Seat belt apparatus
View Patent ↗A kinetic-energy absorbing member absorbs the kinetic energy of a pull-in member such as a buckle or a lap anchor when reaching a bottom position. The kinetic-energy absorbing member, which includes a thin-walled tubular member that may be made of metal such as iron or aluminum, is arranged between a bracket and buckle. As the pretensioner is actuated, the buckle is pulled by a wire, thereby depressing the kinetic-energy absorbing member against the bracket so that the kinetic-energy absorbing member collapses and the kinetic energy of the buckle is absorbed when reaching the bottom position.
1. A seat belt apparatus comprising:
a seat belt;
a pull-in member;
at least one pretensioner for pulling the pull-in member to tension the seat belt during an emergency event, and
a metallic and tubular kinetic-energy absorbing member that is configured to absorb kinetic energy of the pull-in member when the pull-in member reaches a bottom position,
wherein the tubular kinetic-energy absorbing member comprises a tubular element having two ends and an outer peripheral wall of constant thickness around a passage of constant area along a longitudinal direction of the kinetic-energy absorbing member when in an undeformed state,
wherein the outer peripheral wall of constant thickness is a wall thin enough to gradually depress and deform when absorbing the kinetic-energy of the pull-in member in a deformed state; and
wherein both ends of the absorbing member are free and not fixed.
2. The seat belt apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a peripheral member provided around the pull-in member, wherein the peripheral member is influenced by the pulling of the pull-in member.
3. The seat belt apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the metallic and tubular kinetic-energy absorbing member is composed of iron or aluminum.
4. The seat belt apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pull-in member is a buckle.
5. The seat belt apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pull-in member is a lap anchor.
6. The seat belt apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular kinetic-energy absorbing member has a substantially oval or circular cross-section.
7. The seat belt apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: one or more wires that are configured to pull the pull-in member.
8. The seat belt apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein portions of the one or more wires pass through the tubular kinetic-energy absorbing member and are parallel to a direction in which the pull-in member is pulled.
9. The seat belt apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular kinetic-energy absorbing member is an iron or aluminum pipe.
10. A seat belt apparatus comprising:
a seat belt;
a tongue connected to the seat belt;
a buckle configured to engage the tongue releaseably;
a pull-in member connected to the buckle;
at least one pretensioner for pulling the pull-in member to tension the seat belt during an emergency event, and
a metallic and tubular kinetic-energy absorbing member that is configured to absorb kinetic energy of the pull-in member when the pull-in member reaches a bottom position,
wherein the tubular kinetic-energy absorbing member has two ends and comprises an outer peripheral wall of constant thickness around a passage of constant area along a longitudinal direction of the kinetic-energy absorbing member when in an undeformed state, and
wherein the outer peripheral wall of constant thickness is a wall thin enough to gradually depress and deform when absorbing the kinetic-energy of the pull-in member in a deformed and
wherein both ends of the absorbing member are free and not fixed.
11. A vehicle comprising:
a seat; and
a seat belt apparatus configured to restrain an occupant sitting on the seat during an emergency event, the seat belt apparatus comprising:
a seat belt;
a pull-in member;
at least one pretensioner for pulling the pull-in member to tension the seat belt during an emergency event, and
a metallic and tubular kinetic-energy absorbing member that is configured to absorb -kinetic energy of the pull-in member when the pull-in member reaches a bottom position,
wherein the tubular kinetic-energy absorbing member has two ends and comprises an outer peripheral wall of constant thickness around a passage of constant area along a longitudinal direction of the kinetic-energy absorbing member when in an undeformed state, and
wherein the outer peripheral wall of constant thickness is a wall thin enough to gradually depress and deform when absorbing the kinetic-energy of the pull-in member in a deformed state; and
wherein both ends of the absorbing member are free and not fixed.
12. The vehicle according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a peripheral member provided around the pull-in member,
wherein the peripheral member is influenced by the pulling of the pull-in member.
13. The vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the metallic and tubular kinetic-energy absorbing member is composed of iron or aluminum.
14. The vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the pull-in member is a buckle.
15. The vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the pull-in member is a lap anchor.