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Seat belt retractor with tension relief mechanism

  • US 5,411,221 A
  • Filed: 05/24/1993
  • Issued: 05/02/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A safety belt retractor comprising:

  • first biasing means for exerting a retractive tensile force on a safety belt webbing such that said belt webbing is urged toward a stored position within said retractor;

    second biasing means for generating a counteractive force in opposition to said retractive force such that a vehicle occupant may vary the magnitude of said counteractive force between a minimum value for establishing a maximum tension on said belt webbing and a maximum value for establishing a minimum tension on said belt webbing;

    clutch means for limiting said maximum value of said counteractive force generated by said second biasing means to inhibit over-loading thereof; and

    actuation means operable in response to the withdrawal of a predetermined length of said belt webbing for selectively causing said counteractive force to be exerted on said belt webbing for reducing the tension exerted thereon by said first biasing means.

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