Seat belt retractor
US6676059B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 8, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 13, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 8, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R2022/288
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A seat belt retractor has a spool mounted for rotation on the retractor frame, for retraction or pay-out of seat belt webbing depending upon the rotation direction of the spool. The spool is locked against rotation when a crash is sensed. A force limiting mechanism allows further pay-out of the seat belt webbing after the spool shaft has locked, under the influence of a vehicle occupant's forward momentum. The force limiting means includes a torsion bar attached in the force path between the spool and its axis of rotation; and a resilient mechanism. A mechanism selectively connects the resilient mechanism into the force path between the spool and its axis of rotation. A selecting mechanism selectively activates the connecting means in response to a control signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.