Patent ID: 6213512
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A vehicle occupant protection system for a vehicle comprising:two sensors, a first sensor sensing a distance between the vehicle and an object adjacent to the vehicle and generating a first sensor signal indicative of the distance between the vehicle and the adjacent object, a second sensor sensing the occurrence of a vehicle crash event and generating a second sensor signal indicative of the occurrence of the vehicle crash event;a seat belt assembly, the seat belt assembly including a length of webbing, a buckle tongue, and a buckle, the length of webbing being extensible about an occupant of the vehicle, the buckle tongue being slidably attached to the webbing, the buckle releasably receiving the buckle tongue;a retractor assembly, the retractor assembly having an actuator, a spool, and a spring, the retractor being located on a side of the vehicle seat opposite the buckle, the spool being rotatable to wind a portion of the webbing around the spool, the spring applying a first tightening force to the webbing by rotating the spool to wind a portion of the webbing around the spool;the actuator applying a second tightening force to the webbing by further rotating the spool to wind a portion of the webbing around the spool when the first sensor signal indicates that the distance between the vehicle and the adjacent object is within a predetermined distance, the second tightening force being greater than the first tightening force; andan actuatable pretensioner device being attached to the buckle, the actuatable pretensioner causing downward movement of the buckle to apply a third tightening force to the webbing when the second sensor signal indicates the occurrence of the vehicle crash event, the third tightening force being greater than both the first and the second tightening forces.