Seat belt pretensioner
US5899399A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 12, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 4, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 12, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R22/4628
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for protecting a vehicle occupant including a vehicle seat belt webbing (20) which is extensible about a vehicle occupant, a housing (134) connectable to a component of a vehicle, and a flexible member (280) having a first end portion (284), a second end portion (286), and an intermediate portion (288) extending between the first and second end portions (284, 286). A part (310) of the intermediate portion (288) is located in the housing (134) and cooperates with the housing to define an expansible chamber (308) in the housing. The housing (134) includes a surface (156) for guiding movement of the part (310) of the intermediate portion (288) in an arcuate path (224) to expand the expansible chamber. A clutch (270), actuatable in response to expansion of the expansible chamber (308), is provided to connect the first end portion (284) of the flexible member (280) with the seat belt webbing (20). A gas generator (316) is provided for, when actuated, exerting a first force on the part (310) of the intermediate portion (288) to move the part of the intermediate portion along the arcuate path (224) in the housing (134) to expand the expansible chamber (308) and actuate t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.