SEAT BELT RETRACTOR

• US 20120267885A1
• Filed: 04/19/2012
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: PUZZONIA, John Pasquale, ZDRAVKOSKI, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,979,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/803
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/3402 Retractor casings; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/40 responsive only to vehicle movement

Abstract

A retractor including a rotatable spool configured to be connected to a webbing, a locking member configured to selectively lock the spool and prevent the spool from rotating in the webbing extraction direction, a sensor, and a cover for the sensor and locking member. When the locking member is in a locked position, the spool is prohibited from rotating in the webbing extraction direction. The sensor is configured to move in a first direction in response to the vehicle having a threshold acceleration. Movement of the sensor in the first direction causes a corresponding movement of the locking member to a locked position. The sensor is located in a cavity in the cover and an insert member is disposed between the cover and the sensor to limit the travel of the sensor in a second direction transverse to the first direction.

Claims

1. A retractor for a seat belt system of a vehicle, comprising:

a rotatable spool configured to be connected to a webbing wherein the webbing moves in an extraction direction and a retraction direction upon rotation of the spool;

a locking member configured to selectively lock the spool and prevent the spool from rotating in the webbing extraction direction, wherein the locking member is configured to move between a free position and a locked position relative to the spool, wherein when the locking member is in the locked position, the spool is prohibited from rotating in the webbing extraction direction and when the locking member is in the free position, the spool is freely rotatable;

a sensor configured to move in a first direction in response to the vehicle having a threshold acceleration and wherein movement of the sensor in the first direction causes a corresponding movement of the locking member from the free position to the locked position; and

a cover for the sensor and locking member;

wherein the sensor is located in a cavity in the cover and an insert member is disposed between the cover and the sensor to limit the travel of the sensor in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction.

2. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the insert member is in direct contact with the sensor and applies a biasing force to the sensor.

3. The retractor of claim 2, wherein the biasing force is imparted into the insert member in the second direction.

4. The retractor of claim 3, wherein the insert member is made of a resilient material that induces the biasing force upon compression of the insert member.

5. The retractor of claim 4, wherein the resilient material is a rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer.

6. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the insert member is offset a distance from a wall of the cover.

7. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the insert member has a thickness of 0.5-1.5 mm.

8. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the sensing mechanism includes a coupling feature to attach the insert member to the cover.

9. A seat belt system for a vehicle for restraining a secured occupant, the seat belt system comprising:

a webbing having a first end and a second end;

an anchor configured to secure the first end of the webbing;

a tongue member slideably coupled to the webbing and configured to selectively engage a buckle mechanism; and

a retractor including;

a rotatable spool configured to be connected to the second end of the webbing wherein the webbing moves in an extraction direction and a retraction direction upon rotation of the spool;

a locking member configured to selectively lock the spool and prevent the spool from rotating in the webbing extraction direction, wherein the locking member is configured to move between a free position and a locked position relative to the spool, wherein when the locking member is in the locked position, the spool is prohibited from rotating in the webbing extraction direction and when the locking member is in the free position, the spool is freely rotatable;

a sensor configured to move in a first direction in response to the vehicle having a threshold acceleration and wherein movement of the sensor in the first direction causes a corresponding movement of the locking member from the free position to the locked position; and

a cover for the sensor and locking member;

wherein the sensor is located in a cavity in the cover and an insert member is disposed between the cover and the sensor to limit the travel of the sensor in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction.

10. The sensing mechanism of claim 9, wherein the insert member is in direct contact with the sensor and applies a biasing force to the sensor.

11. The sensing mechanism of claim 10, wherein the biasing force is imparted into the insert member in the second direction.

12. The sensing mechanism of claim 11, wherein the insert member is made of a resilient material that induces the biasing force upon compression of the insert member.

13. The sensing mechanism of claim 12, wherein the resilient material is a rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer.

14. The sensing mechanism of claim 9, wherein the insert member is offset a distance from a wall of the cover.

15. The sensing mechanism of claim 9, wherein the insert member has a thickness of 0.5-1.5 mm.

16. The sensing mechanism of claim 9, wherein the sensing mechanism includes a coupling feature to attach the insert member to the cover.

17. A retractor for a seat belt system of a vehicle, comprising:

a rotatable spool configured to be connected to a webbing wherein the webbing moves in an extraction direction and a retraction direction upon rotation of the spool;

a locking member configured to selectively lock the spool and prevent the spool from rotating in the webbing extraction direction, wherein the locking member is configured to move between a free position and a locked position relative to the spool, wherein when the locking member is in the locked position, the spool is prohibited from rotating in the webbing extraction direction and when the locking member is in the free position, the spool is freely rotatable;

a sensor configured to move in a first direction in response to the vehicle having a threshold acceleration and wherein movement of the sensor in the first direction causes a corresponding movement of the locking member from the free position to the locked position; and

a cover defining a cavity for housing the sensor, the cover having an outer layer of structural material and an inner layer of elastomeric material formed over the outer layer to dampen a noise of contact between the sensor and the cover.