Seat belt pretensioner
First Claim
1. A pretensioner mechanism for a safety belt comprising:
- a frame;
a first guide member secured to the frame;
a second guide member operably coupled to the frame;
a first portion of a safety belt coiled about at least a portion of the first guide member prior to activation of the pretens oner mechanism and extending between a first safety belt securement and the second guide member; and
a second portion of the safety belt coiled about at least a portion of the second guide member prior to activation of the pretensioner mechanism and extending between the first guide member and a second safety belt securement,the second guide member being operably coupled to the frame so as to enable movement of the second guide member with respect to the first guide member such that, upon pretensioner mechanism actuation, the second guide member moves with respect to the first guide member so as to increase a length of a portion of the safety belt extending between the second guide member and the second safety belt securement, thereby removing slack from the safety belt, wherein the first guide member is slidably engaged within a slot formed in said frame.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An in-line seat belt pretensioner is provided that includes a frame containing a first guide member and a second guide member for tensioning of seat belt webbing upon pretensioner activation. As the pretensioner is activated, the seat belt is tensioned by activation of an actuator operably coupled to the second guide. The second guide is then routed over a vertically stationary first guide that is slidably engaged within a slot within the frame, thereby contributing to reducing the load on the occupant. A low-friction material employed in the manufacture of the guide member(s), contributes to a smoother and less abrupt tensioning of the seat belt upon activation of the pretensioner.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A pretensioner mechanism for a safety belt comprising:
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a frame; a first guide member secured to the frame; a second guide member operably coupled to the frame; a first portion of a safety belt coiled about at least a portion of the first guide member prior to activation of the pretens oner mechanism and extending between a first safety belt securement and the second guide member; and a second portion of the safety belt coiled about at least a portion of the second guide member prior to activation of the pretensioner mechanism and extending between the first guide member and a second safety belt securement, the second guide member being operably coupled to the frame so as to enable movement of the second guide member with respect to the first guide member such that, upon pretensioner mechanism actuation, the second guide member moves with respect to the first guide member so as to increase a length of a portion of the safety belt extending between the second guide member and the second safety belt securement, thereby removing slack from the safety belt, wherein the first guide member is slidably engaged within a slot formed in said frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A pretensioner mechanism for a safety belt comprising:
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a frame; a first guide member secured to the frame; a second guide member operably coupled to the frame; a first portion of a safety belt coiled about at least a portion of the first guide member prior to activation of the pretensioner mechanism and extending between a first safety belt securement and the second guide member; and a second portion of the safety belt coiled about at least a portion of the second guide member prior to activation of the pretensioner mechanism and extending between the first guide member and a second safety belt securement the second guide member being operably coupled to the frame so as to enable removement of the second guide member with respect to the first guide member such that, upon pretensioner mechanism actuatiom the second guide member moves with respect to the first guide member so as to increase a length of a portion of the safety belt extending between the second guide member and the second safety belt securement, thereby removing slack from the safety belt; and a detent mechanism for releasably securing the second guide member in a first position with respect to the first guide member. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification