Ford Develops 'Inflatable' Seatbelt

n wright 275 · Nov 05, 2009, 11:37 PM

New kind of seatbelt .. with an airbag in the belt..

Quote:

AOL AUTOS:
Air bags have made their way to nearly every part of the automobile, from front air bags in the steering wheel and dashboard to side curtain airbags that drop down from the ceiling and from the side pillars.

But now Ford has taken it a step further: they've put air bags inside a seat belt.
Ford's new seat belt contains a long air bag inside of it (it's hidden inside the belt until a crash is detected), designed to provide additional protection for rear-seat occupants, often children and older passengers who can be more vulnerable to head, chest and neck injuries.

The company says that the new belts spread crash forces over five times more area of the body than conventional seat belts; this helps reduce pressure on the chest and helps control head and neck motion for rear seat passengers.

Apparently they're comfortable, too. More than 90 percent of Ford research participants indicated that the inflatable seat belts are similar to or more comfortable than traditional belts, which could help increase the lower rate of rear belt usage.

The first application of the inflatable rear seat belts will be as optional equipment in the 2011 Ford Explorer, debuting in 2010.

Jared · Nov 06, 2009, 12:04 AM

I wonder where on the time line Mercedes Benz has done this then threw everything in the dumpster out back because they thought it is/was a bad idea...

Having an airbag in the seat belt will not replace the tensioner which locks the seat belt restricting forward motion of the body.

How is this helpful?

And will the seat belt be at an acceptable angle (IE adjustable for height) for it to be effective?

vdubfan3 · Nov 06, 2009, 12:05 AM

total waste of money.

but at least it looks cool.

wow.

Cooper "s" · Nov 06, 2009, 8:21 AM

It is used on top of the tensioner.... because no matter how much you tension the seat belt under load the material gives and stretches... and this well gives you added protection...

not a bad concept at all.

Timbit · Nov 06, 2009, 10:35 AM

Isn't one the main problems with the seat belt tensing up like a bolting cat the injuries occured from having your body essentially slam itself into such a small strip of highly woven fabric?

Seems like this airbag increases the surface area around the belt which reduces the risk of annoying cross-chest seat belt injuries.

Jared · Nov 06, 2009, 11:02 AM

Correct.

However!

I don't wanna get into an accident then have to spend thousands of dollars replacing seatbelts that inflate under impact.

The idea is nice, I suppose. Create more surface area, dissipate the energy/spread it out/whatever.

Air bags are expensive enough to repace after a crash permitting the car isn't totalled/written off...

Cooper "s" · Nov 06, 2009, 1:33 PM

did some one say increase surface area????

personally i think we should all drive with these... maybe then the multi tasking will be lowered as well.

I used to install my MOMO 4 point harness on every car... but for some reason i have yet to put it on the Z.

n wright 275 · Nov 06, 2009, 3:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jared

I wonder where on the time line Mercedes Benz has done this then threw everything in the dumpster out back because they thought it is/was a bad idea...

Having an airbag in the seat belt will not replace the tensioner which locks the seat belt restricting forward motion of the body.

How is this helpful?

And will the seat belt be at an acceptable angle (IE adjustable for height) for it to be effective?

^Exactly.

I feel like this is nothing more than a gimmick that will help sell Ford Explorers. A lot of people do not even wear seatbelt in the back seat .. what if you don't wear the belt and their is an accident (maybe a minor one) .. does this thing explode into the side of your face?

Evo_power · Nov 06, 2009, 7:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cooper "s"

I used to install my MOMO 4 point harness on every car... but for some reason i have yet to put it on the Z.

Because driving your Z makes you want to die in a fatal car crash?

CarRocker · Nov 07, 2009, 4:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cooper "s"

did some one say increase surface area????

personally i think we should all drive with these... maybe then the multi tasking will be lowered as well.

I used to install my MOMO 4 point harness on every car... but for some reason i have yet to put it on the Z.

They are a lot safer, but they're not as userfriendly as conventional seatbelts. And they limit the amount of movement in a seat as well, which can get irritating on long trips.

Quote:

Originally Posted by n wright 275

I feel like this is nothing more than a gimmick that will help sell Ford Explorers. A lot of people do not even wear seatbelt in the back seat .. what if you don't wear the belt and their is an accident (maybe a minor one) .. does this thing explode into the side of your face?

Not wearing your seat belt is just utterly stupid. And I don't know about the USA, but here you'll get quite a nice fine if you don't wear it.

And I'm sure Ford has made some kind of system where the airbag only gets activated when the seatbelt is used in combination with weight on the seat. Or something like that. And airbags don't deploy when you have a minor accident.

AaronH · Nov 07, 2009, 10:49 AM

The majority of injuries from seatbelts are caused by not having it properly placed. Most people put the lap belt over their stomach (which has no structural integrity, it's all squishy stuff) when it should be over the hip. Though you can crack your hip, you'd have to be traveling at a considerable (stupid) speed for that to happen. Otherwise it's just bruises. Maybe a cracked rib. Nothing worth making this air-belt really necessary...

n wright 275 · Nov 07, 2009, 1:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarRocker

They are a lot safer, but they're not as userfriendly as conventional seatbelts. And they limit the amount of movement in a seat as well, which can get irritating on long trips.

Not wearing your seat belt is just utterly stupid. And I don't know about the USA, but here you'll get quite a nice fine if you don't wear it.

And I'm sure Ford has made some kind of system where the airbag only gets activated when the seatbelt is used in combination with weight on the seat. Or something like that. And airbags don't deploy when you have a minor accident.

Here you cannot get pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt (if you are in the backseat) .. They can pull you over if someone in the front doesn't have one on. I wear mine most of the time .. not always if I'm in the back seat though.

Kaoss · Nov 07, 2009, 3:49 PM

Meh, good idea, but wouldn't that make the seat belt fat and uncomfortable?

RadRyan · Nov 08, 2009, 12:32 PM

I thought this was pretty old but I guess Id be wrong. Women with boobs wont have boobs anymore when this goes off.

daaper · Nov 09, 2009, 3:02 PM

My brother went head-on with a semi (fell asleep at the wheel). The only injury he suffered was the broken collar bone where the seatbelt put all the force, so I can see the benefit in this. That being said, the seatbelt is also the only reason I still have a brother.

Nov 06, 2009, 12:04 AM	#2
Jared Ba humbug Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Boregon G Ride: Giant STP1 Posts: 2,878	I wonder where on the time line Mercedes Benz has done this then threw everything in the dumpster out back because they thought it is/was a bad idea... Having an airbag in the seat belt will not replace the tensioner which locks the seat belt restricting forward motion of the body. How is this helpful? And will the seat belt be at an acceptable angle (IE adjustable for height) for it to be effective? __________________ I've got my own endo. - Wesley Pipes

Nov 06, 2009, 12:05 AM	#3
vdubfan3 Official VAG Fanboy Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: PA Posts: 1,362	total waste of money. but at least it looks cool. wow. __________________ Drivers Wanted. "Audis are like strippers. They only work when you throw money at them."

Nov 06, 2009, 8:21 AM	#4
Cooper "s" House-Wife, Courtney Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Weston, Florida Posts: 5,579	It is used on top of the tensioner.... because no matter how much you tension the seat belt under load the material gives and stretches... and this well gives you added protection... not a bad concept at all. __________________ It's gay like a V6 - Evo

Nov 06, 2009, 11:02 AM	#6
Jared Ba humbug Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Boregon G Ride: Giant STP1 Posts: 2,878	Correct. However! I don't wanna get into an accident then have to spend thousands of dollars replacing seatbelts that inflate under impact. The idea is nice, I suppose. Create more surface area, dissipate the energy/spread it out/whatever. Air bags are expensive enough to repace after a crash permitting the car isn't totalled/written off... __________________ I've got my own endo. - Wesley Pipes

Nov 06, 2009, 1:33 PM	#7
Cooper "s" House-Wife, Courtney Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Weston, Florida Posts: 5,579	did some one say increase surface area???? personally i think we should all drive with these... maybe then the multi tasking will be lowered as well. I used to install my MOMO 4 point harness on every car... but for some reason i have yet to put it on the Z. __________________ It's gay like a V6 - Evo

Nov 06, 2009, 10:35 AM	#5
Timbit Back in Melbourne Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,483	Isn't one the main problems with the seat belt tensing up like a bolting cat the injuries occured from having your body essentially slam itself into such a small strip of highly woven fabric? Seems like this airbag increases the surface area around the belt which reduces the risk of annoying cross-chest seat belt injuries.

Nov 07, 2009, 10:49 AM	#11
AaronH Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,757	The majority of injuries from seatbelts are caused by not having it properly placed. Most people put the lap belt over their stomach (which has no structural integrity, it's all squishy stuff) when it should be over the hip. Though you can crack your hip, you'd have to be traveling at a considerable (stupid) speed for that to happen. Otherwise it's just bruises. Maybe a cracked rib. Nothing worth making this air-belt really necessary... __________________ "You mean a big freedom mac. With gold paved streets special sauce and opportunity pickels." -- Ty

Nov 07, 2009, 3:49 PM	#13
Kaoss part-time otaku Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: White Rock, BC, Cananda Posts: 4,718	Meh, good idea, but wouldn't that make the seat belt fat and uncomfortable? __________________ http://sutoraikuanime.blogspot.com/

Nov 08, 2009, 12:32 PM	#14
RadRyan Experienced Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Long Beach CA Posts: 622	I thought this was pretty old but I guess Id be wrong. Women with boobs wont have boobs anymore when this goes off. __________________ Nature moves faster then hondas. Christine devine fox 11 news.

Nov 09, 2009, 3:02 PM	#15
daaper Poster Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 286	My brother went head-on with a semi (fell asleep at the wheel). The only injury he suffered was the broken collar bone where the seatbelt put all the force, so I can see the benefit in this. That being said, the seatbelt is also the only reason I still have a brother.

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