84 results about "Occupant safety" patented technology

An apparatus for preventing occupant injury during accident has various features to ensure safety. A sensor 70, detecting seat belt engagement is provided. In addition, there is a means for varying the tension of a seatbelt 17, depending upon the weight of the occupant 110 and the speed of the vehicle carrying the occupant 110. When the occupant 110 seats on any of the seats 17, the load cell switch 18 will close, allowing the load cell output energy to energize the control module 25. The control module 25 will then enables the counter 50 to count the number of closed load cell switches 18. The control module 25 further enables an optoisolator switch configured with the sensor 70 to then energize a latching relay 80 operatively configured to check the seat belt latching of all occupied seats 10 with closed load cell switches 18, to assure occupants safety. The load cells are configured with strain gauges and temperature sensors to ensure human occupants. Such that, when the switch 18 for the occupied seat 10 is closed, the latching relay 80 circuit is energized so that the seat belt 17 for the occupied seat location is checked for buckling. The latching relay 80 circuit and the counter 50 circuit are operatively configured and closed only when an occupant 110 takes any of the seats 10. The latching relay switch 85 is only energized when the counter circuit 50 is closed.

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus (10) for mounting in a portion (20) of a vehicle includes a module (12). The module (12) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (30), an inflation fluid source (32), a cover (40) for the vehicle occupant protection device and the inflation fluid source, and bolts (38) for mounting the module in the vehicle portion. The module cover (40) encloses the inflation fluid source (32) and the protection device (30) when the protection device is in a deflated condition. The module cover (40) is made from a material which is flexible and wrapped around the vehicle occupant protection device (30) and the inflation fluid source (32). The apparatus also includes a deployment door (14), and tabs (90) (104) for releasably mounting the deployment door on the vehicle portion (20) for movement relative to the vehicle portion upon inflation of the protection device (30). The apparatus (10) also includes a flexible tether (16) connecting the deployment door (14) with the module (12) for limiting movement of the deployment door away from the module beyond a predetermined distance upon inflation of the protection device (30).

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus (10) includes an inflatable cushioning device (14), that has a deflated condition and an inflated condition in which the cushioning device (14) is located between the vehicle occupant and the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12). The vehicle occupant safety apparatus (10) also includes a fill tube (22) that has a portion (31) located in the cushioning device (14) and that directs inflation fluid into the cushioning device to inflate it. The vehicle occupant safety apparatus (10) further includes a support device (32) for supporting the fill tube (22) and the cushioning device (14) in the vehicle (12). The support device (32) includes a portion (66) that attaches to the fill tube (22) and an initial connector (42) that supports the fill tube (22) on the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12). The initial connector (42) allows the fill tube (22) to be moved to a desired position relative to the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12). The support device (32) includes a portion (52) for receiving a final connector (46) to fixedly connect the fill tube (22) and cushioning device (14) to the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) in the desired position.

A vehicle crash safety system includes a pre-crash sensing system generating an object threat assessment and vehicle dynamics data, an occupant sensing system generating occupant characteristic data, and an Occupant Safety Reference Model (OSRM) controller for generating a reference safety restraint deployment profile as a function of the object threat assessment, vehicle dynamics data and occupant characteristic data. An active restraint adaptation (ARA) controller in operative communication with the OSRM controller and a decentralized restraint controller. The ARA controller sends restraint deployment targets, and the safety restraint deployment profile to the decentralized restraint controller. The ARA controller may modify input signals to the decentralized controller based on the real-time occupant position trajectory. The decentralized restraint controller is adapted to operate the restraint system as a function of signals from the ARA controller and real-time occupant-restraint system interactions.

A vehicle safety system (10) includes a first vehicle occupant safety device (50) including a first pyrotechnic device (60) that is electrically energizable in response to a first actuation signal (76). The system also includes a second vehicle occupant safety device (50) including a second pyrotechnic device that is electrically energizable in response to a second actuation signal (80). The system includes at least one sensor (14-28) for sensing a first occupant or vehicle condition and for providing a first output signal indicative of the sensed first condition. An electronic control unit (ECU) (30) receives the first output signal (14-28) and in response to the first output signal determines whether one or both of the first and second safety devices should be actuated. An radio frequency (RF) transmitter (40) electrically connected with the ECU (30) is selectively actuatable by the ECU to transmit first and second individually coded RF signals (72, 80). The system (10) includes a first RF receiver (64) electrically connected with the first safety device (50) for receiving the first individually coded RF signal (72) and for providing a first actuation signal (74) for energizing the first pyrotechnic device. The system (10) also includes a second RF receiver electrically connected with the second safety device for receiving the second individually coded RF signal (80) and for providing a second actuation signal for energizing the second pyrotechnic device.

A Restorable Vehicle Occupant Safety System to replace present pyrotechnic airbag systems. The system is comprised of an air pressure storage vessel 21 that is fluidly connected to an air distribution manifold 36, electronic sensors that preclude an impending crash, valves which are sensor activated to inflate airbags for driver, passenger, knee bolster, side impact, and rollover units as well as seatbelt pre-tensioning units. The present system will safely deploy the airbags in a substantially safe increment of time before a crash condition and restore the airbags to their original position in the event the crash condition does not occur.

An anti-carjacking system includes a transmitter programmed to receive a selected vehicle identification number or other code for use with a car assigned with that particular number or code. The system further includes a receiver associated with the computer system of the car so identified by the selected vehicle identification number and means for disabling normal driving operation of the car. There is further provided means for sending a disable command from the transmitter to the receiver so that the particular car with the selected vehicle identification number is rendered non-operational. The system may be implemented in various embodiments including a modified car radio system and a RFID embedded license plate configuration. Methods related to vehicle operation and occupant safety are also provided.

An active safety system for a machine and a process for operating the active safety system are disclosed. The active safety system an active ultrasonic array having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The plurality of ultrasonic transducers can propagate a plurality of sound waves, receive a plurality of echo waves and transform the plurality of echo waves into a plurality of electrical pulses. The plurality of electrical pulses can be transmitted to and received by a three-dimensional imaging circuit. The three-dimensional imaging circuit can generate a 3D image from the plurality of electrical pulses and an electrical control unit can determine a location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image. The electronic control unit can also provide an occupant safety parameter as a function of the location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image and transmit the occupant safety parameter or an instruction related to the occupant safety parameter to an occupant safety system and / or an occupant warning system.

A four-point seat belt system for restraining a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat is disclosed. Two shoulder belts are provided which are buckled together with a pair of lap belts. The convergence of the shoulder belts created at the buckles defines a V-shaped configuration which aids in occupant safety and comfort. Movably-adjustable retractors are provided to anchor the upper end of each shoulder belt to the vehicle seat. A movable headrest having a pair of laterally-adjustable belt loops is provided to further enhance occupant security and comfort.

The invention is a system and use method for providing safety to living occupants inside a closed, locked vehicle, such as a child or a pet left inside, or a driver who has become incapacitated after parking but while still inside the closed, locked vehicle.

Method and device for manipulating at least one parameter of a vehicle and used to improve active and passive occupant safety in a simple manner, the vicinity of a vehicle being monitored for the occurrence of at least one relevant event; a vehicle interior being monitored for the actual position of at least one person (vehicle occupant); signals corresponding to the event or the actual position being supplied to an evaluation unit (22) upon the occurrence of the at least one relevant event and / or on detecting the actual position; and the evaluation unit (22) activating at least one active and / or passive safety system of the vehicle (10) as a function of the at least one detected relevant event and the detected actual position of the at least one person.

An occupant safety apparatus (10) is for mounting on an instrument panel (20) of a vehicle (12) which extends generally rearward in the vehicle from the vehicle windshield (22) and which defines a deployment opening (60). The safety apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable protection device (44) having an uninflated condition and an inflated condition. The safety apparatus (10) also comprises an inflator (46) for, when actuated, inflating the protection device (44). A door (70) covers substantially the entire deployment opening (60). The door (70) has a first edge portion (72) disposed closer to the vehicle windshield (22) and a second edge portion (74) disposed farther from the vehicle windshield. A hinge (76) is connected to the second edge portion (74) of the door adjacent the instrument panel (20). The hinge (76) supports the door (70) on the instrument panel (20) for pivotal movement about the hinge between a closed condition covering substantially the entire deployment opening (60) and an open condition in which the second edge portion (74) of the door remains connected with the hinge and adjacent the instrument panel and the first edge portion (72) of the door is spaced farther from the instrument panel than in the closed condition.

An active safety system for a machine and a process for operating the active safety system are disclosed. The active safety system an active ultrasonic array having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The plurality of ultrasonic transducers can propagate a plurality of sound waves, receive a plurality of echo waves and transform the plurality of echo waves into a plurality of electrical pulses. The plurality of electrical pulses can be transmitted to and received by a three-dimensional imaging circuit. The three-dimensional imaging circuit can generate a 3D image from the plurality of electrical pulses and an electrical control unit can determine a location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image. The electronic control unit can also provide an occupant safety parameter as a function of the location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image and transmit the occupant safety parameter or an instruction related to the occupant safety parameter to an occupant safety system and / or an occupant warning system.

An occupant safety cage (1, FIG. 1) for a transportation vehicle (e.g., a car, truck, etc.) that is separable from but tethered to the vehicle's mainframe and / or remaining portions of the vehicle, is attached by means of stretch and deform cushion mounts (2, FIG. 2) and / or stretch and tear strap mounts (3, FIG. 3) and / or extendable tether cable mounts (4, FIG. 4) and allows the occupant safety cage (1) to separate in any and all relative directions and remains tethered at a safe distance by a controlled design intent of said mounts from the sacrificial areas of the vehicle in stages of implementation (see FIGS. 5 and 6) as resulting from the forces and / or inertia level(s) from thereof as caused by a high-speed collision at the front and / or rear and / or sides of the vehicle as shown in the drawings (see FIGS. 7A and 7B).

A retainer is created between the driver's cab and the frame of a vehicle with a spring-loaded support that permits the displacement of the driver's cab, and with a connecting element by way of which the driver-side support connects to the frame. In order for such retainer to ensure highest possible occupant safety as well as the safety of third parties while permitting low-cost production, a catch plate having one end is attached to the connecting element and its other end is attached to the frame is proposed.

A vehicle occupant safety system has at least one restraint device having at least one adjustable parameter, a vehicle seat having at least one seat sensor detecting the sitting position of a vehicle occupant, a seatbelt system having at least one belt extension sensor detecting the belt extension length, and a control unit determining from the values from the seat sensor and from the belt extension sensor whether a vehicle occupant is in a forward-leaning position. The control unit then specifies the value of the adjustable parameter of the restraint device as a function of a forward-leaning position of the vehicle occupant.

In severe traffic accidents, crumpling the front of the car causes the passenger's leg get stuck between the seat and the car's dashboard. In this article, the condition of the seat and occupant safety sack is checked, which keeps the passenger in place, in heavy crashes, then raises the occupant's knee, and pulls the front seats back as far as possible.

An embodiment of a retractable debris deflector that interrupts the path of road debris thrown up at a tangential angle by a vehicle's rotating wheel. The deflector is conformally shaped to a wheel well cavity and is rotationally attached out of sight within the wheel well cavity at two points on an underside of a vehicle's body panel. The deflector moves along an arched path between a retracted position within the wheel well cavity that is parallel to the wheel's typical direction of rotation and an extended position substantially out from the wheel well cavity that is partially perpendicular to the wheel's direction of rotation. The deflector is releaseably latched into place at the desired position and a force applied to the deflector will allow the deflector to be moved along its arched travel path either towards the extended or back to the retracted position.

A vehicle safety system comprising: at least one occupant safety device (6) for protecting an occupant of the vehicle (1) in the event of a side impact; and a control unit (7) operable to receive information from one or more vehicle sensors (2, 3, 4, 5) and to provide a trigger signal to activate the occupant safety device (6). Under normal driving conditions, a default deployment algorithm is used by the control unit (7) to determine whether the trigger signal should be generated; and if it is determined that loss of control of the vehicle (1) is occurring, or is expected to occur, and the longitudinal speed of the vehicle (1) exceeds a first threshold, the control unit (7) employs a first further deployment algorithm to determine whether the trigger signal should be generated. The first further deployment algorithm being adapted to cause the trigger signal to be generated a shorter time after the initiation of a side impact than is the case for the default deployment algorithm.

The invention discloses an anti-collision device for the front end of a vehicle body, and relates to the technical field of vehicle manufacturing. The anti-collision device comprises a front anti-collision beam, wherein the two ends of the front anti-collision beam are provided with main energy absorption boxes correspondingly, and the main energy absorption boxes are connected with a front longitudinal beam through mounting plates; and a pedestrian protection beam is arranged below the front anti-collision beam, the two ends of the pedestrian protection beam are connected with the adjacent mounting plates through auxiliary energy absorption boxes correspondingly, the two mounting plates are correspondingly connected with two oppositely-arranged auxiliary frame front extension beams, and the two auxiliary frame front extension beams are connected with an auxiliary frame. Compared with the prior art, according to the anti-collision device for the front end of the vehicle body, by increasing a force transferring path of the collision force, the collision kinetic energy is effectively shared, the stress of the front longitudinal beam is reduced, the minimum position of the size of thecross section of the front longitudinal beam in the Y direction is reduced to 45 mm, the excellent collision resistance of the vehicle body can be ensured under the condition that the large tire envelope and the large displacement engine arrangement are met, and the occupant safety is effectively protected.

A method for adjusting a position of a vehicle seat from a reclined position to a pre-determinable safety position. The method includes detecting an imminent or ongoing frontal or semi-frontal collision, pretensioning a seat belt associated with the vehicle seat, the seat belt being directly or indirectly attached to a backrest of the vehicle seat, and adjusting the position of the vehicle seat from the reclined position to the pre-determinable safety position by means of a seat adjustment means associated with the vehicle seat, the seat adjustment means being actuated by a collision force generated by the imminent or ongoing frontal or semi-frontal collision and applied via a seat occupant and / or the seat belt to the vehicle seat. The present invention also relates to an occupant safety arrangement for a vehicle seat.

A safety seat apparatus includes a seat and sliding rails, wherein, the seat are connected on the sliding rails, the sliding rails are rack bar type sliding rails, rollers meshed with the rack bars of the sliding rail are provided on the upper and lower parts of the sliding rails, and a thrust unit is provided at the front end of the sliding rails. The sliding rails are converted into rack bar type sliding rails, rollers are mounted on the upper and lower parts of the sliding rails under the precondition that the sliding rail height and seat journey are not changed, and the rack bar sliding rails are fixed by the rollers. A thrust unit is provided at the front side of the sliding rails, the fore part of the thrust unit inserts the chassis carling of the vehicle chassis, to lift to the lower bent carling position at the front section of the front baffle plate, and is connected and fixed with the lower bent carling through bolts. When collision occurs at the vehicle, the carling and the lower bent carling are squeezed to rapidly shift back, when the lower bent carling is squeezed, the thrust unit is squeezed to rapidly shift back to push the sliding rails, and the sliding rails are rolling with the rollers through the gears, thereby pushing the seat to rapidly shift back, to achieve the object of controlling the collision space and protecting occupant safety.