U.S. patent application number 15/170492 was filed with the patent office on 2017-12-07 for seatbelt airbag assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Ford Global Technologies, LLC. Invention is credited to Saeed David Barbat, S.M. Iskander Farooq, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi.
Application Number | 20170349130 15/170492 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59270873 |
Filed Date | 2017-12-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170349130 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Faruque; Mohammed Omar ; et
al. |
December 7, 2017 |
SEATBELT AIRBAG ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A seatbelt assembly includes a webbing guide defining a slot,
webbing extending through the slot, an airbag, and a clamp. The
airbag includes a fixed end fixed relative to the webbing guide and
an inflatable end portion inflatable away from the fixed end along
the webbing. The clamp is attached to the inflatable end portion
and is movable from an unlocked position disengaged with the
webbing to a locked position engaging the webbing.
Inventors: |
Faruque; Mohammed Omar; (Ann
Arbor, MI) ; Barbat; Saeed David; (Novi, MI) ;
Jaradi; Dean M.; (Macomb, MI) ; Farooq; S.M.
Iskander; (Novi, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ford Global Technologies, LLC |
Dearborn |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Ford Global Technologies,
LLC
Dearborn
MI
|
Family ID: |
59270873 |
Appl. No.: |
15/170492 |
Filed: |
June 1, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 2022/1818 20130101;
B60R 21/18 20130101; B60R 22/023 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60R 21/18 20060101
B60R021/18 |
Claims
1. A seatbelt assembly comprising: a webbing guide defining a slot;
webbing extending through the slot; an airbag including a fixed end
fixed relative to the webbing guide and an inflatable end portion
inflatable away from the fixed end along the webbing; and a clamp
attached to the inflatable end portion and being movable from an
unlocked position disengaged with the webbing to a locked position
engaging the webbing; wherein the clamp includes two jaws hinged
relative to each other.
2. The seatbelt assembly of claim 1, wherein the airbag includes a
bore extending from the fixed end to the inflatable end portion and
receiving the webbing.
3. The seatbelt assembly of claim 1, wherein the fixed end of the
airbag is fixed to the webbing guide.
4. The seatbelt assembly of claim 1, wherein the inflatable end
portion of the airbag includes a free end spaced from the fixed end
when the airbag is inflated, and wherein the clamp is attached to
the free end.
5. (canceled)
6. The seatbelt assembly of claim 1, wherein the jaws include an
opening therebetween, the opening receiving the webbing.
7. The seatbelt assembly of claim 1, wherein the clamp includes a
spring biasing the jaws toward the locked position and a release
counteracting the spring.
8. The seatbelt assembly of claim 7, further comprising a cord
connected to the webbing guide and to the release.
9. The seatbelt assembly of claim 8, wherein the inflatable end
portion is inflatable to an inflated position, and wherein the cord
is shorter than a distance from the fixed end to the release when
the inflatable end portion is in the inflated position.
10. The seatbelt assembly of claim 1, wherein the clamp includes a
release, and further comprising a cord connected to the housing and
to the release.
11. The seatbelt assembly of claim 10, wherein the inflatable end
portion is inflatable to an inflated position, and wherein the cord
is shorter than a distance from the fixed end to the release when
the inflatable end portion is in the inflated position.
12. The seatbelt assembly of claim 1, further comprising a
proximity sensor coupled to the clamp.
13. The seatbelt assembly of claim 1, further comprising an
inertial sensor coupled to the clamp.
14. A seatbelt webbing guide assembly comprising: a webbing guide
defining a slot; an airbag including a fixed end fixed relative to
the webbing guide and an inflatable end portion inflatable away
from the fixed end; and a clamp attached to the inflatable end
portion and being movable from an unlocked position to a locked
position; wherein the clamp includes two jaws hinged relative to
each other.
15. The seatbelt webbing guide assembly of claim 14, wherein the
airbag includes a bore extending from the fixed end to the
inflatable end portion.
16. The seatbelt webbing guide assembly of claim 15, wherein the
bore at the fixed end aligns with the slot.
17. The seatbelt webbing guide assembly of claim 15, wherein the
jaws include an opening therebetween, the opening aligning with the
bore at the inflatable end portion.
18. The seatbelt webbing guide assembly of claim 14, wherein the
clamp includes a spring biasing the jaws toward the locked position
and a release counteracting the spring.
19. The seatbelt webbing guide assembly of claim 18, further
comprising a cord connected to the housing and to the release.
20. The seatbelt webbing guide assembly of claim 19, wherein the
inflatable end portion is inflatable to an inflated position, and
wherein the cord is shorter than a distance from the fixed end to
the release when the inflatable end portion is in the inflated
position.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Vehicles, such as automobiles, may include seatbelts for
occupants. One arrangement of the seatbelt is a three-point
harness: webbing of the seatbelt is anchored around the occupant at
three points. Specifically, the webbing may be connected at a
mounting point below and to one side of a hip of the occupant, may
be connected above and to the same side of a shoulder of the
occupant, and may fasten to the opposite side of the hip of the
occupant. The webbing is divided into a shoulder band crossing from
one shoulder of the occupant to the opposite side of the hip and a
lap band crossing from one side of the hip to the other.
[0002] In the event of a collision, the webbing of the seatbelt may
restrain the occupant against the momentum of the occupant.
Although the seatbelt may reduce the likelihood of injury to the
occupant caused by moving about a passenger cabin of the vehicle or
exiting the vehicle during a collision, in some circumstances, the
webbing may compress the chest of the occupant during
restraint.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle including a
seatbelt assembly.
[0004] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the seatbelt
assembly including a webbing guide in the vehicle.
[0005] FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of the webbing guide
including an airbag in the undeployed position.
[0006] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the airbag in a deployed
position.
[0007] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag in the
deployed position along line 5 of FIG. 4.
[0008] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an end of the airbag in the
deployed position with a clamp of the seatbelt assembly in an
unlocked position.
[0009] 6B is a perspective view of an end of the airbag in the
deployed position with a clamp of the seatbelt assembly in a locked
position.
[0010] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the clamp in the unlocked
position.
[0011] FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the clamp in the locked
position.
[0012] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a control system for the
seatbelt assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] With reference to the Figures, wherein like numerals
indicate like parts throughout the several views, a seatbelt
assembly 30 includes a webbing guide 32 defining a slot 34, webbing
36 extending through the slot 34, an airbag 38, and a clamp 40. The
airbag 38 includes a fixed end 42 fixed relative to the webbing
guide 32 and an inflatable end portion 44 inflatable away from the
fixed end 42 along the webbing 36. The clamp 40 is attached to the
inflatable end portion 44 and is movable from an unlocked position
disengaged with the webbing 36 to a locked position engaging the
webbing 36.
[0014] In the event of a collision of a vehicle 48, the airbag 38
distributes the stopping force of the webbing 36 across a greater
area of a body of an occupant 46, which may reduce chest
compression and may reduce the likelihood of injury to the occupant
46. During a vehicle collision, the webbing 36 of the seatbelt
assembly 30 may apply force to the occupant 46 counteracting the
momentum of the occupant 46 and thus bringing the occupant 46 to a
stop with the vehicle 48. The airbag 38 may distribute and cushion
this force as the force is applied to the occupant 46. When the
inflatable end portion 44 of the airbag 38 inflates away from the
fixed end 42, the clamp 40 moves to the locked position and engages
the webbing 36 to retain the airbag 38 in position relative to the
occupant 46.
[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 48 includes a seat 50 that
may support the occupant 46. The seat 50 may be a front seat or a
rear seat, and may be in any cross-vehicle position. The seat 50
shown in FIG. 1 is a bucket seat, but alternatively the seat 50 may
be a bench seat or another type of seat.
[0016] The seatbelt assembly 30 may include a retractor 52. The
webbing 36 is retractably payable from the retractor 52, i.e., may
be extended from and retracted into the retractor 52. The seatbelt
assembly 30 may include a buckle 58 fixed to the seat 50 and a clip
56 that releasably engages the buckle 58. The clip 56 may slidably
engage the webbing 36 so that the clip 56 may be moved to a desired
position along the webbing 36. When the clip 56 is engaged with the
buckle 58 and the webbing 36 extends across the occupant 46, the
seatbelt assembly 30 retains the occupant 46 on the seat 50, for
example, during sudden decelerations of the vehicle 48.
Specifically, the retractor 30 locks the webbing 36 to prevent
payout of the webbing 36 during a sudden deceleration of the
vehicle 48.
[0017] The seatbelt assembly 30 may include a lap-belt mounting 54
that attaches one end of the webbing 36 to the seat 50. The other
end of the webbing 36 feeds into the retractor 52. The webbing 36
extends freely through the webbing guide 32. The clip 56 slides
freely along the webbing 36 and, when engaged with the buckle 58,
divides the webbing 36 into a lap band 60 and a shoulder band
62.
[0018] The seatbelt assembly 30 of FIG. 1 is a three-point harness,
meaning that the webbing 36 is held at three points around the
occupant 46 when fastened: the lap-belt mounting, the webbing guide
32, and the buckle 58. The seatbelt assembly 30 may, alternatively,
include another arrangement of attachment points.
[0019] The retractor 52 may be attached to a body (not numbered) of
the vehicle 48, e.g., to a B pillar 64 in the instance the seat 50
is a front seat, to a C pillar (not numbered) when the seat 50 is a
rear seat, etc. The retractor 52 may alternatively be mounted to
the seat 50. The retractor 52 may release the webbing 36 to allow
an occupant 46 to position the webbing 36 around the occupant 46
and retract the webbing 36 to take up slack.
[0020] The webbing 36 may extend between the retractor 52 and the
lap-belt mounting 54. Between the retractor 52 and the lap-belt
mounting 54, the webbing 36 may extend through the webbing guide 32
and the clip 56. The webbing 36 may be formed of a fabric in the
shape of a strap.
[0021] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, as set forth above, the
webbing guide 32 defines the slot 34, and the webbing 36 extends
through the slot 34 from the retractor 52 to the clip 56. The
webbing guide 32 may position an end of the shoulder band 62
relative to the occupant 46 and may be located above and outside a
shoulder of the occupant 46. The slot 34 may permit the webbing 36
to freely slide. The webbing guide 32 may include a webbing-guide
housing 66 and a webbing-guide cover 68 attached to the
webbing-guide housing 66. The slot 34 may extend through both the
webbing-guide housing 66 and the webbing-guide cover 68. The
webbing guide 32 may be formed of plastic, metal, components of
each, or any other suitable material or materials.
[0022] The webbing guide 32 may be attached to a body (not
numbered) of the vehicle 48, e.g., to the B pillar 64 in the
instance the seat 50 is a front seat, to a C pillar (not numbered)
when the seat 50 is a rear seat, etc. The webbing guide 32 may
alternatively be mounted to the seat 50.
[0023] With reference to FIG. 4, as set forth above, the airbag 38
includes the fixed end 42 fixed relative to the webbing guide 32
and the inflatable end portion 44 inflatable away from the fixed
end 42 along the webbing 36 toward the clip 56. The fixed end 42
may be fixed to the webbing guide 32. The inflatable end portion 44
of the airbag 38 includes a free end 70 spaced from the fixed end
42 when the airbag 38 is inflated.
[0024] The airbag 38, specifically the inflatable end portion 44,
is inflatable from an uninflated position, as shown in FIGS. 1-3,
to an inflated position, as shown in FIGS. 4-7B. In the uninflated
position, the airbag 38 may be folded against the webbing guide 32,
as shown in FIG. 3. Specifically, the airbag 38 may be folded
inside the webbing guide 32 between the webbing-guide housing 66
and the webbing-guide cover 68. In the inflated position, the free
end 70 may be spaced from the fixed end 42. If the airbag 38 is
folded inside the webbing guide 32 in the uninflated position,
inflating the airbag 38 may detach the webbing-guide cover 68 from
the webbing-guide housing 66. In the inflated position, the airbag
38 may be generally tubular in shape, as shown in FIG. 4.
