US5533756A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Seat belt retractor with energy absorbing lock wheels
Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology Inc
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Filing: 1994-12-21
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Granted: 1996-07-09
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Expires: 2014-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A safety restraint system comprising: a safety belt system for restraining an occupant comprising: a safety belt; a retractor for protracting and retracting the safety belt, a shoulder belt support for supporting the shoulder belt portion of the safety belt; a pretensioner for providing, subsequent to activation, a preload tensile force in the shoulder belt portion in excess of a first low limit value of about 50 pounds; a load limiter for limiting the loads imparted by the shoulder belt portion to an occupant, operative after the preload acts on the shoulder belt portion, including first means for introducing a predetermined amount of slack in the shoulder belt when the belt tension is above a second low limit value and for preventing such slack introduction when belt tension is lower than such second low limit value.
Inventors
- 👤 Niels Dybro
- 👤 Harold J. Miller, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:18
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/28; B60R22/18; B60R22/195; B60R22/1952; B60R22/34; B60R22/341; B60R22/3413; B60R2022/285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A safety restraint system comprising: belt system means for restraining an occupant comprising: a safety belt; retractor means for protracting and retracting the safety belt; shoulder belt support means for supporting the shoulder belt portion of the safety belt; pretensioner means for providing subsequent to activation, a residual preload force in the safety belt in excess of a first low limit value of about 50 pounds; load limiting means for limiting the loads imparted by the shoulder belt portion to an occupant, operative after the preload acts on the shoulder belt portion, including first means for introducing a predetermined amount of slack in the shoulder belt when the belt tension is above a second low limit value and for preventing such slack introduction when belt tension is lower than such low limit value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A safety restraint system comprising: belt system means for restraining an occupant comprising: a safety belt; retractor means for protracting and retracting the safety belt; shoulder belt support means for supporting the shoulder belt portion of the safety belt; pretensioner means for providing subsequent to activation, a residual preload force in the safety belt in excess of a first low limit value of about 50 pounds; load limiting means for limiting the loads imparted by the shoulder belt portion to an occupant, operative after the preload acts on the shoulder belt portion, including first means for introducing a predetermined amount of slack in the shoulder belt when the belt tension is above a second low limit value and for preventing such slack introduction when belt tension is lower than such low limit value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the second low limit value equal to or greater than 350 pounds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the first low limit value is greater than about 50 pounds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the second low limit value is in a range of 350 to 2000 pounds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the first low limit value is in a range of 50 to 400 pounds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device as defined in claim 1 including an air bag and mean for inflating the air bag including an electronic sensing sub-system means for generating at least one control signal and inflator means for providing inflation gas to the air bag in response to at least one control signal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of protecting an occupant in a safety system comprising a seat belt, a high output pretensioner operatively coupled to the seat belt and a load limiting device for permitting occupant motion, the method comprising the steps of: a. sensing an accident b. operating the pretensioning device to provide a residual preload in the belt in excess of about 50 pounds, c. permitting the load limiting device to absorb crash loads introduced on the occupant when such loads are in excess of about 350 pounds.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of protecting an occupant in a safety system comprising a seat belt, a high output pretensioner operatively coupled to the seat belt and a load limiting device for permitting occupant motion, the method comprising the steps of: a. sensing an accident b. operating the pretensioning device to provide a residual preload in the belt in excess of about 50 pounds, c. permitting the load limiting device to absorb crash loads introduced on the occupant when such loads are in excess of about 350 pounds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
A safety restraint system comprising: belt system means for restraining an occupant comprising: a safety belt; retractor means for protracting and retracting the safety belt; shoulder belt support means for supporting the shoulder belt portion of the safety belt; load limiting means for limiting the loads imparted by the shoulder belt portion to an occupant, including first means for introducing a predetermined amount of slack in the shoulder belt when the belt tension is above a predetermined limit value and for preventing such slack introduction when belt tension is lower than such predetermined limit value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
95 words
A safety restraint system comprising: belt system means for restraining an occupant comprising: a safety belt; retractor means for protracting and retracting the safety belt; shoulder belt support means for supporting the shoulder belt portion of the safety belt; load limiting means for limiting the loads imparted by the shoulder belt portion to an occupant, including first means for introducing a predetermined amount of slack in the shoulder belt when the belt tension is above a predetermined limit value and for preventing such slack introduction when belt tension is lower than such predetermined limit value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
93 words
The device as defined in claim 8 wherein the load limiting means includes: a rotatably mounted spool including a lock wheel (300) including a center hub (156) and a toothed ring (162) disposed thereabout, attachment means for joining the hub and ring at a common interface which separates subsequent to locking the toothed ring, upon being subjected to a predetermined torque, permitting relative rotation between the hub and the gear, corresponding to the predetermined low limit value of belt tension, and which generates a relatively constant reaction force opposing retraction of the belt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device as defined in claim 9 including lock means for locking the rotation of the toothed ring (162) operative during an emergency.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device as defined in claim 9 wherein the attachment means includes a controlled fit between the hub and toothed gear.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device as defined in claim 9 wherein the attachment means includes an interference fit between the hub and toothed gear.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device as defined in claim 9 wherein one of the hub and gear includes teeth and wherein the other of the hub and gear includes a reaction surface (306) for receiving a mating part of the teeth.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device as defined in claim 13 wherein a portion of each tooth is stressed to its yield limit and wherein an end of each tooth it urged into the mating surface as a result of the stressing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device s defined in claim 12 including limit means for limiting relative axial motion between the hub and the gear.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device as defined in claim 15 wherein the limit means includes a positioning ring positioned adjacent and spaced from the hub.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device as defined in claim 16 including a second positioning ring positioned adjacent opposite side of the hub.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device as defined in claim 17 wherein the first positioning ring includes threads and wherein the hub includes a third positioning ring having threads that matingly engage the thread on the first positioning ring which upon relative rotation of the hub, the third positioning ring is drawn axially toward the hub and contacts the hub.
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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) | 1999-07-09 | 2000-01-08 | 2000-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-09 | 2004-01-08 | 2004-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-09 | 2008-01-08 | 2008-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |