U.S. patent application number 16/156614 was filed with the patent office on 2020-04-16 for restraint system.
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 S.M. Iskander Farooq, Mohammad Omar Faruque, Zhenyan Gao, Dean M. Jaradi.
Application Number | 20200114793 16/156614 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 69954376 |
Filed Date | 2020-04-16 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200114793 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jaradi; Dean M. ; et
al. |
April 16, 2020 |
RESTRAINT SYSTEM
Abstract
A restraint system includes a seatback frame, a webbing guide
attached to the seatback frame, webbing extending from below the
seatback frame through the webbing guide, and a tether attached to
the webbing and retractable to the seatback frame above the webbing
guide. The restraint system may include a roller coupled to the
seatback frame above the webbing guide, and the tether is at least
partially wound around the roller.
Inventors: |
Jaradi; Dean M.; (Macomb,
MI) ; Faruque; Mohammad Omar; (Ann Arbor, MI)
; Farooq; S.M. Iskander; (Novi, MI) ; Gao;
Zhenyan; (Northville, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ford Global Technologies, LLC |
Dearborn |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Ford Global Technologies,
LLC
Dearborn
MI
|
Family ID: |
69954376 |
Appl. No.: |
16/156614 |
Filed: |
October 10, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/688 20130101;
B60R 22/023 20130101; B60R 22/26 20130101; B60R 22/36 20130101;
B60R 2022/1825 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60N 2/68 20060101
B60N002/68; B60R 22/26 20060101 B60R022/26 |
Claims
1. A restraint system comprising: a seatback frame; a webbing guide
attached to the seatback frame; webbing extending from below the
seatback frame through the webbing guide; and a tether attached to
the webbing and retractable to the seatback frame above the webbing
guide.
2. The restraint system of claim 1, further comprising a ring
attached to the tether, wherein the webbing extends slidably
through the ring.
3. The restraint system of claim 1, further comprising a roller
coupled to the seatback frame above the webbing guide, wherein the
tether is at least partially wound around the roller.
4. The restraint system of claim 3, further comprising a spring
coupled to the roller, wherein the tether is retractable by the
roller to a retracted position, and the spring is positioned to
bias the roller to retract the tether to the retracted
position.
5. The restraint system of claim 3, wherein the seatback frame
includes a top surface, and the roller is disposed less than
one-fourth of a length of the seatback frame longitudinally from
the top surface.
6. The restraint system of claim 3, further comprising a floor and
a retractor fixed to the floor, wherein the webbing is retractable
into the retractor, and a yield load of the retractor from the
webbing is greater than a yield load of the roller from the
tether.
7. The restraint system of claim 6, wherein the yield load of the
retractor from the webbing is at least ten times greater than the
yield load of the roller from the tether.
8. The restraint system of claim 3, wherein the seatback frame
includes two lateral sides opposite each other and a top surface
extending from one of the lateral sides to the other of the lateral
sides, the restraint system further comprising a head restraint
attached to the seatback frame at the top surface, wherein the
roller is disposed on the top surface laterally between the head
restraint and one of the lateral sides.
9. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein the seatback frame
includes a top surface, and the webbing guide is disposed at least
one-fourth of a length of the seatback frame longitudinally from
the top surface.
10. The restraint system of claim 1, further comprising a
seat-bottom frame and a hinge coupling the seat-bottom frame to the
seatback frame, wherein the webbing guide is disposed at least
one-fourth of a length of the seatback frame longitudinally from
the hinge.
11. The restraint system of claim 1, further comprising a floor and
a retractor fixed to the floor, wherein the webbing is retractable
into the retractor.
12. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein the webbing below the
webbing guide extends behind the seatback frame.
13. The restraint system of claim 1, further comprising a
seat-bottom frame hingedly coupled to the seatback frame, and an
anchor fixed to the seat-bottom frame and to which the webbing
extends.
14. The restraint system of claim 13, further comprising a tongue
slidable along the webbing between the anchor and where the tether
is attached to the webbing.
15. The restraint system of claim 14, further comprising a buckle
fixed to the seat-bottom frame and engageable with the tongue,
wherein the anchor and the buckle are attached at opposing sides of
the seat-bottom frame.
16. The restraint system of claim 1, further comprising a seatback
cover extending around the seatback frame and including a front
panel, wherein the front panel includes a slit through which the
webbing extends.
17. The restraint system of claim 16, wherein the seatback cover
includes a top panel, and the slit is disposed at least one-fourth
of a length of the seatback frame longitudinally from the top
panel.
18. The restraint system of claim 16, further comprising a
seat-bottom frame and a hinge coupling the seat-bottom frame to the
seatback frame, wherein the slit is disposed at least one-fourth of
a length of the seatback frame longitudinally from the hinge.
19. The restraint system of claim 16, wherein the seatback cover is
positioned to conceal the webbing guide.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Automobiles include restraint systems for occupants. The
most common restraint system is a three-point harness, meaning that
webbing is attached at three points around the occupant when
fastened: an anchor, a retractor, and a buckle. The buckle is
typically located on one side of a seat bottom. The anchor is
typically located on the other side of the seat bottom than the
buckle and attaches one end of the webbing to the seat bottom. The
other end of the webbing feeds into the retractor, includes a spool
that extends and retracts the webbing. The webbing typically
extends through a webbing guide on the way to the retractor, and
the webbing guide is typically located at a top of a seatback or on
a pillar of the vehicle above the top of the seatback. A tongue
slides freely along the webbing and, when engaged with the buckle,
divides the webbing into a lap band and a shoulder band.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a passenger cabin including
a seat.
[0003] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seat.
[0004] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the seat.
[0005] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the seat with upholstery and
cushions removed for illustration.
[0006] FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the seat with
upholstery and cushions removed for illustration.
[0007] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of a portion of the seat
with upholstery and cushions removed for illustration.
[0008] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the seat with
upholstery and cushions removed for illustration.
[0009] FIG. 8 is a side view of the seat with an occupant
upright.
[0010] FIG. 9 is a side view of the seat with the occupant leaning
forward.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] A restraint system includes a seatback frame, a webbing
guide attached to the seatback frame, webbing extending from below
the seatback frame through the webbing guide, and a tether attached
to the webbing and retractable to the seatback frame above the
webbing guide.
[0012] The restraint system may further include a ring attached to
the tether, and the webbing may extend slidably through the
ring.
[0013] The restraint system may further include a roller coupled to
the seatback frame above the webbing guide, and the tether may be
at least partially wound around the roller. The restraint system
may further include a spring coupled to the roller, and the tether
may be retractable by the roller to a retracted position, and the
spring may be positioned to bias the roller to retract the tether
to the retracted position.
[0014] The roller may be disposed less than one-fourth of a length
of the seatback frame longitudinally from the top surface.
[0015] The restraint system may further include a floor and a
retractor fixed to the floor, and the webbing may be retractable
into the retractor, and a yield load of the retractor from the
webbing may be greater than a yield load of the roller from the
tether. The yield load of the retractor from the webbing may be at
least ten times greater than the yield load of the roller from the
tether.
[0016] The seatback frame may include two lateral sides opposite
each other and a top surface extending from one of the lateral
sides to the other of the lateral sides, and the restraint system
may further include a head restraint attached to the seatback frame
at the top surface, and the roller may be disposed on the top
surface laterally between the head restraint and one of the lateral
sides.
[0017] The seatback frame may include a top surface, and the
webbing guide may be disposed at least one-fourth of a length of
the seatback frame longitudinally from the top surface.
[0018] The restraint system may further include a seat-bottom frame
and a hinge coupling the seat-bottom frame to the seatback frame,
and the webbing guide may be disposed at least one-fourth of a
length of the seatback frame longitudinally from the hinge.
[0019] The restraint system may further include a floor and a
retractor fixed to the floor, and the webbing may be retractable
into the retractor.
[0020] The webbing below the webbing guide may extend behind the
seatback frame.
[0021] The restraint system may further include a seat-bottom frame
hingedly coupled to the seatback frame, and an anchor fixed to the
seat-bottom frame and to which the webbing extends. The restraint
system may further include a tongue slidable along the webbing
between the anchor and where the tether is attached to the webbing.
The restraint system may further include a buckle fixed to the
seat-bottom frame and engageable with the tongue, and the anchor
and the buckle may be attached at opposing sides of the seat-bottom
frame.
[0022] The restraint system may further include a seatback cover
extending around the seatback frame and including a front panel,
and the front panel may include a slit through which the webbing
extends. The seatback cover may include a top panel, and the slit
may be disposed at least one-fourth of a length of the seatback
frame longitudinally from the top panel.
[0023] The restraint system may further include a seat-bottom frame
and a hinge coupling the seat-bottom frame to the seatback frame,
and the slit may be disposed at least one-fourth of a length of the
seatback frame longitudinally from the hinge.
[0024] The seatback cover may be positioned to conceal the webbing
guide.
[0025] With reference to the Figures, a restraint system 32 in a
vehicle 30 includes a seatback frame 34, a webbing guide 36
attached to the seatback frame 34, webbing 38 extending from below
the seatback frame 34 through the webbing guide 36, and a tether 40
attached to the webbing 38 and retractable to the seatback frame 34
above the webbing guide 36.
[0026] The restraint system 32 permits the webbing 38 to be
positioned conveniently for an occupant before the occupant buckles
in, and also allows the webbing guide 36 to be located at a low
position. The tether 40 can pull the webbing 38 to a higher
position than absent the tether 40, and the higher position can
provide ease of access to the occupant when sitting in a seat 42
and reaching for the webbing 38. The low position of the webbing
guide 36 may reduce chest deflection and shoulder band force during
an impact, and may reduce twisting of the webbing 38 during an
oblique impact.
[0027] With reference to FIG. 1, the vehicle 30 may be any
passenger or commercial automobile such as a car, a truck, a sport
utility vehicle, a crossover, a van, a minivan, a taxi, a bus,
etc.
[0028] The vehicle 30 includes a passenger cabin 44 to house
occupants, if any, of the vehicle 30. The passenger cabin 44
includes the seats 42 including one or more front seats 42 disposed
at a front of the passenger cabin 44 and one or more back seats 42
disposed behind the front seats 42. The passenger cabin 44 may also
include third-row seats 42 (not shown) at a rear of the passenger
cabin 44. In FIG. 1, the seat 42 is shown to be a bucket seat, but
the seats 42 may be bench seats or other types. The position and
orientation of the seats 42 and components thereof may be
adjustable by an occupant. While the restraint system 32 is
discussed below with respect to a single seat, the restraint system
32 may be used for one, some, or all the seats 42 in the vehicle
30.
[0029] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the seat 42 may include a
seatback 46, a seat bottom 48, and a head restraint 50. The head
restraint 50 may be supported by the seatback 46 and may be
stationary or movable relative to the seatback 46. The seatback 46
may be supported by the seat bottom 48 and may be stationary or
movable relative to the seat bottom 48. The seatback 46, the seat
bottom 48, and/or the head restraint 50 may be adjustable in
multiple degrees of freedom. Specifically, the seatback 46, the
seat bottom 48, and/or the head restraint 50 may themselves be
adjustable, in other words, adjustable components within the
seatback 46, the seat bottom 48, and/or the head restraint 50,
and/or may be adjustable relative to each other.
[0030] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the seat 42 includes a seat
frame 52. The seat frame 52 may include panels and/or may include
tubes, beams, etc. The frame may be formed of any suitable plastic
material, e.g., carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), glass
fiber-reinforced semi-finished thermoplastic composite
(organosheet), etc. Alternatively, for example, some or all
components of the frame may be formed of a suitable metal, e.g.,
steel or aluminum.
[0031] The seat frame 52 includes the seatback frame 34 and a
seat-bottom frame 54. A hinge 56 couples the seat-bottom frame 54
and the seatback frame 34 together. The hinge 56 permits the
seatback frame 34 to rotate relative to the seat-bottom frame 54.
The seatback frame 34 extends from the hinge 56 to a top surface
58. The seatback frame 34 includes two lateral sides 60 opposite
each other. The top surface 58 extends from one of the lateral
sides 60 to the other of the lateral sides 60. The head restraint
50 is attached to the top surface 58 between the lateral sides 60
and spaced from the lateral sides 60.
[0032] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, cushions 62 are supported
on the seat frame 52. The cushions 62 may be made of cushioning
material covered with upholstery 64. The cushioning material may be
formed of foam or any other suitable supportive material. The
upholstery 64 may be formed of cloth, leather, faux leather, or any
other suitable material. The upholstery 64 may be stitched in
panels around the foam. The seat bottom 48 includes the seat-bottom
frame 54, one or more of the cushions 62 mounted on the seat-bottom
frame 54, and upholstery 64 extending over the cushions 62. The
seatback 46 includes the seatback frame 34, one or more of the
cushions 62 mounted on the seatback frame 34, and a seatback cover
66 made of upholstery 64 extending over the cushions 62. The
seatback cover 66 includes a front panel 68 positioned where a back
of an occupant sitting in the seat 42 would rest, and a top panel
70 extending over the top surface 58 of the seatback frame 34.
[0033] An anchor 72 attaches one end of the webbing 38 to the seat
frame 52, e.g., to the seat-bottom frame 54. The other end of the
webbing 38 feeds into a retractor 74, which may include a spool
that extends and retracts the webbing 38. The webbing 38 is
retractable into the retractor 74. A buckle 76 is fixed to the
seat-bottom frame 54, and the anchor 72 and the buckle 76 are
attached at opposing lateral sides 60 of the seat-bottom frame 54.
A tongue 78 is freely slidable along the webbing 38 between the
anchor 72 and where the tether 40 is attached to the webbing 38,
and the buckle 76 and the tongue 78 are engageable to lock the
tongue 78 in the buckle 76. When engaged with the buckle 76, the
tongue 78 divides the webbing 38 into a lap band and a shoulder
band.
[0034] With reference to FIGS. 3-5, the retractor 74 is positioned
below the seat 42. Specifically, the retractor 74 may be fixed to a
floor 80 of the passenger cabin 44 below the seat 42. The retractor
74 includes a spool around which the webbing 38 is wound and a
spring biasing the spool to retract the webbing 38 (not shown). The
retractor 74 may include an emergency locking mechanism and/or an
automatic locking mechanism (not shown). The emergency locking
mechanism locks to prevent extraction of the webbing 38 in response
to a trigger such as sudden deceleration of the vehicle 30, sudden
extraction of the webbing 38, or any other suitable trigger. The
automatic locking mechanism has a load limit, that is, a maximum
force in a direction of extraction of the webbing 38 beyond which
the automatic locking mechanism allows payout even after locking,
as is known. The automatic locking mechanism locks to prevent
extraction of the webbing 38 in response to the webbing 38 being
fully extended from the spool. The retractor 74 has a yield load
from the webbing 38, i.e., a load in a direction of extraction of
the webbing 38 at which the retractor 74 yields, which is greater
than the load limit of the emergency locking mechanism of the
retractor 74.
[0035] With reference to FIG. 6, the webbing guide 36 is attached
to the seatback frame 34. The webbing guide 36 is disposed at least
one-fourth of a length of the seatback frame 34 longitudinally from
the top surface 58, and the webbing guide 36 is disposed at least
one-fourth of a length of the seatback frame 34 longitudinally from
the hinge 56. The seatback cover 66 is positioned to conceal the
webbing guide 36; i.e., the seatback cover 66 blocks occupants in
the passenger cabin 44 from seeing the webbing guide 36. The
webbing guide 36, possibly with the seatback frame 34, defines a
passage through which the webbing 38 passes; e.g., the webbing
guide 36 may have a "C" shape attached to the seatback frame 34 so
as to define a slot. The webbing guide 36 is positioned to accept
webbing 38 extending up from behind the seatback frame 34, from
which the webbing 38 can extend up and in front of the seatback
frame 34.
[0036] With reference to FIG. 7, a roller 82 is coupled to the
seatback frame 34 above the webbing guide 36. The roller 82 is
disposed less than one-fourth of a length of the seatback frame 34
longitudinally from the top surface 58. The roller 82 may be
disposed on the top surface 58. The roller 82 is disposed laterally
between the head restraint 50 and one of the lateral sides 60. The
roller 82 is rotatable relative to the seatback frame 34. For
example, the roller 82 may be disposed in a housing 84 that is
fixed relative to the seatback frame 34.
[0037] The tether 40 is retractable to the seatback frame 34 above
the webbing guide 36. The tether 40 is attached to and at least
partially wound around the roller 82. Rotating the roller 82 in one
direction allows extraction of the tether 40, and rotating the
roller 82 in the other direction retracts the tether 40. The tether
40 may be a cord, i.e., have a round cross-section, such as
synthetic rope; alternatively, the tether 40 may be formed of the
same material and/or cross-sectional shape as the webbing 38.
[0038] A spring 86 is coupled to the roller 82 and to the seatback
frame 34. The spring 86 is positioned to bias the roller 82 to
retract the tether 40 to the retracted position, e.g., one end of
the spring 86 fixed to the roller 82 and the other end of the
spring 86 fixed to the housing 84. The spring 86 may be loaded in
tension or compression when the tether 40 is fully retracted to a
retracted position, and the spring 86 may be further loaded in
either tension or compression when the tether 40 is extended from
the roller 82. Thus, the spring 86 may exert a force tending to
retract the tether 40. The spring 86 may be a spiral torsion spring
or any other suitable type of spring.
[0039] A ring 88 is attached to the tether 40, and the webbing 38
extends slidably through the ring 88. The ring 88 may have a
circular shape, or the ring 88 may have an elongated shape defining
a slot sized for the cross-section of the webbing 38. When the
roller 82 retracts the tether 40, the ring 88 is pulled closer to
the top surface 58 of the seatback frame 34 and pulls the webbing
38 closer to the top surface 58 of the seatback frame 34.
[0040] The roller 82 and the spring 86 may be designed to pull the
shoulder band of the webbing 38 higher along the seatback 46 for
ease of access by an occupant when buckling in. In particular, the
occupant may find locating the webbing 38 easier when the webbing
38 is raised above the height of the webbing guide 36. When the
restraint system 32 is not buckled, the roller 82, the spring 86,
and the ring 88 locate the webbing 38 at a height comparable to a
conventional restraint system with a webbing guide 36 at a top of
the seatback 46 or on a B pillar of the vehicle 30. The spring 86
may have a sufficient stiffness to pull the weight of the webbing
38 into the fully retracted position. The roller 82 and the spring
86 may lack strength to restrain an occupant during an impact. The
yield load of the retractor 74 from the webbing 38 is greater,
e.g., at least ten times greater, than a yield load of the roller
82 from the tether 40, i.e., a load in a direction of extraction of
the tether 40 at which the roller 82 yields.
[0041] Returning to FIG. 2, the front panel 68 of the seatback
cover 66 includes a slit 90 through which the webbing 38 extends.
The slit 90 may be oriented substantially horizontally. The slit 90
may have a length slightly longer than a width of the webbing 38.
The slit 90 may be disposed at a height near and slightly above the
webbing guide 36. The slit 90 is disposed at least one-fourth of a
length of the seatback frame 34 longitudinally from the top panel
70, and the slit 90 is disposed at least one-fourth of a length of
the seatback frame 34 longitudinally from the hinge 56.
[0042] A bezel 92 is disposed in the slit 90. The bezel 92 may
extend through the seatback cover 66 and through the cushion 62 for
the seatback 46. The bezel 92 may be attached to the seatback cover
66 at the slit 92 with, e.g., stitching. The bezel 92 may be a
rigid plastic such as polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene (ABS), etc. The bezel 92 may have a tube shape and may
define a slot through which the webbing 38 extends, the slot having
a width slightly wider than the width of the webbing 38 and a
height slightly taller than the thickness of the webbing 38.
[0043] With reference to FIGS. 2-5, the webbing 38 is retractably
attached to the retractor 74; then extends behind the seatback
frame 34 from below the seatback frame 34 to the webbing guide 36;
then slidably extends through, in order, the webbing guide 36, the
slit 90, the ring 88, and the tongue 78; and is fixedly attached at
the anchor 72. The restraint system 32 is a three-point harness,
meaning that the webbing 38 extends to three points around the
occupant when the tongue 78 is fastened into the buckle 76: the
anchor 72, the buckle 76, and the webbing guide 36. The lap band of
the webbing 38 extends around the waist of the occupant from the
anchor 72 to the buckle 76, and the shoulder band of the webbing 38
extends from the buckle 76 over one of the shoulders of the
occupant to the webbing guide 36.
[0044] With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, in the event of an impact,
the occupant sitting in the seat 42 may have forward and lateral
momentum. The shoulder band of the webbing 38 is pulled by the
torso of the occupant, and the emergency locking mechanism of the
retractor 74 prevents further extraction of the webbing 38. The
webbing guide 36 acts as the fulcrum about which the webbing 38
rotates as the webbing 38 is pulled by the torso. The webbing guide
36 is located below the height of the shoulder of most occupants.
The position of the webbing guide 38 may make momentum of the
occupant less likely to slip the occupant beneath the webbing 38.
The force of the shoulder band of the webbing 38 is distributed
along the chest as well as along the shoulder, which can provide
low force on the chest and low chest deflection.
[0045] 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.
* * * * *