Apparatus for use with child a child seat in a vehicle having a seat belt webbing pretensioner

US6357790B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• TRW Limited · US

Inventors

• Timothy A. Swann · Mesa, US
• John W. Nicklos · Chandler, US
• Ahmad K. Al-Amin · Gilbert, US
• Roy D. Van Wynsberghe · Mesa, US
• Bryan W. Shirk · Mesa, US
• Eric C. Erike · Mesa, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 20, 2000
• Grant date: Mar 19, 2002
• Expiry date: Jan 20, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R21/01564
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for use with a removable child seat (12) in a vehicle (14) comprises a vehicle seat (20) on which a removable child seat may or may not be present, and a seat belt webbing pretensioner (40) for retracting seat belt webbing (30) associated with the vehicle seat. A first sensor (58) provides a first output signal in response to a vehicle collision of a magnitude above a predetermined threshold. A second sensor (60) provides a second output signal in response to the presence of a child seat (12) on the vehicle seat (20). A controller (50) receives the first and second output signals and, in response to the first output signal, actuates the seat belt webbing pretensioner (40) when a child seat (12) is not present on the vehicle seat (20) and inhibits actuation of the seat belt webbing pretensioner when a child seat is present on the vehicle seat.