IP Library Granted Patent US 12,194,947
Granted Patent B2
US 12,194,947 · App. 18/420,757 · Granted Jan 14, 2025

Vehicle occupant restraint device

Inventor: Toshiya Kudou (Anjyo, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60R21/23138B60R21/207B60R21/2338B60R2021/23146B60R2021/23386
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,194,947
App. No.
18/420,757
Granted
Jan 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle occupant restraint device includes: a center airbag that is provided at a side portion at a vehicle width direction inner side of a seatback of the vehicle seat, and that inflates and deploys toward a vehicle width direction inner side of an occupant seated at the vehicle seat due to gas ejected from an inflator being supplied to an interior of the center airbag; and a string-like member, one end portion of the string-like member being attached to a seat front side end portion of the center airbag and another end portion of the string-like member being attached to a retracting device, and the string-like member being pulled toward a seat front side due to the string-like member being retracted by the retracting device at a timing at which the occupant is restrained by the center airbag that has been inflated and deployed.

Claims (28)

1. A vehicle occupant restraint device, comprising:

a vehicle seat that is provided at a vehicle interior so as to be movable in a vehicle front-rear direction by an upper rail that is supported by a lower rail;

a center airbag that is provided at a side portion at a vehicle width direction inner side of a seatback of the vehicle seat, and that inflates and deploys toward a vehicle width direction inner side of an occupant seated at the vehicle seat due to gas ejected from an inflator being supplied to an interior of the center airbag;

a strap member, one end portion of the strap member being attached to a seat front side end portion of the center airbag and another end portion of the strap member being attached to a retracting device, and the strap member being pulled toward a seat front side due to the strap member being retracted by the retracting device at a timing at which the occupant is restrained by the center airbag that has been inflated and deployed;

a tether that is provided further toward a seat upper side than a seat up-down direction central portion at the interior of the center airbag, and that maintains a shape of the center airbag that has been inflated and deployed; and

a tension transmission base cloth that is provided at a seat up-down direction central portion at the seat front side end portion of the center airbag, and to which the one end portion of the strap member is attached,

wherein, in side view, an upper end of the tension transmission base cloth is disposed at a same height position as the tether of the center airbag that has been inflated and deployed, and a lower end of the tension transmission base cloth is disposed at a same height position as an attachment position of the center airbag at the seatback.

2. The vehicle occupant restraint device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the retracting device is provided at a seat front side portion of a seat cushion of the vehicle seat; and

an intermediate portion of the strap member is housed in a case that is provided at a seat width direction outer side of the upper rail of the vehicle seat, and the intermediate portion protrudes out from the case at a time at which the intermediate portion is retracted by the retracting device.

3. The vehicle occupant restraint device according to claim 2 , wherein the retracting device comprises:

a spool around which another end portion of the strap member is wound; and

a rack and pinion mechanism that is driven by a gas generator and that causes the spool to rotate.

4. The vehicle occupant restraint device according to claim 2 , wherein:

the strap member is an inflatable tension strap that generates tension due to inflation of a chamber; and

the retracting device comprises an inflator that supplies gas to the chamber.

5. A vehicle occupant restraint device, comprising:

a vehicle seat that is provided at a vehicle interior so as to be movable in a vehicle front-rear direction by an upper rail that is supported by a lower rail;

a center airbag that is provided at a side portion at a vehicle width direction inner side of a seatback of the vehicle seat, and that inflates and deploys toward a vehicle width direction inner side of an occupant seated at the vehicle seat due to gas ejected from an inflator being supplied to an interior of the center airbag; and

a strap member, one end portion of the strap member being attached to a seat front side end portion of the center airbag and another end portion of the strap member being attached to a retracting device, and the strap member being pulled toward a seat front side due to the strap member being retracted by the retracting device at a timing at which the occupant is restrained by the center airbag that has been inflated and deployed,

wherein the retracting device is provided at a seat front side portion of a seat cushion of the vehicle seat, and

wherein an intermediate portion of the strap member is housed in a case that is provided at a seat width direction outer side of the upper rail of the vehicle seat, and the intermediate portion protrudes out from the case at a time at which the intermediate portion is retracted by the retracting device.

6. The vehicle occupant restraint device according to claim 5 , wherein the retracting device comprises:

a spool around which another end portion of the strap member is wound; and

a rack and pinion mechanism that is driven by a gas generator and that causes the spool to rotate.

7. The vehicle occupant restraint device according to claim 5 , wherein:

the strap member is an inflatable tension strap that generates tension due to inflation of a chamber; and

the retracting device comprises an inflator that supplies gas to the chamber.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2024
From: KUDOU, TOSHIYA
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 066236/0721 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-042262 · Mar 16, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240308459A1 · Sep 19, 2024
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