Electrically adjusted safety restraint system

Claim 2

In an electrically adjusted safety restraint system for restraining an occupant in a vehicle's seat having a seat belt with one end attached to a structural member of the vehicle and the other end attached to a seat belt retractor, wherein the improvement comprises: an electric motor operatively connected to the retractor for actuating the retractor to retract the seat belt; switch means associated with the seat belt having a first state signifying that the seat belt is secured about the occupant and a second state signifying the seat belt is not secured about the occupant; a motor current sensor responsive to said first state for generating a snugged-up signal in response to the motor's current exceeding a predetermined value signifying the seat belt has been snugged up to the seat's occupant with a predetermined force; logic means for generating a first control signal in response to the state of said switch means, for terminating said first control signal in response to said snugged-up signal and for generating a second control signal in response to the termination of said first control signal; and motor power control means for providing electrical power to said motor in response to said first control signal for actuating the retractor to snug up the seat belt and to stow the seat belt when the seat belt is not secured about the occupant and in response to said second control signal for actuating the retractor to unreel a length of seat belt to produce a predetermined slack.

Claim 3

The electrically actuated safety restraint system of claim 1 additionally including a crash sensor for generating a crash signal in response to a predetermined change in the acceleration of the vehicle, said logic means for generating a third control signal in response to said crash signal and said motor power control means provides electrical power to said motor in response to said third control signal for activating the retractor to retract the seat belt and take up any slack therein prior to the application of crash loads on the seat belt.

Claim 4

The safety restraint system according to claim 2 additionally including lock means in said retractor for inhibiting the extraction of said seat belt in response to said predetermined change in the acceleration of the vehicle.

Claim 5

The electrically actuated safety restraint system of claim 2 wherein said motor power control means provides electrical power to said motor to run at a reduced speed in response to said first and second control signals and provides electrical power to said motor to run at a faster speed in response to said third control signal.

Claim 6

The safety restraint system of claim 2 wherein said retractor has a take-up spool, said motor rotates said take-up spool to retract and unreel the seat belt.

Claim 7

An electrically actuated safety restraint system for restraining the occupant in a vehicle's seat during a crash comprising: a seat belt; a seat belt retractor attached to one end of said seat belt, said retractor having an electric motor for actuating said retractor to retract and pay out said seat belt, and a lock means for inhibiting the extraction of said seat belt under crash conditions; means for securing the other end of said seat belt to the structural member of the vehicle, switch means having a first state signifying said other end of said seat belt is secured and a second state signifying said other end of said seat belt is not secured; first sensor means responsive to the tension on said seat belt to generate a snugged-up signal when said seat belt is exerting a predetermined force against the occupant; and motor control means for energizing said electric motor to actuate said retractor to snug up said seat belt against the occupant in response to said first state, for de-energizing said electrical motor in response to said snugged-up signal, for energizing said electric motor to actuate said retractor to stow said seat belt in response to said second state, and for de-energizing the electric motor in response to said snugged-up signal to energize said motor to rotate in the opposite direction to pay out a predetermined length of said seat belt to relieve the tension of said seat belt of the occupant.

Claim 8

An electrically actuated safety restraint system for restraining the occupant in a vehicle's seat during a crash comprising: a seat belt; a seat belt retractor attached to one end of said seat belt, said retractor having an electric motor for actuating said retractor to retract and pay out said seat belt, and a lock means for inhibiting the extraction of said seat belt under crash conditions; means for securing the other end of said seat belt to the structural member of the vehicle, switch means having a first state signifying said other end of said seat belt is secured and a second state signifying said other end of said seat belt is not secured; first sensor means responsive to the tension on said seat belt to generate a snugged-up signal when said seat belt is exerting a predetermined force against the occupant; and motor control means for energizing said electric motor to actuate said retractor to snug up said seat belt against the occupant in response to said first state, for de-energizing said electrical motor in response to said snugged-up signal, for energizing said electric motor to actuate said retractor to stow said seat belt in response to said second state, and for de-energizing the electric motor in response to said snugged-up signal to energize said motor to rotate in the opposite direction to pay out a predetermined length of said seat belt to relieve the tension of said seat belt of the occupant.

Claim 9

The safety restraint system of claim 6 wherein said first sensor means is a motor current sensor generating said snugged-up signal in response to said motor's electrical current exceeding a predetermined value corresponding to a predetermined tension of said seat belt against the occupant.

Claim 10

The safety restraint system of claim 6 additionally including a slack sensor responsive to said electric motor for generating a slack signal indicating said seat belt having an excessive slack, and said motor control means includes means responsive to said slack signal for energizing said electric motor to actuate said retractor to snug up said seat belt against the occupant.

Claim 11

The safety restraint system of claim 8 wherein said slack sensor is motor voltage sensor for generating said slack signal when the motor voltage exceeds a predetermined value due to the manual extraction of the seat belt from the retractor.

Claim 12

The safety restraint system of claim 6 additionally including a crash sensor for generating a crash signal in response to a predetermined rate of change in the vehicle's velocity, said logic means including means responsive to said crash signal for energizing said electric motor to actuate said retractor to retract said seat belt.

Claim 13

The safety restraint system of claim 10 wherein said means responsive to said crash signal energizes said motor to run at a rate faster than any other of said included means.

Claim 14

An electrically adjusted safety restraint system for restraining an occupant in a vehicle's seat comprising: a seat belt having one end attached to a structural member of the vehicle; a retractor attached to a structural member of the vehicle, said retractor having a take-up spool attached to the other end of said seat belt, a reversible electric motor for rotating said take-up spool in either direction, and means for inhibiting the extraction of the seat belt from the retractor in response to a first predetermined rate of change in the velocity of the vehicle; an adjustable tongue slidably coupled to said seat belt between said one end and said retractor dividing said seat belt into a lap portion and a shoulder portion; a buckle for securing said adjustable tongue, said buckle attached to a structural member of the vehicle on the other side of the vehicle's seat, said buckle including a buckle switch having a first state signifying that said adjustable tongue is secured in said buckle and a second state signifying that the adjustable tongue is not secured in said buckle; a snugged-up sensor for generating a snugged-up signal in response to said first state and the current of said motor exceeding a predetermined value when said shoulder portion of said seat belt is snugged up against the occupant's shoulder with a predetermined force; a crash sensor for generating a crash signal in response to a second predetermined rate of change in the velocity of the vehicle; logic means for generating a first signal in response to said buckle switch assuming said first state, for generating said first signal in response to said buckle switch switching from said first state to said second state, for terminating said first signal in response to said snugged-up signal, for generating a second signal having a first fixed duration in response to the termination of said first signal, and for generating a third signal having a second fixed time duration in response to said crash signal; motor control means for energizing said motor to rotate said take-up spool in a direction to retract said seat belt in response to said first signal, for energizing said motor to rotate said take-up spool in the opposite direction paying out a predetermined length of seat belt in response to said second signal, and for energizing said motor in response to said third signal to rotate said take-up spool to retract said seat belt.

Claim 15

An electrically adjusted safety restraint system for restraining an occupant in a vehicle's seat comprising: a seat belt having one end attached to a structural member of the vehicle; a retractor attached to a structural member of the vehicle, said retractor having a take-up spool attached to the other end of said seat belt, a reversible electric motor for rotating said take-up spool in either direction, and means for inhibiting the extraction of the seat belt from the retractor in response to a first predetermined rate of change in the velocity of the vehicle; an adjustable tongue slidably coupled to said seat belt between said one end and said retractor dividing said seat belt into a lap portion and a shoulder portion; a buckle for securing said adjustable tongue, said buckle attached to a structural member of the vehicle on the other side of the vehicle's seat, said buckle including a buckle switch having a first state signifying that said adjustable tongue is secured in said buckle and a second state signifying that the adjustable tongue is not secured in said buckle; a snugged-up sensor for generating a snugged-up signal in response to said first state and the current of said motor exceeding a predetermined value when said shoulder portion of said seat belt is snugged up against the occupant's shoulder with a predetermined force; a crash sensor for generating a crash signal in response to a second predetermined rate of change in the velocity of the vehicle; logic means for generating a first signal in response to said buckle switch assuming said first state, for generating said first signal in response to said buckle switch switching from said first state to said second state, for terminating said first signal in response to said snugged-up signal, for generating a second signal having a first fixed duration in response to the termination of said first signal, and for generating a third signal having a second fixed time duration in response to said crash signal; motor control means for energizing said motor to rotate said take-up spool in a direction to retract said seat belt in response to said first signal, for energizing said motor to rotate said take-up spool in the opposite direction paying out a predetermined length of seat belt in response to said second signal, and for energizing said motor in response to said third signal to rotate said take-up spool to retract said seat belt.

Claim 16

The electrically adjusted safety restraint system of claim 12 wherein said logic means comprises: mode select logic for generating operational mode signals in response to the state of the buckle switch, said snugged-up signal, said slack signal and said crash signal; and motor control logic responsive to said mode signals for generating said first, second, and third signals.

Claim 17

The electrically adjusted safety restraint system of claim 13 wherein said mode select logic comprises: a first timer for generating a first mode signal in response to said buckle switch switching from said first to said second state and switching from said second to said first state, the termination of a third mode signal and the termination of a fourth mode signal, said first timer further responsive to said snugged-up signal to terminate said first mode signal; a second timer responsive to the termination of said first mode signal to generate a second mode signal; a third timer for generating said third mode signal for a first predetermined period of time in response to said buckle switch being in said second state and the generation of said slack signal; a fourth timer for generating said fourth mode signal for a second predetermined period of time in response to said buckle switch being in said second state and the generation of said slack signal; and a fifth timer for generating a fifth mode signal for said second fixed time duration in response to said crash signal.

Claim 18

The electrically adjusted safety restraint system of claim 14 wherein said motor control means includes a relay for switching the electrical connection at one terminal of said motor from ground to a supply voltage, said second timer comprising: a sixth timer for generating a first time delay signal response to the termination of said first mode signal; a seventh timer for generating a second time delay signal in response to the termination of said first time delay signal; and an eighth timer for generating said second mode signal in response to the termination of said second time delay signal.

Claim 19

The electrically adjusted safety restraint system of claim 14 wherein said motor control logic comprises: means responsive to said first mode signal for generating said first signal; means responsive to said second mode signal for generating said second signal; and means responsive to said fifth mode signal for generating said third signal.

Claim 20

The electrically adjusted safety restraint system of claim 16 additionally including a motor speed sensor for generating a speed control modulation signal in response to the rotational speed of said motor, said means for generating said first signal includes means for modulating said first signal with said speed control modulation signal to control the speed at which said motor rotates said take-up spool to retract said seat belt.

Claim 21

The electrically adjusted safety restraint system of claim 17 additionally including means for generating a pay out modulation signal, said means for generating said second signal includes means for modulating said second signal with said pay out modulation signal to control the speed at which said seat belt is unreeled from said retractor.

Claim 22

The electrically adjusted safety restraint system of claim 15 wherein said motor control logic means comprises: means responsive to said first mode signal for generating said first signal; means responsive to said said second mode signal for generating said second signal; means responsive to said fifth mode signal for generating said third signal; and means responsive to said second time delay signal, said second mode signal and the absence of said first and fifth mode signals for generating a relay signal activating said relay for switching the electrical connection at one terminal of said motor from ground to a supply voltage.

Claim 23

The electrically adjusted safety restraint system of claim 19 having a speed control sensor for generating a speed control modulation signal in response to the rotational speed of said motor and wherein said means for generating said first signal includes means for modulating said first signal with said speed control modulation signal to control the speed at which said motor rotates said take-up spool to retract said seat belt.

Claim 24

The electrically adjusted safety restraint system of claim 20 having means for generating a pay out modulation signal, said means for generating said second signal includes means for modulating said second signal with said pay-out modulation signal to control the speed at which said motor rotates said take-up spool to pay out said seat belt.

Claim 27

The method of claim 22 including the steps of: activating a fourth timer in response to the termination of said first mode signal to generate a fourth mode signal having a fourth time duration; and energizing the retractor's motor in response to said fourth mode signal to pay out from the retractor a predetermined length of seat belt.

Claim 28

The method of claim 22 further including the steps of: detecting a rate of change in the vehicle's velocity exceeding predetermined value to generate a crash signal; energizing a fifth timer in reponse to said crash signal to generate a fifth mode signal; energizing the retractor's motor in response to said fifth mode signal to retract the seat belt.

Claim 29

The method of claim 22 wherein said buckle includes a normal closed electrical switch which opens when said adjustable tongue is latched in said buckle, said step of detecting the latching generates an open circuit signal as said latched signal.

Claim 30

The method of claim 22 wherein said step of sensing a predetermined tension on the seat belt senses the motor's current exceeding a predetermined value.

Claim 31

The method of claim 22 wherein said step of energizing said motor in response to said first mode signal includes modulating said first mode signal in response to the rotational speed of the motor to control the rotational speed of the motor to a predetermined value.

Claim 32

The method of claim 23 wherein said step of energizing said motor in response to said fourth mode signal includes the step of modulating said fourth mode signal to energize said motor to rotate at a reduced speed.