Pretensioner

• US 7,172,218 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2002
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nakayama, Tadahiro, Nakano, Yoshiyuki, Iwai, Masahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spisich; George D.
• Application Number:
  US10/064,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20030030263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 280/806, 297/480, 606/35, 606/32, 605/32
• US Class Current: 280/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1952 Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1955 Linear actuators

Abstract

A pretensioner including a cylinder in which a piston slides. A side of the pipe attached to a bracket is curved at a predetermined angle. One linear portion of the pipe serves as the cylinder, and the other linear portion of the pipe serves as a gas-generator accommodating portion that accommodates a gas generator. A wire passing hole through which a wire passes is bored coaxially with the center axis of the piston sliding portion of the pipe. The piston sliding portion and the gas-generator accommodating portion can be formed of the single pipe, and the gas generator and the wire can be prevented from interfering with each other.

Claims

1. A pretensioner for increasing the restraint force of a seat belt on an occupant comprising:

a connecting member connected to a piston, the piston being configured to be moved by pressure of gas generated by a gas generator,

a bent tubular member comprising a linear portion having an approximately constant inner diameter and in which the piston is slidably fitted and a gas-generator accommodating portion in which said gas generator is accommodated; and

wherein the connecting member is operatively connected to the seat belt and wherein the piston is configured to move entirely only within the linear portion and the connecting member pulls the seat belt when the piston moves.

2. The pretensioner of claim 1, wherein the tubular member includes a bend so that an angle between the direction in which the gas-generator accommodating portion extends and the direction in which the linear portion extends is acute.

3. The pretensioner of claim 1, wherein the tubular member includes an obtuse bend so that the gas-generator accommodating portion extends away from the linear portion.

4. The pretensioner of claim 1, wherein the tubular member includes a bend so that the gas-generator accommodating portion extends in a direction generally perpendicular to said linear portion.

5. The pretensioner of claim 1, wherein the tubular member includes a hole bored coaxially with said piston, the connecting member being positioned to pass through the hole.

6. The pretensioner of claim 1, wherein the connecting member is connected to a seat belt buckle.

7. The pretensioner of claim 1, wherein movement of the piston within the linear portion is limited to a single direction.

8. The pretensioner of claim 1, wherein the linear portion and the gas-generator accommodating portion of the bent tubular member are integrally formed.

9. A pretensioner for increasing the restraint force of a seat belt on an occupant comprising:

a connecting member connected to a piston, the piston being configured to be moved by pressure of gas generated by a gas generator,

a bent tubular member having an approximately constant inner diameter and comprising a linear portion in which the piston is slidably fitted and a gas-generator accommodating portion in which said gas generator is accommodated; and

wherein the connecting member is operatively connected to the seat belt so that when the piston moves the connecting member pulls the seat belt and wherein the gas-generator accommodating portion extends away from and in parallel with said linear portion so as not to be coaxial wit said linear portion.

10. A pretensioner for increasing the restraint force of a seat belt on an occupant comprising:

a connecting member connected to a piston, the piston being configured to be moved by pressure of gas generated by a gas generator,

a bent tubular member having an approximately constant inner diameter and comprising a linear portion in which the piston is slidably fitted and a gas-generator accommodating portion in which said gas generator is accommodated; and

wherein the connecting member is operatively connected to the seat belt so that when the piston moves the connecting member pulls the seat belt, and

wherein the gas-generator accommodating portion extends in parallel with said linear portion and along said linear portion.

11. A pretensioner for increasing the restraining force of a seat belt on an occupant comprising:

a bent tubular member comprising a linear portion having an approximately constant inner diameter;

a piston slidably positioned within the linear portion of the tubular member;

wherein the piston is connected to a wire operatively connected to the seat belt and wherein the piston is configured to move only within the linear portion due to gas pressure generated by a gas generator, so that the seat belt is pulled to thereby increase the restraining force on the occupant;

wherein the gas generator is accommodated within the tubular member; and

wherein the gas generator is located offset from the axis of movement of the piston.

12. The pretensioner of claim 11, wherein the tubular member includes a hole through which the wire passes, the hole being located between the piston and the gas generator.

13. The pretensioner of claim 11, wherein movement of the piston is limited to a single direction.

14. The pretensioner of claim 13, wherein the piston includes a plurality of balls that are forced against an inner surface of the tubular member when the piston is forced in a direction opposite to the single direction.

15. The pretensioner of claim 14, wherein the piston includes an inclined surface that forces the balls against the inner surface of the tubular member.

16. The pretensioner of claim 11, wherein an angle between a line extending parallel to a portion of the tubular member accommodating the gas generator and a line extending along the axis of movement of the piston is acute.