the claims with respect to the.restraining abutments
"longitudinal" is understood to refer to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder
79.
One of the abutments 77 shears when the cable 50 applies more than a
predetermined force, releasing the loop 70. to slide along the.cylinder of the

8


CA 02574836 2007-01-22
WO 2006/104505 PCT/US2005/026156
pretensioner. Other suitable forms of means for securing.the.loop.71 to the
end of the cylinder will be evident to a person skilled in the art.
In -Fig. 7 the pyrotechnic unit 52 is attached to a'structural member of a
vehicle, such as a door sill or other load bearing beam, by a fastener 72,
such
as a threaded fastener, that extends through a first mounting member 80
located at the piston end of the cylinder 79 and a second mounting member
(shown in Fig. 9) located at the other end 71 of the cylinder. According to a
preferred embodiment, the structural member of the, vehicle is a longitudinal
chassis member such as the front door.sill. The second mounting member,
such as a structural member of the vehicle or a bracket bolted to the vehicle
body, fits into the end of the cylinder to.fix.the pretensioner to the car in
a load
bearing martner. For every embodiment disclosed herein the second
mounting member must withstand loads of arourZd 15 kN, as specified in the
standard vehicle anchorage pull test known as the 'R14-test. Suitable second
mounting members will be evident to persons skilled in the art, and one is
shown in Fig. 9 described below.
The cable loop -70 may be encased.in a plastic tube allowing the cable
loop to more easily slide aiong the cylinder 79. lri addition a tie or clamp
or
plastic tube 75 encases a section of the cable to maintain the shape of the
loop 70 by holding the double cable together. This plastic tube 75 may be
longer than illustrated in Figs. .7. and 8 to also protect. the fabric of a
seat belt
from chaffing by the cable. A pair of wires 74 is *shown exiting from the
end- 71 of the -cylinder 79. These wires are for actuation of the pyrotechnic
unit 52 located inside the cylinder 79 andco.uld exit the cylinder at another
point.
In Fig. 9. a fourth embodiment is shown in which the cable 50 is a
single cable and is attached to a carriage 90 that will slide along the
cylinder 79 when.the pretensioner, is activated. The cable 50 is attached to
the carriage 79 by welding the cable into a clamp or, housing 91 mounted on
the carriage 90. The carriage-90'is r.etained at the end 71 of the cylinder 79
by a tongue 92 on the carriage90 fitting into a recess 93 of the cylinder 79.

9


CA 02574836 2007-01-22
WO 2006/104505 PCT/US2005/026156
When the pyrotechnic unit-52 located inside of the cylinder 79 is activated,
the pull on the cable will be suff. icient to shear this.tongue 92 and allow
the
carriage 90 to travel along the cylinder 79, pulling the seat belt in a
pretensioning direction. Alternatively the tongire 92 can be arranged to bend
to effect release of the carriage from the recess 93. A further alternative
would be to use a mechanically releasable mechanism. In Fig. 9 the second
mounting member is a:braclee04 fitting into an end of the'cylinder 79, which
can be bolted or screwed, to a structural member. of the vehicle. .
Alternatively
a carriage rnechanism similar to that illustrated in Fig: 5 could be used.
Fig. 10 shows a fifth embodiment of the invention wherein the end of
the seat belt webbing 14 is mounted to the. cylinder 79 of the pretensioning
unit 22 rather than to the cable 50. This end of the webbing 1.4 is attached,
for example by being looped around the outer surface, of a hollowcylindrical
like bobbin 99, preferably made of a plastic material, which is arranged to
move freely along,the length of the cylinder 79 in-normal use to provide
access to rear seats. Thus in this embodirrient, the cylinder 79 acts
effectively as a slider bar.
This fifth embodiment is similar, to the embodiment shown in Figs. 7
and 8: The loop 70 is secured around the cylinder79 by a frangible or
mechanically releasable means for securing which in Figs. 7, 8 and 10 is
shown as a plastic attachment 76 mounted over the end 71 of the cylinder 79
with iestraining abutments 77, 78 ori either longitudinal side of the cable
50.
When a crash sensor indicates.that a'sudden deceleration or acceleration is
taking place, the pretensioning unlt 22 is pyrotechriically activated to
release
gas to push a. piston.along the cylinder 79 in the direction indicated by the
arrow B causing one of the abutments 77 to shear when the cable 50 applies
more than a predetermined force, releasing the loop 70 to slide along the
cylinder 79 of the pretensioner'in the direction indicated by the arrow A
(opposite to the direction indicated, by the arrew B). As.the cable loop 70
moves along the cylinder 79 it forces the- plast,ic bobbin 99 along the



CA 02574836 2007-01-22
WO 2006/104505 PCT/US2005/026156
cylinder 79 thereby pulling the end of the webbing 14 in the pretensioning
direction indicated by the arrow A.
Figs. 11 A and 11 B show a sixth embodiment of the invention.
Iri 1=ig: 1 1A.a pretensioriing unit'22:is.located at on:e end'of the slider
bar 10.
The seat belt webbing 14 attached, for example by being. Eooped around the
outer surface, of a holloW cylindricai like. bobbin 99 that:is slideably
mounted
on. a slider bar 10 and in normal use, when restraining a seat occupant, will
adopt the forward position shown in Fig. 11A, at the opposite end of the
slider
bar 10 to .the pretensioning unit 22, ,The.portion of the slider bar 10 along
which the bobbin 99 slides is oriented at least substantially parallel, and
preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder of the
pretensioning
unit 22. A cable 20 connects the piston of the pi-etensioning unit 22 to the
bobbin 99. When a crash sensorindicates that a sudden deceleration or
acceleration is taking place, the pretensioning unit'22 is pyrotechnically
activated to pull the cable 20 and thus the bobbin 99 and the webbing 14 in
the pretensioning direction, as shown by arrow A. Fig. 11 A shows the belt 14
in an unpretensioned position and Fig. 11 B after pretensioning. Of course the
pretensioni.ng unit 22 could be mounted in any orientation, for.example under
or adjacent the slider bar to save space, and cable guides could be fitted to
avoid snagging:
Figs. 12A and 12B show a seventh embodiment of 'the present
invention. The pretensioning unit 22 is located at one end of the slider bar
10
as in Figs. 11A and 11B. However in this embodiment the end of the seat
belt webbing 14 is lobped directly around the slider bar '10 so as to be
freely
movable along the length of the slider bar in normal use, to allow.the seat
belt
webbing to be: moved away frorri the vehicle door when'access is required to
rear seats in a three-door vehicle: The cable 20 is connected to the piston in
the pretensioning unit 22 and forms a{oop which- surrounds the seat belt
webbing 14 in the region of the slider bar 10. When a crash sensor indicates
that a sudden deceleration .or acceleration is taking place, the pretensioning
unit'22 cau.ses the looped cable 20to be pulled in the direction indicated by

11


CA 02574836 2007-01-22
WO 2006/104505 PCT/US2005/026156
the A toward the cylinder of the.pretensioning unit 22, totighten around the
webbing 14 and to pull the webbing back.along the slider bar 10 in the
pretensioning direction indicated, by the A to the ptetensioned position shown
in Fig. 12B.
Fig. 1.3 shows how a load bearing webbing guide 104 can be used to
increase -the performance of a pretensioning-device that may be any one of
the embodiments described above. A vehicle occupant 106 is shown sitting
on a front seat 12 secured in position by a three-point seat belt 14 connected
to the pretensioning unit 22, via a load bearing webbing guide 104 that
causes th'e seat belt webbing -to follow a path that is generally parallel to
the
line of force exerted by the pretensioning unit. The path of the webbing 14'
without the load bearing' webbing guide 104 is shown in broken line and the
webbing" 14 with the load bearing webbing guide 104 in solid line. The load
bearing webbing guide. 104 makes the webbing 14 travel along a line more
parallel, and closer to the. line of force exerted by the pretensioning unit
22,
that is to say within 30 degrees, .thereby increasing the performance,
compared to the line of the webbing 14' without the load bearing guide 104.
This increase in. performance means that a physically shorter pretensioning
unit 22 can be used to achieve the same. pretens'ioning effect, i.e. to pull
in
the same length of webb.ing slack.
Figs. 14A and 14B illustrate how further space can be saved by
installing the pretensi.oning .unit.22, under the seat 12. Ttiis can be used
in
three-door, four door, and five-door vehicles:
In Fig. 14A the vehicle seat 12 is.fitted with a three-point seat belt. The
seat belt webbing 14 passes from a retractor 111. upwardly to a webbing
guide 112 on the B pillar of the vehicle. The .seat belt webbing 14 then
passes across. the shoulder and torso.of a seat occupant (not shown) to a
buckle anchor point 113. Finally;-the seat belt webbing 14 passes across the
lap of the seat occupant to the sill anchor point 114-and is connected to the
. ..
pretensioning unit 22 installed under the seat 12. The pretensioning unit 22
may be mounted to a load bearing part of the vehicle under the seat 12 or to
12-


CA 02574836 2007-01-22
WO 2006/104505 PCT/US2005/026156

the seat 12 itself'and, as illustraÃed, takes the form of any of the
embodiments
disclosed in Figs. 6 to 9 although othor forms and adaptations will be evident
to persons skilled in the art. Fig. 1413 shows the:same arrangement as
Fig. 14A after pretensioning. The pretertsioning unit. 22 tensions the
webbing 14. by pulling the end of the webbing 14 in the direction indicated by
the arrow A and is capable of taking out up to 140 mm of webbing slack.
Although- not shown in Figs. 14A'and 14B, a:slider bar 10 can be
incorporated or a cable used as a slider bar as in eartier described
embodiments.
It is preferable that.for the embodiments disclosed with respect to
Figs. 10 -148, there be provided:a means for.restraining motion of the end of
the seat belt webbing.14 in a rion-pretehsioning direction, for example by
ratchet teeth'located inside of the cylinder and at.ieastone cooperating
tooth:
Locking the pretensioner against return movement.in, this way prevents a loss
of tension in the seat belt after pretensioning has been carried out. As
already discussed herein, ratchet mechanisrris are known for different seat
belt restraint applications and so the pretensioner of the present invention
can
advantageously be constructed using standard parts and manufacturing
processes, and thus cifFers a relatively low cost locking mechanism.
Of course elements. of the. dlsclosed embodiments described may be
combined. For example the cable 50 could be attached to an arrangement
such as the carriage 16 sliding on the rail 1B, .of Fig. 1. The pyrotechnic
unit 52 could then be connected -to the carriage 16.by another cable.such
as 20 in Fig. '1 and be.mounted either in line with, or,kieloW, the rail 18.
:Pretensioners can be constructed ,according to the invention having
reduced or eliminated obstruction to rear seat access, sma(ler package sizes
and which are attached 'to an appropriate door sili anchorage zone.

13

Representative Drawing
A single figure which represents the drawing illustrating the invention.
Administrative Status

For a clearer understanding of the status of the application/patent presented on this page, the site Disclaimer , as well as the definitions for Patent , Administrative Status , Maintenance Fee  and Payment History  should be consulted.

Administrative Status

Title Date
Forecasted Issue Date Unavailable
(86) PCT Filing Date 2005-07-22
(87) PCT Publication Date 2006-10-05
(85) National Entry 2007-01-22
Examination Requested 2007-01-22
Dead Application 2010-05-05

Abandonment History

Abandonment Date Reason Reinstatement Date
2009-05-05 R30(2) - Failure to Respond
2009-05-05 R29 - Failure to Respond
2009-07-22 FAILURE TO PAY APPLICATION MAINTENANCE FEE

Payment History

Fee Type Anniversary Year Due Date Amount Paid Paid Date
Request for Examination $800.00 2007-01-22
Registration of a document - section 124 $100.00 2007-01-22
Application Fee $400.00 2007-01-22
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 2 2007-07-23 $100.00 2007-01-22
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 3 2008-07-22 $100.00 2008-06-27
Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
Past Owners on Record
BELL, JOHN
JACK, BRIAN A.
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
Documents

To view selected files, please enter reCAPTCHA code :



To view images, click a link in the Document Description column. To download the documents, select one or more checkboxes in the first column and then click the "Download Selected in PDF format (Zip Archive)" or the "Download Selected as Single PDF" button.

List of published and non-published patent-specific documents on the CPD .

If you have any difficulty accessing content, you can call the Client Service Centre at 1-866-997-1936 or send them an e-mail at CIPO Client Service Centre.


Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Abstract 2007-01-22 1 65
Claims 2007-01-22 3 152
Drawings 2007-01-22 12 209
Description 2007-01-22 13 835
Representative Drawing 2007-03-29 1 9
Cover Page 2007-03-30 1 40
Assignment 2008-01-18 5 183
Assignment 2007-01-22 3 104
Correspondence 2007-03-21 1 26
Prosecution-Amendment 2008-11-05 3 103