Patent ID: 6669234
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A method of operating a seat belt system comprising a seat belt buckle and a tongue manually insertable into the buckle and a buckle presenter mechanism for moving the buckle from a stowed condition in which the buckle is located to the side of an occupant to a presented position generally in front of the occupant and a tongue presenter mechanism for moving the tongue from a stowed condition in which the tongue is respectively located at an opposite side of the occupant to a tongue presented position generally in front of the occupant, the method comprising the steps of:a) monitoring if an occupant has sat down on a seat cushion; b) moving the tongue presenter, and hence the tongue, from its stowed position to its forward or active position; c) moving the buckle presenter (100) and buckle from its stowed position to its corresponding forward or active position; d) monitoring whether or not the tongue (24) has been locked in the buckle; e) moving the buckle presenter, with the tongue locked to the buckle, to the buckle stowed position; f) also stowing the tongue presenter and; g) deactivating a buckle pretensioner at least until the buckle and tongue have been moved to the buckle stowed position.