The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for monitoring a driver. The apparatus includes one or more sensors that are embedded in a seat belt and that measure electrical resistances according to a movement of the driver, respectively, and a controller that estimates a posture of the driver, based on changes of the electrical resistances measured by the sensors.

A seat belt assembly is provided that includes a buckle, a latch plate configured to releasibly latch onto the buckle, the latch plate comprising a body and a slot formed in the body, a seat belt webbing extending through the slot, and a latch plate stop feature connected to the seat belt webbing and comprising a lofted portion for preventing movement of the latch plate beyond a stop position.

A seat belt assembly is provided that includes a buckle, a latch plate configured to releasibly latch onto the buckle, the latch plate comprising a body and a slot formed in the body, a seat belt webbing extending through the slot, and a latch plate stop feature connected to the seat belt webbing and comprising a lofted portion for preventing movement of the latch plate beyond a stop position.

A vehicle seat belt assembly that ensures proper lap belt and shoulder belt restraint even when an occupant substantially reclines his or her seat. A primary shoulder belt that runs from a buckle member across the chest and shoulder of the occupant and engages a routing device and/or retraction/tensioning device coupled to a pillar, such as a B-pillar, of the body of the vehicle is coupled with a substantially coincident secondary shoulder belt that also runs from the buckle member across the chest and (same) shoulder of the occupant and engages a secondary routing device and/or secondary retraction/tensioning device coupled to a top portion of the seat back, adjacent to the heat rest of the seat and head of the occupant, on the same side of the seat as an anchor point associated with the lap belt.

A vehicle seat belt assembly that ensures proper lap belt and shoulder belt restraint even when an occupant substantially reclines his or her seat. A primary shoulder belt that runs from a buckle member across the chest and shoulder of the occupant and engages a routing device and/or retraction/tensioning device coupled to a pillar, such as a B-pillar, of the body of the vehicle is coupled with a substantially coincident secondary shoulder belt that also runs from the buckle member across the chest and (same) shoulder of the occupant and engages a secondary routing device and/or secondary retraction/tensioning device coupled to a top portion of the seat back, adjacent to the heat rest of the seat and head of the occupant, on the same side of the seat as an anchor point associated with the lap belt.

A hi-back vehicle seat and seat pad restraint system includes a vehicle seat assembly having a vehicle seat back and a vehicle seat operatively connected to the vehicle seat back, a hi-back vehicle seat assembly operatively connected to the vehicle seat assembly, a vehicle safety belt assembly operatively connected to the vehicle seat assembly, wherein the vehicle safety belt assembly interacts with the hi-back vehicle seat assembly, a seat pad assembly located on the vehicle and attached to the vehicle seat assembly. Furthermore, the hi-back vehicle seat assembly can be equipped with a five (5) point harness. Also, the seat pad assembly can be equipped with a seat pad assembly restraining shoulder strap and a restraining shoulder strap connector to keep the shoulder portion of vehicle seat belts correctly positioned over the torso of the end user.

A hi-back vehicle seat and seat pad restraint system includes a vehicle seat assembly having a vehicle seat back and a vehicle seat operatively connected to the vehicle seat back, a hi-back vehicle seat assembly operatively connected to the vehicle seat assembly, a vehicle safety belt assembly operatively connected to the vehicle seat assembly, wherein the vehicle safety belt assembly interacts with the hi-back vehicle seat assembly, a seat pad assembly located on the vehicle and attached to the vehicle seat assembly. Furthermore, the hi-back vehicle seat assembly can be equipped with a five (5) point harness. Also, the seat pad assembly can be equipped with a seat pad assembly restraining shoulder strap and a restraining shoulder strap connector to keep the shoulder portion of vehicle seat belts correctly positioned over the torso of the end user.

An assembly includes a seatback and an airbag. The airbag includes an upper panel and a lower panel spaced from each other and an intermediate panel disposed therebetween. The upper panel and the lower panel are each uninflatable and each supported by the seatback. The intermediate panel is supported by the seatback and inflatable to an inflated position. The intermediate panel in the inflated position includes a valley elongated in a direction from the lower panel towards the upper panel.

An assembly includes a seatback and an airbag. The airbag includes an upper panel and a lower panel spaced from each other and an intermediate panel disposed therebetween. The upper panel and the lower panel are each uninflatable and each supported by the seatback. The intermediate panel is supported by the seatback and inflatable to an inflated position. The intermediate panel in the inflated position includes a valley elongated in a direction from the lower panel towards the upper panel.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for monitoring a driver. The apparatus includes one or more sensors that are embedded in a seat belt and that measure electrical resistances according to a movement of the driver, respectively, and a controller that estimates a posture of the driver, based on changes of the electrical resistances measured by the sensors.