Yieldable Brake (e.g., Friction Or Fluid) Patents (Class 242/381)
  • Patent number: 11332973
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spring operated roller blind system, wherein the roller blind (1) comprises an adjusting mechanism (30) for adjusting an end position of the flexible sheet member. The adjusting mechanism comprises a spindle (36) and a connecting member (31) that is connected to the roller shaft for rotation around the spindle. The adjusting mechanism further comprises a first bearing (7) for the roller shaft that defines a first end position for the connecting member (31). At least one of the bracket connectors (21) comprises a pin (33) for detachable mounting in a cooperating recess (35) on the adjusting mechanism, wherein the pin and the recess have an unround cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Coulisse B.V.
    Inventors: Ruben Hubert Jan De Vries, Bastiaan Franciscus Klein Tuente, Thomas Johan Maria Ter Haar
  • Patent number: 11297929
    Abstract: A device for hands-free hanging a hand-operated tool is attachable to a garment. The aforesaid device comprises: (a) a drum retractor having a rotatable reel loaded by a spring; (b) a cable having a first terminal secured to said reel and a second terminal connectable to said hand-operated tool; said cable is at least partially coiled on the rotatable reel. The cable is provided an arresting arrangement comprising a retaining member secured to the cable in cooperation with a quickly openable gate having an open position and a closed position such that the cable carrying the retaining member is uncoilable from the reel in the open position and blocked from uncoiling in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventors: Itai Zarom, Guy Levy
  • Patent number: 11180954
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cordless blind apparatus that can be conveniently operated without a cord. The cordless blind apparatus includes: a roller that is fitted on a rotary shaft; a screen that is wound or unwound on the roller; a weight that is connected to the lower end of the screen and applies torque in a first direction in which the screen is unwound from the roller by the gravity; an elastic member that applies torque in a second direction in which the screen is wound, by applying elastic force to the roller; and a friction stopper assembly that generates friction force on the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: WINTEC KOREA, INC.
    Inventor: Seong-ryong Jang
  • Patent number: 10421429
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor includes a housing and a spool rotatably supported by the housing. A torsion bar has a first end and a second end. The first end of the torsion bar is fixed to the spool, and the second end of the torsion bar is fixable relative to the housing. The seatbelt retractor includes a magnet and a rotor disposed adjacent the magnet. One of the magnet and the rotor being fixed relative to the spool and the other of the magnet and the rotor being rotatable relative to the spool. The rotor includes a conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Tien Vo, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma
  • Patent number: 10401897
    Abstract: A braking-stopping unit for the defined stopping and braking of a manually operable command issuer for ship's drives includes an external rotor with a circular opening forming a bearing ring and an inner rotor arranged in the opening, which are arranged in a rotationally movable manner relative to each other. One of the two rotor elements is statically fixed in its position and the other rotor element is designed either with a manually operable actuator or constructed so as to be connectable to such an actuator. The inner rotor includes at least three spring arms which are radially arranged in the circumferential direction, wherein said spring arms can be pushed into a respective recess arranged in the outer surface of the inner rotor. The spring arms act in each case radially non-positively on the running surface of the bearing ring via the braking and stopping means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Aventics GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Schweer, Anja Quast
  • Patent number: 10343648
    Abstract: A retractor assembly includes a housing; a spool rotatably coupled to the housing and defining an axis; a webbing coiled about the spool; a disc in contact with the webbing and movable parallel to the axis; and a linear variable differential transformer including a core movable parallel to the axis with the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammed Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Patent number: 10034467
    Abstract: According to an aspect, another ice fishing stand is disclosed and includes a base, a tip up arm, and a rod holder arm. The base is configured to be positioned about an ice-fishing hole, and has a receiving feature. The tip up arm is configured to hold a spool. The rod holder arm includes a rod holder that is configured to hold a fishing rod. The rod holder arm is releasably mountable to the receiving feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Inventor: Volodymyr Zvezdonkin
  • Patent number: 9610684
    Abstract: The retrieving device is a device adapted to retrieve an object via a closeable claw that is affixed to a line. The line is dispensed via a reel that is mounted adjacent to a rod such that the retrieving device resembles a fishing rod. The closeable claw includes a motor and at least one gear is collectively affixed to a distal end of the line. A plurality of pairs of fingers is pivotably engaged with respect to a bottom opening of the claw housing. The plurality of pair of fingers is in mechanical connection with the gear of the motor such that the motor is able to open and close off the plurality of pair of fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Inventor: Jason Easterling
  • Publication number: 20140251731
    Abstract: A safety device for use in a fall arrest or fall safety system includes an energy absorber to absorb energy in the event of a fall or other impulse event. The energy absorber is a resilient element (such as a tolerance ring) providing an interference fit between a first component of the device and a second component of the device. In the event of a fall arrestor other impulse event, the first and second components effect movement relative to one another, the interference fit being overcome, and the resilient element/tolerance ring acting to resist the relative movement thereby absorbing energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Owain Jones, Karl Jones
  • Publication number: 20140103157
    Abstract: One embodiment of a mechanism for controlling the rotation of a roller blind winding roller having a spring drive and immovably fixed to a roller blind holder and its winding roller is constructed of an inner shaft (1), on which a sleeve (2) is rotationally seated. In the sleeve (2) there is rotationally seated an inner roller (4), and between the sleeve (2) and the inner roller (4) there is an annular slot (5) filled with a breaking layer formed from high viscosity medium. The inner roller (4) contains a formed driver (6) and in the sleeve (2), between the inner roller (4) and the inner shaft (1) there is a break shoe (3) seated with its pin (9) in the opening (7) of the inner shaft (1), and a relief (8) where the driver (6) of the inner roller (4) is seated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventor: Jerzy Wolek
  • Patent number: 8695537
    Abstract: A leash apparatus includes a housing containing a spool assembly, a spring biased lever arm, and a first tensioning line. The first tensioning line is attached to a first end of the lever arm and wrapped at least once around the spool assembly, and has an opposite end attached to other than the rotatable portion of the spool assembly, such as a fixed location on the leash housing on a mounting of the spool assembly. A surface of the spool assembly slidingly rotates relative to the tensioning line portion that wraps at least once around the spool assembly. A second tensioning line is wound about the spool assembly and extends outside of the housing. The second tensioning line is guided around a wheel attached to a second end of the lever arm located on an opposite side of the lever arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Season 4, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Bizzell, Thomas James Philpott, Brian Neil Smith, Michael Starkey
  • Publication number: 20140008478
    Abstract: A vehicle safety restraint arrangement includes a retractable and extractable belt, a belt reel on which the belt is windable, a retraction mechanism adapted to retract the belt from an extracted position, and a belt retraction brake adapted to limit the retraction speed of the belt during retraction of the belt by imparting a braking force to the belt reel during retraction of the belt via inductance. The present disclosure also relates to a method for limiting the retraction speed of a belt arranged on a belt reel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: Tomas Bergman
  • Patent number: 8556204
    Abstract: A curtain control device has a stroke setting device and a damper respectively assembled at both ends of a curtain spindle rod. A torsion element is further assembled on the curtain spindle rod. A curtain spindle sleeve is invaginated on the outside of the curtain spindle rod, the stroke setting device and the damper. The curtain spindle sleeve is assembled with the combination of the curtain spindle rod and the damper, and then a curtain fabric is assembled on the outside of the curtain spindle sleeve. In this manner, the opening range of the curtain fabric roll is controlled by the stoke setting device, and the roll-up speed of each part of the curtain fabric is slowed down by the damper so as to reduce effectively the noise produced by the quick actuation of each part and the defective rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Soleil Ent. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu-Ting Kao
  • Patent number: 8474743
    Abstract: A ski-lift seat return device having a supporting structure; a reel mounted to rotate about an axis with respect to the supporting structure; a cable wound about the reel; a spring mechanism for opposing unwinding of the cable, and for rewinding the cable unwound off the reel; and a contactless magnetic brake connected to the reel and the supporting structure to adjust the brake torque as a function of the rotation speed of the reel; and wherein the magnetic brake has a first wall integral with and preferably defining part of the supporting structure; and a second wall connected movably to the reel and moved towards the first wall by the rotation speed of the reel; the first and second wall being coupled magnetically to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Rolic Invest S.AR.L.
