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EP0048809A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Seat belt retractor structure

Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
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Filing: 1981-08-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-08-07
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Abstract

Abstract In the retractor the housing has differential structural integrity. The retractor frame (12) has a rigid structure and contains the retraction and locking elements. A mounting flange (50) is connected to the frame (12) and is permitted to distort in a controlled fashion as a result of crash forces acting on the retractor, whereby the frame (12) remains substantially undistorted.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert Charles Pfeiffer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 13:35
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/34; B60R22/341; B60R2022/3427

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 136 words
A seat belt retractor for installation in the vehicle, comprising: a frame; winding means supported for movement in said frame in winding and unwinding directions; locking means supported in said frame for locking said winding means against movement in said unwinding direction; a restraint element connected to said winding means and movable towards and away from said frame as said winding means moves in its winding and unwinding directions, respectively; and mounting means connected to said frame for mounting said frame to said vehicle, said mounting means being capable of distortion as a result of forces acting on said winding means, and hence said mounting means, in a manner such that said frame remains substantially undistorted so as not to affect the integrity of the operable elements in said frame as a result of said forces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 136 words
A seat belt retractor for installation in the vehicle, comprising: a frame; winding means supported for movement in said frame in winding and unwinding directions; locking means supported in said frame for locking said winding means against movement in said unwinding direction; a restraint element connected to said winding means and movable towards and away from said frame as said winding means moves in its winding and unwinding directions, respectively; and mounting means connected to said frame for mounting said frame to said vehicle, said mounting means being capable of distortion as a result of forces acting on said winding means, and hence said mounting means, in a manner such that said frame remains substantially undistorted so as not to affect the integrity of the operable elements in said frame as a result of said forces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
The retractor of claim 1 wherein said mounting means and frame are separately constructed and are interconnected so as to permit said distortion of said mounting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The retractor of claim 2 wherein said mounting means comprises a mounting flange extending substantially parallel to the main axis of said winding means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
The retractor of claim 3 wherein said frame and said mounting means each have generally U-shapes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 80 words
The retractor of claim 4 wherein said frame comprises a base portion and side portions extending upwardly therefrom and said mounting means comprises a base portion having side portions extending upwardly therefrom, one of said side portions of said mounting means being connected to said side portions of said mounting means being connected to said side portions of said frame and the other of said side portions of said mounting means being connected to said base portion of said frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 37 words
The retractor of claim 7 wherein said locking means is operable to automatically lock said retractor upon movement of said winding means in a winding direction following initial movement of said winding means in the unwinding direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 62 words
The retractor of claim 1 wherein said winding means comprises a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, spring means biasing said shaft in the winding direction and at least one ratchet wheel rotatable with said shaft; and said locking means comprises a lock dog pivotably mounted in said frame and pivotable into engagement with said ratchet wheel to lock said winding means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 34 words
The retractor of claim 7 wherein said mounting means comprises a mounting flange having means for attachment to said vehicle, said mounting flange extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 13 words
The retractor of claim 8 wherein said restraint element comprises seat belt webbing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 18 words
The retractor of claim 9 wherein said mounting flange has a reduced width as compared with said frame.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3765700A Cited
DE2218910A1 Cited
GB2021386A Cited

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