US5667246A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for reducing occupant injury in frontal collisions
Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Inc
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Filing: 1995-12-21
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Granted: 1997-09-16
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Expires: 2015-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A safety restraint system comprising a safety belt system for restraining an occupant comprising safety belt; a retractor for protracting and retracting the safety belt, a shoulder belt support for supporting the shoulder belt portion of the safety belt; a pretensioner for providing, subsequent to activation, a preload tensile force in the shoulder belt portion in excess of a first low limit value of about 50 pounds; a load limiter for limiting the loads imparted by the shoulder belt portion to an occupant, operative after the preload acts on the shoulder belt portion, including first means for introducing a predetermined amount of slack in the shoulder belt when the belt tension is above a second low limit value and for preventing such slack introduction when belt tension is lower than such second low limit value.
Inventors
- 👤 H. John Miller, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:28
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/34; B60R22/341; B60R22/3413; B60R22/18; B60R22/195; B60R22/1952; B60R22/28; B60R2022/285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A safety restraint system comprising: belt system means for restraining an occupant comprising: a safety belt; retractor means for protracting and retracting the safety belt; shoulder belt support means for supporting the should belt portion of the safety belt; pretensioner means for providing subsequent to activation, a residual preload force in the safety belt in excess of a first low limit value; load limiting means for limiting the loads imparted by the shoulder belt portion to an occupant, operative after the preload acts on the shoulder belt portion, including first means for introducing a predetermined amount of slack in the shoulder belt when the belt tension is above a second low limit value and for preventing such slack introduction when belt tension is lower than such low limit value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A safety restraint system comprising: belt system means for restraining an occupant comprising: a safety belt; retractor means for protracting and retracting the safety belt; shoulder belt support means for supporting the should belt portion of the safety belt; pretensioner means for providing subsequent to activation, a residual preload force in the safety belt in excess of a first low limit value; load limiting means for limiting the loads imparted by the shoulder belt portion to an occupant, operative after the preload acts on the shoulder belt portion, including first means for introducing a predetermined amount of slack in the shoulder belt when the belt tension is above a second low limit value and for preventing such slack introduction when belt tension is lower than such low limit value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the second low limit value equal to or greater than 350 pounds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the first low limit value is greater than about 50 pounds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the second low limit value is in a range of 350 to 2000 pounds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the first low limit value is in a range of 50 to 400 pounds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device as defined in claim 1 including an air bag and mean for inflating the air bag including an electronic sensing subsystem means for generating at least one control signal and inflator meals for providing inflation gas to the air bag in response to the at least one control signal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
39 words
A method of protecting an occupant in a safety system comprising a seal belt, a high output pretensioner operatively coupled to the seat belt and a load limiting device for permitting occupant motion, the method comprising the steps of:
Claim 9
Independent Claim
39 words
A method of protecting an occupant in a safety system comprising a seal belt, a high output pretensioner operatively coupled to the seat belt and a load limiting device for permitting occupant motion, the method comprising the steps of:
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
sensing an accident 2. operating the pretensioning device to provide a residual preload in the belt in excess of about 50 pounds, 3. permitting the load limiting device to absorb crash loads introduced on the occupant when such loads are in excess of about 350 pounds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
sensing an accident 2. operating the pretensioning device to provide a residual preload in the belt in excess of about 50 pounds, 3. permitting the load limiting device to absorb crash loads introduced on the occupant when such loads are in excess of about 350 pounds.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
128 words
A safety restraint system comprising: belt system means for restraining an occupant comprising: a safety belt; retractor means for protracting and retracting the safety belt; shoulder belt support means for supporting the should belt portion of the safety belt; pretensioner means for providing subsequent to activation, a residual preload force in the safety belt in excess of a first low limit; load limiting means for limiting the loads imparted by the shoulder belt portion to an occupant, operative after the preload acts on the shoulder belt portion, including first means for introducing a predetermined amount of slack in the shoulder belt when the belt tension is above the first low limit value and for preventing such slack introduction when belt tension is lower than such low limit value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
128 words
A safety restraint system comprising: belt system means for restraining an occupant comprising: a safety belt; retractor means for protracting and retracting the safety belt; shoulder belt support means for supporting the should belt portion of the safety belt; pretensioner means for providing subsequent to activation, a residual preload force in the safety belt in excess of a first low limit; load limiting means for limiting the loads imparted by the shoulder belt portion to an occupant, operative after the preload acts on the shoulder belt portion, including first means for introducing a predetermined amount of slack in the shoulder belt when the belt tension is above the first low limit value and for preventing such slack introduction when belt tension is lower than such low limit value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the first low limit value equal to or greater than 50 pounds.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR2303570A1
Cited
US4385775A
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US4422669A
Cited
US4441738A
Cited
DE3731697A1
Cited
WO1990011913A1
Cited
EP0582096A1
Cited
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Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-09-15 | 2001-03-17 | 2001-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-09-15 | 2005-03-17 | 2005-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-09-15 | 2009-03-17 | 2009-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |