Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-28
2001-08-28
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S804000, C280S808000, C297S473000, C297S481000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279954
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a restraint belt presenter for vehicles, and more particularly to a presenter system that presents the restraint belt to a vehicle occupant.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of restraint belts in vehicles is known for providing vehicle occupants with protection in the event of a collision or accident. Conventional restraint belts include a combination of a lap belt portion and shoulder belt portion formed from a continuous belt. In such an arrangement, one end of the belt is anchored to a structural floor member of the vehicle behind a seat on its outboard side. The other end is secured to a retracting mechanism mounted on or in the ‘B’ pillar rearward from the vehicle door, the outboard edge of the ceiling or floor, or in the seat back. A buckle for engaging with a receptacle positioned adjacent to the inboard side of the vehicle seat, is slidably attached to the belt. When not in use, the retracting mechanism biases the belt and buckle toward the outboard side of the vehicle.
To secure a restraint belt, the vehicle occupant typically must first twist around the seat and reach across their body to try and grab the buckle that is located above and behind the seat. Next, the occupant must draw the buckle and belt across his body such that the shoulder belt portion extends from the retracting mechanism diagonally across the occupant's chest while the lap belt portion is directed across the occupant's lap. Finally, the occupant must releasably secure the buckle to the receptacle. Such prior art restraint systems are undesirable. It is awkward for an occupant to twist around and grab a buckle. Thus, statistics have shown that people will often forget or forego using such prior art restraint systems.
To overcome the problems associated with conventional restraints systems, another type of restraint system known as a“passive” restraint system has been developed. One such passive restraint system uses separate lap and shoulder belts. The lap belt is of a conventional design wherein a retracting mechanism is positioned adjacent to the seat on its outboard side. The shoulder belt has one end attached to the inside of the upper rear corner of the vehicle door. The other end is engaged with a separate retracting mechanism adjacent to the inboard side of the seat. When the vehicle door is opened, the belt extends from the inboard side of the seat away from the seat to the outer comer of the vehicle door, so as to enable the vehicle occupant to enter the vehicle between the shoulder belt and the seat. Once the door is pulled shut, the inboard end of the shoulder belt retracts, thereby securing the shoulder belt around the vehicle occupant. The lap belt is then separately secured across the occupant's lap. While restraint systems of this type reduce the problems associated with the awkward manual fastening of the restraint belt, the positioning of shoulder belt reduces the available room in which the vehicle occupant may enter and exit the vehicle, thus hindering entry and exit of the vehicle.
To provide more room to enter and exit the vehicle, another known type of passive restraint system has the outboard end of the shoulder belt attached to a movable shuttle riding in a track along the upper periphery of the door opening. When the door is opened, the shuttle automatically moves the outboard end of the shoulder belt forward along the track. More room is provided for the occupant to enter and exit the vehicle without becoming inadvertently entangled in the shoulder belt. The lap belt still must be separately and manually fastened across the occupant's lap in the conventional manner.
To simplify restraint systems, another known type of restraint system includes a pivotable armrest positioned on the outboard side of a vehicle seat that has a combination shoulder and lap restraint belt secured in a detent mechanism at the lower forward inboard end of the armrest when the armrest. An end of the lap belt is anchored to the floor of the vehicle while an end of the shoulder belt is retractably attached to a belt reel and tensioner. When the armrest is in a lowered position, the detent serves to position the belt buckle in plain view and adjacent the vehicle occupant to permit easier grasping of the belt buckle for fastening. A guide incorporated with the armrest further assures the proper positioning of the buckle. When the belt is unbuckled and the armrest raised, the buckle is automatically returned to the detent by belt reel and tensioner to maintain the proper positioning of the buckle for the next use. However, the addition of the guide and the detent to the armrest still provide additional manufacturing steps, thereby increasing costs.
Therefore, there exists a need for a restraint presentation system that insures reliable capturing and positioning of the belt for repeated use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a restraint belt presenter assembly for bringing a restraint belt forward comprising a housing having a slot with a recessed portion and a finger assembly movably received in the housing for movement relative to the slot. A biasing member is located in the housing for rotationally biasing the finger assembly toward an actuated position in the recessed portion of the slot. In addition, a track drive mechanism is connected to the housing for selectively driving the housing from an initial position to a final position.
The finger assembly further includes a shaft that is connected to a finger, preferably by a pivoting connection. Moreover, the shaft has a slot for receiving a portion of the finger and a bushing is optionally mounted on the shaft for reducing friction between the shaft and the housing. The drive mechanism includes a carriage moved along a track by a belt driven by a motor. Also, a projecting feature is provided along the return path of the presenter assembly for engaging the finger assembly and assisting in moving the finger assembly to the actuated position in a resetting or cocking motion.
Accordingly, the restraint belt presenter assembly of the present invention provides a reliable, efficient device for capturing a restraint belt, moving the belt to a presentation position, allowing a user to easily grasp the belt and remove it from the presenter, and returning the presenter to a starting position to once again be ready to capture the restraint belt during the next restraint belt presentation cycle.
The smooth offset rotary movement of the finger assembly provides a positive mechanical connection for the finger while engaging and moving the belt. In addition, the finger assembly retracts to a streamlined unactuated position to minimize the possibility of the finger interfering with surrounding structure such as the vehicle seat, while the presenter assembly is traveling back to its starting position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3630543 (1971-12-01), Cripps et al.
patent: 4291898 (1981-09-01), Finn et al.
patent: 4363501 (1982-12-01), Takada
patent: 4531762 (1985-07-01), Sasaki et al.
patent: 4589680 (1986-05-01), Gurtler et al.
patent: 4783098 (1988-11-01), Yokouchi
patent: 5022677 (1991-06-01), Barbiero
patent: 5505491 (1996-04-01), Townsend
patent: 5538283 (1996-07-01), Townsend
patent: 5924772 (1999-07-01), Pleyer et al.
patent: 6193275 (2001-02-01), Knox
patent: 3537089 A1 (1987-04-01), None
patent: 2171892 (1986-09-01), None
patent: 2235362 (1991-03-01), None
patent: 2235361A (1991-03-01), None
International Search Report for Application No. PCT/US00/20443 dated Nov. 27,2000.
English Abstract of DE 3537089 from Derwent.
Campbell John E.
DeLorean Paul J.
El-Sayed Mohamed E. M.
Guertin Arthur L.
Kaczmar Michael P.
Bottorff Christopher
Joalto Design Inc.
Rader & Fishman & Grauer, PLLC
Swann J. J.
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