Vehicle restraint presenting system

Abstract

A restraint presentation system is disclosed that includes a movable presenting member, such as an armrest or an actuating arm, that moves between a presenting position and a storage position and a restraint belt connected to a tensioning mechanism. The presenting member preferably has a concave shaped portion on a distal end thereof that captures a contact portion of the restraint belt to position the restraint belt in an operational position so as to be accessible to a vehicle occupant. The tensioning mechanism biases the restraint belt into a retracted position when the presenting member is in the storage position such that the contact portion of the restraint belt is in a co-linear relationship with the concave shaped portion of the presenting member.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A restraint presentation system for presenting a restraint belt to a vehicle occupant, comprising: 
 a vehicle seat;    a presenting member positioned adjacent said vehicle seat, said presenting member being movable between a presenting position and a storage position; and    a restraint belt connected to a tensioning mechanism, wherein said restraint belt has first and second end segments with a contact portion therebetween, said tensioning mechanism positioning at least said contact portion in a co-linear relationship with a distal end of presenting member such that said contact portion is captured by said distal end of said presenting member when said presenting member is in the presenting position, thereby positioning said restraint belt in an operational position so as to be readily accessible to the vehicle occupant.    
     
     
         2 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 1   , wherein said distal end has a concave shaped portion for capturing said contact portion of said restraint belt.  
     
     
         3 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 1   , wherein said tensioning mechanism biases said restraint belt into a retracted position when said presenting member is in said storage position, said retracted position positioning said contact portion of said restraint belt in front said distal end of said presenting member.  
     
     
         4 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 3   , wherein said tensioning mechanism includes a first take-up reel and a second take-up reel, said first take-up reel connected to said first end segment of said restraint belt, said second take-up reel connected to said second end segment of said restraint belt, wherein each of said take-up reels has opposing biasing directions so as to bias said restraint belt into said retracted position when said restraint belt is released from said distal end of said presenting member.  
     
     
         5 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 4   , wherein said first take-up reel is laterally fixed with respect to said second take-up reel so as to position said contact portion of said restraint belt in said co-linear relationship with said distal end of said presenting member.  
     
     
         6 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 4   , further including at least one bobbin associated with one of said take-up reels, wherein said bobbin serves to maintain said co-linear relationship of said contact portion of said restraint belt and said distal end of said present member and direct said restraint belt onto said at least one take-up reels when said restraint belt is moved into said retracted position.  
     
     
         7 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 4   , further including at least one housing for storing at least said first take-up reel, said housing having an entry slit formed therein, said restraint belt entering said entry slit when moving into said retracting position and exiting said entry slit when moving into said operating position.  
     
     
         8 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 7   , wherein at least one of said end segments of said restraint belt has a stop button formed thereon, said stop button having a predetermined size greater than said slit to permit only a predetermined length of said restraint belt to be retracted within said housing.  
     
     
         9 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 7   , wherein said at least one housing is movable in a vertical direction.  
     
     
         10 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 4   , wherein said first take-up reel is positioned on said seat back and said second take-up reel is positioned on a seating portion of said vehicle seat.  
     
     
         11 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 1   , wherein said presenting member, restraint belt and tensioning mechanism is connectable to said vehicle seat as a single sub-assembly.  
     
     
         12 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 11   , wherein said sub-assembly is movable in a lateral direction.  
     
     
         13 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 1   , further including a buckle slidably received on said restraint belt.  
     
     
         14 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 1   , wherein a buckle is fixedly connected to said restraint belt at said contact portion of said restraint belt such that when said presenting member is moved into said presenting position, said restraint belt and said buckle are placed in said operational position.  
     
     
         15 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 1   , wherein said presentation member is connected to said vehicle seat.  
     
     
         16 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 1   , wherein said presentation member is an armrest.  
     
     
         17 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 1   , wherein said presentation member is an actuating arm.  
     
     
         18 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 1   , further including: 
 a track formed in a side surface of said seat back; and    a shaft formed with said presenting member;    wherein said shaft is slidably received in said track and pivotally mounts said presenting member to said vehicle seat such that presenting member moves in a sweeping motion between the storage position and a presenting position.    
     
     
         19 . The restrain presentation system of    claim 18   , wherein a portion of said vehicle seat has a contoured section that guides said distal end when said presenting member is moved in said sweeping motion between said storage and presenting positions.  
     
     
         20 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 18   , further including a telescoping lever having a first end pivotally mounted to said presenting member and a second end pivotally mounted to said vehicle seat; said telescoping lever being a first predetermined length when said presenting member is in said storage position and a second predetermined length when in said presenting position.  
     
     
         21 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 1   , wherein said presenting member is pivotally mounted to said vehicle seat such that said vehicle seat pivots between said presenting position and said storage position.  
     
     
         22 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 21   , wherein said presenting member is telescoping such that said presenting member collapses to said storage position, wherein said presenting member has a predetermined length that is substantially smaller than the length of said presenting member when in said presenting position.  
     
     
         23 . A restraint presentation system for presenting a restraint belt to a vehicle occupant, comprising: 
 a vehicle seat;    a presenting member having a distal end associated with said vehicle seat, said presenting member being movable between a presenting position and a storage position; and    a restraint belt connected to a tensioning mechanism, wherein said restraint belt has first and second end segments with a contact portion therebetween said tensioning mechanism biasing said restraint belt into a retracted position when said presenting member is in said storage position such that at least said contact portion is in a co-linear relationship with a distal end of said presenting member such that said contact portion is captured by said distal end of said presenting member when said armrest is in the presenting position, thereby positioning said restraint belt presenting member in an operational position so as to be accessible to the vehicle occupant.    
     
     
         24 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 23   , wherein said tensioning mechanism includes a first take-up reel and a second take-up reel, said first take-up reel connected to said first end segment of said restraint belt, said second take-up reel connected to said second end segment of said restraint belt, wherein each of said take-up reels having opposing biasing directions so as to bias said restraint belt into said retracted position when said restraint belt is released from said distal end of said presenting member.  
     
     
         25 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 23   , wherein said first take-up reel is laterally fixed with respect to said second take-up reel so as to position said contact portion of said restraint belt in said co-linear relationship with said distal end of said presenting member.  
     
     
         26 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 25   , further including at least one bobbin associated with one of said take-up reels, wherein said bobbin serves to maintain said co-linear relationship of said contact portion of said restraint belt and said distal end of said presenting member and direct said restraint belt onto said at least one take-up reels when said restraint belt is moved into said retracted position.  
     
     
         27 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 25   , further including at least one housing for storing at least said first take-up reel, said housing having an entry slit formed therein, said restraint belt entering said entry slit when moving into said retracting position and exiting said entry slit when moving into said operating position.  
     
     
         28 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 23   , wherein said distal end further includes a concave shaped portion for capturing said contact portion of said restraint belt.  
     
     
         29 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 23   , further including a pair of scissor levers connected together having: 
 first two ends slidably mounted to said presenting member; and    second two ends slidably mounted to said vehicle seat;    wherein said first and second two ends are spaced apart a first predetermined distance when said presenting member is in said storage position and said first two ends and said second two ends slide towards one another a second predetermined distance to move said presenting member into said presenting position.    
     
     
         30 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 28   , wherein said presenting member is formed from a portion of said vehicle seat.  
     
     
         31 . A restraint presentation system for presenting a restraint belt to a vehicle occupant, comprising: 
 a vehicle seat;    an armrest having a distal end with a concave portion, said armrest associated with said vehicle seat and being movable between a presenting position and a storage position, wherein said armrest is oriented so as to be substantially parallel to a seat back of said vehicle seat when in said storage position;    a restraint belt connected to a tensioning mechanism, said restraint belt having first and second end segments with a contact portion therebetween and a buckle connected to said contact portion; and    wherein said tensioning mechanism includes a first take-up reel and a second take-up reel, said first take-up reel connected to said first end segment of said restraint belt, said second take-up reel connected to said second end segment of said restraint belt, wherein each of said take-up reels has opposing biasing directions so as to bias said restraint belt into a retracted position when said armrest is in said storage position such that at least said contact portion is in a co-linear relationship with said concave shaped portion when said armrest is in the presenting position, thereby positioning said restraint belt and buckle in an operational position so as to be readily accessible to the vehicle occupant.    
     
     
         32 . The restraint presentation system of    claim 31   , further including at least one bobbin associated with one of said take-up reels, wherein said bobbin serves to maintain said co-linear relationship of said contact portion of said restraint belt and said distal end of said presenting member and direct said restraint belt onto said at least one take-up reels when said restraint belt is moved into said retracted position.