Patent ID: 7481452

Claim:
An occupant protection system comprising: a vehicle seat having a base frame and a back frame extending upwardly from the base frame, a seat cushion and belt webbing for restraining an occupant on the seat; a seat airbag disposed below the seat cushion; opposite, side frame members of the base frame with the seat airbag extending therebetween; a tongue that generally divides the belt webbing into lap and shoulder portions; an inflatable lap belt airbag including a main portion that is disposed to extend along the belt lap portion that is not inflatable; first and second gas generators that are distinct from each other with one of the first and second gas generators operable to inflate the seat airbag and the other of the first and second gas generators operable to inflate the lap belt airbag; a lower anchor member connected to the belt lap portion at one of the side frame members of the seat base frame; a single retractor for both the lap and shoulder portions of the belt webbing with the single retractor being spaced from the lower anchor at the one side frame member of the seat base frame; a base plate member that is distinct from the lower anchor member, and being mounted to the one side frame member of the seat base frame and carrying both the other gas generator for inflating the lap belt airbag and the lower anchor member in side-by-side relation thereon so that the other gas generator is laterally offset from the lower anchor member and the belt lap portion connected thereto; a lower portion of the lap belt airbag that extends generally laterally from the lap belt airbag main portion to a free end of the lap belt airbag with the free end being disposed adjacent to and off of the belt webbing lap portion, extending down beyond the laterally extending, lap belt airbag lower portion, and being connected to the other gas generator; a gas supply path in the lap belt airbag lower portion extending generally laterally between the other gas generator carried on the base plate and the lap belt airbag main portion so that inflation gas flows from the other gas generator into the laterally offset lap belt airbag main portion; a buckle device mounted to the other side frame member so that with the tongue attached thereto, the belt webbing lap portion extends across the seat cushion and has a center approximately midway between the tongue and the lower anchor member; and a belt connecting end portion of the lap belt airbag opposite the free end thereof and directly connected to the belt webbing lap portion so that upon inflation of the lap belt airbag, the lap belt airbag expands transversely to the length of the belt webbing lap portion and contracts along the length of the belt webbing lap portion with the belt connecting end portion shifting to be at the same side of the center of the belt webbing lap portion as the free end thereof adjacent the one side frame member for pulling the belt webbing lap portion tightly against the seat occupant and also for providing the seat occupant with side impact protection.