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Vehicle seat belt restraint system

  • US 5,531,479 A
  • Filed: 01/20/1995
  • Issued: 07/02/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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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.

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