US3561690A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plastically deformable damping member for motor vehicle safety belts
Assignee: KLIPPEN GmbH
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Filing: 1968-12-13
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Granted: 1971-02-09
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Expires: 1988-12-13
Abstract
Abstract An energy absorbing device for motor vehicle safety belts comprises a plastically deformable damping member. The damping member is in the form of at least one coil of metal tape one end of which is secured to a rotatable shaft about which a length of belt is wound. The fixed reaction member is so located relative to the coil and shaft that the withdrawal of the length of belt from the shaft as the result of a collision causes the shaft to rotate and the fixed reaction member to deform the tape as it is drawn past the reaction member from the coil and is wound onto the rotatable shaft.
Inventors
- 👤 Kurt Muskat
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:07
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16F; F16F7/00; F16F7/12; F16F7/123; B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A damping device for a vehicle safety belt comprising: a. an elongated plastically deformable nonelastic energy absorbing means, at least a part of which is in a coiled configuration constituting a storage coil; b. rotatable means for securing one end of said energy absorbing means; c. flexible means disposed at one end of the belt and secured to and coiled about said rotatable means; and d. a fixed reaction member in contact with a part of said elongated energy absorbing means between said coil and said rotatable means and positioned such that when said elongated flexible means is uncoiled from said rotatable means as a result of a collision the momentum energy of a body retained by said belt is absorbed by a continuous change in the coiled configuration of the energy absorbing means as it is uncoiled, contacts said reaction member and is recoiled about said rotatable means without substantial alteration in the cross section of said energy absorbing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A damping device for a vehicle safety belt comprising: a. an elongated plastically deformable nonelastic energy absorbing means, at least a part of which is in a coiled configuration constituting a storage coil; b. rotatable means for securing one end of said energy absorbing means; c. flexible means disposed at one end of the belt and secured to and coiled about said rotatable means; and d. a fixed reaction member in contact with a part of said elongated energy absorbing means between said coil and said rotatable means and positioned such that when said elongated flexible means is uncoiled from said rotatable means as a result of a collision the momentum energy of a body retained by said belt is absorbed by a continuous change in the coiled configuration of the energy absorbing means as it is uncoiled, contacts said reaction member and is recoiled about said rotatable means without substantial alteration in the cross section of said energy absorbing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
A damping device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible means is coiled about said rotatable means in a direction opposite to the direction of the turns of said energy absorbing means in said storage coil whereby during a collision said energy absorbing means is coiled about said rotatable means in a direction opposite to the direction of the turns of the storage coil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A damping device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reaction member is offset on one side of the plane containing the axes of rotation of the storage coil and the rotatable means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
A damping device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fixed reaction member is located at a predetermined distance from the axis of said rotatable means such that as the coil of the energy absorbing means builds up on the rotatable means the reaction member will eventually make contact with the exterior of said coil and act as a brake to reduce the rate of rotation and stop rotation of said rotatable means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A damping device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated energy absorbing means comprises a flat metal tape of varying width along its length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A damping device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the width of said tape is diminished towards the end of the tape in said storage coil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A damping device as claimed in claim 1 comprising two of said elongated plastically deformable nonelastic energy absorbing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A damping device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a common chassis for mounting said reaction member and rotatable means and locating the storage coil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
A damping device as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a common chassis for mounting said reaction member and rotating means and locating the two storage coils, said flexible means being secured to and coiled about said rotatable means at a location between the locations at which the ends of said energy absorbing means are secured.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A damping device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said chassis comprises two pairs of parallel flanges, a storage coil being retained in alignment between each pair.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A damping device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said chassis contains an opening to receive said energy absorbing means as it is coiled about said rotatable means during a collision.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A damping device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible means comprises one end portion of said belt.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A damping device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible means comprises a steel rope.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A damping device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible means comprises a steel wire.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-08 | 1974-08-10 | 1975-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-08 | 1978-08-10 | 1979-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-08 | 1982-08-10 | 1983-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |