Textiles: weaving – Fabrics – Drier felts
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-13
2001-03-13
Falik, Andy (Department: 3741)
Textiles: weaving
Fabrics
Drier felts
C139S022000, C297S468000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199597
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated, the present invention relates to seat belt webbing, and more particularly to an improved seat belt webbing having low longitudinal stiffness and reduced friction characteristics to assist in retraction and extraction of the seat belt.
Seat belt (also called safety belt) systems have evolved significantly as these systems have become standard equipment in all types of automotive vehicles. Different designs of seat belts have been provided for various types of systems, depending upon the properties desired. It has been recognized that in order to provide an effective seat belt system, it is preferable that the seat belt webbing have various desirable characteristics.
Desirable characteristics of seat belt webbing typically include: good lateral stiffness to help prevent roping or twisting of the seat belt, such as within the “D” ring upon extraction or retraction which could lead to a malfunction of the seat belt system; low longitudinal stiffness to reduce the retraction and extraction of the seat belt into and out of the seat belt winding mechanism; good abrasion resistance to help ensure a long product life; and passenger comfort to promote product use.
Passenger comfort is often associated with reduced spring tension in the winding mechanism. The winding mechanism is used to retract the seat belt when not in use, and typically include a spool upon which the webbing is coiled as well as a spring for applying tension to the seat belt as it is extracted so that it can be automatically retracted when released by the user. The spring tension must be high enough so that the seat belt webbing will be fully retracted with reliability, but the spring tension must not be so great that it causes discomfort to the user as the seat belt is being fastened and worn. A main force resisting retraction of the seat belt webbing is friction generated between the surface of the seat belt webbing and the guide members of the seat belt restraint system through which it passes. All of these traits are now being considered more by purchasers of automobiles when evaluating overall automobile quality, and accordingly, are being carefully evaluated by manufacturers for improvement.
It would be desirable to provide a woven seat belt webbing having all of the desired characteristics as set forth above, as well as a seat belt webbing which permits a winding mechanism with reduced spring tension to be used in order to increase user comfort.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated, the present invention is a webbing for seat belts having a plurality of warp yarns interwoven with a plurality of weft yarns which are inserted through a shed in the warp yarns. The warp yarns include a first group and a second group, with the second group of warp yarns having a higher density across a portion of the width of the shed than the warp yarns of the first group. At least some of the warp yarns in the second group are separated from one another by the warp yarns of the first group. The webbing has two faces and is flexible from a first, generally flat position to a second, flexed position. When the webbing is in the generally flat position, the first and second groups of warp yarns on one fabric face define a generally smooth surface. When the webbing is in the second, flexed position, in which a first portion of the one fabric face is separated from a second portion of the one fabric face by a transition area, and the first portion is positioned generally at an angle &agr; of less than 180° from the second portion of the one fabric face, at least a portion of the second group of warp yarns in the transition area protrude at least partially from the generally smooth surface to define a plurality of ribs.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a webbing for seat belts having a plurality of warp yarns interwoven with a plurality of weft yarns. First and second groups of warp yarns are provided. The first group of warp yarns is interwoven with the weft yarns in a first weave pattern and the second group of warp yarns is interwoven with the weft yarns in a second weave pattern. At least some of the warp yarns in the second group are separated from one another by the warp yarns from the first group. The webbing has two faces and is flexible from a first, generally flat position to a second, flexed position. When the webbing is in the generally flat position, the first and second group of warp yarns on one fabric face define a generally smooth surface. When the webbing is in the second, flexed position, in which a first portion of the one fabric face is separated from a second portion of the one fabric face by a transition area, and the first portion is positioned generally at an angle &agr; of less than 180° from the second portion of the one fabric face, at least a portion of the second group of warp yarns in the transition area protrude at least partially from the generally smooth surface to define a plurality of ribs.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a seat belt system for motor vehicles comprising a seat belt webbing having a plurality of warp yarns interwoven with a plurality of weft yarns which are inserted through a shed in the warp yarns. First and second groups of warp yarns are provided. The second group of warp yarns having a higher density across a portion of the width of the shed than the warp yarns of the first group. At least some of the warp yarns in the second group are separated from one another by the warp yarns from the first group. A winding mechanism having a spool is provided and the seat belt webbing is at least partially coiled on the spool. A shoulder harness guide member is provided at a position generally corresponding to a user's shoulder, and a portion of the seat belt webbing passes over the shoulder harness guide member to redirect the seat belt webbing which extends from the winding mechanism. A buckle member is connected to the seat belt webbing. The seat belt webbing has two faces and is flexible from a first, generally flat position to a second, flexed position. When the webbing is in the generally flat position, the first and second groups of warp yarns on one fabric face define a generally smooth surface. When the webbing is in the second, flexed position, in which a first portion of the one fabric face is separated from a second portion of the one fabric face by a transition area located at the shoulder harness guide member, and the first portion is positioned at an angle &agr; of less than 180° from the second portion of the one fabric face, at least a portion of the second group of warp yarns in the transition area protrude at least partially from the generally smooth surface to define a plurality of ribs which contact the shoulder harness guide member to reduce friction.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of making a seat belt webbing. The method includes:
(a) providing warp yarns in a shedding arrangement for producing a shed;
(b) varying the density of the warp yarns across a width of the shed, to provide first and second groups of warp yarns, the first group of the warp yarns having a first density in a direction of the width of the shed and the second group of the warp yarns having a second, higher density in the direction of the width of the shed and, at least some of the warp yarns of the second group being separated by the warp yarns of the first group;
(c) weaving weft yarns with the warp yarns across the width of the shed;
(d ) stitching along one edge of the webbing to hold the weft yarns in place along the one edge; and
(e) forming elevatable ribs which extend longitudinally along the webbing from the second group of warp yarns which elevate from an inner surface of the webbing as the webbing is folded in a lateral direction.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4174738 (1979-11-01), Berger et al.
patent: 4177839 (1979-12-01), Kikuchi
patent: 4313473 (1982-02-01), Reiter
patent: 4981161 (1991-01-01), Pickering et al.
patent: 5054524 (1991-10-01), Kato et al.
patent: 5167263 (1992-
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld L.L.P.
Falik Andy
Narricot Industries, Inc.
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