Remote tension-relieving apparatus for safety belt retractor
First Claim
1. In a vehicle safety belt system adapted to restrain an occupant in a vehicle, the safety belt system including a shoulder belt and a retractor having a rewind mechanism biased to rewind the shoulder belt on a reel of the retractor, an improved tension-relieving apparatus comprising:
- a housing disposed in a position remote from said retractor and having an approximately U-shape including a back wall and two sidewalls, said sidewalls extending approximately perpendicularly from said back wall;
a shoulder belt support disposed within said housing and extending between said sidewalls, said shoulder belt moving more than 90°
around said support as said shoulder belt is unwound from said retractor and rewound into said retractor;
a locking means disposed adjacent to said shoulder belt support, said locking means including a clamp pivotably disposed with said housing and extending between said sidewalls, said clamp having a locking position and an unlocking position, said clamp movable between its locking position and its unlocking position, said clamp in its locking position preventing movement of the shoulder belt in a rewind direction around said shoulder belt support;
a force transmitting means mounted in said housing adjacent to said locking means, said force transmitting means connected to said locking means and an actuating means, said force transmitting means moving said clamp between its locking position and its unlocking position, said clamp in its locking position relieving tension on the shoulder belt produced by the rewind mechanism of the retractor; and
an actuating means located in the vehicle remote from said housing and having electrical means connected to said force transmitting means for actuating said force transmitting means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved tension-relieving apparatus for a shoulder belt of a vehicle safety belt system includes: a housing, a shoulder belt support, a locking means, a force transmitting means and an actuating means. The housing has an approximately U-shape including a back wall and two sidewalls. The shoulder belt support extends between the sidewalls of the housing. The shoulder belt moves partially around the shoulder belt support as the shoulder belt is unwound from the retractor and rewound into the retractor. The locking means is disposed adjacent to the shoulder belt support. The locking means includes a clamp pivotably disposed within the housing and extending between the sidewalls of the housing. The clamp, in its locking position, prevents movement of the shoulder belt around the shoulder belt support. The force transmitting means is mounted in the housing adjacent to the locking means and moves the clamp between its locking position and its unlocking position. The clamp in its locking position removes tension on the shoulder belt produced by the rewind mechanism of the retractor. The actuating means is located in the vehicle and actuates the force transmitting means.
9 Citations
4 Claims
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1. In a vehicle safety belt system adapted to restrain an occupant in a vehicle, the safety belt system including a shoulder belt and a retractor having a rewind mechanism biased to rewind the shoulder belt on a reel of the retractor, an improved tension-relieving apparatus comprising:
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a housing disposed in a position remote from said retractor and having an approximately U-shape including a back wall and two sidewalls, said sidewalls extending approximately perpendicularly from said back wall; a shoulder belt support disposed within said housing and extending between said sidewalls, said shoulder belt moving more than 90°
around said support as said shoulder belt is unwound from said retractor and rewound into said retractor;a locking means disposed adjacent to said shoulder belt support, said locking means including a clamp pivotably disposed with said housing and extending between said sidewalls, said clamp having a locking position and an unlocking position, said clamp movable between its locking position and its unlocking position, said clamp in its locking position preventing movement of the shoulder belt in a rewind direction around said shoulder belt support; a force transmitting means mounted in said housing adjacent to said locking means, said force transmitting means connected to said locking means and an actuating means, said force transmitting means moving said clamp between its locking position and its unlocking position, said clamp in its locking position relieving tension on the shoulder belt produced by the rewind mechanism of the retractor; and an actuating means located in the vehicle remote from said housing and having electrical means connected to said force transmitting means for actuating said force transmitting means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeAllied Chemical Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
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Original AssigneeAllied Chemical Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
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InventorsStephenson, Robert L., Booth, Frederick C.
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Primary Examiner(s)Jillions, John M.
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Application NumberUS05/574,161Time in Patent Office1,880 DaysField of Search242/107.2, 242/107.4 R, 242/107.6, 242/107.7, 280/801-808, 297/474-480US Class Current242/381.3CPC Class CodesB60R 22/19 with means for reducing bel...B60R 22/24 secured to the side, door, ...
