Safety device for a seat occupant embodying a ballistic actuated reel

• US 3,178,136 A
• Filed: 02/01/1963
• Issued: 04/13/1965
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1963
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jack L. Bayer
• Original Assignee: Jack L. Bayer
• Inventors: Bayer, Jack L.
• Application Number:
  US04/255,633
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• US Class Current: 244/122.0AG
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4638 comprising a piston moving along or in parallel to the reel axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/34 Belt retractors, e.g. reels anchoring devices , e.g. guide loops , with means to tension the belt in an emergency B60R22/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/4633 Linear actuators, e.g. comprising a piston moving along reel axis and rotating along its own axis
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/02 Supports or holding means for living bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/06 Harnessing

Claims

1. A SAFETY DEVICE FOR A SEAT OCCUPANT COMPRISING A HOUSING, A REEL CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING FOR ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, A FLEXIBLE ELONGATED ELEMENT CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID REEL SO AS TO BE WOUND UP ON SAID REEL IN RESPONSE TO ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID REEL IN ONE DIRECTION, RESILIENT MEANS ACTING BETWEEN SAID HOUSING AND SAID REEL FOR RESILIENTLY URGING SAID REEL TOWARD A LIMITING POSITION IN SAID ONE DIRECTION OF ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT WHEREIN A MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF SAID ELONGATED ELEMENT IN WOUND AROUND SAID REEL, THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID ELONGATED ELEMENT BEING ARRANGED TO BE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH THE SEAT OCCUPANT SO AS TO PAY OUT FROM SAID REEL AND EFFECT ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID REEL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENTS OF THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM A NORMAL ERECT POSITION OWHT RESPECT TO THE SEAT, MEANS OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO A PREDETERMINED FORCE ACTING IN A DIRECTION OF EFFECT AN ABNORMAL MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE SEAT AND HENCE TO PAY OUT SAID FLEXIBLE ELONGATED ELEMENT AT AN ABNORMAL SPEED FOR STOPPING THE ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID REEL IN SAID OPPOSITE DIRECTION, AND REEL RETRACTING MEANS NORMALLY PERMITTING SAID ROTATION OF SAID REEL IN SAID OPPOSITE DIRECTION AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS AND SAID RESPONSIVE OPERATION OF SAID REEL STOPPING MEANS OPERABLE THROUGH COMMUNICATION WITH A SOURCE OF HYDRAULIC FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO EFFECT A ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID REEL IN SAID ONE DIRECTION INTO SAID LIMITING POSITION WHEN THE LATTER IS DISPOSED IN A POSITION AWAY FROM SAID LIMITING POSITION AND TO RETAIN THE SAME THEREIN AND VALVE MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY COMMUNICATING A SOURCE OF HYDRAULIC FLUID UNDER PRESSURE WITH SAID REEL RETRACTING MEANS TO EFFECT SAID OPERATION THEREOF.