US4258934A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Seat belt tensioning device
Assignee: Soken Inc
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Filing: 1979-05-08
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Granted: 1981-03-31
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Expires: 1999-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A seat belt tensioning device which restrains the passenger and absorbs his kinetic energy at an urgent time such as upon an impact of a vehicle. A piston is slidably disposed within a cylinder so as to move in only one direction. Return stop means prevents the piston from moving in an opposite direction. A metallic deformable member is disposed within a cavity of the piston, one end of the member being fixed to the piston, the other end thereof being connected to a seat belt. Piston operating means moves the piston within the cylinder at an urgent time and tensions the seat belt to restrain the passenger. When the tension force applied to the seat belt exceeds the deforming stress value of the metallic deformable member, the member is plastically deformed and the seat belt is drawn out of the cylinder to absorb the kinetic energy of the passenger.
Inventors
- 👤 Noboru Tsuge
- 👤 Satosi Kuwakado
- 👤 Toshihiro Takei
- 👤 Toshiaki Shimokawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:53
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/28; B60R22/18; B60R22/195; B60R22/1954; B60R22/1955
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A seat belt tensioning device for a vehicle comprising: a cylinder having a piston slidably disposed within said cylinder so as to move in only one direction, said piston having a cavity and a passage which is narrow relative to said cavity and which extends from said cavity in the direction opposite to said one direction, to an opening in said cylinder, a member deformable by a predetermined tension force, said member having two ends and being disposed in said cavity, one end of said member being retained by said piston and the other end extending at least into said narrow passage for connection to a seat belt, piston operating means for moving said piston in said one direction at an urgent time, and return stop means operative after said piston has been moved in said one direction by said operating means for then preventing said piston from moving in said opposite direction for allowing exertion in said opposite direction on said other end of said deformable member of at least said predetermined force to deform said member and move its said other end a substantial distance in said other direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A seat belt tensioning device for a vehicle comprising: a cylinder having a piston slidably disposed within said cylinder so as to move in only one direction, said piston having a cavity and a passage which is narrow relative to said cavity and which extends from said cavity in the direction opposite to said one direction, to an opening in said cylinder, a member deformable by a predetermined tension force, said member having two ends and being disposed in said cavity, one end of said member being retained by said piston and the other end extending at least into said narrow passage for connection to a seat belt, piston operating means for moving said piston in said one direction at an urgent time, and return stop means operative after said piston has been moved in said one direction by said operating means for then preventing said piston from moving in said opposite direction for allowing exertion in said opposite direction on said other end of said deformable member of at least said predetermined force to deform said member and move its said other end a substantial distance in said other direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A tensioning device according to claim 1, wherein said deformable member is a sheet normally having a corrugated shape and is drawn out of said cavity through said narrow passage into an elongated shape by said predetermined force.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
A tensioning device according to claim 1, wherein said other end of said member includes a rod tightly interposed in said narrow passage and said one end of said deformable member includes a hollow cylindrical body having a conical end portion integral with said rod and disposed in said piston cavity tightly in said opposite direction, said cylindrical body being sequeezable through said narrow passage by said predetermined force.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
A tensioning device according to claim 1 wherein said cavity is formed by a wall which has a corner portion at the entrance to said narrow passage, said deformable member includes a swirl shaped element which is bent by said corner portion at its exit into said passage and which is drawn out of said cavity while being bent at said corner portion into an elongated shape by said predetermined force.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tensioning device as in claim 4 wherein said cavity has a columnar shape with a columnar axis perpendicular to said one and opposite directions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A tensioning device as in claim 4 or 5 wherein said member is a swirl shaped sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
A tensioning device as in claim 6 wherein said sheet is metallic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A tensioning device as in claims 4 or 5 wherein said element is a wire.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A tensioning device as in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein said member is metallic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
177 words
In a vehicle seat belt tensioning device, the improvement comprising: actuable means for tensioning a seat belt, when actuated, by pulling the seat belt in a given direction, said actuable means including a cylinder having a piston movable in only said given direction and means for forcibly moving said piston in said given direction for tightening said belt upon vehicle impact, and energy absorbing means for allowing the seat belt to move a sufficient distance in the opposite direction to absorb kinetic energy applied to the seat belt as a result of a vehicle impact, said energy absorbing means including deformable means connectable to said seat belt and movable as a unit with said piston in said given direction and having a predetermined deformation stress value which, when exceeded by a seat belt force pulling in said opposite direction in response to said applied kinetic energy, causes the deformable means to deform and thereby move relative to said piston in said opposite direction to allow seat belt movement in said opposite direction to absorb said kinetic energy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
177 words
In a vehicle seat belt tensioning device, the improvement comprising: actuable means for tensioning a seat belt, when actuated, by pulling the seat belt in a given direction, said actuable means including a cylinder having a piston movable in only said given direction and means for forcibly moving said piston in said given direction for tightening said belt upon vehicle impact, and energy absorbing means for allowing the seat belt to move a sufficient distance in the opposite direction to absorb kinetic energy applied to the seat belt as a result of a vehicle impact, said energy absorbing means including deformable means connectable to said seat belt and movable as a unit with said piston in said given direction and having a predetermined deformation stress value which, when exceeded by a seat belt force pulling in said opposite direction in response to said applied kinetic energy, causes the deformable means to deform and thereby move relative to said piston in said opposite direction to allow seat belt movement in said opposite direction to absorb said kinetic energy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
A seat belt tensioning device comprising: a cylinder having a piston movable in only one direction for tightening a seat belt in an emergency, means for forcibly moving said piston in said one direction to cause said emergency tightening, and deformable means connectable to said seat belt and having a predetermined deforming stress value and movable as a unit in said one direction with said piston, said deformable means being extendable in an opposite direction a substantial distance upon deformation by a force exceeding said deforming stress value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
88 words
A seat belt tensioning device comprising: a cylinder having a piston movable in only one direction for tightening a seat belt in an emergency, means for forcibly moving said piston in said one direction to cause said emergency tightening, and deformable means connectable to said seat belt and having a predetermined deforming stress value and movable as a unit in said one direction with said piston, said deformable means being extendable in an opposite direction a substantial distance upon deformation by a force exceeding said deforming stress value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A tensioning device as in claim 10 or 11 wherein said deformable means includes a member having a nonlinear shape which is drawn out into an elongated shape by said force.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A tensioning device as in claim 12 wherein said nonlinear shape is a corrugated shape.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A tensioning device as in claim 12 wherein said nonlinear shape is a swirl shape.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A tensioning device as in claim 10 or 11 wherein said deformable means includes a rod of given cross-sectional dimension deformable to a lesser value by said force pulling on said rod in said opposite direction relative to said piston.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-03-30 | 1984-09-29 | 1985-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-30 | 1988-09-29 | 1989-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-30 | 1992-09-29 | 1993-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |