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Retractor having a single sided energy absorbing spool

  • US 5,613,647 A
  • Filed: 04/29/1996
  • Issued: 03/25/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An energy absorbing seat belt retractor comprising:

  • a frame;

    a spool rotatably mounted relatively to the frame for protracting and retracting a safety belt wound thereabout, including a web receiving, generally cylindrical portion about which the seat belt is wound, a web holding slot having;

    a first part comprising a radial slot extending inward from the cylindrical portion and terminating at an inner end, a second part comprising an arcuate slot within the spool extending from the inner end of the first part through an angle of at least about 180 degrees and a third part comprising a slot extending outward to intersect the cylindrical portion,a lock wheel operatively coupled to the spool, including a plurality of lock teeth associated therewith;

    first means for engaging the spool upon sensing a one of a vehicle deceleration and seat belt extraction above certain determinable levels;

    second means located within the spool joining the lock wheel to the spool for prohibiting relative movement therebetween below a threshold input force level generated in part by occupant load on the seat belt and for generating a controlled energy dissipating reaction force on the seat belt after the input force exceeds the threshold level to permit a controlled rotation of the spool and the controlled payout of the seat belt from the spool.

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