KR20010106490A - Inflatable tubular seat restraint system - Google Patents

Abstract

The body belt 101t relates to a seat restraint system comprising an inflatable structure 101 that expands to protect occupants of a vehicle, such as an automobile, upon impact. The expandable structure is connected to the gas generator 122 and the collision detector. When a shock of constant intensity is detected, the gas generator is ignited and the inflatable structure expands in length when it is inflated. In a preferred embodiment the expandable structure is a braided tube. As the tube of the braid expands, the diameter of the tube expands considerably along the direction of the fiber comprising the tube of the braid. Like the seat belt system, the length shrinkage causes the seat belt system to loosen, causing it to shrink.

Description

Inflatable tubular seat restraint system {INFLATABLE TUBULAR SEAT RESTRAINT SYSTEM}

Conventional seat belts have been invented so that vehicle occupants such as passenger cars, trucks, vans, airplanes and helicopters do not suffer primary injuries when an accident occurs. Primary injuries are due to occupant's first collision inside the vehicle. However, conventional seat belts for primary injury can sometimes be inadequate. For example, loose seat belts increase unnecessary primary injury. For internal shocks, conventional seat belts did not prevent the occupant's head from hitting the inside of the vehicle, and moreover, the seat belt itself could cause secondary injury because the seat belt is only attached to a part of the occupant's body. . However, other conventional seat belts have attempted to reduce primary injuries by incorporating inflatable tools into the seat belt.

For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,282, 648 discloses an expandable body and head restraint system that attaches an expandable air bladder to the shoulder strap of a seat belt. Part of the pouch is filled under the leash and another part is filled from above. This configuration provides stability and prevents the air bag from escaping out of position upon inflation. In the event of an impact, the pouch expands to protect the upper part of the body, primarily the head and neck of the occupant.

Moreover, Schulman, US Patent No. 3,948,541 and 3,905,615 provide different expandable body and head restraint systems, with air pockets securely secured to knee belts and shoulder straps. The pouch has a bag on the chin, chest and pelvis. In the event of an impact, the pouch automatically expands to provide a cushion to the pelvis and prevent the head from turning forward. However, upon inflation, air pockets tended to slip out of the shoulder leash. In addition, since the air bag is tightened tightly, the air bag part is subject to strong pressure and easily breaks.

Another simple expandable inhibitor is W. W. Rutzki and B. United States Patent No. of B. Law 3,682,498 and 4,348,037, respectively. They disclose inflatable devices and are located in or below the seating devices to which they are attached. This expandable part has a problem of spreading or seam bursting.

As a prior art for other seat belts, US patent no. Vehicle seating systems are disclosed in 3,841,654 and 3,970,329 that include seat belts with inflatable portions. In the event of an impact, the inflatable part expands to protect the occupant wearing the seat belt.

The structure of a conventional inflatable seat belt uses unit inflatable parts made of tightly woven material, such as 420 linear nylon, used as the airbag material. When installed, the expandable portion will be a three-dimensional, three-dimensional cylindrical shape in a flat two-dimensional shape due to the expansion pressure, so that some shrinkage in length will occur. However, since only the tip of the inflatable portion contracts and becomes hemispherical, this causes only the tip of the inflatable portion to contract, thereby shortening the overall length of the inflatable portion. The fibers of the material do not change direction and the two fibers of the material remain almost perpendicular to each other during expansion.

In the case of a typical inflatable seatbelt made of conventional airbag materials as mentioned above, the theoretical amount that the inflatable structure contracts due to inflation when the occupant is before boarding is only based on the width of the flat material. If the cylinder diameter is relatively small during expansion, the shrinkage or shortening of the seat belt is relatively small. The degree of shrinkage calculated with conventional airbags during inflation and without inhibition of conventional airbag material is represented by the following equation.

Lf-Li = X (1)

Where X is the degree of shrinkage, Lf is the length of the unexpanded flat material, and Li is the length of the expanded material in an uncontrolled state. And,

Li = Lf-(Df-Di) (2)

Di = 2 / π (Df) (3)

Lf-Li = Df (1-2 / π) (4)

Here, Df is the width of the unexpanded flat material (the diameter of the flat portion), Di is the diameter of the expanded material in the uncontrolled state.

As shown in equation (4), the decrease in length depends on the unexpanded width (flat diameter) of the material.

For example, an inflatable structure having a flat diameter of 20 cm and a flat length of 100 cm is capable of shrinking up to 7.3 cm or about 7% without load. Substantially tensioning the belt would result in much less shrinkage, about 3%. This degree of shrinkage only provides a slightly greater degree of suppression, which is only slightly more protective than conventional seat belts.

Hamilton, US Patent No. The structure disclosed in 3,888,503 includes an expandable suppression band consisting of a series of parts, some of which have greater expandability than the parts that couple them internally. In Hamilton's structure, shrinkage only occurs at the end of each part by expansion and each part has a variety of expandable sizes, so the degree of shrinkage varies depending on the structure. By preventing the internally connected portion or the expandable band portion from fully inflating, the distal end becomes more hemispherical, and thus the entire band is shorter than in inflation, which results in greater tension on the restrained occupant.

Hamilton offers advanced seat belts over traditional expandable seat belts in preparation for greater containment and, thus, improved traditional expandable seat belts. However, the inhibitory properties of Hamilton's products are still much lower than the inhibitory properties provided by the present invention.

None of the patents described above provide the significant benefits of shrinkage that occurs in the structure of the present invention when the expandable structure expands.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to a seat restraint system having an inflatable structure connected to a gas generator and a collision detector at a body portion and which greatly contracts upon inflation. The present invention will replace traditional seat belts for automobiles. It is also applicable to vehicles and moving structures such as cars and trucks, vans, aircrafts, trains, elevators.

Intumescent structures are an important element of the present invention. An inflatable structure must have the following characteristics: (1) It must be substantially reduced in length upon expansion. The reduction in the length of the inflated portion of the body belt (measured when no tension is applied to the body belt) should be at least 15%, preferably 20% to 40%. ; (2) The area of the cross section of the structure is to be substantially increased as the tube expands. The increase should be at least 50%, preferably 50% to 100%. ; (3) A 100 lbs torso belt (or torso weight of 1 g) shall maintain a comparative pressure sufficient to maintain tension for at least 5 seconds, preferably for at least 7 seconds. ; (4) The reduction in the length of the structure is a direct result of the structure expansion, which also increases the cross sectional area of the structure. For example, an inflatable structure having a length of 91 cm and a diameter of 12 cm prior to expansion is shortened by about 28 cm in length and 17 cm in diameter when the structure expands (without tension).

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the expandable structure comprises a braided tubular structure of continuous high strength fibers instead of the conventional materials used in airbags. The fibers of the knitted tube of the present invention form a spiral and change their direction upon expansion. Prior to expansion, as shown in FIG. 2A, the spiral is stretched in the longitudinal direction and the tubular inhibitor has a relatively small diameter. After expansion, the spirals gather closer together in the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. 2B to form a relatively large diameter of the tube. In other words, the diameter of the braided tube increases significantly during expansion, but its length decreases considerably. This shrinkage occurs when the tube expands and the fiber consequently moves in a lower stressed direction and thus has a larger volume in the tube. As shown in FIG. 2C to provide good gas retention, the braided tube 221 preferably includes an internal wind pocket 222.

In the unexpanded state, the braided tube combined with the conventional seat belt has a flat woven belt structure and functions as a conventional seat belt to serve to protect the occupant. However, when the braided tube is inflated, the reduction in the tube length first pulls the baggage of the seat belt system and secondly acts as a formal device by pre-burning the occupant. The reduction in the length of the braided tube is a great help in further suppressing the subsequent occupant movement.

The expanded braided tube has a larger restraint area on the occupant's body to help with belt loading. The expanded braided tube is slightly flattened when loaded by the occupant's body. This flattening phenomenon increases the area of contact between the body and the tube of the braid, further reducing the stress or load on the occupant. The expanded portion of the side impact protects the occupant's head.

An inflatable braided tube is connected to the gas generator, which in turn is connected to a collision detector. The collision detector sends a signal to the gas generator when it detects a shock of a predetermined titer. The gas generator is ignited to generate an inflation gas that expands the tube of the braid. The gas generator is assembled for the purpose of killing sound or for other practical purposes in the back or under the seat, in the buckle combination of the belt or in the trunk of the vehicle.

In a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the expandable structure comprises an extruded net. Extruded nets are less expensive to manufacture compared to braided tubes. The extruded net is a more open fabric compared to the braided tube and has a high shrinkage. 4A and 4B are schematic views of extruded nets before and after expansion, respectively. The figures in FIGS. 4A and 4B show the shrinkage of the length along the diameter expansion as the extruded net expands. The extruded nets are different from the knitted fibers because the cross fibers are bonded at the cross points. As the extruded net expands, the connection is deformed such that the longitudinal angle of the intersection of the fibers increases significantly as shown in FIG. 4B. The minimum longitudinal angle before expansion is about 5 ° C. Typically the longitudinal angle before expansion is about 10-15 ° C. Typically this angle increases to 90-110 ° C. upon expansion and up to 150 ° C. This leads to the preferred structure that the length shrinks substantially upon inflation and as the cross point increases.

Another second preferred embodiment uses a modified extruded net where the intersection of the fibers is reinforced with the formation of a knot, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Typical materials include nylon and polyester. The tensile strength of the knotted portions of the net is equal to the tension of the fibers.

A third preferred embodiment uses a woven net that is similar to the extruded nets, but the connection points are woven together rather than connected to each other, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The connection point is relocated upon expansion of the expandable structure as shown in FIG. 6B. Typical materials used to make woven nets include nylon, polyester and aramid fibers.

The fourth preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2D uses a protective cover made from a woven fabric, ie a nylon or polyester fabric, as well as a tube and windbag of the knitted fabric. The cover has the appearance and texture of a general seat belt.

The present invention allows the inflatable portion of the torso belt to be installed in the rear seat of the vehicle by placing it through the restraint at the top of the rear seat and the bottom of the backrest, essentially similar to the front seat installation shown in FIGS. 1A-1E. However, in another embodiment of the present invention, the gas generator is installed behind the rear seat, for example, as shown in FIG. 7A and the expandable portion of the torso belt extends across the vehicle rear shelf towards the trunk. In another embodiment, shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the expandable portion of the torso belt is shown connected to a hose connected to a rigid pipe. The rigid pipe is connected to the gas generator so that the pipe can rotate around the gas generator without blocking any fluid connection from the gas generator to the rigid pipe or the rigid pipe to the hose. The rigid pipe is deflected transversely and curved.

8A-8C show an embodiment in which the system of the present invention is installed in the rear seat, which is similar to FIGS. 7A and 7B except that a hose shrinker is used instead of a rigid pipe. In this embodiment the hose 800 is elastic and tension is maintained in the expandable structure by using torsion springs 801 and rollers 802.

9 is a model of another embodiment of the present invention showing the rear seat installation. This embodiment is similar to FIGS. 1A-1E but differs in using the space between the seat back and the front trunk wall. The hose is bent in U and J and positioned by the channel, as shown in FIG.

The first object of the present invention is to distribute the restraining force to a larger area during a collision, the movement of the occupant's body is further suppressed by the restraint system to prevent or reduce the severity of the first and second injuries of the occupant, the head during side impact To protect them.

Eight crash tests simulating four identical front and four identical side impacts were performed to compare the present invention and the ability to restrain with a general three-point seat belt and two known belt systems. The first air belt inflated to a comparative peak inflation pressure of about 1 bar and the second air belt inflated to a comparative peak inflation pressure of about 3 bar and the results are shown in Table 1. As shown in Table 1, the first air belt showed no improvement compared to the general three-point seat belt, but the second air belt showed some progress compared to the general three-point seat belt. In other words, the anterior displacement of the head position was reduced by 6 inches in the front impact and 2.5 inches in the side impact, and the head rotation, which is a possible indicator of neck injury, was also reduced. However, the suppression system fabricated by the present invention showed a peak at an inflation pressure of 2 bar and was most improved in the kinematics of the occupant. : Anterior to head position decreased by 15.5 inches (from 20.5 inches to 5.0 inches) in the forward direction and 8 inches (from 23 inches to 15 inches) in the lateral direction. This superiority of the present invention is due to its ability to further reduce the overall length as compared to the prior art suppression system.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a protective seat belt that expands upon impact to protect the occupant of the vehicle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective device for limiting the movement of the occupant in the event of a collision.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an expandable braided tube member that can be greatly reduced by 20-40% upon inflation to prevent sagging and to act as a restraint system.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an expandable braided tube that distributes the impact load more widely to the occupant to minimize pain and potential injury.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an expandable braided tube that is not roping, roll-out and seam-splitting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tube of inflatable braid that protects the head during side impact.

These and other objects of the present invention are described in more detail in the detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

The present invention relates to a system capable of suppressing the vehicle occupant's body to reduce injury in a vehicle crash. More specifically, the present invention relates to a seat belt restraint system coupled with an inflatable tube in the body portion of the belt. The expandable tube portion is made of a woven tube of high strength fibers, or consists of an extruded or woven web. The seat restraint system reduces the degree and pain of primary and secondary injuries of the vehicle occupant.

1A is a schematic view of the side view of the present invention in an unexpanded structure.

2B is a schematic view of the side view of the present invention in an expanded structure.

1C is a schematic view of the side view of the present invention in an inflated structure mounted against the driver's seat of a typical motor vehicle.

1D is a schematic, cross-sectional back view of the present invention of an unexpanded structure mounted against the driver's seat of a typical motor vehicle.

FIG. 1E is a schematic view of the back section of the present invention in an inflated structure mounted against the driver's seat of a typical motor vehicle. FIG.

1F and 1G are model views of clasp and buckle combinations showing how a gas generator can be installed in a buckle combination, respectively.

1H is a schematic diagram illustrating how the clasp and buckle combinations of FIGS. 1F and 1G are used with the torso and knee belt, respectively.

2A is a schematic view of the knitted tube of the present invention in an unexpanded state.

2B is a schematic view of the tube of the present invention in an expanded state.

2C is a schematic view of the tube of the braid of the present invention with an internal wind pocket.

FIG. 2D is a schematic view of the braided tube of the present invention with an internal wind pocket and protective cover. FIG.

Figure 3a is a conventional seat belt, the first air belt inflated at a comparative pressure of 1bar, the second air belt inflated at a comparative pressure of 3bar and the head position of the present invention in the simulation of the forward collision test summarized in Table 1 A model plot showing the comparison distance and head rotation at transposition.

Figure 3b is a conventional seat belt, the first air belt inflated at a comparative pressure of 1bar, the second air belt inflated at a comparative pressure of 3bar and the head of the present invention in the simulation of the lateral forward collision test summarized in Table 1 A model diagram showing the comparison distance and head rotation at position transposition.

4A is a schematic view of an extruded net tubular structure prior to expansion.

4B is a schematic of an extruded net tubular structure after expansion.

5A is a schematic view of an extruded net tubular structure deformed before expansion.

5B is a schematic of an extruded net tubular structure deformed after expansion.

6A is a schematic of a woven net tubular structure prior to expansion.

6B is a schematic view of a net tubular structure woven after expansion.

7A and 7B are model views of the rear seat installation (using a rigid pipe) of the present invention when the passengers lean back from the seat (FIG. 7A) and when tilted forward (7B).

8A-8C are schematic views of the rear seat installation of the present invention using a torsion spring to maintain tension in the inflatable structure.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the rear seat installation of the present invention using a flexible tube and channel guide to maintain tension and to accommodate various passenger sizes. FIG.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the unexpanded and expanded structures of FIGS. 1A-1E installed in a typical driver's seat of a motor vehicle. The mirror image of the present invention also functions equally in the passenger seat of a motor vehicle.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1E, the seat belt system 110 of the first preferred embodiment is a shoulder or torso belt 103 comprising an inflated portion 101 comprising a knee belt 102, a shoulder portion 101t, a buckle combination 105, an anchor. 106, fixed floating rotors 117 and 118, gas generator 122, and detector combination (not shown). As shown in FIG. 1C, the knee belt 102 and the trunk belt 103 form one continuous leather strap that passes through or is attached to the male portion of the buckle combination 105. Knee belt 102 was invented to limit the forward movement of the occupant in the pelvis. The knee belt 102 is connected to the fixed floating rotating device 117 can be adjusted in length according to the various passengers. The floating rotator 117 allows the knee belt 102 to be attached to the floor or seat structure to rotate on the door side of the seat 121 (shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B). The other end of 102 ends. The male part (tongue part) may or may not be secured to the belt. (I.e., the tongue portion is fixed or movable tongue portion is determined by the specific position of the inflatable portion according to the particular application.) The female portion of the buckle combination 105 is attached to the buckle strap 107. The buckle strap 107 is rotatably installed by an anchor 106 at a junction of the vehicle, such as the base 121 of the seat or the floor structure on the side of the seat 121 furthest from the door. The male and female parts of the buckle combination 105 are tightened together so that the seat belt system 110 is installed around the occupant, similar to the conventional three-point seat belt system.

As shown in FIG. 1D, the gas generator 122 is preferably installed inside the seat back to protect it from impact and reduce its noise upon activation. The gas generator may also be installed at the seat base (not shown). The durable tube 116 provides a fluid passageway from the gas generator 122 to the tube 101 of the inflatable braid.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the inflatable portion 101 extends diagonally from the octopus of the occupant to the back or top of the occupant's shoulder and is attached at each end to the torso belt 103. The upper end of the inflatable portion 101 is looped through a D-ring 108 as shown or installed in the vehicle (ie in the roof rung or in the upper B-pillar area (not shown) and the trunk belt 103 is a floating systolic 118. By a seat 121 or a vehicle (not shown). As shown in FIG. 1A, torso strap 103 is installed at the lower portion of the seat back and preferably passes through the floating systolic side inside the vehicle seat. As will be explained in FIG. 1D below, the gas generator 122 is preferably installed inside the vehicle seat. Thus, in the structure shown in FIGS. 1A and 1D, tube 116 passes fluid directly from the gas generator to the expandable portion of the body of the containment system. Torso leash 103, buckle leash 107, and knee belt 102 consist of common leash materials such as nylon, darkron or polyester. Additionally, leash 107 may be a steel cable.

The main part of the seat belt system 110 is the inflatable structure 101. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1E, the expandable structure is a braided tube integrated into the body belt 103. Braided tube 101 is described in U.S. Pat. Similar to the tubes of the braids disclosed in 5,322,322 and 5,480,181.

1F and 1G are schematic views of buckle combinations used in clasp combinations and other arrangements of gas generators. The gas generator is located in the buckle combination of the body belt. FIG. 1F is a schematic view of the seat belt latch combination, which shows the knee belt 140, the body belt 141 (including the expandable structure), the fill hose 142 and the arm fill hose 143. The frangible seal 144 at the inlet of the fill tube prevents contamination of the expandable structure. In the latch combination shown in FIG. 1F, the inlet of the female fill tube 143 is paired with the male fill tube of the buckle combination of FIG. 1G. The fill tube 145 is protected from contamination by the frangible seal 146. If the gas generator is ignited, the pressure of the expanding gas ruptures the frangible seals 144 and 146 to direct the gas from the gas generator 150 through the buckle and clasp combination to the expandable structure of the body belt 141. The clasp and buckle combinations engage to block the fill tubes 143 and 145. At the end of the latch combination, the lock tang 149 and the lock dog 148 of the buckle combination are engaged with each other in a manner similar to a normal seat belt clasp and buckle combination so that the clasp combination is locked to the buckle combination. FIG. 1H is a generic model diagram of this embodiment showing torso belt 141, knee belt 152, clasp combination 160, buckle combination 161, and knee belt retractor 162.

The knitted tube 101 is shown in detail in FIGS. 2A-2D. Braided tube 101 includes a braided tube of continuous high strength fibers. Typical fiber materials include aramid, nylon, darkron, polyamide and polyester fibers. Knitted fiber 101 is composed of a continuous fiber which may or may not be saturated with a single substance such as silicone rubber or urethane. Unlike conventional fibers used in the prior art for the manufacture of airbags, the fibers of the present invention form a spiral upon inflation and change their direction (vertical angle). The spiral before expansion extends longitudinally and the tubular inhibitor has a relatively small diameter. After expansion, the spirals gather longitudinally from one another to form a relatively large tubular diameter. That is, upon expansion the diameter of the tube of the entire braid is increased and its length is reduced or shrunk. This shrinkage occurs because when the tube expands, the fibers redirect to give greater volume in the tube.

As shown in FIG. 2A, each 201 is a longitudinal angle and each 202 is a circumferential angle. In the unexpanded state, as shown in FIG. 2A, the knitted tube 101 extends into a woven fiber forming an obtuse angle and an acute angle at the fiber intersection point 111. Conveniently and clearly, the acute angle shown in FIG. 2A (divided into heat parallel to the longitudinal angle of the tube of the braid) will be referred to as the longitudinal angle. The obtuse angle (divided into rows parallel to the circumference of the tube of braid) shown in FIG. 2A will be referred to as circumferential angle.

When the tube of braid is in an unexpanded state, the fibers have a longitudinal angle in the range of about 30 to 70 ° C. In all cases, upon inflation, the fibers achieve about 110 °, which is the preferred maximum longitudinal angle when the tube is in the unsuppressed state. Typically, the angle after inflation is about 100 ° in the tube of the braid before riding or before inhibition. Assuming that the longitudinal angle range is about 30 to 70 ° for unexpanded tubes and about 100 ° for an inflatable tube before boarding, the reduction or contraction of a typical expandable tube length ranges about 21.5% (at 70 to 100 ° change). To about 33.5% (30-100 ° change). Shrinkage is independent of the initial diameter or length of the expandable tube.

In the present invention, the equation for measuring the degree of shrinkage that occurs during expansion and in the initial state is as follows:

Lf-Li = X (5)

Where X is the amount of shrinkage;

Lf is the length of the flat and unexpanded material;

Li is the length of the intumescent material that is not inhibited.

Li / Lf = cos (θi / 2) / cos (θf / 2) (6)

Lf-Li = Lf (1-cos (θi / 2) / cos (θf / 2)) (7)

Θf is the vertical angle before expansion, and θi is the vertical angle after expansion.

By way of example only, an embodiment of the present invention consisting of unexpanded flat lengths of 100 cm and flat diameters of 20 cm and intersecting each other at 36 ° angles reduces the length to 67 cm or about 33% when expanded under uncontrolled conditions. Or contract. (This figure indicates that the angle of the fiber is 100 ° in the uncontrolled expanded braided tube.)

As mentioned above, shrinkage occurs as a result of expansion and reconstitution. Thus, the shrinkage rate is high as a result of the geometrical change (Lf-Li = Df (1-2 / π)), which is typically a cylindrical belt with 21.5 to 33.5% shrinkage and a flat belt with hemispherical ends as a change in the direction of the fiber. Thus, not only reconstruction in a typical seat belt, but also contraction of the braids occurs.

The fibers of the braided tube form a spiral clockwise or counterclockwise before or after expansion. The spiral before expansion extends longitudinally and has a relatively small diameter. After expansion, the spirals gather longitudinally from one another and have a relatively large diameter. This is because when the tube is inflated, the tube fibers are oriented to have a larger volume in the tube with the fibers aligned in a straight line approximately parallel to the direction of the resulting stress, resulting in low stress.

2B shows that the fiber 101 of the knitted fabric increases in diameter while decreasing in length upon expansion. The fibers of the knitted fabric have a direction in which the longitudinal angle increases substantially as the tube diameter increases. As the tube diameter increases, the tube length decreases. When the tube is not suppressed and the longitudinal angle of the tube is about 30 ° to 70 °, the typical range of uninhibited tube length reduction is about 20 to 39%, preferably about 21.5 to 33.5%, most preferably about 33.5%.

The fibers of the uninhibited tube typically have a longitudinal angle of about 30 to 70 degrees. When inflated, the angle between the fibers reaches about 100 °. The maximum longitudinal expansion angle of the preferred fiber is about 110 degrees.

1A shows the seat belt system 110 of the present invention in unexpanded state when the braided tube 101 is a flat woven belt structure and the system acts as part of a typical three point inhibitor. The unexpanded braided tube associated with a general leash forms a high strength belt having the same width (about 2 inches) as the general leash material of knee belt 102 and torso belt 103.

As best shown in FIG. 1D, in the event of a collision, the collision detector sends a signal to an initiator in the gas generator 122 which causes the gas generator 122 to ignite to produce gas passing through the endurance tube 116 and the braided tube 101 Inflate. As the gas flows into the chamber of the braided tube 101, the internal pressure increases the tube diameter and the tube length decreases. However, the seat belt system 110 is restrained behind the shoulders by the outer side by the first floating rotor 117, the inner side by the anchor 106 and the rotating mechanism 118 of the second (shoulder or trunk belt) float. The floating rotors 117 and 118 in the event of a shock are locked so that the belt is not stretched and pulls down the seat belt system 110 when the tube of the braid is contracted. These similar seat belts will limit the forward movement of the occupants and reduce primary injuries.

In addition, the male portion of the buckle combination 105 may be positioned on the knee belt 102 using rip-stitching or using snaps or buttons. If a collision occurs and the expansion causes loosening of the positional connection between the knee belt 102 and the buckle 105, the knee portion is pulled tight to further restrict the occupant's movement and prevent the occupant from slipping under the knee belt. (Ie dive attack)

The braided tube 101 does not expand under any belt member but expands outside of the torso belt. This position allows the tube to expand evenly without roll-out problems. The seam-splitting problem is a common problem in inflating air pockets, but it does not occur because the braided tube 101 is a seamless structure.

In full expansion, the braided tube 101 has a diameter of about 12 to 18 cm and a comparative internal pressure of about 1 to 4 bar (absolute pressure of 2 to 5 bar). Due to the increased friction, the tube 101 of the expanded braid and the contact area of the occupant allow the tube 101 of the braid to further restrict the movement of the occupant. Unlike conventional three-point seat belt systems, the present invention helps to reduce or prevent injuries due to secondary belts by providing a substantially larger restraint area of the occupant's body that can distribute belt loading.

In addition, the present invention prevents the head of the occupant from hitting the windshield, the side of the vehicle or other objects to limit the movement of the head so that the head shock due to the side impact shock does not occur.

3A and 3B show the results of the simulated crash test. These show that the present invention is much more effective than conventional three point seat belt systems or air belts of conventional materials in limiting the dislocation of the head to the front or side, respectively, in the event of a front or side impact.

Impact tests also represent an important feature of the present invention. The belt will continue to retract after the initial occupant's boarding and further restrict the occupant. The process is as follows:

(1) suddenly slow down the speed of the vehicle in the event of an impact;

(2) the collision detector senses the impact and initiates expansion of the trunk belt inflatable portion;

(3) The occupant continues to move forward of the vehicle with respect to the torso belt. ;

(4) the expandable portion of the torso belt expands and the torso belt acts more widely to dissipate stress, preventing passengers from hitting the windshield in front of the vehicle;

(5) The occupant reaches the maximum forward position, in which the occupant puts considerable force on the torso belt, which prevents the inflatable part from fully contracting when the torso belt is placed under additional tension. ;

(6) The occupant is returned back to the seat back, so that the additional tension from the torso belt is alleviated, resulting in more length contraction when the diameter of the inflatable portion increases, effectively performing a second similar function. ;

(7) The additional shrinkage in length keeps the occupant in place during the second crash or rollover to protect the occupant from additional injury.

Thus, the present invention functions quite differently from other suppression systems. This is because, unlike the conventional seat belt system, the torso belt continues to shrink after initial boarding (of the occupant in the suppression system).

In a second preferred embodiment an extruded net in the form of a tube is used as the expandable structure in place of the tube of the braided. 4A and 4B show the extruded nets before expansion (h4a) and after expansion (Figure 4b). 4A and 4B show how the extruded net shrinks in length as it expands and increases in diameter. 4A and 4B also show that the cross member 401 forms a flexible connection point 402 at the intersection of the member and deforms as the tube expands and extends. The longitudinal angle of the intersection point 403 of the fiber, as shown in FIG. 4B, increases significantly as in the tube of the braid, substantially shrinking its length as the tube diameter increases. Materials that can make up the extruded net include nylon and polyester.

Another second preferred embodiment of the invention uses a modified extruded net where the intersection of the fibers is reinforced with nodes, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Like the extruded nets shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, this embodiment uses members 501 connected at intersection 502. As the tube expands, the longitudinal angle 503 of the cross member increases significantly. Unlike the extruded nets shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the intersection 502 includes a node 504 that imparts strength to the net. Typical materials that can be used to construct modified extruded nets include nylon and polyester. Extruded nets include Massachusetts 01080, Three Rivers, Zip 27, Polynet, Inc. or POLYNET, Inc. 92706, City of Baldwin Park, Pacon, Incorporated (PACON). , INC.).

A third preferred embodiment uses a woven net, as shown in Figures 6A and 6B. 6A and 6B show that fiber 601 of the woven net includes intersection 602. Woven nets are similar to extruded nets, except that the connection points are not bonded to each other but are woven together. As shown in FIG. 6B, the connection point is repositioned and the longitudinal angle 603 increases as the tube expands. Typical materials that can be used to construct the woven net include nylon, aramid fibers and polyester.

The gas generator 122 of the present invention is preferably similar to the gas generators currently used for side-impact of automobiles as opposed to the front airbag. This is due to the relatively low volume and faster filling requirements of the side-impact airbags of the vehicle as opposed to the frontal airbags. The preferred gas generator used in the present invention should expand the braided tube 101 to a comparative pressure of about 1.5 bar (2.5 bar absolute) in 10 to 15/1000 seconds.

In the present invention, in order to protect the passenger sitting in the rear seat of the vehicle, it can be installed in the same manner as the installation for the front seat occupant (eg driver and passenger). That is, the inflatable portion of the torso portion passes over the top of the back portion of the seat. However, the inflatable portion is also directed to the trunk across the rear shelf of the vehicle through the inhibitor at the top of the backrest of the rear seat, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, 8A-8C and 9. The systolic system winds up the belt when no one is using the restraint system and loosens the torso belt when the passenger rides. The systolic uses a floating rotator, ie a rotator that is locked in the event of a frontal impact. In the embodiment shown in 7a to 7b the expandable part of the torso belt is connected to the hose which is connected to the rigid pipe. When the rigid pipe is rotatably attached to the gas generator, when the gas generator ignites to generate the expansion gas, the expansion gas is directed to the rigid pipe and then through the hose to the expandable portion of the trunk belt to expand it.

8A-8C show yet another example of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. 8A-8C use a flexible hose and a flexible shrink to maintain tension of the expandable structure. The flexible retractor includes a torsion spring 801 and a roller 802 to maintain the flexible hose 800 under tension.

9 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the present invention for a rear seat installation similar to FIGS. 1A-1E. In this embodiment fill hose 901 is located in low-friction channel 902. The HOLD fill hose 901 is connected at one end to the gas generator 907 and the opposite end to the expandable structure 904 via a connector 905. The fill hose 901 is bent by a U or J shape and fixed by the channel 902 as shown in FIG. 9. Systolic 906 rotates or loosens the belt as the occupant leans back or moves forward. 9 provides the position and inflatable structure of the hose when the occupant is flipped back in place. The J shape shown in FIG. 9 becomes very large and looks like a U-shape because the distal end and connector of the expandable structure 904 pull up the channel to accommodate the occupant in the forward position when the occupant is in the forward position. The hose material itself (eg nylon) is elastic so that the J or U shape is maintained when the belt is loosened or rotated in. 9 also shows a D-ring 903 that positions the inflatable structure over the occupant's shoulder. Graphite powder or other softeners may be used if necessary to minimize friction between the hose and the channel.

The disclosure of the foregoing embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many variations of the embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the disclosed technology. It is intended that the scope of the invention only be limited by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Table 1 Passenger Inhibitor Test Results

Anterior shock Conventional three-point seat belts Air Belt 1 Air belt 2 Invention Inches 20.5 18.0 14.5 5.0 Degrees 110 61 42 28 HIC 129 406 194 99 C _R , (g's) 32 51 27 26 Torso Belt (Ibs) 1466 790 618 500 Knee Belts (Ibs) 1534 1294 1,193 554 Pressure (psi) NA 16.0 45.4 33.4 Side impact Conventional three-point seat belts Air Belt 1 Air belt 2 Invention Inches 23.0 24.0 20.5 15.3 Degrees 86 74 15 50 HIC 121 126 73 ND C _R , (g's) 53 20 ND 35 Torso Belt (Ibs) 709 421 410 417 Knee Belts (Ibs) 595 693 700 383 Pressure (psi) NA 17.3 40.6 31.3

Claims (49)

(a) a body belt comprising an expandable structure that substantially contracts in length and substantially increases in cross-sectional area upon full expansion, assuming that the expandable structure is a flat structure prior to expansion; (b) a gas generator fluidly connected to the inflatable structure; (c) an impact detector electrically connected to the gas generator and initiating gas generation by the gas generator such that the inflatable structure is fully expanded upon impact detection; And (d) The expandable structure may be provided with the restraint structure so that the inflated portion of the inflatable structure on both sides of the inhibitor is inflatable and the inflated portion of the torso belt located across the top of the vehicle seat pushes the seat occupant below the seat to adjust the occupant's position in the event of a crash. A seat restraint system in a vehicle seat comprising a restraint positioned over the top of the vehicle seat. 2. The seat restraint system of claim 1, wherein the seat is a rear seat of the passenger seat and the inflatable structure extends across the rear shelf towards the trunk of the vehicle. 3. The seat restraint system according to claim 2, wherein the gas generator is installed in the trunk of the vehicle. 4. The inflatable structure of claim 3, wherein the expandable structure is connected to a aftergas generator connected to a fluid rigid pipe, the rigid pipe rotating upward when the occupant leans forward and the rigid pipe rotating backward when the occupant leans back from the rear seat. Seat restraint system characterized in that 4. The seat restraint system of claim 3, wherein the inflatable structure is fluidly connected to a hose of a hose shrinker, and the hose is fluidly connected to a gas generator. 4. The low frictional channel of claim 3 further comprising a hose between the expandable structure and the gas generator, wherein the hose is fluidly connected to the gas generator at one end and connected to the expandable structure at the other end and restrains the hose in the channel. Seat restraint system comprising a. 7. The hose of claim 6 wherein the hose has a gas generator end, the end being secured to the belt, the end further comprising a contractor configured to slow the belt when the occupant is tilted forward and to rotate in the belt when the occupant is tilted back. Seat restraint system, characterized in that. A seat restraint system, characterized in that the inflatable structure is a braided tube. 2. The seat restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the expandable structure is an extruded net. 10. The crosslinked net of claim 9, wherein the extruded net comprises cross fibers connected at the intersection, wherein the expandable structure forms a longitudinal angle that increases from 5 ° to 15 ° before expansion to 90 ° to 150 ° after expansion when fully expanded without tension. Seat restraint system, characterized in that. 11. The seat restraint system according to claim 10, wherein the longitudinal angle increases from 90 to 110 degrees after expansion. 2. The seat restraint system of claim 1, wherein the inflatable structure is a woven net. The seat restraint system of claim 1, wherein the inflatable structure further comprises a protective cover. The seat restraint system of claim 1, further comprising a knee belt, wherein the knee belt and the torso belt form a continuous leather strap. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the continuous leash further comprises a buckle leash passing through the first component of the buckle combination and fastened to the second element of the buckle combination and rotatably mounted to the vehicle. Seat restraint system. 16. The seat restraint system according to claim 15, wherein the gas generator is installed in the buckle combination. The seat restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the gas generator is installed in a seat back. (a) a belt comprising a trunk belt portion and a knee belt portion comprising an expandable structure having a substantially contracting length and substantially increasing cross-sectional area upon full expansion assuming that the expandable structure has a flat structure before expansion; (b) a gas generator fluidly connected to the inflatable structure; (c) an impact detector electrically connected to the gas generator and initiating gas generation by the gas generator such that the inflatable structure is fully expanded upon impact detection; And (d) The inflatable structure restrains the inflatable structure on both sides of the restraint so that the inflated portion of the torso belt located across the top of the vehicle seat pushes the seat occupant down the seat to adjust the occupant's position in the event of a crash. An inhibitor located at the top of the vehicle seat passing through the water; (e) a buckle combination in which the belt passes through the first component of the buckle combination; And (f) The rear seat of the vehicle including a buckle leash connected to a floating rotator fixed to the vehicle and connected to the second component of the buckle combination and rotatably mounted to the vehicle. Suppression system. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the inflatable structure is fluidly connected to the rigid pipe and then connected to the gas generator, and the system is configured such that the rigid pipe rotates up when the occupant is tilted forward and back when the occupant is flipped back in the rear seat. Seat restraint system. 19. The seat restraint system of claim 18, wherein the inflatable structure is fluidly connected to a hose of a hose contractor and the hose is fluidly connected to a gas generator. 19. The seat restraint system of claim 18, further comprising a low friction channel for restraining the hose in the hose and channel one end connected to the inflatable structure and the other end fluidly connected to the gas generator. 22. The seat restraint as recited in claim 21, wherein the hose has a gas generator end attached to the belt and includes a retractor having a structure that slows the belt when the occupant is inclined forward and rotates within the belt when the occupant is tilted back. system. 19. The seat restraint system of claim 18, wherein the inflatable structure is a braided tube. 19. The seat restraint system of claim 18, wherein the inflatable structure is an extruded net. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the extruded net comprises intersecting fibers connected at intersections that form longitudinal angles where the expandable structure increases from 5 ° to 15 ° before expansion to 90 ° to 150 ° after expansion when fully expanded without tension. Seat restraint system, characterized in that. 27. The seat restraint system of claim 25, wherein the longitudinal angle increases to 90 to 110 degrees after expansion. 19. The seat restraint system of claim 18, wherein the inflatable structure is a woven net. 19. The seat restraint system of claim 18, wherein the inflatable structure is a braided tube in a protective cover. (a) having a knee belt portion and a body belt portion, the knee belt portion being attached to the first floating rotator which is rotatably fastened to the vehicle, the belt being the end of the knee portion of the belt and the beginning of the body belt portion of the belt; A belt characterized in that it is attached to the first part of the buckle combination; (b) an inflatable tubular structure comprising a body belt portion and positioned over the top of the vehicle seat through the inhibitor and toward the trunk of the vehicle; (c) a gas generator fluidly connected to the expandable tubular structure; And (d) one end is attached to the second part of the buckle combination and the other end includes a leash fixed to the vehicle, When unexpanded, when the expandable tubular structure is fully inflated, the cross section of the expandable tubular structure increases by at least 50% and decreases by at least about 20% in length, The inflatable structure is positioned to pass through the inhibitor so that the portion of the inflatable structure is expandable on both sides of the inhibitor, and the inflated portion of the torso belt located across the top of the vehicle seat pushes the occupant seated against the seat toward the seat so that the occupant's position in the event of a crash To adjust The inflatable seat structure is a rear seat restraint system that reduces the extent and pain of primary and secondary injuries as air does not leak after inflation. 30. The system of claim 29, wherein the inflatable structure is fluidly connected to the gas generator after being fluidly connected to the rigid pipe, and the system is configured such that the rigid pipe rotates up when the occupant is tilted forward and back when the occupant is flipped back. Seat restraint system. 30. The seat restraint system of claim 29, wherein the expandable structure is fluidly connected to a hose of a hose contractor and the hose is fluidly connected to a gas generator. 30. The seat restraint system of claim 29, further comprising a low friction channel for inhibiting the hose in the hose and channel one end connected to the inflatable structure and the other end fluidly connected to the gas generator. 33. The seat of claim 32, wherein the hose has a gas generator end secured to the belt, the hose comprising a retractor having a structure that slows the belt when the occupant is inclined forward and rotates in the belt when the occupant is leaned back. Suppression system. 30. The seat restraint system of claim 29, wherein the inflatable structure is a braided tube. 30. The seat restraint system of claim 29, wherein the inflatable structure is an extruded net. The net of claim 35, wherein the extruded net comprises intersecting fibers connected at intersections that form longitudinal angles that increase from 5 ° -15 ° before expansion to 90 ° -150 ° after expansion when the expandable structure is fully expanded without tension. Seat restraint system, characterized in that. 37. The seat restraint system according to claim 36, wherein the longitudinal angle increases from 90 to 110 degrees after expansion. 30. The seat restraint system of claim 29, wherein the inflatable structure is a woven net. 19. The seat restraint system of claim 18, wherein the inflatable structure further comprises a protective cover. (a) having a knee belt portion and a body belt portion, the knee belt portion being fastened to the first floating rotor having means for rotatably attaching the first floating rotor to the vehicle, the belt being the knee portion of the belt A belt characterized in that it is bound to the first portion of the buckle combination at the end of the belt and at the beginning of the body belt portion of the belt; (b) an expandable tubular structure comprising a body belt portion and positioned through the inhibitor; (c) a gas generator fluidly connected to the expandable tubular structure; And (d) includes a leash once attached to the second part of the buckle combination; When unexpanded, when the expandable tubular structure is fully inflated, the cross section of the expandable tubular structure increases by at least 50% and decreases by at least about 20% in length, The inflatable structure is positioned to pass through the inhibitor so that the portion of the inflatable structure is expandable on both sides of the inhibitor, and the inflated portion of the torso belt pushes the occupant in the seat towards the seat to adjust the occupant's position in the event of a crash, The inflatable tubular structure is a rear seat restraint system that reduces the extent and pain of primary and secondary injuries since air does not leak after inflation. 41. The seat restraint system of claim 40, wherein the inflatable structure is a braided tube. 41. The seat restraint system of claim 40, wherein the inflatable structure is an extruded net. 41. The seat restraint system of claim 40, wherein the inflatable structure is a woven net. 41. The seat restraint system of claim 40, wherein one end comprises a hose connected to the inflatable structure and the other end connected to a gas generator. 45. The seat restraint system of claim 44, wherein the hose is retained in a hose retractor. 45. The seat restraint system of claim 44, wherein the hose is fluidly connected to the gas generator through a rigid pipe. 45. The vehicle occupant of claim 44, wherein the occupant of the vehicle is ahead. Seat restraint system comprising means for rotating a rigid pipe when moving back. 45. The seat restraint system of claim 44, wherein the hose comprises a low friction force channel restrained therein. 41. The seat restraint system of claim 40, wherein the buckle combination comprises a gas generator.