Actuator for moving a belt arrangement

Claim 2

In combination with a vehicle body including a body member supporting a door member for movement between open and closed positions, and an occupant restraining belt arrangement generally adjacent the door member and movable between occupant restraining and easy-enter positions, an actuator for moving the belt arrangement from occupant restraining position to easy-enter position, the actuator comprising, a pulley rotatably mounted on one of the members and including a spiraling portion, an elongated flexible element with one end fixed relative to the pulley adjacent the outer end of the spiraling portion and with the other end of the flexible element attached to the belt arrangement, and means for rotating the pulley in response to opening movement of the door member to wind the flexible element inwardly on the spiraling portion and pull the belt arrangement from occupant restraining position toward easy-enter position such that the belt arrangement is moved more during the initial stages of this opening movement than during later stages to aid occupant ingress to and egress from the vehicle body with the door member partially open.

Claim 3

In combination with a vehicle body including a body member supporting a door member for movement between open and closed positions, and an occupant restraining belt arrangement generally adjacent the door member and movable between occupant restraining and easy-enter positions, an actuator for moving the belt arrangement from occupant restraining position to easy-enter position, the actuator comprising, a pulley rotatably mounted on one of the members and including an outer arcuate portion and a spiraling portion whose outer end merges with one end of the outer arcuate portion, an elongated flexible element with one end portion thereof fixed relative to the pulley adjacent the other end of the outer arcuate portion and with the other end portion of the flexible element attached to the belt arrangement, and means for rotating the actuator pulley in response to opening movement of the door member to wind the one end portion of the flexible element on the pulley and pull the belt arrangement from occupant restraining to easy-enter position, the flexible element winding on the outer arcuate portion of the pulley during the initial opening movement of the door member and winding inwardly on the spiraling portion during later stages of this opening movement such that the belt arrangement is moved more toward easy-enter position during the initial opening movement during later stages to aid occupant ingress to and egress from the vehicle body with the door member partially open.

Claim 4

In combination with a vehicle body including a body member supporting a door member for movement between open and closed positions, and an occupant restraining belt arrangement generally adjacent the door member and movable between occupant restraining and easy-enter positions, an actuator for moving the belt arrangement from occupant restraining position to easy-enter position, the actuator comprising, a pulley rotatably mounted on one of the members and including an outer arcuate portion and a spiraling portion whose outer end merges with one end of the outer arcuate portion, an elongated flexible element with one end portion thereof fixed relative to the pulley adjacent the other end of the outer arcuate portion and with the other end portion of the flexible element attached to the belt arrangement, and means for rotating the actuator pulley in response to opening movement of the door member to wind the one end portion of the flexible element on the pulley and pull the belt arrangement from occupant restraining to easy-enter position, the flexible element winding on the outer arcuate portion of the pulley during the initial opening movement of the door member and winding inwardly on the spiraling portion during later stages of this opening movement such that the belt arrangement is moved more toward easy-enter position during the initial opening movement during later stages to aid occupant ingress to and egress from the vehicle body with the door member partially open.

Claim 5

In combination with a vehicle body including a body member supporting a door member for movement between open and closed positions, and an occupant restraining belt arrangement generally adjacent the door member and movable between occupant restraining and easy-enter positions, an actuator for moving the belt arrangement from occupant restraining position to easy-enter position, the actuator comprising, a first pulley rotatably mounted on one of the members and including an element receiving winding portion, a first elongated flexible element with one end fixed relative to the first pulley to allow winding of this flexible element on the winding portion thereof, the other end of the first flexible element being attached to the belt arrangement, a second pulley rotatably mounted to drive the first pulley and including an element receiving winding portion, a second elongated flexible element received by the winding portion of the second pulley with one end fixed relative thereto, the other end of the second flexible element being fixed relative to the other member to unwind the second flexible element from the second pulley during opening movement of the door member and rotate the pulleys such that the first flexible element is wound on the winding portion of the first pulley and pulls the belt arrangement toward easy-enter position, and a spiraling portion on one of the winding portions such that the belt arrangement is moved more during the initial opening movement of the door member than during later stages to aid occupant ingress to and egress from the vehicle body with the door member partially open.

Claim 6

In combination with a vehicle body including a body member supporting a door member for movement between open and closed positions, and an occupant restraining belt arrangement generally adjacent the door member and movable between occupant restraining and easy-enter positions, an actuator for moving the belt arrangement from occupant restraining position to easy-enter position, the actuator comprising, a first pulley rotatably mounted on one of the members and including an element receiving winding portion, a first elongated flexible element with one end fixed relative to the first pulley to allow winding of this flexible element on the winding portion thereof, the other end of the first flexible element being attached to the belt arrangement, a second pulley rotatably mounted to drive the first pulley and including an element receiving winding portion, a second elongated flexible element received by the winding portion of the second pulley with one end fixed relative thereto, the other end of the second flexible element being fixed relative to the other member to unwind the second flexible element from the second pulley during opening movement of the door member and rotate the pulleys such that the first flexible element is wound on the winding portion of the first pulley and pulls the belt arrangement toward easy-enter position, and a spiraling portion on one of the winding portions such that the belt arrangement is moved more during the initial opening movement of the door member than during later stages to aid occupant ingress to and egress from the vehicle body with the door member partially open.

Claim 7

In combination with a vehicle body including a body member supporting a door member for movement between open and closed positions, and an occupant restraining belt arrangement generally adjacent the door member and movable between occupant restraining and easy-enter positions, an actuator for moving the belt arrangement from occupant restraining position to easy-enter position, the actuator comprising, a first pulley rotatably mounted on one of the members and including an outer arcuate portion and a spiraling portion whose outer end merges with one end of the outer arcuate portion, a first elongated flexible element with one end fixed to the first pulley adjacent the other end of the outer arcuate portion, the other end of the first flexible element being attached to the belt arrangement, a second pulley mounted for rotation with the first pulley and including a spiraling portion which spirals in a direction opposite to that of the first spiraling portion, and a second elongated flexible element received by the spiraling portion of the second pulley with one element end attached thereto adjacent the outer end of this spiraling portion and with the other element end attached to the other member to unwind the second flexible element from the second pulley during opening movement of the door member and rotate the pulleys more during the initial stages of this opening movement than during later stages, the first flexible element being wound on the outer arcuate portion of the first pulley during the initial rotation of the pulleys and on the spiraling portion thereof during later stages of this rotation such that the belt arrangement is pulled toward easy-enter position during opening movement of the door member and the movement of the belt arrangement is greater during the initial stages of this opening movement than during later stages to aid occupant ingress to and egress from the vehicle body with the door member partially open.

Claim 8

In combination with a vehicle body including a body member supporting a door member for movement between open and closed positions, and an occupant restraining belt arrangement generally adjacent the door member and movable between occupant restraining and easy-enter positions, an actuator for moving the belt arrangement from occupant restraining position to easy-enter position, the actuator comprising, a first pulley rotatably mounted on one of the members and including an outer arcuate portion and a spiraling portion whose outer end merges with one end of the outer arcuate portion, a first elongated flexible element with one end fixed to the first pulley adjacent the other end of the outer arcuate portion, the other end of the first flexible element being attached to the belt arrangement, a second pulley mounted for rotation with the first pulley and including a spiraling portion which spirals in a direction opposite to that of the first spiraling portion, and a second elongated flexible element received by the spiraling portion of the second pulley with one element end attached thereto adjacent the outer end of this spiraling portion and with the other element end attached to the other member to unwind the second flexible element from the second pulley during opening movement of the door member and rotate the pulleys more during the initial stages of this opening movement than during later stages, the first flexible element being wound on the outer arcuate portion of the first pulley during the initial rotation of the pulleys and on the spiraling portion thereof during later stages of this rotation such that the belt arrangement is pulled toward easy-enter position during opening movement of the door member and the movement of the belt arrangement is greater during the initial stages of this opening movement than during later stages to aid occupant ingress to and egress from the vehicle body with the door member partially open.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 4 wherein the actuator includes means biasing the pulleys to a position where the second flexible element is wound on the second pulley and the first flexible element is unwound from the first pulley.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 4 wherein the pulleys are rotatably mounted on the door member and a pair of idler pulleys guide the first and second flexible Elements from the door member.

Claim 11

In combination: a vehicle body having an occupant seat, and a door adjacent the seat and movable between open and closed positions; an occupant restraint unit effective when the door is closed to restrain an occupant of the seat, the restraint unit having an attachment portion movable forwardly relative to the seat to permit occupant ingress and egress with respect to the seat relatively free of the restraint unit; the door and vehicle body defining mounting portions which move away from each other as the door is opened; a pulley rotatably mounted on one of the mounting portions and having first and second element receiving portions; a first generally elongated flexible element extending from the first element receiving portion of the pulley to the other mounting portion so that the pulley is rotated as the door is opened; a second generally elongated flexible element extending from the second cable receiving portion of the pulley to the attachment portion of the restraint unit so as to wind on this portion of the pulley as the pulley is rotated in response to door opening movement and to move the restraint unit to allow the occupant ingress and egress relative to the seat; and one of the element receiving portions of the pulley having varying radii relative to the axis of pulley rotation such that the restraint unit is moved a relatively greater amount during the initial door opening movement than during later stages thereof to aid occupant access to the seat when the door is partially open.

Claim 12

In combination: a vehicle body having an occupant seat, and a door adjacent the seat and movable between open and closed positions; an occupant restraint unit effective when the door is closed to restrain an occupant of the seat, the restraint unit having an attachment portion movable forwardly relative to the seat to permit occupant ingress and egress with respect to the seat relatively free of the restraint unit; the door and vehicle body defining mounting portions which move away from each other as the door is opened; a pulley rotatably mounted on one of the mounting portions and having first and second element receiving portions; a first generally elongated flexible element extending from the first element receiving portion of the pulley to the other mounting portion so that the pulley is rotated as the door is opened; a second generally elongated flexible element extending from the second cable receiving portion of the pulley to the attachment portion of the restraint unit so as to wind on this portion of the pulley as the pulley is rotated in response to door opening movement and to move the restraint unit to allow the occupant ingress and egress relative to the seat; and one of the element receiving portions of the pulley having varying radii relative to the axis of pulley rotation such that the restraint unit is moved a relatively greater amount during the initial door opening movement than during later stages thereof to aid occupant access to the seat when the door is partially open.