Four point restraint apparatus

US6305713A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• General Motors LLC · US

Inventors

• James F. Pywell · Shelby Charter Township, US
• Stephen William Rouhana · Plymouth, US
• John William Melvin · Ann Arbor, US
• Joseph D. Mc Cleary · Clinton Township, US
• John Robert Hiben · Lapeer, US
• Raymond J. Saydak · Clinton Township, US
• Kenneth H. De Saele · Armada, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 27, 1999
• Grant date: Oct 23, 2001
• Expiry date: Dec 27, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R2022/4614
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A four point restraint apparatus for a vehicle includes in a preferred embodiment a first pair of flexible lap belts connected at laterally opposite sides of a seat cushion with inner ends transversely connectable to one another across pelvic regions of an occupant and a second pair of flexible shoulder belts connected to a support in the vehicle body and extending forward of the seat back adjacent the neck and across the clavicle of the occupant. The shoulder belts extend from the clavicle essentially parallel downward across front edge portions of the occupant's rib cage to laterally spaced attachment with the lap belts adjacent pelvic regions of an occupant. Additional features of the preferred apparatus include a ramp sloping upward toward a forward edge of the cushion; an upwardly adjustable load-carrying headrest in the seat back for guiding the shoulder belts over the clavicle of an occupant; a load-limiting retractor or laterally spaced dual load-limiting retractors connecting the shoulder belts to the seat back; one or more dynamic pretensioners connected with the lap belts; and maintaining the spacing of the shoulder belts at a constant approximately 62.5 mm lateral offse…