D-ring/roller assembly for supporting seat belt webbing in a vehicle
US6250684A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 1, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 26, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 1, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T24/4086
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus (22) includes a webbing roller (32), a brake structure (80), and a support structure (62, 62). The roller (32) includes a spool (50) and a pair of axially opposite spindle structures (52) centered on an axis of rotation (53). A rotatable outer surface (54) of the spool (50) is configured to engage seat belt webbing (16). The support structure (62, 62) is configured to support the roller (32) in an ordinary operating position in which the outer surface (54) of the spool (50) is spaced radially from a braking surface (82) on the brake structure (80). The support structure (62, 62) is further configured to support the roller (32) for movement under the influence of tension in the seat belt webbing (16). Such movement of the roller (32) includes uniform movement radially from the ordinary operating position to a restrained position in which the outer surface (54) of the spool (50) engages the braking surface (82) on the brake structure (80).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.