Patent ID: 6155601
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: B60N,B60R

Abstract:
A vehicle seat assembly for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from injury, said assembly comprising, in combination:a seat assembly comprising a seat back and a seat bottom, a pair of side bolsters disposed on each side of said seat back;a combined seat belt and shoulder belt element for restraining an occupant in said seat assembly, said combined seat belt and shoulder belt assembly affixed to said seat assembly,a supplemental shoulder belt element for establishing a secondary path of restraint of the occupant, said supplemental shoulder belt assembly affixed to said seat assembly;said seat bottom including a front portion and a seat ramp upwardly sloped toward said front portion of said seat bottom and a cushion constructed of a rate sensitive compression material having a compressive response to a slow application of force and a rigid response to a rapid application of force;a first pretensioner device operatively connected to said combined seat belt and shoulder belt element,a second pretensioner device operatively connected to said supplemental shoulder belt element; andsaid pretensioner devices adapted to activate in response to a signal from a crash sensor to remove slack from the combined seat belt and shoulder belt element and the supplemental shoulder belt element.