Seatbelt restraint

Part of a seat belt, anchored at the top of the seat, adopts a conventional sash/belt arrangement (2a, 2c). The other end of the belt, however, passes under the seat base and protrudes up on the opposite side of the seat base to the above anchorage point. This other end carries a buckle to receive a conventional tongue which slides along the belt. Thus, in use, the belt encircles user's thighs (22) and the seat squab. In an accident a pretensioner activates which tightens the belt, somewhat raising and curling seat squab and user's legs (22), so preventing “submarining” (ie sliding of the user out from under the belt). Alternatively an existing lap/sash belt may be augmented by an extra belt passing from the seat top, across the chest, and around one thigh of the wearer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a seat belt restraint.

BACKGROUND ART

In this specification unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not to be construed as an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.

The three-point seat belt retains the wearer in their seat while spreading the energy of a collision over some of the body's hard points, such as the chest, pelvis, and shoulders.

It has been found however that it is possible for a person wearing a three-point seat belt to ‘submarine’ out of the belt in the event of a collision.

Submarining is the term used to describe the action when a vehicle occupant slides out from under their seat belt during a collision. Submarining can cause serious, even life threatening injuries to the legs, spine and internal organs. Children and small adults are particularly prone to submarining out of their seat belts in a collision.

Five and six point harness systems prevent submarining by using one and two crotch straps respectively, but this is neither comfortable nor convenient for everyday use.

It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a seat belt restraint that reduces the likelihood of the wearer submarining out of their belt, or at the least, provides a useful alternative to the seat belts of the prior art.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present disclosure there is proposed a seat belt restraint including a single, continuous length of belt supporting at least two releasably engageable portions of a seat belt buckle.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a seat assembly including a seat belt restraint that further includes a single, continuous length of belt supporting at least two releasably engageable portions of a seat belt buckle.

Preferably, the seat belt restraint including a belt having a first end fixed to an anchor point, a second end retaining a first portion of a seat belt buckle, and a second portion of a seat belt buckle that is adapted to releasably engage the first portion of the seat belt buckle, said second portion being retained by the belt so that it is free to slide along the belt.

Preferably, a portion of the belt passes beneath a portion of the wearers seat, so that the anchor point and the first portion of the buckle are on opposite sides of the seat when not in use.

Preferably, the first portion of the seat belt buckle is adapted to receive part of the second portion in a releasable engagement.

Preferably, the wearer's seat includes a base portion and a back portion.

Preferably, a portion of the seat belt passes beneath the base of the wearers seat.

Preferably, the base of the wearers seat is adapted to be curled up around their legs when a belt pretensioner deploys.

Preferably, the first portion of the seat belt buckle is a receiving portion, and the second portion is an insertion portion that is adapted to releasably engaged by the receiving portion.

Preferably, the anchor point comprises an inertia reel mechanism.

Preferably, the inertia reel mechanism includes a belt pretensioner.

Preferably there is an anchored belt guide positioned at or toward each side of the base of the wearers seat.

Preferably, the anchored belt guides are mounted to a base portion of the seat frame.

Preferably, in use the lower part of the lap belt sits anterior to the “sit” or ischial bones, while the upper lap sits anterior to the “pelvic” or iliac bones.

Preferably, the seat belt restraint includes a belt guide, over which the belt passes, the guide being support by biasing means.

Preferably, when the belt pretensioner activates, the belt guide is pulled downward against the biasing means so as to increase the extent to which the belt wraps over the shoulder of the wearer.

Preferably, the inertia reel mechanism and belt guide are mounted to the seat frame. This creates what we call a seat module.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a method of wearing the seat belt described above, wherein a portion of the belt passes beneath the wearers seat so that the receiving portion of the buckle is accessible to a first side of the wearer, and the insertion portion of the buckle is drawn from the other side of the wearer and releasably engaged by the receiving portion, thereby looping the belt around the legs of the wearer and the seat portion beneath their legs.

In a further form, the belt is wrapped around a leg of the wearer, and the two portions of the seat belt buckle are engaged.

Preferably, the belt is worn in conjunction with a standard three-point belt.

Preferably, the belt passes beneath the lap portion of the standard three-point belt.

Preferably, the belt is adapted to be retrofitted to a vehicle.

Preferably, the anchor point for the belt is a mount point for a baby capsule.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a method of wearing the seat belt described above, wherein the belt is wrapped around a leg of the wearer, and the two portions of the seat belt buckle are releasably engaged.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a kit of parts for the seat belt restraint described above.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure includes a seat belt including a portion adapted to loop around a leg of a wearer.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate certain embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now toFIG. 1, where an exemplary embodiment of a seat belt restraint and seat assembly is illustrated. Specifically,FIG. 1illustrates a vehicle seat1and a seat belt2for securing a wearer in the seat1. The seat1includes a base portion4and a back portion6.

The seat belt2has a first end that is anchored to the vehicle via an inertia-reel mechanism8. A second end of the belt retains a receiving portion10of a seat belt buckle.

The inertia reel mechanism8is mounted to the seat frame (not shown). The belt is routed up from the reel8and passes over a belt guide100(seeFIG. 3).

The belt guide is a bar102with eyelets104formed into each of its ends, each of which runs on a rail106that is fixed to the seat frame. Each of the eyelets104rests atop a fully extended spring108that has been coiled around the rail106.

A portion of the seat belt2bthen passes through a passageway beneath a base cushion4of the wearer's seat1, so that the anchor point8and the receiving portion10of the buckle are on opposite sides of the seat base portion4when the belt is not in use. This base portion4is a cushion that is firmly secured to the vehicle.

There is an insertion portion12of the belt buckle, which is adapted to be received by and releasably engaged with the receiving portion10. This insertion portion12has a slot through it, through which the seat belt2passes. The belt2retains the insertion portion12then so that it is free to slide along the belt2.

The base cushion4of the wearers seat is adapted to be curled up around their legs if a belt tensioner deploys during an accident.

In use, a vehicle occupant sits20in the seat1and takes hold of the insertion12portion of the seat belt buckle. They then draw this across their body towards the receiving portion10, and releasably engage the two portions of the belt buckle. In doing so, one portion of the seat belt2ais drawn diagonally across their chest, and another portion2cpasses low across their thighs, while portion2bpasses beneath the seat.

In the event of a collision, the belt pretensioner will activate, pulling firmly on the belt2. This will pull the bar102of the belt guide104down against the springs108, increasing the extent to which the belt2wraps over and around the wearers shoulder (over their a-c joint). This limits the wearer's ability to slide sideways from beneath the belt (particularly in side impacts). The belt pretensioner also pulls the belt2firmly around the wearer's legs22and across their chest. This will also cause part of the seat base cushion4to be wrapped up and around the legs22of wearer20(seeFIG. 5).

The position of the belt2around the legs22of wearer and the distortion of the seat base cushion4then co-operates to prevent the wearer from submarining out of the belt. Similarly, the action of the belt guide100will prevent the wearer from being flung forwards from beneath the belt2, a motion often referred to a ‘jack-knifing’.

A significant advantage of mounting this seat belt restraint system to a seat frame is that this creates a seat module, to which the occupant is restrained. This is preferable to having a seat belt that is anchored to a portion of the vehicles roof structure (such as a roof pillar for instance), which may be significantly damaged in a collision, thereby reducing the degree of restraint provided to the wearer of the belt.

A seat module offers further advantages because it is better attached to its human cargo and can move with this cargo in a collision. It is by design more akin to a baby capsule. A module can have passive and/or active attachment points to the vehicle. The advantages of this might be best described by way of example, using two commonly injurious scenarios:1. Rear-end collision—The seat flexes with the tightly secured human eliminating head-headrest strike (so that whiplash injury is reduced); and2. Rollover collision—The seats actively roll backwards in a knee-up, head down position (so that head/neck injury is reduced). This is achievable if a seat mount is deliberately released so that the seat action can mimic a “rocking chair”.

FIGS. 1 through 5illustrate a dedicated system, in which the seat base cushion4is adapted to allow the belt2to pass beneath it.FIGS. 6 and 7, illustrate a further form of the invention, this one being suited for retrofittment to vehicles, yet still preventing submarining.

As before, the seat belt30has a first end that is anchored to the baby capsule anchor point of the vehicle via an inertia-reel mechanism32, and a second end that retains a receiving portion34of a seat belt buckle. Once again, the insertion portion36of the seat belt buckle has a slot through it, through which the seat belt30passes. The belt30retains the insertion portion36then so that it is free to slide along the belt30.

In use, the belt30is wrapped around the leg22of the wearer20and the two portions of the buckle are engaged. When used in connection with a three-point seat belt40, the belt30is passed beneath the lap portion of three-point belt40, and prevents the wearer20from submarining out from beneath the three-point belt40. In addition to this, when the pretensioner for this belt30activates, the fact that it has been routed beneath the lap portion of the three-point belt40reduces the extent to which this portion of the three point belt can impart abdominal injuries on the wearer in the event of a collision.

Referring now toFIG. 8, where there is illustrated a seat frame200having a back portion202and a base portion204. This frame200supports the vehicle seat cushions, as shown inFIG. 9and is adapted to be bolted to the vehicle. The first end of the belt206is mounted to the back portion202of the seat frame200via an inertial reel mechanism, in much the same fashion as was discussed above. The belt208then passes through a pair of belt guides210and212fixed to the base portion204of the frame200, one mounted to each side of the base portion204of the seat frame.

Each of these belt guides has a slot in it, through which the seat belt208passes. Referring now toFIG. 10, the purpose of these brackets210and212is to limit the extent to which the belt208can tighten around and thereby crush the legs22of the wearer in a severe impact.

Referring now toFIGS. 11 and 12, where the seat frame300incorporates a pair of belt guides302and304connected to the base portion306of the seat frame300by brackets308and310. These brackets308and310position these belt guides302and304so that the lower part312of the lap belt sits anterior to the “sit” or ischial bones of the wearer, while the upper part314of the lap belt sits anterior to the “pelvic” or iliac bones. It has been found that these are the ideal positions for these brackets, in that these positions provide the best balance between secure retention of the wearer, without creating excessive crushing pressure on their legs.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognised that departures can be made within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details described herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.