Seat belt retractor and seat belt apparatus

• US 7,506,833 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo; Peter M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kruer; Stefan
• Application Number:
  US11/159,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20060016926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 242/374, 242/390.8, 280/805, 280/806, 280/807, 297/477, 297/483, 180/268
• US Class Current: 242/374
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/444 the additional retraction device being an electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4466 the additional retraction device being an electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/44 with means for reducing belt tension during use under normal conditions not included in the retractor B60R22/19; B60R22/3405 takes precedence

Abstract

A seat belt retractor includes a spring for rotating a reel in a belt winding direction to wind up a seat belt, and a motor for generating rotational power capable of rotating the reel in the belt winding direction to wind up the seat belt. A motor control unit controls the motor to generate the rotational power to wind up the seat belt with a desired winding force.

Claims

1. A seat belt retractor comprising:

a reel for winding a seat belt,

a spring attached to the reel for rotating the reel in a belt winding direction,

a motor attached to the reel for generating rotational power capable of rotating the reel in the belt winding direction,

a motor control unit for controlling the motor to wind the seat belt with a desired winding force, and

a setting unit connected to the motor control unit and having a setting switch for setting the desired winding force of the motor in a fitting condition when the seat belt is initially worn so that the motor rotates the reel to wind the seat belt at the desired winding force,

wherein said setting switch comprises a plurality of tension select switches for selecting strength of the tension of the seat belt and a tension setting knob for variably setting the tension of the seat belt.

2. A seat belt retractor according to claim 1, wherein said setting switch further comprises a start switch and a stop switch for adjustment control of the seat belt.

3. A seat belt apparatus comprising the seat belt retractor according to claim 1, a seat belt having an end fixed to the reel, a tongue attached to the seat belt, and a buckle for engaging the tongue.