Seatbelt pretensioner for a vehicle
First Claim
1. A seatbelt pretensioner for tensioning a seatbelt of a vehicle, the pretensioner comprising:
- a cylinder having a proximal section which defines a gas chamber that forms at least a portion of an interior space defined by the cylinder, anda guide section extending distally from the proximal section;
a piston disposed within the interior space of the cylinder and moveable toward a distal end of the guide section, the piston having a proximal portion and a distal portion extending therefrom, the proximal and distal portions disposed respectively adjacent to the proximal and guide sections, the distal portion configured for attaching to an anchor that is coupled to webbing of the seatbelt;
a gas generator in fluid communication with the gas chamber and configured for generating gas to move the piston, tensioning the seatbelt; and
a seal sealably interfacing with an inner surface of the proximal section of the cylinder and engaged with the proximal portion of the piston so as to move with the piston to obstruct the gas from leaking from the gas chamber during tensioning of the seatbelt.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a seatbelt pretensioner is provided. The pretensioner comprises a cylinder having a proximal section which defines a gas chamber that forms at least a portion of an interior space defined by the cylinder. Extending distally from the proximal section is a guide section. Disposed within the interior space is a piston that is moveable toward a distal end of the guide section. The piston has a proximal portion and a distal portion that extends from the proximal portion. The proximal and distal portions are disposed respectively adjacent to the proximal and guide sections. The distal portion is configured for attaching to an anchor that is coupled to webbing of the seatbelt. In fluid communication with the gas chamber is a gas generator. The gas generator is configured for generating gas to move the piston, tensioning the seatbelt.
37 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A seatbelt pretensioner for tensioning a seatbelt of a vehicle, the pretensioner comprising:
-
a cylinder having a proximal section which defines a gas chamber that forms at least a portion of an interior space defined by the cylinder, and a guide section extending distally from the proximal section; a piston disposed within the interior space of the cylinder and moveable toward a distal end of the guide section, the piston having a proximal portion and a distal portion extending therefrom, the proximal and distal portions disposed respectively adjacent to the proximal and guide sections, the distal portion configured for attaching to an anchor that is coupled to webbing of the seatbelt; a gas generator in fluid communication with the gas chamber and configured for generating gas to move the piston, tensioning the seatbelt; and a seal sealably interfacing with an inner surface of the proximal section of the cylinder and engaged with the proximal portion of the piston so as to move with the piston to obstruct the gas from leaking from the gas chamber during tensioning of the seatbelt. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A seatbelt pretensioner system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
-
a seatbelt including webbing and configured for restraining an occupant of the vehicle to a seat; an anchor coupled to the webbing; and a seatbelt pretensioner including; a cylinder having a proximal section which defines a gas chamber that forms at least a portion of an interior space defined by the cylinder, and a guide section extending distally from the proximal section; a piston disposed within the interior space of the cylinder and moveable toward a distal end of the guide section, the piston having a proximal portion and a distal portion extending therefrom, the proximal and distal portions disposed respectively adjacent to the proximal and guide sections, the distal portion attached to the anchor; a gas generator in fluid communication with the gas chamber and configured for generating gas to move the piston, tensioning the seatbelt; and a seal sealably interfacing with an inner surface of the proximal section of the cylinder and engaged with the proximal portion of the piston so as to move with the piston to obstruct the gas from leaking from the gas chamber during tensioning of the seatbelt. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification