US3690696A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle body passive occupant restraining arrangement
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1971-04-20
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Granted: 1972-09-12
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Expires: 1991-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle body passive occupant restraining arrangement includes a vehicle body defining an occupant compartment in which is mounted a vehicle seat accessible through a vehicle body side door opening, a side door having upper and lower panels pivoted to each other about a longitudinal vehicle axis at their lower and upper edges respectively, a hinge arrangement pivotally mounting the upper edge of the upper panel to the vehicle body about a longitudinal vehicle axis adjacent the upper edge of the door opening, a link extending between the vehicle body and the lower panel and cooperable with the hinge arrangement to mount the door for vertical movement between a lower closed position and an upper folded open position, a generally triangular restraining vest having two portions respectively secured adjacent upper and lower inboard portions of the seat and having a generally elongated belt portions, an inertia retractor receiving the belt portion and slidably mounted on a lower inboard edge portion of the lower panel of the door for longitudinal movement with respect to the vehicle body, and a drive mechanism for moving the retractor along the door between forward and rearward positions in response to door opening and closing movement. During upward door opening movement, the drive mechanism moves the retractor to the forward position to move the restraining vest to an easy-enter position with the belt portion pointing upwardly and forwardly of the vehicle body and allowing convenient occupant access to the seat. During downward door closing movement, the drive mechanism moves the retractor to the rearward position to move the restraining vest to a restraining position across a seated occupant with the belt portion pointing downwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle body and retracted by the retractor to maintain the restraining vest in a taut condition across the occupant.
Inventors
- 👤 Clark Lincoln
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 06:49
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/12; B60R22/14; B60R22/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
In a vehicle body including a roof and a floor defining an occupant compartment in which is mounted a vehicle seat accessible by way of a vehicle body side door opening adjacent the seat, a passive occupant restraining arrangement comprising, a side door having an upper edge pivoted to the vehicle body about a longitudinal vehicle axis adjacent the upper edge of the door opening and movable between a lower closed position and an upper open position, a generally triangular restraining vest having two portions respectively secured adjacent upper and lower inboard portions of the seat and having a generally elongated belt portion, an inertia retractor receiving the belt portion, means mounting the retractor on the door adjacent a lower inboard edge portion thereof for longitudinal movement with respect to the vehicle body, and drive means for moving the retractor along the door between forward and rearward positions in response to door opening and closing movement, the drive means moving the retractor to the forward position during door opening movement to move the restraining vest to an easy-enter position with the belt portion pointing upwardly and forwardly of the vehicle body and allowing convenient occupant access to the seat, the drive means moving the retractor to the rearward position during door closing movement to move the restraining vest to a restraining position across a seated occupant with the belt portion pointing downwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle body and being retracted by the retractor to maintain the restraining vest in a taut condition across the occupant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
In a vehicle body including a roof and a floor defining an occupant compartment in which is mounted a vehicle seat accessible by way of a vehicle body side door opening adjacent the seat, a passive occupant restraining arrangement comprising, a side door having an upper edge pivoted to the vehicle body about a longitudinal vehicle axis adjacent the upper edge of the door opening and movable between a lower closed position and an upper open position, a generally triangular restraining vest having two portions respectively secured adjacent upper and lower inboard portions of the seat and having a generally elongated belt portion, an inertia retractor receiving the belt portion, means mounting the retractor on the door adjacent a lower inboard edge portion thereof for longitudinal movement with respect to the vehicle body, and drive means for moving the retractor along the door between forward and rearward positions in response to door opening and closing movement, the drive means moving the retractor to the forward position during door opening movement to move the restraining vest to an easy-enter position with the belt portion pointing upwardly and forwardly of the vehicle body and allowing convenient occupant access to the seat, the drive means moving the retractor to the rearward position during door closing movement to move the restraining vest to a restraining position across a seated occupant with the belt portion pointing downwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle body and being retracted by the retractor to maintain the restraining vest in a taut condition across the occupant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
308 words
In a vehicle body including a roof and a floor defining an occupant compartment in which is mounted a vehicle seat accessible by way of a vehicle body side door opening adjacent the seat, a passive occupant restraining arrangement comprising, a side door including upper and lower panels pivoted to each other about a longitudinal vehicle axis at their lower and upper edges respectively, hinge means pivotally mounting the upper edge of the upper panel to the vehicle body at a longitudinal vehicle axis adjacent the upper edge of the door opening, linkage means extending between the vehicle body and the lower paNel and cooperable with the hinge means to mount the door for movement between a lower closed position and an upper folded open position, a generally triangular restraining vest having two portions respectively secured adjacent upper and lower inboard portions of the seat and having a generally elongated belt portion, an inertia retractor receiving the belt portion, means mounting the retractor on a lower inboard edge portion of the lower panel of the door for longitudinal movement with respect to the vehicle body, and drive means for moving the retractor along the door between forward and rearward positions in response to door opening and closing movement, the drive means moving the retractor to the forward position during door opening movement to move the restraining vest to an easy-enter position with the belt portion pointing upwardly and forwardly of the vehicle body and allowing convenient occupant access to the seat, the drive means moving the retractor to the rearward position during door closing movement to move the restraining vest to a restraining position across a seated occupant with the belt portion pointing downwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle body and being retracted by the retractor to maintain the restraining vest in a taut condition across the occupant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
308 words
In a vehicle body including a roof and a floor defining an occupant compartment in which is mounted a vehicle seat accessible by way of a vehicle body side door opening adjacent the seat, a passive occupant restraining arrangement comprising, a side door including upper and lower panels pivoted to each other about a longitudinal vehicle axis at their lower and upper edges respectively, hinge means pivotally mounting the upper edge of the upper panel to the vehicle body at a longitudinal vehicle axis adjacent the upper edge of the door opening, linkage means extending between the vehicle body and the lower paNel and cooperable with the hinge means to mount the door for movement between a lower closed position and an upper folded open position, a generally triangular restraining vest having two portions respectively secured adjacent upper and lower inboard portions of the seat and having a generally elongated belt portion, an inertia retractor receiving the belt portion, means mounting the retractor on a lower inboard edge portion of the lower panel of the door for longitudinal movement with respect to the vehicle body, and drive means for moving the retractor along the door between forward and rearward positions in response to door opening and closing movement, the drive means moving the retractor to the forward position during door opening movement to move the restraining vest to an easy-enter position with the belt portion pointing upwardly and forwardly of the vehicle body and allowing convenient occupant access to the seat, the drive means moving the retractor to the rearward position during door closing movement to move the restraining vest to a restraining position across a seated occupant with the belt portion pointing downwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle body and being retracted by the retractor to maintain the restraining vest in a taut condition across the occupant.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-12 | 1976-03-13 | 1976-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-12 | 1980-03-13 | 1980-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-12 | 1984-03-13 | 1984-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |