Ford Announces Introduction of Inflatable Seat Belts
Earlier today, Ford announced its introduction of the auto industry's first-ever inflatable seat belts for production vehicles. The belts will be used to protect rear-seat occupants, and represent a combination of airbag and seat-belt technology.
Here's how the new seat belts work: When a collision takes place, vehicle sensors quickly determine its severity. If the impact is serious enough to warrant maximum protection, tubular air bags within the seat belts are inflated with cold compressed gas, which flows through a specially designed buckle from a canister located under the seat. Activation takes just 40 milliseconds, and once inflated, these seat belts serve to spread crash forces over five times more area of the body than conventional belts. They reduce the risk of crash injury by reducing pressure on the chest and controlling head and neck motion.
The belts can only be used once, and will need to be replaced after a serious accident. However, Ford points out that seat belt replacement after a major accident is recommended even with conventional seat belts.
While the seat belts protect all passengers who use them, they've been uniquely designed to serve those who are most at risk for injury during an accident -- children and the elderly. Even younger children can safely use the inflatable belts, and the technology has been shown to work well with a wide range of child-safety and booster seats.
Apparently, the seat belts enhance not just safety, but comfort, as well. Ford cites studies showing that passengers find the new belts more pleasant to experience than conventional models. They rest easier on the body because they're padded, and their thicker edges are also gentler on the neck.
Ford's inflatable seat belts will debut in the next-generation Explorer, set to begin production next year. This feature will be available in this vehicle as an option; Ford has yet to announce its cost, but says it will be "less expensive than SYNC."
- Posted by
- Warren Clarke November 5, 2009, 3:07 PM
- Permalink
- Categories:
- Automotive Consumer News, Automotive Technology, Car Safety, Ford
How do these belts work while routed through rear-facing seats or through the back of front-facing child seats? Do they explode inside the structure of the car seat?