Abstract:
An apparatus ( 12 ) includes a primary housing ( 20 ) constructed from sheet metal by stamping, a primary inflation fluid source ( 100 ), a secondary housing ( 70 ) constructed from sheet metal by stamping, and a secondary inflation fluid source ( 200 ). The primary inflation fluid source ( 100 ) is located in the primary housing ( 20 ) and is actuatable to effect a primary flow of inflation fluid out of the primary housing to inflate the inflatable device ( 14 ). The secondary housing ( 70 ) is disposed within the primary housing ( 20 ). The secondary inflation fluid source ( 200 ) is located in the secondary housing ( 70 ) and is actuatable to affect a secondary flow of inflation fluid to supplement the primary flow of inflation fluid. The secondary housing ( 70 ) has a first portion ( 77 ) that moves at least partially out of engagement with a second portion ( 74 ) of the secondary housing ( 70 ) when the secondary inflation fluid source is actuated.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle. In particular, the present invention relates to vehicle seatbelts and seatbelt systems. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   There are various known apparatuses for helping to protect occupants of a vehicle. For example, it is known to provide a seatbelt for helping to secure or restrain an occupant in a vehicle. Seatbelts may be secured or anchored to the vehicle in a variety of manners, such as by brackets connected to the vehicle with threaded fasteners. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an apparatus for helping to protect occupants seated next to each other in seating of a vehicle. A first seatbelt helps protect an occupant seated in a first portion of the seating. A second seatbelt helps protect an occupant seated in a second portion of the seating, the second seating portion being positioned adjacent the first seating portion. An anchor bracket secures the first and second seatbelts in the vehicle. The anchor bracket includes a first aperture for receiving the first seatbelt, a second aperture for receiving the second seatbelt, and a third aperture for receiving a fastener for securing the anchor bracket to the vehicle. The first, second, and third apertures are aligned along a longitudinal centerline of the anchor bracket. 
   The present invention also relates to an apparatus for helping to protect occupants seated next to each other in seating of a vehicle. A first seatbelt helps protect an occupant seated in a first portion of the seating. A second seatbelt helps protect an occupant seated in a second portion of the seating, the second seating portion being positioned adjacent the first seating portion. An anchor bracket secures the first and second seatbelts in the vehicle. The anchor bracket includes a first aperture for receiving the first seatbelt, a second aperture for receiving the second seatbelt, and a third aperture for receiving a fastener for securing the anchor bracket to the vehicle. The centers of the first, second, and third apertures are centered on a longitudinal centerline that bisects the anchor bracket. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon consideration of the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating a vehicle seatbelt system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a portion of the vehicle seatbelt system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating a vehicle seatbelt system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
   As representative of the present invention,  FIG. 1  illustrates a seatbelt system  10  for helping to protect occupants (not shown) of a vehicle  12 . The seatbelt system  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is implemented in a passenger row of seating  14 , such as second or third row seating. The seatbelt system  10  could, however, be implemented in any row, such as a first or front row vehicle seating (not shown). 
   The seating  14  is supported in the vehicle  12  by vehicle structure  16 , such as a floor pan. The seating  14  includes a base cushion portion  20  and a backrest portion  22 . The seating  14  may also include headrests  24 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the seating  14  is bench-style seating in which the base cushion portion  20  and backrest portion  22  span the width of the vehicle  12  from a driver side  30  of the vehicle to a passenger side  32  of the vehicle. The seating  14  could have an alternative configuration, such as a split bench or bucket configuration. 
   The seating  14  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is configured for two passengers (not shown). The seating  14  includes driver side seating  34  and passenger side seating  36 . The driver side seating  34  includes portions of the base cushion portion  20  and backrest portion  22  positioned on the driver side  30  of the vehicle  12 . The passenger side seating  36  includes portions of the base cushion portion  20  and backrest portion  22  positioned on the passenger side  32  of the vehicle  12 . 
   The seatbelt system  10  includes a driver side seatbelt  50  for helping to protect an occupant of the driver side seating  34  and a passenger side seatbelt  52  for helping to protect an occupant of the passenger side seating  36 . Each of the driver side and passenger side seatbelts  50  and  52  of the seatbelt system  10  includes a length of seatbelt webbing  60 . One end of the seatbelt webbing  60  is anchored to the vehicle structure  16 , e.g., to the floor pan, at an anchor point  62  located adjacent the seating  14 . The anchor point  62  may comprise, for example, a bracket  64  fastened to the vehicle structure  16  by a threaded fastener. 
   Each of the driver side and passenger side seatbelts  50  and  52  of the seatbelt system  10  also includes a buckle assembly  70 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the buckle assemblies  70  are located generally central to the seating  14 . The driver side buckle assembly  70  is located on a side of the driver side seating  34  opposite the anchor point  62  of the driver side seatbelt webbing  60 . Similarly, the passenger side buckle assembly  70  is located on a side of the passenger side seating  36  opposite the anchor point  62  of the passenger side seatbelt webbing  60 . 
   Each buckle assembly  70  includes a buckle  72  and a strap member  74 , such as a length of webbing, that has a first end secured to the buckle. The seatbelt system  10  includes an anchor bracket  100  for helping to secure the buckle assemblies  70  to the vehicle  12 . The anchor bracket  100  is secured to the vehicle by means  102 , such as one or more threaded fasteners (e.g., bolts). Second ends of the strap members  74 , opposite their respective first ends, extend through and are connected to the anchor bracket  100  to secure the buckle assemblies  70  to the vehicle  12 . 
   The end of each length of seatbelt webbing  60  opposite its anchor point  62  is attached to a retractor  80  secured to the vehicle  12  adjacent the same side of the seating  14  as the anchor point  62 . The retractor  80  may, for example, be connected to the side structure  18  of the vehicle  12  at a location such as a pillar of the vehicle. Intermediate its ends, each length of seatbelt webbing  60  passes through a tongue assembly  90 . 
   When the seatbelt system  10  is not in use, the seatbelt webbing  60  is wound on the retractor  80  in a known manner. To use the driver side seatbelt  50 , the driver side tongue assembly  90  is moved across the driver side seating  34  and connected with the driver side buckle  72 . Similarly, to use the passenger side seatbelt  52 , the passenger side tongue assembly  90  is moved across the passenger side seating  36  and connected with the passenger side buckle  72 . 
   According to the present invention, the anchor bracket  100  comprises a single bracket that connects two seatbelts, e.g., the driver side and passenger side seatbelts  50  and  52 , to the vehicle  12 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the anchor bracket  100  connects the strap members  74  of the driver side and passenger side buckle assemblies  70  to the vehicle structure  16  (e.g., to the floor pan). 
   The anchor bracket  100  is illustrated in greater detail in  FIG. 2 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the anchor bracket  100  is constructed of a single monolithic homogeneous piece of material. The material used to construct the anchor bracket  100  is a durable high-strength material, such as metal (e.g., hardened steel). The anchor bracket  100  may be manufactured using known metalworking procedures or techniques, such as stamping, forging, cutting, machining, or a combination of these techniques. For example, the anchor bracket  100  may be constructed from a steel sheet or plate stock material and may be manufactured by stamping the material in a die and bending the material to the illustrated form. The anchor bracket  100  may thus be formed from the stock material using a minimal number of steps. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the anchor bracket  100  has an overall generally rectangular configuration with three generally flat sides or edges, a side or edge that has an arched or curved configuration, and rounded corners at the intersections of the edges. The anchor bracket  100  is bent or otherwise deformed about an axis  104  to define a base portion  110  and flange portion  120  that extend at an angle relative to each other. 
   The base portion  110  includes a generally cylindrical fastener aperture  112  for receiving the fastener  102  used to secure the bracket  100  to the vehicle  12  (see  FIG. 1 ). The flange portion  120  includes first and second seatbelt apertures  122  and  124 , respectively. The seatbelt apertures  122  and  124  may have any configuration suited to provide the structure and function described herein. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the first seatbelt aperture  122  has a generally oblong, elliptical or oval-shaped configuration. The second seatbelt aperture  124  has a generally rectangular configuration with three generally flat sidewalls, a sidewall that has an arched or curved configuration, and rounded corners at the intersections of the sidewalls. The area of the second seatbelt aperture  124  is larger than the area of the first seatbelt aperture  122 . For example, in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the area of the second seatbelt aperture  124  is about twice the area of the first seatbelt aperture  122 . 
   According to the present invention, the fastener aperture  112  and seatbelt apertures  122  and  124  are centered on and aligned along a longitudinal axis or centerline  126  of the anchor bracket  100 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the centerline  126  extends along the bent contour of the anchor bracket  100 . The centerline  126  is thus centered on and extends longitudinally through the base portion  110  and is centered on and extends longitudinally through the flange portion  120 . The centerline  126  bisects the anchor bracket  100  and the apertures  112 ,  122 , and  124 . The centerline  126  extends parallel to the length of the anchor bracket  100 , i.e., parallel to the longitudinal edges of the bracket, and through the arched or curved edge of the bracket. Throughout its length, the centerline  126  is perpendicular to the axis  102 . Because of the bent configuration of the anchor bracket  100 , the portion of the centerline  126  extending through the flange portion  120  may extend more vertically or with a larger vertical component than the portion of the centerline extending through the base portion  110 . 
