US5129680A — Preloader sensor and mechanism for securing webbi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 119 words

A preloader sensor which is applied to a webbing retractor for winding a webbing for constraining a vehicle passenger onto a winding shaft in stratified form in order to tightly constrain a passenger with said webbing instantaneously upon detecting quickly decelerating vehicle speed, comprising; a sensor unit which incorporates a mechanism for detecting quickly decelerating vehicle speed; a releasing means which is displaceably installed so as to be adjustable by the application of external force, to enable and disable said sensor unit for detecting decelerating vehicle speed, based on the predetermined amount of displacement; and an urging means which constantly urges said releasing means towards a specific position in which said releasing means cannot execute detection of vehicle speed.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 119 words

A preloader sensor which is applied to a webbing retractor for winding a webbing for constraining a vehicle passenger onto a winding shaft in stratified form in order to tightly constrain a passenger with said webbing instantaneously upon detecting quickly decelerating vehicle speed, comprising; a sensor unit which incorporates a mechanism for detecting quickly decelerating vehicle speed; a releasing means which is displaceably installed so as to be adjustable by the application of external force, to enable and disable said sensor unit for detecting decelerating vehicle speed, based on the predetermined amount of displacement; and an urging means which constantly urges said releasing means towards a specific position in which said releasing means cannot execute detection of vehicle speed.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

A preloader sensor according to claim 1, wherein said releasing means is subject to displacement by the application of external pressure thereto.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 35 words

A preloader sensor according to claim 1, wherein said releasing means is subject to displacement from one to the other of two specific positions enabling detection of vehicle speed and inhibiting detection of vehicle speed.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

A preloader sensor according to claim 3, wherein said releasing means is subject to axial displacement between two specific positions allowing detection of vehicle speed and inhibiting detection of vehicle speed respectively.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

A preloader sensor according to claim 1, wherein said releasing means is installed in such a way as to project outward from said preloader sensor.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 89 words

A preloader sensor according to claim 2, wherein said releasing means comprises; a first member which is displaceable from one to the other of a position receiving said external pressure and a position free of said external pressure; and a second member which operates in conjunction with said first member to cause said sensor unit to enter into detection-capable condition at the position where said first member is subject to external pressure and into detection-incapable condition at the position where no external pressure is applied to said first member.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

A preloader sensor according to claim 1, wherein said urging means comprises a return spring.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 242 words

A preloader sensor which is applied to a webbing retractor for winding a webbing for constraining a vehicle passenger onto a winding shaft in stratified form in order to activate operation of a preloader for tightly constraining a passenger with said webbing upon instantaneously detecting quickly decelerating vehicle speed, comprising; a sensor unit which incorporates a mechanism for detecting quickly decelerating vehicle speed, said mechanism incorporating a mass substance and a mass-substance receiving member capable of receiving displaced mass substance and detecting quickly decelerating vehicle speed as a result of displacement of the position of said mass substance receptive member which takes place simultaneously with quick deceleration of the vehicle speed; a releasing means which causes said mass-substance receiving member to enter into a displaceable condition and an undisplaceable condition, wherein said releasing means causes said mass-substance receiving member to enter into said displaceable condition when said releasing means is moved to a specific position as a result of receiving a predetermined amount of external pressure, in order to make said mass-substance receiving member operative unless and until said releasing means is returned to a position free of external pressure, and said releasing means is movable from one to the other of a pressure-receiving position and a pressure-absent position; and an energizing means which constantly exerts a force on said releasing means and moves said releasing means when said releasing means is at said pressure absent position free of said external pressure.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 242 words

A preloader sensor which is applied to a webbing retractor for winding a webbing for constraining a vehicle passenger onto a winding shaft in stratified form in order to activate operation of a preloader for tightly constraining a passenger with said webbing upon instantaneously detecting quickly decelerating vehicle speed, comprising; a sensor unit which incorporates a mechanism for detecting quickly decelerating vehicle speed, said mechanism incorporating a mass substance and a mass-substance receiving member capable of receiving displaced mass substance and detecting quickly decelerating vehicle speed as a result of displacement of the position of said mass substance receptive member which takes place simultaneously with quick deceleration of the vehicle speed; a releasing means which causes said mass-substance receiving member to enter into a displaceable condition and an undisplaceable condition, wherein said releasing means causes said mass-substance receiving member to enter into said displaceable condition when said releasing means is moved to a specific position as a result of receiving a predetermined amount of external pressure, in order to make said mass-substance receiving member operative unless and until said releasing means is returned to a position free of external pressure, and said releasing means is movable from one to the other of a pressure-receiving position and a pressure-absent position; and an energizing means which constantly exerts a force on said releasing means and moves said releasing means when said releasing means is at said pressure absent position free of said external pressure.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

A preloader sensor according to claim 8, wherein said releasing means is axially displaceable between said pressure-receiving position and said pressure-absent position.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

A preloader sensor according to claim 8, wherein said releasing means is installed in such a way as to project outward from said preloader sensor.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 102 words

A preloader sensor according to claim 8, wherein said releasing means comprises; a first member which is displaceable from one to the other of said pressure receiving position and said pressure absent position; and a second member which operates in conjunction with said first member to cause said mass-substance receiving member to enter into a displaceable condition when said first member is moved to said position where said first member is subject to said external pressure and an undisplaceable condition if and when said first member returns to said pressure absent position where said first member is free of said external pressure.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 16 words

A preloader sensor according to claim 11, wherein said first member comprises a first releasing member.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 16 words

A preloader sensor according to claim 11, wherein said second member comprises a second releasing member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 15 words

A preloader sensor according to claim 8, wherein said energizing means comprises a return spring.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 132 words

A mechanical structure for securing a webbing retractor to a vehicle body, wherein said webbing retractor incorporates a preloader sensor which activates operation of a preloader for tightly constraining a vehicle passenger with a webbing when vehicle speed quickly decelerates, wherein said mechanical structure comprises; a joining means which joins said webbing retractor to a vehicle body; and a releasing means which is disposed in said preloader sensor, for causing said preloader sensor to enter into an operation-incapable condition and an operation capable condition, wherein said preloader sensor enters into said operation-capable condition only when said webbing retractor is joined to the vehicle body by said joining means, whereas said preloader sensor enters into said operation-incapable condition when said webbing retractor and the vehicle body are not joined by said joining means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 132 words

A mechanical structure for securing a webbing retractor to a vehicle body, wherein said webbing retractor incorporates a preloader sensor which activates operation of a preloader for tightly constraining a vehicle passenger with a webbing when vehicle speed quickly decelerates, wherein said mechanical structure comprises; a joining means which joins said webbing retractor to a vehicle body; and a releasing means which is disposed in said preloader sensor, for causing said preloader sensor to enter into an operation-incapable condition and an operation capable condition, wherein said preloader sensor enters into said operation-capable condition only when said webbing retractor is joined to the vehicle body by said joining means, whereas said preloader sensor enters into said operation-incapable condition when said webbing retractor and the vehicle body are not joined by said joining means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 174 words

A mechanical structure for securing a webbing retractor to a vehicle body according to claim 15, wherein said releasing means comprises; an interfering member which is disposed in relation to a moving locus on said joining means, and which moves out of an interfering position at which said preloader sensor is in an operation-incapable condition and into a non-interfering position at which said preloader sensor is in an operation-capable condition, as a result of the movement of said joining means and said moving locus by a predetermined distance, such that said joining means is at a joining position where the joining of said webbing retractor to the vehicle body is complete. an operational condition determining means which operates in conjunction with said interfereing member to cause said preloader sensor to enter into an operative condition at the position where said interfering member is moved to said non-interfering position by said joining means and into an inoperative condition at the position where said interfering member is moved to said interfering position by said joining means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 126 words

A mechanical structure for securing a webbing retractor to a vehicle body according to claim 16, further comprising; an energizing means which exerts a force on said interfering means in the direction of a specific position at which operation of said preloader sensor is prevented, wherein said interfering means is moved to said non-interfering position as a result of the movement of said joining means to said joining position in resistance against the force exerted by said energizing means, and wherein, when said joining means moves to a position at which joining is not complete, said interfering member is moved to said interfering position, at which it is free of influence from said joining means, as a consequence of the force exerted by said energizing means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 24 words

A mechanical structure for securing a webbing retractor to a vehicle body according to claim 15, wherein said union means comprises a releasing bolt.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 25 words

A mechanical structure for securing a webbing retractor to a vehicle body according to claim 16, wherein said interfering member comprises a first releasing means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 25 words

A mechanical structure for securing a webbing retractor to a vehicle body according to claim 16, wherein said operation-determining member comprises a second releasing means.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

A mechanical structure for securing a webbing retractor to a vehicle body according to claim 17, wherein said energizing means comprises a return spring.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-07-14	1996-01-13	1996-07-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-07-14	2000-01-13	2000-07-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-07-14	2004-01-13	2004-07-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Preloader sensor and mechanism for securing webbing retractor

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