Self-applying vehicle safety belt

Claim 2

A vehicle safety belt system for use with a vehicle seat comprising an inflatable flexible tubular lap belt preformed to assume a longitudinally arcuate shape upon inflation thereof, said belt having a first end anchored to a first side of said seat, a coupling member secured to the second end of said belt opposite to said first end, a coupling device positioned at a second side of said seat opposite said first side for releasably engaging said coupling member, a source of compressed air, and control means responsive to the occupation of said seat for connecting the interior of said belt to said compressed air source to inflate and extend said belt from said seat first side to said coupling device and thereafter connecting the interior of said belt to exhaust in response to said belt extending to said coupling device.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 comprising a tubular inflatable shoudler belt having an anchored rear section and a front end secured to said lap belt proximate its second end, said connecting means comprising a tube extending from said compressed air source through said shoulder belt to said lap belt.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 wherein said tube communicates with the interior of said shoulder belt.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1 including a retraction reel located at said seat fIrst side, said lap belt be wound on and withdrawable from said reel.

Claim 6

The system of claim 4, including means responsive to a predetermined change in the velocity of said vehicle for locking said reel against belt withdrawal.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1 including means responsive to a predetermined change in the velocity of said vehicle for effecting communication between said lap belt and source of compressed air.

Claim 8

The system of claim 1 wherein said coupling device comprises a latch member moveable between a coupling member lock and unlock position and means responsive to said coupling member registering with said coupling device for shifting said latch to said lock position.

Claim 9

The system of claim 4, including means for pinching said lap belt proximate said reel.

Claim 10

An air belt passive locking protection device, comprising tubular seat belts having warp or weft core of synthetic resin or fiber held at the side or rear of the seat, wherein a compressed air source including an electromagnet valve is operated by the command of a control device which works responsive to the taking of a seat of the occupant or abnormal condition of the vehicle, the compressed air is supplied through the tube inserted in the shoulder belt into the inside of at least one of said belts, the lap belt is expanded in a semi-circular shape, a catch means provided on the opposite side of the seat engages with the hook attached to the end of the belt, then the air supplied to the belt is shut off by the control device, and then the air in the belt is exhausted by means of said electromagnetic valve to lock the body of the occupant, and when the vehicle has been stopped suddenly or abnormal condition has occurred on the vehicle, the compressed air source is operated by the command of the control device and air is blown into the insides of the belt, in order to decrease the impact to be applied to the occupant.

Claim 11

An air belt passive locking protection device, comprising tubular seat belts having warp or weft core of synthetic resin or fiber held at the side or rear of the seat, wherein a compressed air source including an electromagnet valve is operated by the command of a control device which works responsive to the taking of a seat of the occupant or abnormal condition of the vehicle, the compressed air is supplied through the tube inserted in the shoulder belt into the inside of at least one of said belts, the lap belt is expanded in a semi-circular shape, a catch means provided on the opposite side of the seat engages with the hook attached to the end of the belt, then the air supplied to the belt is shut off by the control device, and then the air in the belt is exhausted by means of said electromagnetic valve to lock the body of the occupant, and when the vehicle has been stopped suddenly or abnormal condition has occurred on the vehicle, the compressed air source is operated by the command of the control device and air is blown into the insides of the belt, in order to decrease the impact to be applied to the occupant.