Seat belt retractor system
First Claim
1. A seat belt retractor system for providing a predetermined seat belt loading on a seat occupant after the seat belt is initially extended and locked in a buckle, said seat belt retractor system comprising a reel having said seat belt wound thereabout, said reel having an input shaft about which said reel rotates when said seat belt is retracted and when said seat belt is extended, an electric motor having an output shaft, said input shaft of said reel having a first sprocket wheel mounted thereon and said output shaft of said electric motor having a second sprocket wheel mounted thereon, an endless chain entrained about and interconnecting said first sprocket wheel with said second sprocket wheel, and a control device for providing a signal to said electric motor when said seat belt is locked in said buckle for energizing said electric motor and causing said input shaft to be drivingly rotated in one direction for providing said predetermined seat belt loading on said seat occupant.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A new and improved seat belt retractor system having an electronic control unit which is adapted to receive a signal from a sensor responsive to the buckling of the seat belt and causes an electric motor acting through a chain drive to drivingly rotate a reel in one direction for providing a predetermined seat belt loading on the seat occupant and that is responsive to the braking of the vehicle under emergency conditions to increase the tensioning of the seat belt to a level that exceeds the predetermined seat belt loading.
29 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A seat belt retractor system for providing a predetermined seat belt loading on a seat occupant after the seat belt is initially extended and locked in a buckle, said seat belt retractor system comprising a reel having said seat belt wound thereabout, said reel having an input shaft about which said reel rotates when said seat belt is retracted and when said seat belt is extended, an electric motor having an output shaft, said input shaft of said reel having a first sprocket wheel mounted thereon and said output shaft of said electric motor having a second sprocket wheel mounted thereon, an endless chain entrained about and interconnecting said first sprocket wheel with said second sprocket wheel, and a control device for providing a signal to said electric motor when said seat belt is locked in said buckle for energizing said electric motor and causing said input shaft to be drivingly rotated in one direction for providing said predetermined seat belt loading on said seat occupant.
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6. A seat belt retractor system for providing a predetermined seat belt loading on a seat occupant after the seat belt is initially extended and buckled, said seat belt retractor system comprising a reel having said seat belt wound thereabout, said reel having an input shaft about which said reel rotates when said seat belt is retracted and when said seat belt is extended, an electric motor having an output shaft, said input shaft having a first sprocket wheel mounted thereon and said output shaft having a second sprocket wheel mounted thereon, an endless chain entrained about and interconnecting said first sprocket wheel with said second sprocket wheel, and a control device for energization of said electric motor, and a sensor responsive to the buckling of said seat belt and acting through said control device to provide a signal to said electric motor so as to energize said electric motor and cause said input shaft to be drivingly rotated for providing said predetermined seat belt loading on said seat occupant, the arrangement being such that during the initial extension of the seat belt by the seat occupant, the only resistance to the unwinding of the reel is the inertia and friction of the electric motor, the reel, the chain, and the seat belt.
- 7. In combination with an automotive vehicle provided with a pillar adjacent a seat assembly, a seat belt retractor system operatively associated with said seat assembly for providing a predetermined seat belt loading on a seat occupant after said seat belt is initially extended and buckled, said seat belt retractor system comprising a reel supported within said pillar and having said seat belt wound thereabout, said reel having an input shaft about which said reel rotates when said seat belt is retracted and when said seat belt is extended, an electric motor supported within said pillar below said reel and having an output shaft, said input shaft having a first sprocket wheel mounted thereon and said output shaft having a second sprocket wheel mounted thereon, an endless chain entrained about and interconnecting said first sprocket wheel with said second sprocket wheel, and a control device for energization of said electric motor, and a sensor responsive to the buckling of said seat belt and acting through said control device to send a signal to said electric motor to energize said electric motor and cause said input shaft to be drivingly rotated in one direction for providing said predetermined seat belt loading on said seat occupant, the arrangement being such that during the initial extension of the seat belt by the seat occupant, the only resistance to the unwinding of the reel is the inertia and friction of the electric motor, the reel, the chain, and the seat belt.
Specification