Energy-absorbing restraint system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- a housing and a rotor engaged with the housing, the housing and the rotor defining a cavity therebetween;
a resilient material disposed in the cavity;
a seat belt buckle connected to and moveable relative to one of the housing and the rotor; and
a helical interface between the housing and the rotor, the rotor moveable relative to the housing along the helical interface by movement of the seat belt buckle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A restraint system includes a housing and a rotor engaged with the housing. The housing and the rotor define a cavity therebetween. A resilient material is disposed in the cavity. A helical interface is between the housing and the rotor. The rotor is moveable relative to the housing along the helical interface. A seat belt buckle is connected to and moveable relative to one of the housing and the rotor. During a vehicle impact, the seat belt buckle may cause the rotor to move along the helical interface towards the housing. In this situation, the resilient material may be compressed between the rotor and the housing.
18 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A system comprising:
-
a housing and a rotor engaged with the housing, the housing and the rotor defining a cavity therebetween; a resilient material disposed in the cavity; a seat belt buckle connected to and moveable relative to one of the housing and the rotor; and a helical interface between the housing and the rotor, the rotor moveable relative to the housing along the helical interface by movement of the seat belt buckle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A system comprising:
-
a housing and a rotor engaged with the housing, the housing and the rotor defining a cavity therebetween; a helical interface between the housing and the rotor, the rotor being moveable relative to the housing along the helical interface; a resilient material disposed in the cavity; a seat belt buckle connected to and moveable relative to one of the housing and the rotor; a cable extending from the seat belt buckle to one of the housing and the rotor, the cable is attached to both the seat belt buckle and one of the housing and the rotor; and wherein the rotor includes a circumference, the cable is wrapped around the circumference of the rotor in a retracted position.
-
-
20. A system comprising:
-
a housing and a rotor engaged with the housing, the housing and the rotor defining a cavity therebetween; a helical interface between the housing and the rotor, the rotor being moveable relative to the housing along the helical interface; a resilient material disposed in the cavity; a seat belt buckle connected to and moveable relative to one of the housing and the rotor; wherein the housing includes a tube extending annularly about an axis, the cavity extends circumferentially along the tube; and wherein the helical interface is in the cavity on the tube of the housing.
-
-
21. A system comprising:
-
a housing and a rotor engaged with the housing, the housing and the rotor defining a cavity therebetween; a helical interface between the housing and the rotor, the rotor being moveable relative to the housing along the helical interface; a resilient material disposed in the cavity; a seat belt buckle connected to and moveable relative to one of the housing and the rotor; an O-ring disposed in the cavity, the O-ring abuts both the rotor and the housing; and wherein the O-ring is disposed between the resilient material and the helical interface.
-
Specification