Seatbelt webbing retracting device

• US 4,447,017 A
• Filed: 03/31/1981
• Issued: 05/08/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Inukai, Mitsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Stuart S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haugland, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US06/249,478
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 242/107.4 A, 242/107.4 B, 242/107.4 C, 242/107.4 D, 242/107.4 E, 242/107.4 R, 242/107, 280/806, 297/476, 297/478, 297/479, 297/480
• US Class Current: 242/374
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/469 reusable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1958 characterised by spring actuators B60R22/1953 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/4671 characterised by spring actuators B60R22/4623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/04 specially adapted for measuring length or width of objects while moving

Abstract

A main shaft is threadably coupled to a base mounted on a vehicle body, and this main shaft is biased by a spring in the axial direction thereof. However, the main shaft is prevented from rotating by an arm tiltably supported on the main shaft being engaged with a stopper provided on the base. In an emergency of a vehicle, an acceleration sensor turns the arm to slip off the stopper to make the main shaft rotatable, whereby the main shaft rotatingly moves in the axial direction thereof. This moving force is transmitted to the webbing, whereby the webbing is retracted, so that the webbing can be closely fastened to an occupant.

Claims

1. A seatbelt webbing retracting device for retracting a webbing fastened to an occupant in an emergency of a vehicle such as a collision so as to improve the performance of restraining the occupant, comprising:

(a) a base mounted on a vehicle body;

(b) a main shaft threadedly connected to said base;

(c) a biasing means for biasing said main shaft in the axial direction of said main shaft;

(d) transmitting means for transmitting a moving force of said main shaft generated by a biasing force of said biasing means to the webbing;

(e) an engaging means comprising an arm tiltably supported on said main shaft and engageable with a stopper provided on said base to prevent said main shaft from rotating; and

(f) an acceleration sensor for actuating said engaging means with respect to said main shaft to disengage said engaging means from said stopper so as to make said main shaft rotatable with respect to said base, whereby said main shaft is rotated and moved with respect to said base by said biasing force in the axial direction thereof, and said moving force is transmitted to the webbing through said transmitting means to thereby retract the webbing.

2. A seatbelt webbing retracting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said transmitting means comprises:

splines formed on one end portion of the main shaft; and

internal splines formed on the inner periphery of a webbing takeup reel, engaged with said splines and axially movable with respect to said splines.

3. A seatbelt webbing retracting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said main shaft is divided into two sections including a first main shaft and a second main shaft, characterized by:

said first main shaft threadably connected to said base and biased in the axial direction thereof; and

said second main shaft movable with the first main shaft, relatively rotatable with the first main shaft, engaged at one end portion thereof with the webbing and adapted to pull the webbing, when the first main shaft moves in the axial direction thereof, to thereby retract the webbing.

4. A seatbelt webbing retracting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the other end of said webbing is wound into a retractor through an occupant restraining portion thereof, and said retractor incorporates therein an inertia lock mechanism for instantly stopping the windoff of the webbing in an emergency of the vehicle.

5. A seatbelt webbing retracting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base is solidly secured to a cylinder, through which the main shaft is extended, and a compression coil spring is confined between a collar of the main shaft and the bottom of the cylinder to bias the main shaft in the axial direction thereof.

6. A seatbelt webbing retracting device as set forth in claim 5, wherein interposed between said compression coil spring and a collar portion of the main shaft is a thrust bearing capable of allowing relative rotation between said compression coil spring and the collar portion of the main shaft.

7. A seatbelt webbing retracting device for rendering a tension to a webbing fastened to an occupant to closely fasten the webbing to the occupant in an emergency of a vehicle, used in a seatbelt system for protecting the occupant in an emergency of the vehicle such as a collision, comprising:

(a) a base solidly secured to a vehicle body;

(b) a cylinder solidly secured to said base and having mounted at an inlet opening thereof a nut;

(c) a main shaft extended through said cylinder, provided at one end with a lever, formed at the other end portion with splines and provided at the intermediate portion thereof with threads being threadedly coupled to said nut;

(d) a takeup reel adapted to wind up one end portion of the webbing, engaged with said splines, rotatable with the main shaft, and relatively movable in the axial direction;

(e) a compression coil spring confined between the bottom of said cylinder and a collar provided on the main shaft to bias the main shaft in the axial direction thereof, to thereby rotatingly move the main shaft in the axial direction thereof;

(f) an arm pivoted on said lever and being in abutting contact with a stopper to prevent the main shaft from rotating with respect to the base; and

(g) an acceleration sensor for turning said arm with respect to the lever to make the main shaft rotatable in an emergency of the vehicle, so that the main shaft can rotatingly move in the axial direction thereof to rotate the takeup reel through the splines, thereby winding up the end portion of the webbing.

8. A seatbelt webbing retracting device for retracting a webbing fastened to an occupant in an emergency of a vehicle such as a collision so as to improve the performance of restraining the occupant, comprising:

(a) a base mounted on a vehicle body;

(b) a main shaft threadedly connected to said base

(c) a biasing means for biasing said main shaft in the axial direction of said main shaft;

(d) transmitting means for transmitting a moving force of said main shaft generated by a biasing force of said biasing means to the webbing;

(e) an engaging means provided on said main shaft and engageable with a stopper provided on said base to prevent said main shaft from rotating; and

(f) an acceleration sensor for actuating said engaging means with respect to said main shaft to disengage said engaging means from said stopper so as to make said main shaft rotatable with respect to said base, whereby said main shaft is rotated and moved with respect to said base by said biasing force in the axial direction thereof, and said moving force is transmitted to the webbing through said transmitting means to thereby retract the webbing, wherein said base is solidly secured to a cylinder, through which said main shaft is extended, a compression coil spring is confined between a collar of said main shaft and the bottom of said cylinder to bias said main shaft in the axial direction thereof, a thrust bearing capable of allowing relative rotation between said compression coil spring and a collar portion of said main shaft is interposed between said compression coil spring and said collar portion of said main shaft, and

said cylinder is provided at an inlet opening thereof with a nut, which is threadedly coupled to said main shaft.

9. A seatbelt webbing retracting device for retracting a webbing fastened to an occupant in an emergency of a vehicle such as a collision so as to improve the performance of restraining the occupant, comprising:

(a) a base mounted on a vehicle body;

(b) a main shaft threadedly connected to said base

(c) a biasing means for biasing said main shaft in the axial direction of said main shaft;

(d) transmitting means for transmitting a moving force of said main shaft generated by a biasing force of said biasing means to the webbing;

(e) an engaging means provided on said main shaft and engageable with a stopper provided on said base to prevent said main shaft from rotating; and

(f) an acceleration sensor for actuating said engaging means with respect to said main shaft to disengage said engaging means from said stopper so as to make said main shaft rotatable with respect to said base, whereby said main shaft is rotated and moved with respect to said base by said biasing force in the axial direction thereof, and said moving force is transmitted to the webbing through said transmitting means to thereby retract the webbing, wherein said stopper is a side wall of a groove formed in the base, said engaging means is subjected to a biasing force for rotatingly moving said main shaft in the axial direction thereof, and said engaging means is to be brought into abutting contact with said side wall, whereby said main shaft is prevented from rotating.

10. A seatbelt webbing retracting device for retracting a webbing fastened to an occupant in an emergency of a vehicle such as a collision so as to improve the performance of restraining the occupant, comprising:

(a) a base mounted on a vehicle body;

(b) a main shaft threadedly connected to said base

(c) a biasing means for biasing said main shaft in the axial direction of said main shaft;

(d) transmitting means for transmitting a moving force of said main shaft generated by a biasing force of said biasing means to the webbing;

(e) an engaging means provided on said main shaft and engageable with a stopper provided on said base to prevent said main shaft from rotating; and

(f) an acceleration sensor for actuating said engaging means with respect to said main shaft to disengage said engaging means from said stopper so as to make said main shaft rotatable with respect to said base, whereby said main shaft is rotated and moved with respect to said base by said biasing force in the axial direction thereof, and said moving force is transmitted to the webbing through said transmitting means to thereby retract the webbing, wherein said base is solidly secured to a cylinder, through which said main shaft is extended, a compression coil spring is confined between a collar of said main shaft and the bottom of said cylinder to bias said main shaft in the axial direction thereof, the outer periphery of said collar is steeply tapered toward the bottom of said cylinder, a cap is crowned on the outer periphery of said collar, a ridge provided on said cap is in contact with the inner peipheral surface of said cylinder, and, when said collar is subjected to a force for moving it toward the bottom of said cylinder, said ridge is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of said cylinder, whereby a resistance is given when said main shaft returns.