GB2070415A - Passive restraint system in vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A passive restraint system for a plurality of side-by-side seating positions 13, 15 on a vehicle seat is responsive to closing and opening movements of the vehicle door 14 to provide ingress/egress to the seat and comprises a three point passive seat belt system 33, 43 adapted to co-act with a two point belt system 45 for restraining seat occupants in first and second seating positions adjacent to the door, respectively. The coaction between the two belt systems is such that movement of the three point system upwardly and forwardly away from the first seating position upon opening movement of the door results in the two point system similarly being raised from the second seating position. Upon closing movement of the door, the slack in each belt system is taken up by independent inertial retractor mechanisms 44, 50. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Two passenger passive restraint system This invention relates to a passive seat belt system suitable for a motor vehicle having two adjacent front passenger seating positions.

The prior art discloses many permutations of automobile passive seat belt arrangements that comprise basically a lap belt and a shoulder harness for restraining a seat occupant in a single vehicle seating position. In nearly all of the disclosed passive seat belt arrangements, the seat occupant restraining position of the lap belt and shoulder harness is controlled by or related to the position of the vehicle door, that is, when the door is moved from and opened to a closed position, the lap belt and shoulder harness automatically embrace and circle the seat occupant. When the door is moved from the closed to the open position, the lap belt and shoulder harness are displaced from the seating position to facilitate egress or ingress from the vehicle passenger compartment.The term "passive", as used in the expression "passive restraint system", thus means that the seat occupant is not required to do anything but close the car door to become belted in the seat or to open the door to become unbelted.

It readily may be observed that vehicles equipped with passive restraint systems have only two seating positions in the front seat area of the passenger compartment, one seat for the vehicle operator and one for a passenger. The use of conventional bench seats that provide three seating positions, i.e., a vehicle operator's seating position adjacent the vehicle door on one side of the passenger compartment, a center seating position and a seating position adjacent the vehicle door on the opposite side of the compartment appears to have been precluded in vehicles equipped with passive restraint systems for the front seat occupants. This particularly presents a problem for manufacturers of light trucks or pickup trucks since most of these vehicles have only the one seating area, that is, there are no seats behind the front seat occupied by the vehicle operator and his passengers.Since most light truck or pickup truck purchasers desire a vehicle that will seat at least three persons in the front seat, these vehicles are manufactured with a bench seat and the passenger restraint system comprises three sets of active seat belts. The active seat belts must be manually buckled about the seat occupants in order to perform the required restraint function. The same situation arises with respect to passenger car vehicles.

Vehicles equipped with front bench seats cannot utilize the available designs of passive restraint systems.

The 1982 U.S. Federal Government mandated passive restraint regulation states that all front seat vehicle occupants must be provided with crash protection devices which require no active participation on the part of the front seat occupants, other than that normally required of a person entering the vehicle. To date, the only system known to meet this criteria with three front seat passengers is the "air bag".

The present invention has as its objective the provision of a passive restraint system associated with a single vehicle door that will accommodate at least three persons on a bench seat in a vehicle passenger compartment.

According to the present invention a passive restraint system has a first belt anchored to a hinged vehicle door at upper and lower anchorage points and a control strap extending from a first retractor mechanism to a first slip ring slidable on the first belt. A second belt is anchored at one end to a vehicle roof member and passes through a second slip ring on the control strap to a second retractor mechanism contiguous to the first retractor mechanism.

In-door-closed position a portion of the first belt between its upper anchorage point and the first slip ring and a portion of the second belt between its anchorage on the vehicle roof member and the second slip ring each forms a torso restraint segment extending across a first and second seating position, respectively. The portion of the first belt between the first slip ring and the first retractor mechanism also forms a lap belt segment extending across at least the first seating position.A co-acting means on the control strap and the second slip ring is effective to cause the control strap, after predetermined extension from the first retractor mechanism upon door opening movement, to lift the second belt upwardly and forwardly away from the second seating position in unison with the upward and forward movement of the first belt away from the first seating position, thereby to facilitate ingress or egress to or from both seating positions.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: The single Figure of the drawing is a perspective view of a portion of a vehicle body illustrating the orientation of the passive restraint system embodying the present invention as it appears in door opened position.

Referring now to the drawing, the passenger restraint system embodying the present invention is shown as applied to a vehicle body 10 having a door opening 11 permitting ingress/egress to or from a passenger compartment having a vehicle seat 1 2 providing a first passenger seating position 13 adjacent a hinged vehicle door 14 that permits ingress/egress to the passenger compartment from the right or curb side of the vehicle, a center passenger seating position 1 5 and a third seating position 1 6 for the vehicle operator. Vehicle door 14 is hinged in a conventional manner to a front body pillar 1 7 at the forward side of the vehicle body passenger compartment for swinging movement and opening and closed directions.

The vehicle seat 12 is illustrated as a bench seat extending the width of the vehicle body.

In the following description of the invention, particular refererence will be made to the passive seat belt systems related to the first and center seating positions on the passenger side of the vehicle body. The passive seat belt system for the vehicle operator's seating position is conventional and may be described as follows: The vehicle operator's passive seat belt system for the third seating posiiton 1 6 is a conventional three point system. It comprises a fixed length or continuous loop belt 1 8 coupled at its upper end 1 9 to an anchorage device 21 mounted near the upper end of the frame 22 of the driver's side door 23 at the vertical edge of the latter opposite its hinged edge.The lower end 24 of the belt 18 is coupled to an anchorage 25 secured to the lower corner 26 of the door substantially in vertical alignment with the upper anchorage 21.

A slip ring or "D" ring 27 is slidable on the belt 1 8 intermediate its ends. The slip ring 27 is permanently coupled to the free end 28 of a strap of a control belt 29. The strap 29 is coupled to a retractor mechanism, generally indicated at 31, of an inertial lockup type.

In the seat belt system having a bench seat 12 as depicted, the retractor mechanism 31 is mounted on the seat frame for movement with the seat as the latter is moved fore or aft to accommodate the vehicle operator's desired position relative to the steering wheel and vehicle operating pedals and levers.

When the vehicle operator's door 23 is closed as shown, the continuous loop segment 1 8a forms a torso or chest belt and the continuous loop section 1 8b forms a lap belt which co-act with the strap 29 to retain the vehicle operator in his seating position. When the vehicle door is opened, the belt segments 1 8a and 1 8b are pulled outwardly and forwardly upwardly away from the vehicle operator's seating position, against the resistance of the retractor mechanism 31 to the protraction of the strap 29. When the vehicle door is fully opened, the vehicle operator is able to slide out from under the belt segments 1 8a and 1 8b so that he can get out of the vehicle.

The passive restraint system for the first or right-hand seating position 13 and the second or center seating position 1 5 on the bench seat 12 will now be described. It comprises a three point system generally designated 32 similar to the three point system used at the driver's seating position. That is, it has a continuous loop belt 33 coupled at its upper end 34 to an anchorage device 35 mounted near the upper end of the frame 36 of the door 14 at the vertical edge of the ladder opposite its hinged edge. The lower end 37 of the belt 33 is coupled to an anchorage 38 secured to the lower corner 39 of the door substantially in vertical alignment with the upper anchorage 35. A slip ring or "D" ring 41 is slidable on the belt 33 intermediate the ends of the latter.

The slip ring 41 is permanently attached to the free end 42 of a strap or control belt 43 that is coupled to the reel (not visible) of an inertial retractor mechanism 44 mounted on the frame of the seat 12.

Two things distinguish the passive seat belt system 33 from the passive seat belt system used on the drives side of the vehicle. First, the retractor 44 is located near the retractor 31 which means that it is located at the rear innermost side of the second seating position 15. If conventional practice were being followed, the retractor 44 would be mounted at the rear inner side of the seating position 13. The function and action would be the same as that of the passive seat belt system for the driver's position. This, of course, would leave the center seating position 1 5 unprotected with any seat belt system, especially a passive seat belt system.Even if the passive seat belt system 33 were arranged to span two seating positions. the torso segment 33a of the continuous belt 33 could not provide torso restraint for more than one seating position occupant, the occupant of the seating position 13.

Therefore, special provision must be made to provide torso restraint for the occupant of the center seating position 1 5. This is accomplished by providing a two point passive belt system, generally designated 45, for the center seating position 1 5.

The two point passive seat belt system 45 comprises a continuous loop belt 46 anchored at its upper end 47 to an anchorage point 48 secured to the vehicle roof structure substantially at a point vertically above the rear inward corner of the second seating position 1 5. The belt 1 6 passes through a second slip ring or "D" ring 49 slidable on the control belt 43 of the three point passive seat belt system 32 and substantially parallels the belt 43 rearwardly of the seat to an inertial retractor mechanism 50 anchored to the vehicle compartment floor 51.

The complete passive restraint system as shown is able to accommodate a vehicle operator and two passengers on a bench seat 12. It may be considered as comprising two subsystems, a subsystem on the vehicle operator's side and a subsystem on the passenger's side. The operation of the subsystem on the vehicle operator's side may be briefly summarized as follows: Upon the door on the vehicle operator's side being opened, the loop belt 1 8 draws the strap or belt 29 from the retractor mechanism 31 via its ring 27 connection. The belt segments 1 8a and 1 8b are lifted off the vehicle operator and are raised upwardly and forwardly as the door reaches a fully opened position. Upon the door on the vehicle operator's side being closed, the strap or control belt 29 is retracted by the retractor mechanism 31. This action results in the loop belt 1 8 being drawn across the vehicle operator's lap and upper torso forming a passive belt restraint system. At impact, the torso belt segment 1 8a and lap belt segment 1 8b formed by the belt 1 8 is held fast through control strap 29 by the retractor mechanism 31 and the "D" ring 27.

The passenger side subsystem comprising the three point system 32 and the two point system 45 operates as follows: Upon the door 14 on the passenger's side of the vehicle being opened, the loop belt 33 draws the control strap 43 from its retractor mechanism 44. As the control strap 43 is drawn out toward the door opening, the center passenger chest belt 46, which is threaded through the slip ring 49 on the control strap 43, is lifted forward and away from the seat back. The control strap 43 is provided with a web stop 52 that engages the slip ring 49 to cause the latter to be carried forwardly with the control strap 43. Simultaneously, the torso belt segment 33a and lap belt segment 33b of the continuous loop belt 33 are carried upwardly and forwardly by the vehicle door, as shown in the drawing Figure.The center passenger is able to enter the vehicle in a normal fashion, followed by the outboard passenger.

As the passenger door is closed, the control strap 43 retracts, relaxing the center passenger torso belt 46. Upon full closure of the door, the center passenger torso belt 46 retracts against the center passenger; the control strap for belt 43 also retracts across the lap of the center passenger while simultaneously drawing the passenger continuous loop belt 33 across the torso and lap of the outboard passenger. The Center passenger crash protection is provided by the torso belt 46, which is on the independnt vehicle sensitive retractor 31. The outboard passenger crash protection is primarily provided by the continuous loop belt 33 which forms a torso restraint 33a and a lap belt 33b. There is provided a knee bolster 53 in alignment with the center seating position 1 5 and also a knee bolster 54 in substantial alignment with the seating position 1 3. With the foregoing construction and arrangement, upon vehicle impact the center passenger sensitive vehicle retractor 50, the outboard passenger control strap vehicle sensitive retractor 44, and the slip ring 41 all co-act to hold the belt systems in passenger restraining condition.

Claims (6)

1. A passive restraint system having a first belt anchored to a hinged vehicle door at upper and lower anchorage points and a control strap extending from a first retractor mechanism to a first slip ring slidable on the first belt; a second belt anchored at one end to a vehicle roof member passing through a second slip ring on the control strap to a second retractor mechanism contiguous to the first retractor mechanism; in door-closed position the portion of the first belt between its upper anchorage point and the first slip ring and the portion of the second belt between its anchorage to the vehicle roof member and the second slip ring each forming a torso restraint segment extending across a first and second seating position, respectively;; the portion of the first belt between the first slip ring and the lower anchorage point forming a lap belt segment extending across at least the first seating position; and coacting means on the control strap and second slip ring effective to cause the control strap after predetermined extension from the first retractor mechanism upon door opening movement to lift the second belt upwardly and forwardly away from the second seating position in unison with the upward and forward movement of the first belt away from the first seating position to facilitate ingress or egress to or from both seating positions.

2. A passive restraint system as claimed in Claim 1 in which the coacting means comprises web stop means on the control strap effective to limit movement of the control strap through the second slip ring.

3. A passive restraint system for a vehicle passenger compartment, the compartment having a hinged door at one side, a laterally extending seat having at least two passenger seating positions accessible through said door, a structural member above the seat, and vehicle body structure forming a compartment wall forwardly of the seat; the passive restraint system comprising a first seat belt anchored at upper and lower anchorage points on the door; a control strap extending from a first retractor mechanism; the first retractor mechanism being mounted in the vehicle compartment rearwardly of and contiguous to the side of the second seating position away from the door; the control strap extending from the first retractor mechanism to a first slip ring slidable on the first belt;; and a second seat belt extending from an anchorage on the structural member above the seat inboard of the second seating position through a second slip ring slidable on the control strap to a second retractor mechanism contiguous to the first retractor mechanism; in door-closed position the portion of the first seat belt between the first slip ring and the upper anchorage point on the door and the portion of the second seat belt between the second slip ring and the anchorage on the structural member above the seat forming separate torso restraint segments extending across each seating position, respectively; the portion of the first belt between the first slip ring and the lower anchorage point on the door forming a lap belt segment extending at least in part across both seating positions;; and web stop means on the control strap to limit movement of the control strap through the second slip ring whereby extension of the control strap from the first retractor mechanism upon door opening movement causes the second belt to be pulled upwardly and forwardly in conjunction with upward and forward movement of the first belt to facilitate ingress or egress to or from the seating positions.

4. A passive restraint system according to any preceding claim, in which the first and second retractor mechanisms are inertial mechanisms that lock the belt systems against protraction under vehicle impact conditions.

5. A passive restraint system according to any preceding claim in which the passenger compartment forwardly of the passenger seating positions has mounted therein energy absorbing knee bolsters.

6. A passive restraint system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.