Seat belt retractor with comfort or tension reducing feature
US5934595A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 19, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 10, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 19, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R2022/4413
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A seat belt retractor adapted to be secured about a seated occupant comprising: a spool (54) having a length of seat belt (36) wound thereon for securement of the occupant, a portion of the seat belt forming a shoulder belt portion, the spool rotationally supported upon a frame (52); a tension reducing mechanism for controlling the amount of spring force transmitted from a rewind spring to the spool and hence the force applied to the shoulder of the occupant via the shoulder belt portion of the seat belt, the mechanism comprising: a cylindrical first spool (80) having an ungrooved, smooth body (81) operatively connected to the spool to rotate with the spool; a second reel (100) positioned remote from the first reel (80) having a tapered peripheral surface having a continuous spiral groove of varying diameter thereon, a rewind spring (160) operatively connected to the second reel for providing a rewind force to rewind the seat belt upon the spool; a flexible link (88) joining the first and second reel and for transmitting the force of the spring to the first reel, the link (88) wound about the second reel within the spiral groove and wound about the first reel (80).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.