Patent ID: 6604599
Filing Date: 2003-08-12
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
A vehicle occupant restraint system for restraining a lower part of a vehicle occupant in a vehicle crash situation, comprising:a vehicle seat incorporated with a seat belt; a sensor for detecting an impact; a restraining member supported by a vehicle seat so as to be moveable from a retracted position concealed inside the seat to a deployed position projecting upward from said retracted position to restrain a forward movement of a hip area of the vehicle occupant; said restraining member at said deployed position engaging a frame of said vehicle seat at a location above a top surface of a rear end of said vehicle seat and between about 180 mm and about 350 mm ahead of said rear end of said vehicle seat; and a power actuator provided in association with said vehicle seat for actuating said restraining member to said deployed position according to a detection signal from said sensor; said power actuator being adapted to deploy said restraining member substantially before said seat belt effectively restrains the vehicle occupant.