   The alignment of the apertures  112 ,  122 , and  124  along the centerline  126  helps minimize the size of the anchor bracket  100 . By aligning the apertures  112 ,  122 , and  124  in this manner, the width dimension, measured perpendicular to the centerline  126 , is reduced. This helps reduce the amount of material used to construct the anchor bracket  100  and the number of parts used to secure the seatbelts  50  and  52  ( FIG. 1 ) to the vehicle  12 . 
   The seatbelt apertures  122  and  124  help define first and second seatbelt beams  130  and  132 , respectively. The first seatbelt beam  130  is positioned between the seatbelt apertures  122  and  124  and has a generally rectangular configuration defined by the parallel sidewalls of the seatbelt apertures. The second seatbelt beam  132  is positioned adjacent the second seatbelt aperture  124  opposite the first seatbelt beam  130  and has a curved configuration defined by the curved edge of the anchor bracket  100  and the curved sidewall of the second seatbelt aperture. 
   In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the anchor bracket  100  provides a single anchor point for securing the buckle assemblies  70  of the driver side and passenger side seatbelts  50  and  52  to the vehicle  12 . As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the strap member  74  of the passenger side seatbelt  52  is secured to the first seatbelt beam  130  of the anchor bracket  100  and the strap member of the driver side seatbelt  50  is secured to the second seatbelt beam  132  of the anchor bracket. 
   The strap member  74  of the passenger side seatbelt  52  extends through the first seatbelt aperture  122 , wraps around the first seatbelt beam  130 , and is secured to itself, e.g., via stitching, to connect the strap member to the first seatbelt beam. Similarly, the strap member  74  of the driver side seatbelt  50  extends through the second seatbelt aperture  124 , wraps around the second seatbelt beam  132 , and is secured to itself, e.g., via stitching, to connect the strap member to the second seatbelt beam. The strap members  74  could, however, be secured to the anchor bracket  100  in an alternative manner. For example, the first and second seatbelt apertures  122  and  124  could be configured to receive threaded fasteners that extend through the strap members  74  to secure the strap members to the anchor bracket. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the strap members  74  are secured to the anchor bracket  100 , both strap members extend through the second seatbelt aperture  124  whereas only one strap extends through the first seatbelt aperture  122 . Advantageously, the second seatbelt aperture  124 , having a larger area (e.g., about double the area) than the first seatbelt aperture  122 , is configured to accommodate both strap members  74 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the strap members  74  of the driver and passenger side seatbelts  50  and  52  are configured to place the buckles  72  in a position readily accessible by an occupant seated on the vehicle seating  14 . This may be done, for example, by configuring the seatbelts  50  and  52  to extend either through openings in the base cushion portion  20  of the seating  14  or between the base cushion portion and the backrest portion  22  of the seating. The curved configuration of the second seatbelt beam  132  (see  FIG. 2 ) may further facilitate this by allowing the associated strap member  74  to pivot or slide along its curved surfaces to a desired orientation. 
   Also, the angle between the base portion  110  and flange portion  120  is selected to place the flange portion  120  in the load plane of the strap members  74  of the seatbelts  50  and  52 . By “in the load plane,” it is meant that the flange portion  120  is configured to extend along a plane that is generally coincident with the directions in which the strap members  74  are loaded during normal usage. By doing this, the flange portion  120  is subjected to forces that are primarily tensile in nature, i.e., forces that are directed generally along the plane of the flange portion  120 . This takes advantage of relatively high tensile strength properties of the material used to construct the flange portion  120 . 
   A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The second embodiment of the invention is similar to the first embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Accordingly, numerals similar to those of  FIGS. 1 and 2  will be utilized in  FIG. 3  to identify similar components, the suffix letter “a” being associated with the numerals of  FIG. 3  to avoid confusion. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the vehicle seating  14   a  is configured for three passenger seating, i.e., driver side seating  34   a , passenger side seating  36   a , and middle seating  208 . In this configuration, a seatbelt system  10   a  includes a first or driver side seatbelt  50   a , a second or passenger side seatbelt  52   a  and a third or middle seatbelt  200 . The driver side seatbelt  50   a  has a configuration similar or identical to that described above in regard to the driver side seatbelt  50  of the first embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  and is implemented on a driver side  30   a  of the vehicle  12   a . The passenger side seatbelt  52   a  has a configuration similar or identical to that described above in regard to the passenger side seatbelt  52  of the first embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  and is implemented on a passenger side  32   a  of the vehicle  12   a . In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the third or middle seatbelt  200  is configured to help protect an occupant (not shown) seated in the middle of the vehicle seating  14   a , between driver side  30   a  and passenger side  32   a  seated occupants of the vehicle  12   a.    
   The middle seatbelt  200  has a shoulder/lap belt configuration similar or identical to that described above in regard to the driver and passenger side seatbelts of the first embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The middle seatbelt  200  could, however, have an alternative configuration, such as a lap belt only configuration. 
   The middle seatbelt  200  includes a length of seatbelt webbing  202 . One end of the seatbelt webbing  202  is anchored to the vehicle structure  16   a  beneath the seating  14   a . An opposite end of the belt webbing is attached to a retractor  204 . Intermediate its ends, the seatbelt webbing  202  passes through a tongue assembly  206 . The middle seatbelt  200  also includes a buckle assembly  210 . The buckle assembly  210  includes a buckle  212  and a strap member  214 , such as a length of seatbelt webbing, that has a first end secured to the buckle. 
   In the second embodiment, the seatbelt system  10   a  includes two anchor brackets  100   a  for helping to secure the buckle assemblies  70   a  and  210  to the vehicle  12   a . A first anchor bracket identified at  220  is secured to the vehicle structure  16   a  at or proximate the interface between the driver side seating  34   a  and middle seating  208 . A second anchor bracket identified at  230  is secured to the vehicle structure  16   a  at or proximate the interface between the passenger side seating  36   a  and middle seating  208 . 
   The first anchor bracket  220  secures the strap member  214  of the middle buckle assembly  210  and the strap member  74   a  of the driver side buckle assembly  70   a  to the vehicle  12   a . The strap members  214  and  74   a  extend through and are connected to the first anchor bracket  220  to secure the middle buckle assembly  210  and driver side buckle assembly  70   a  to the vehicle  12   a . The strap members  214  and  74   a  may be connected to the first anchor bracket  220  in a manner similar or identical to that described above in regard to the strap members  74  of the first embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , such as by stitching portions of the strap members onto themselves. 
   The second anchor bracket  230  secures the strap member  74   a  of the passenger side buckle assembly  72   a  and the seatbelt webbing  202  to the vehicle  12   a . The seatbelt webbing  202  and strap member  74   a  extend through and are connected to the second anchor bracket  230  to secure the seatbelt webbing  202  and passenger side buckle assembly  72   a  to the vehicle  12   a . The strap member  214  and seatbelt webbing  202  may be connected to the second anchor bracket  230  in a manner similar or identical to that described above in regard to the strap members  74  of the first embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , such as by stitching portions of the strap member and seatbelt webbing onto themselves. 
   When the seatbelt system  10   a  is not in use, the seatbelt webbing  60   a  and  202  is wound on the retractors  80   a  and  204  in a known manner. To use the driver side seatbelt  50   a , the tongue assembly  90   a  is moved across the driver side seating  34   a  and connected with the driver side buckle  70   a . To use the passenger side seatbelt  52   a , the tongue assembly  90   a  is moved across the passenger side seating  36   a  and connected with the passenger side buckle  70   a . To use the middle seatbelt  200 , the tongue assembly  206  is moved across the middle seating  208  and connected with the middle buckle  212 . 
   The anchor brackets  220  and  230  have configurations and material constructions similar or identical to those described above in regard to the anchor bracket  100  of the first embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Accordingly, the strap member  214  of the middle buckle assembly  210  extends through a first seatbelt aperture and extends around and is secured to a first seatbelt beam of the first anchor bracket  220 . The strap member  74   a  of the driver side buckle assembly  70   a  extends through a second seatbelt aperture and extends around and is secured to a second seatbelt beam of the first anchor bracket  220 . The seatbelt webbing  202  of the middle seatbelt  200  extends through a first seatbelt aperture and extends around and is secured to a first seatbelt beam of the second anchor bracket  230 . The strap member  74   a  of the passenger side buckle assembly  70   a  extends through a second seatbelt aperture and extends around and is secured to a second seatbelt beam of the second anchor bracket  230 . 
   The seatbelt webbing  202  and strap members  214  and  74   a  are connected to their respective anchor brackets  100   a  in a manner similar or identical to that described above in regard to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . For example, the seatbelt webbing  202  and strap members  214  and  74   a  may be wrapped around their respective seatbelt beams, folded onto themselves, and stitched together. 
   From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.