Seatbelt tensioning device and method
First Claim
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1. A device for tensioning a vehicle seatbelt, the device comprising:
- a motor having a motor output for transferring rotational energy developed in the motor;
a pulley in communication with the motor, the pulley including a ring gear;
a first cable having first and second ends, wherein the first end is coupled to the pulley;
a second cable having a second cable first end and a second cable second end, the second cable second end including a spline that engages the ring gear in the pulley; and
a seatbelt buckle coupled to the second end of the first cable, whereby rotation of the pulley causes movement of the seatbelt buckle.
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Abstract
A device and method for tensioning a vehicle seatbelt are disclosed. The device has a motor, a pulley, a first cable, and a seatbelt buckle. The motor has a motor output for transferring rotational energy developed in the motor. The pulley is in communication with the motor output for receiving the rotational energy developed in the motor. The first cable has first and second ends. The first end is coupled to the pulley. The seatbelt buckle is coupled to the second end of the cable. The rotation of the pulley causes movement of the seatbelt buckle.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A device for tensioning a vehicle seatbelt, the device comprising:
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a motor having a motor output for transferring rotational energy developed in the motor; a pulley in communication with the motor, the pulley including a ring gear; a first cable having first and second ends, wherein the first end is coupled to the pulley; a second cable having a second cable first end and a second cable second end, the second cable second end including a spline that engages the ring gear in the pulley; and a seatbelt buckle coupled to the second end of the first cable, whereby rotation of the pulley causes movement of the seatbelt buckle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A device for tensioning a vehicle seatbelt, the device comprising:
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a motor having a motor output for transferring rotational energy developed in the motor; a pulley in communication with the motor output for receiving the rotational energy developed in the motor; a first cable having first and second ends, wherein the first end is coupled to the pulley; a second cable having a second cable first end and a second cable second end, the second cable second end including a spline that engages a ring gear in the pulley; a seatbelt buckle coupled to the second end of the first cable, whereby rotation of the pulley causes movement of the seatbelt buckle; and a pyrotechnic pretensioner coupled to the pulley and, upon activation of the pyrotechnic pretensioner, rotating the pulley to wind the first cable around the pulley. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for tensioning a vehicle seatbelt, the method comprising:
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detecting a pre-impact condition; activating a first device connected to the vehicle seatbelt to tension the vehicle seatbelt if the pre-impact condition has been detected; determining whether a second device for tensioning the vehicle seatbelt has been activated within a predefined period of time; determining whether the predefined period of time has elapsed; and releasing the tension on the seatbelt if the second device has not been activated within the predefined period of time and the pre-impact condition has not been detected after the predefined period of time has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification