US3917019A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle and safety device for same
Assignee: National Research Development Corp UK
•
Filing: 1973-03-05
•
Granted: 1975-11-04
•
Expires: 1993-03-05
Abstract
Abstract A safety device for vehicles and their passengers comprises a restraining member, for instance a seat belt wound on a reel. A spring tends to wind in the reel, so that the member normally lies comfortably taut across the body of a seated passenger. A clutch operates in response to certain conditions of the vehicle to prevent the spring winding the reel in, while the reel can still wind out. This allows the belt to slacken to permit passengers to enter and leave their seats without difficulty. Appropriate conditions of the vehicle may include the opening of doors or the turning-off of the ignition system. When the condition ceases the spring first takes up the slack then holds the belt taut as before.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard Charles Pearson
- 👤 Victor James Jehu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:04
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/34; B60R22/44; B60R22/04; B60R22/08; B60R2022/4486
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A vehicle safety device comprising: an occupant-restraining member; means for supporting one end of said member from a door of said vehicle whereby said occupant-restraining member automatically fits itself around an occupant of the vehicle as the door is closed; non-electric tensioning means for said member, said tensioning means operating to hold said member taut but unlocked in its occupant-restraining position during normal running motion of said vehicle; a locking device responsive to the onset of a rapid deceleration of said vehicle, said locking device operating to lock said member in its said tautly-held position; a check device operable to inhibit said tensioning means to thereby permit said member to go slack; and triggering means responsive to a condition which normally exists when the occupant is normally entering and exiting the vehicle for actuating said check device into its tension means inhibiting condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A vehicle safety device comprising: an occupant-restraining member; means for supporting one end of said member from a door of said vehicle whereby said occupant-restraining member automatically fits itself around an occupant of the vehicle as the door is closed; non-electric tensioning means for said member, said tensioning means operating to hold said member taut but unlocked in its occupant-restraining position during normal running motion of said vehicle; a locking device responsive to the onset of a rapid deceleration of said vehicle, said locking device operating to lock said member in its said tautly-held position; a check device operable to inhibit said tensioning means to thereby permit said member to go slack; and triggering means responsive to a condition which normally exists when the occupant is normally entering and exiting the vehicle for actuating said check device into its tension means inhibiting condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A vehicle safety device according to claim 1 wherein: said condition comprises the open state of said door.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A vehicle safety device according to claim 1 further comprising: a reel, said occupant-restraining member being coiled on said reel, and wherein said non-electric tensioning means includes a spring device which tends to wind-in said reel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vehicle safety device according to claim 1 wherein: said vehicle includes an ignition system, and said condition comprises the deenergized state of said ignition system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
159 words
In a vehicle, an occupant-safety device comprising: reel means; a belt coiled on said reel means, said reel means normally permitting wind-out of said belt; a spring-loading device on said reel means operable to tend to wind-in said belt; securing means for the end of said belt remote from said reel means; one of said means being mounted on a door of said vehicle, whereby said belt automatically fits itself around an occupant of the vehicle as the door is closed, said reel means and said securing means cooperating so as normally to hold said belt taut but unlocked across the body of said occupant; check means operable to prevent said spring-loading device from winding-in said belt while still permitting said belt to wind-out from said reel means; and triggering means operable in response to a condition which normally exists when the occupant is normally entering and exiting the vehicle for actuating said check means in its operable condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
159 words
In a vehicle, an occupant-safety device comprising: reel means; a belt coiled on said reel means, said reel means normally permitting wind-out of said belt; a spring-loading device on said reel means operable to tend to wind-in said belt; securing means for the end of said belt remote from said reel means; one of said means being mounted on a door of said vehicle, whereby said belt automatically fits itself around an occupant of the vehicle as the door is closed, said reel means and said securing means cooperating so as normally to hold said belt taut but unlocked across the body of said occupant; check means operable to prevent said spring-loading device from winding-in said belt while still permitting said belt to wind-out from said reel means; and triggering means operable in response to a condition which normally exists when the occupant is normally entering and exiting the vehicle for actuating said check means in its operable condition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2858144A
Cited
US2852270A
Cited
US3240510A
Cited
US3182923A
Cited
US3506083A
Cited
US3547490A
Cited
US3491966A
Cited
US3550875A
Cited
US3522918A
Cited
US3610361A
Cited
US3764161A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |