Vehicle seat belt restraint system
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising:
- seat belt webbing which is extensible about a vehicle occupant;
actuatable pretensioner means for, when actuated, tensioning said seat belt webbing against the vehicle occupant, said pretensioner means including a web clamp mechanism for, when said pretensioner means is actuated, clamping against said seat belt webbing and moving to an actuated position to tension said seat belt webbing against the vehicle occupant;
an energy absorbing mechanism for dissipating energy transferred to said seat belt webbing by the vehicle occupant after said web clamp mechanism moves to said actuated position, said energy absorbing mechanism comprising a member and a cutter for cutting said member;
said pretensioner means including means for connecting said web clamp mechanism to said member after said web clamp mechanism has moved to said actuated position to cause said web clamp mechanism and said member to move together when a predetermined force is applied to said seat belt webbing by the vehicle occupant; and
means for supporting said cutter in a position to cut said member as said member moves with said web clamp mechanism due to said predetermined force being applied to said seat belt webbing by the vehicle occupant.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) comprises seat belt webbing (26), which is extensible about a vehicle occupant, and an actuatable pretensioner (50). The pretensioner (50) includes a web clamp mechanism (100, 130, 132). When the pretensioner (50) is actuated, the web clamp mechanism (100, 130, 132) clamps against the seat belt webbing (26) and moves to an actuated position to tension the seat belt webbing against the vehicle occupant. An energy absorbing mechanism (90) dissipates energy transferred to the seat belt webbing (26) by the vehicle occupant after the web clamp mechanism (100, 130, 132) moves to the actuated position. The energy absorbing mechanism (90) comprises a member (92) and a cutter (75) for cutting the member. A wedge block assembly (108) connects the web clamp mechanism (100, 130, 132) to the member (92) after the web clamp mechanism has moved to the actuated position. The web clamp mechanism (100, 130, 132) and the member (92) thereafter move together when a predetermined force is applied to the seat belt webbing (26) by the vehicle occupant. The cutter (75) is supported in a position to cut the member (92) as the member moves with the web clamp mechanism (100, 130, 132).
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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seat belt webbing which is extensible about a vehicle occupant; actuatable pretensioner means for, when actuated, tensioning said seat belt webbing against the vehicle occupant, said pretensioner means including a web clamp mechanism for, when said pretensioner means is actuated, clamping against said seat belt webbing and moving to an actuated position to tension said seat belt webbing against the vehicle occupant; an energy absorbing mechanism for dissipating energy transferred to said seat belt webbing by the vehicle occupant after said web clamp mechanism moves to said actuated position, said energy absorbing mechanism comprising a member and a cutter for cutting said member; said pretensioner means including means for connecting said web clamp mechanism to said member after said web clamp mechanism has moved to said actuated position to cause said web clamp mechanism and said member to move together when a predetermined force is applied to said seat belt webbing by the vehicle occupant; and means for supporting said cutter in a position to cut said member as said member moves with said web clamp mechanism due to said predetermined force being applied to said seat belt webbing by the vehicle occupant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus comprising:
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seat belt webbing which is extensible about a vehicle occupant; actuatable pretensioner means for, when actuated, tensioning said seat belt webbing against the vehicle occupant, said pretensioner means including a first member movable to an actuated position to tension said seat belt webbing against the vehicle occupant when said pretensioner means is actuated; an energy absorbing mechanism for dissipating energy transferred to said seat belt webbing by the vehicle occupant after said first member moves to said actuated position, said energy absorbing mechanism comprising a second member having a planar surface and a cutter for cutting said planar surface; said pretensioner means including means for connecting said first member to said second member after said first member has moved to said actuated position to cause said first member and said second member to move together when a predetermined force is applied to said seat belt webbing by the vehicle occupant; and means for supporting said cutter in a fixed position relative to said second member to cut said planar surface of said second member as said second member moves. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification