Seatbelt Height Adjuster with Leaf Spring Biasing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current seatbelt systems do not effectively manage the kinematics of occupants during vehicle impacts, particularly in front or oblique collisions, as they fail to distribute loads efficiently across varying occupant sizes and positions.
Innovation Solution
A seatbelt height adjuster mechanism that includes a track, a slider, slots, and teeth, along with leaf springs, which allows for adjustable positioning of the D-ring to accommodate different occupant heights and engages a locked state during impacts to distribute loads across the vehicle pillar.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the D-ring is manually adjustable to accommodate varying shoulder heights, then adaptability to different occupants is improved, but the device complexity increases and the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seatbelt height adjuster automatically detects occupant presence and adjusts the D-ring height without manual intervention. The system uses sensors to detect when an occupant enters the vehicle and autonomously positions the seatbelt at the appropriate height, eliminating the need for manual adjustment mechanisms while maintaining adaptability to different occupants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment mechanisms with an automated system using sensors, actuators, and control logic. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical adjustment components while achieving the same adaptability function through electronic control, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If the seatbelt system does not manage occupant kinematics during impacts, then the device complexity remains low, but the reliability of occupant protection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seatbelt height adjuster incorporates sensors to detect occupant presence, position, and vehicle impact conditions. The system uses this feedback information to automatically adjust the D-ring height before impact and to control load distribution during impact, thereby improving reliability of occupant protection through real-time monitoring and adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary adjustment of the D-ring height when an occupant enters the vehicle, positioning the seatbelt optimally before any impact occurs. This preliminary action ensures that when an impact happens, the seatbelt is already correctly positioned to manage occupant kinematics effectively, improving protection reliability without requiring complex real-time adjustment during the impact event.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the seatbelt system distributes loads across varying occupant sizes, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity and difficulty of detecting and measuring increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to detect occupant presence and characteristics, providing feedback that enables the control system to determine appropriate D-ring height positions for different occupant sizes. This automated detection and measurement process simplifies the complexity of adapting to varying occupant sizes by using electronic sensing rather than manual measurement or adjustment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The mechanism ensures that the seatbelt assembly can control the kinematics of the occupant by distributing loads effectively across the vehicle body during impacts, regardless of occupant size or position, enhancing safety by maintaining the webbing's engagement and load distribution.
Implementation Method 1
Leaf springs are disposed on opposite sides of the slider. The leaf springs each engaged with the track and biasing the slider in opposite directions
Data Source
AI summary
A seatbelt height adjuster includes a track, a slider slidably coupled to the track, slots in one of the track and the slider and teeth on the other of the track and the slider. The teeth are selectively engageable with the slots. The seatbelt height adjuster includes a D-ring supported by the slider and leaf springs disposed on opposite sides of the slider. The leaf springs are each engaged with the track and biasing the slider in opposite directions.