[0025] The airbag 38 may be formed of any suitable airbag material,
for example, a woven polymer. For example, the airbag 38 may be
formed of woven nylon yarn, for example, nylon 6-6. Other suitable
examples include polyether ether ketone (PEEK),
polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), polyester, or any other suitable
polymer. The woven polymer may include a coating, such as silicone,
neoprene, urethane, and so on. For example, the coating may be
polyorgano siloxane.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 5, the airbag 38 may include a bore 72
extending from the fixed end 42 to the inflatable end portion 44.
The bore 72 may receive the webbing 36; that is, the webbing 36 may
extend through the bore 72, both when the airbag 38 is in the
uninflated position and in the inflated position. The bore 72 at
the fixed end 42 of the airbag 38 may align with the slot 34.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the clamp 40 may be attached to
the inflatable end portion 44 of the airbag 38 and specifically may
be attached to the free end 70 of the airbag 38. The clamp 40 may
be attached, for example, by hooking members (not shown) passing
through fabric of the airbag 38, by stitching into the airbag 38,
or by any other suitable means. The clamp 40 may be movable from an
unlocked position disengaged with the webbing 36, as shown in FIG.
6A, to a locked position engaging the webbing 36, as shown in FIG.
6B.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the clamp 40 may include two
jaws 74 hinged relative to each other, e.g., about a hinge pin (not
numbered). Each jaw 74 includes a gripping surface 78 for engaging
the webbing 36. The gripping surfaces 78 may include teeth and/or
may have a high coefficient of friction relative to the webbing
guide 32. When the clamp 40 is in the unlocked position shown in
FIG. 7A, the gripping surfaces 78 of the jaws 74 may be spaced from
the webbing 36, and the webbing 36 may freely move through the
clamp 40. When the clamp 40 is in the locked position shown in FIG.
7B, the gripping surfaces 78 of the jaws 74 may clamp onto the
webbing 36 to prevent movement of the webbing 36 through the clamp
40.
[0029] The jaws 74 may include an opening 76 therebetween that
receives the webbing 36. The opening 76 may align with the bore 72
at the inflatable end portion 44 of the airbag 38.
[0030] The clamp 40 may include a spring 80 biasing the jaws 74
toward the locked position. The spring 80 may be fastened to each
jaw 74. The spring 80 may be a torsional spring, an extension
spring, a compression spring, or any other suitable spring.
[0031] The clamp 40 may include a release 82 counteracting the
spring 80. In other words, the release 82 may prevent the spring 80
from moving the clamp 40 from the unlocked position into the locked
position. The release 82 may be, for example, a pin 97 fitted into
release slots 98 in the jaws 74 that align when the clamp 40 is in
the unlocked position.
[0032] A cord 84 may be connected to the webbing-guide housing 66
and to the release 82 and may extend from the webbing-guide housing
66 to the release 82. The cord 84 may be shorter than a distance D
(identified in FIG. 4) from the fixed end 42 of the airbag 38 to
the release 82 when the inflatable end portion 44 is in the
inflated position. Thus, as the airbag 38 is inflated to the
inflated position, the cord 84 may pull on the release 82, e.g.,
may pull the pin 97 from the slots 98, to release the clamp 40 to
the locked position.
[0033] As an alternative to the cord 84, a sensor (not shown) may
be coupled to the clamp 40. The sensor may send a signal to a
controller 96 to move the clamp 40 from the unlocked position to
the locked position. The sensor may be, for example, a proximity
sensor. The sensor may detect a distance from the sensor to, for
example, the clip 56. When the distance between the sensor and the
clip 56 decreases below a threshold, the sensor may signal the
release 82 to move the clamp 40 from the unlocked to the locked
position. Alternatively, the sensor may be an inertial sensor. If,
for example, a detected acceleration follows a particular pattern,
such as increasing above a first positive threshold, falling below
a second negative threshold, and rising to zero, the sensor may
signal the release 82 to move the clamp 40 from the unlocked to the
locked position.
[0034] With reference to FIG. 8, an inflator 86 may be in
communication with the airbag 38. The inflator 86 may be disposed
outside the webbing guide 32, for example, in the B pillar 64. Upon
receiving a signal from, e.g., a controller 96, the inflator 86 may
inflate the airbag 38 with an inflatable medium, such as a gas. The
inflator 86 may be, for example, a pyrotechnic inflator that uses a
chemical reaction to drive inflation medium to the airbag 38. The
inflator 86 may be of any suitable type, for example, a cold-gas
inflator.
[0035] The inflator 86 may be connected to the airbag 38 through a
feed line 88. The feed line 88 may travel from the B pillar 64 to
the webbing guide 32. The feed line 88 may be a flexible tube that
maintains a fluid communication between the inflator 86 and the
airbag 38.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 8, a control system 90 may be connected to
the airbag 38. The control system 90 may include the inflator 86,
the controller 96, and an impact sensor 92, in communication
through a communications network 94.
[0037] The controller 96 may be in communication with the impact
sensor 92 and the inflator 86. The controller 96 may be a
microprocessor-based controller. The controller 96 may include a
processor, memory, etc. The memory of the controller 96 may store
instructions executable by the processor.
[0038] The impact sensor 92 may be in communication with the
controller 96. The impact sensor 92 is adapted to detect an impact
to the vehicle 48. The impact sensor 92 may be of any suitable
type, for example, post-contact sensors such as accelerometers,
pressure sensors, and contact switches; and pre-impact sensors such
as radar, lidar, and vision-sensing systems. The vision systems may
include one or more cameras, CCD image sensors, CMOS image sensors,
etc. The impact sensor 92 may be located at numerous points in or
on the vehicle 48.
[0039] The control system 90 may transmit signals through the
communications network 94 such as a controller area network (CAN)
bus, Ethernet, Local Interconnect Network (LIN), and/or by any
other wired or wireless communications network.
[0040] As an example of the operation of the seatbelt assembly 30,
in the event that the vehicle 48 is involved in a collision, first,
the impact sensor 92 detects the collision. The impact sensor 92
signals the controller 96 through the communications network 94.
The controller 96 determines that the airbag 38 should be deployed.
The controller 96 instructs the inflator 86 to inflate through the
communications network 94. The inflator 86 inflates the airbag 38
through the feed line 88. The airbag 38 inflates, pushing the
webbing-guide cover 68 away from the webbing-guide housing 66. As
the airbag 38 inflates, the airbag 38 pushes the shoulder band 62
of the webbing 36 away from a torso of the occupant 46, providing
space between the shoulder band 62 and the occupant 46 for the
airbag 38 to inflate. The airbag 38 follows the shoulder band 62
during inflation because the shoulder band 62 passes through the
bore 72 of the airbag 38. As the airbag 38 inflates, the clamp 40
travels along the shoulder band 62. When the airbag 38 is nearly
fully inflated, the cord 84 becomes taut. The cord 84 pulls the
release 82, allowing the spring 80 to move the clamp 40 from the
unlocked position to the locked position. The gripping surfaces 78
of the jaws 74 presses against the webbing 36 and may prevent the
airbag 38 from retracting. The airbag 38 in the inflated position
is positioned between the occupant 46 and the shoulder band 62. The
airbag 38 distributes the force of the occupant 46 pushing against
the shoulder band 62 across a wider area of the torso of the
occupant 46, and the airbag 38 may thus reduce the likelihood of
injury to the occupant 46.
[0041] The disclosure has been described in an illustrative manner,
and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used
is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than
of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present
disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings, and the
disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically
described.
* * * * *