    Inventors: Otto Pabst, Christian Bacher
  • Publication number: 20130068870
    Abstract: A retractor for storing a length of cord that includes a first and second pair of pulleys mounted at opposite ends of a frame. An intermediate section of a cord is stored in the frame. The stored cord section is at least partially wound over the pair of pulleys, and one pair of pulleys is slidably mounted for motion toward the other pair of pulleys. A damper is coupled to one of the second pair of pulleys, which engages the pulley to rotate about an axis to damp the rotary motion of one of the second pair of pulleys in such a manner that the intermediate storage section is in tension during retraction and withdrawal. The retractor further includes a cable system that is coupled to a slot formed on the second frame end and configured to provide a substantially consistent retraction speed of the cord.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: Crestron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: George Feldstein, Michael Campagna
  • Publication number: 20120261502
    Abstract: A restraint system for a vehicle, includes a rotatable reel, a flexible tether, a first shaft and a conductor member. The flexible tether has a first end coupled to the reel and a second end. The tether is wound upon the rotatable reel and movable in both a winding direction and an unwinding direction. The first shaft is configured to be operably coupled to the rotatable reel, and includes a plurality of magnetic elements affixed thereto. The conductor member has a hollow interior. At least a portion of the first shaft and at least a portion of the plurality of magnetic elements are disposed within the hollow interior. Movement of the tether in the unwinding direction causes relative movement between the plurality of magnets and the conductor member. Eddy currents within the conduct member generate a retarding force on the first shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: WOLF TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Paul P. Thogersen, Michael D. Pepe, James Casassa, William E. Dickinson, Stuart B. Nightenhelser
  • Patent number: 8262133
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor utilizing active material actuation for selectively modifying the tension in a seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Patrick B. Usoro, Alan L. Browne, Steven G. Corrion, Xiujie Gao, Nancy L. Johnson, Nilesh D. Mankame, Lawrence C. Maugh, William B. Carter, Guillermo A. Herrera, Geoffrey P. McKnight
  • Publication number: 20120175452
    Abstract: A mechanism for storing a length of cord that includes a first and second pair of pulleys mounted at opposite ends of a frame. An intermediate section of a cord is stored in the frame and has one end of the stored section fixed to the frame, with the other end extending from the frame. The stored cord section is at least partially wound over the pair of pulleys, and one pair of pulleys is slidably mounted for motion toward the other pair of pulleys. A damper is coupled to one of the second pair of pulleys, which engages the pulley to rotate about an axis to damp the rotary motion of one of the second pair of pulleys in such a manner that the intermediate storage section is in tension during retraction and withdrawal. The mechanism further includes a solenoid that is activated locally or remotely by a switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Crestron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: George Feldstein, Michael Campagna
  • Patent number: 8167090
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for safely lowering a user from a structure. The apparatus includes a frame; a spool including a cable rotatably mounted on the frame; a securing device attached to the cable and adapted to securely attached to the structure; a user support adapted to support the user and securely attached to the frame; and a pair of centrifugal hydraulic brake systems adapted to slow a rotation of the spool to cause the user support, spool and frame to descend at a safe rate for the user. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a frame; a spool including a cable rotatably mounted on the frame; a securing device attached to the frame and adapted to securely attached to the structure; a user support adapted to support the user and attached to the cable; and a pair of centrifugal hydraulic brake systems adapted to slow a rotation of the spool to cause the user support to descend at a safe rate for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventor: Ralph L. Michael
  • Publication number: 20120090751
    Abstract: In a tension device for a nonskid chain, a winding reel is supported, so that it can rotate about its axis inside the housing and is prestressed in the winding direction and has a gear rim with teeth arranged along its circumference. A tension line that can be retracted into the housing can be connected to the winding reel, such that a ratchet in a first position (A) blocks a rotational movement of the winding reel in the tension direction by engagement of the ratchet in the teeth. Areas free of teeth on the circumference of the gear rim of the winding reel alternate with areas with teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: PEWAG SCHNEEKETTEN GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Agyd Pengg, Georg Grossauer
  • Patent number: 8146852
    Abstract: A rotation damper, particularly for damping the rotary movement of a belt retractor shaft of a vehicle safety belt, has a housing which delimits a working space filled with a damping medium, and an element which is rotatable relative to the housing. Several pins serving as resistance elements, which extend into the working space, are provided on the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Biller, Oliver Gross, Bernd Gentner
  • Publication number: 20120055740
    Abstract: An eddy-current braking mechanism including a rotor, rotatable about a rotor axis; at least one electrically conductive member coupled to the rotor for rotation therewith; at least one magnet configured to apply a magnetic field extending at least partially orthogonal to the plane of rotation of the conductive member, and characterised in that upon rotation of the rotor, the conductive member is configured to move at least partially radially from the rotor axis into the applied magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: Holmes Solutions Limited
    Inventors: Christopher James Allington, Andrew Karl Diehl, Bruce John Robertson
  • Publication number: 20110239956
    Abstract: A braking device for a rope pulley of a mechanically retractable and extendable leash for walking animals is provided. The rope pulley is supported in a housing such that it is rotatable in an unwinding direction against the force of a spring and in a wind-up direction under the influence of the spring force and cooperates with a brake button of the braking device in order to stop rotation of the rope pulley. The rope pulley is connected to a brake disk that is rotatable relative to the rope pulley against a damping force and that can be locked to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: FLEXI-BOGDAHN TECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Manfred Bogdahn
  • Patent number: 8006927
    Abstract: A force limiting device for use with a safety belt retractor is provided. The safety belt retractor includes a spool and a safety belt webbing attached to and wound around the spool for payout of the webbing under the influence of forwardly directed movement of a vehicle occupant. The force limiting device comprises a fixed member, a shaft connected to the fixed member and a coupling received on the shaft and operatively connected to the spool. The coupling is configured to move along the longitudinal extent of the shaft towards the fixed member during payout of the webbing. Engagement of the coupling with the fixed member prevents further payout of the webbing. The shaft is configured to limit movement of the coupling along the shaft during payout of the webbing to control effective belt force on the vehicle occupant during a crash condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eric M. Heitkamp
  • Publication number: 20110186676
    Abstract: A webbing take-up device which can improve the workability of the assembly work of a tension reducer is obtained. In this webbing take-up device, a take-up spring unit is arranged closer to the opening side of a case than a reduction spring unit within a case. For this reason, when a clutch is arranged inside the reduction balance spring and the inner end of the reduction balance spring in a spiral direction is locked to a spring case of the clutch, the clutch and the reduction balance spring can be easily and visually recognized from the opening side of the case. Thus, the other end of the reduction balance spring can be easily locked to the spring case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Takahiro OSAKI, Shinji MORI
  • Publication number: 20100115695
    Abstract: A patient positioning apparatus including at least one dampened belt retractor, a base, a support column, at least one positioning arm on the support column capable of being positioned over a bed and having a buckle and strap capable of securing to a patient support connected to bed linens or other flexible member so that a patient can be partially or totally suspended when an adjustable bed is lowered or when the patient support is raised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. White, Jacob H. Ely
  • Patent number: 7694908
    Abstract: A safety belt retractor, especially in vehicles, is provided that includes a belt shaft as a carrier for a belt that is wound thereon and a vehicle sensitive and/or belt sensitive controllable block device for the belt shaft. The block device includes a force limiting device, effective in the event of a block event, the force limiting device having a viscous medium-filled housing with at least one fixedly positioned contour and a counter-contour that is rotatably displaceable in response to a block event, so that the relative movement between the contour and the counter-contour forces the viscous medium between the surfaces arranged for this purpose. The level of the force limitation applied by the force limitation device is adjustably settable as a function of the parameters associated with the buckled-in passengers via a variation of the inner pressure in the viscous medium-filled housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Andreas Lucht, Geert Helge Wittenburg, Frank Matzen, Erik Ziel
  • Patent number: 7686339
    Abstract: A seat belt apparatus is disclosed that includes a rotatable spool connected to the seat belt webbing and at least one variable energy absorbing mechanism connected to an end of the rotatable spool. The variable energy absorbing mechanism may include a chamber configured to be filled with a fluid and a flexible member attached to an outer circumference of the rotatable spool within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. Rogers
  • Patent number: 7571877
    Abstract: An operation mechanism adapted for activating a deceleration device for decelerating an opening movement of a door. The operation mechanism features a first mode of operation and an second operation mode. In the first mode of operation the operation mechanism allows free rotation of the door, when the operation mechanism is loaded by an impulse of the door below a predetermined threshold value. In the second mode of operation when the operation mechanism is loaded by an impulse of the door above the predetermined threshold value the operation mechanism decelerates free rotation of the door by connecting the door to the deceleration device which will then decelerate the acceleration of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Clive French, Nick Chignell-Stapleton
  • Publication number: 20090189005
    Abstract: A hose reel is described comprising a support casing (1), a drum (3) rotatably fitted inside said casing (1) and connected to it by elastic rewinding means (2). The drum (3) provides a flange (4) integral with it and couplable in rotation with a locking disc (5) equipped with teeth (8) engageable with opposing teeth capable of stopping its rotation. Elastic separation means (10) are provided between the flange (4) and the locking disc (5) to keep the latter in a first position axially distanced from said flange (4), teeth and counter-teeth means (51, 52) mutually engaged to allow the flange (4) to draw the locking disc (5) into integral rotation with it, and cam and counter-cam means (6, 7) which, in the event of said flange exceeding a predetermined threshold speed cause the axial displacement of said locking disc (5) into a second position adjoining said flange (4) in which its teeth (8) engage with said opposing teeth (9) to produce the consequent stopping of the rotation of said drum (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Gianfranco Roman, Franca Serafin, Giada Roman
  • Patent number: 7478836
    Abstract: A seat-belt arrangement including an energy-absorbing force limiter. A first component, for example in the form of a retractor reel spool is movable relative to a second component, for example the frame-work of the retractor. The spool carries with it elements presenting friction faces which co-operate with further elements carried by the frame. A stack of Piezo-electric elements apply a compressional force driving together the elements having the friction faces to provide a controlled frictional energy-absorbing effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Anders Lenning
  • Patent number: 7475841
    Abstract: A spring retractable reel having a pneumatic retraction governor or air motor for regulating the rewind speed of a spool for taking up a line of material. For example, an air motor includes a rotor having vanes, a first port opening onto one side of the rotor, and a second port opening onto a second side of the rotor. A valve adjustably restricts a continuous flow of ambient air through the second port, and the valve defines an opening sized smaller than the first port. The rotation of the spool and the rotor are fixedly coupled together, for example, with a chain. When the spool rewinds the line of material, the rotor rotates, which in turn draws ambient air through the first port, a portion of which ambient air is restricted from exiting the second port due to the valve thereby compressing air within the air motor to regulate or limit the speed at which the spool rewinds the line of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Hannay Reels, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis Fancher
  • Publication number: 20080283650
    Abstract: A brake-equipped retracting device (3) returns a liquid crystal display device (1) from a deployed position (1B) to a stored position (1A) using an elastic returning force of a spiral spring (18) that is wound up when the liquid crystal display device (1) is opened by the rotational force of a motor. A braking force for preventing the liquid crystal display device (1) from returning with too much force is applied to an input shaft (17a) of a reducer by having a rope (21) whose tensile force increases and decreases in relation to the opening and closing of the liquid crystal display device (1) be wound around a slip clutch (15) that is connected to the input shaft (17a). In emergency situations such as when the rope (21) breaks, a centrifugal grip (53) of a rotation-restraining mechanism (50) strikes an engagement notch surface (56b) on a fixed side, and the rotation of the input shaft (17a) is forcibly halted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Norio Shirokoshi, Satoru Kimura
  • Publication number: 20080164361
    Abstract: A spring retractable reel having a pneumatic retraction governor or air motor for regulating the rewind speed of a spool for taking up a line of material. For example, an air motor includes a rotor having vanes, a first port opening onto one side of the rotor, and a second port opening onto a second side of the rotor. A valve adjustably restricts a continuous flow of ambient air through the second port, and the valve defines an opening sized smaller than the first port. The rotation of the spool and the rotor are fixedly coupled together, for example, with a chain. When the spool rewinds the line of material, the rotor rotates, which in turn draws ambient air through the first port, a portion of which ambient air is restricted from exiting the second port due to the valve thereby compressing air within the air motor to regulate or limit the speed at which the spool rewinds the line of material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: HANNAY REELS, INC.
    Inventor: Dennis FANCHER
  • Patent number: 7392958
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a safety belt has a brake surface (38), a blocking mechanism (18), a brake element (24) which can prevent a steering in of the blocking mechanism (18), and a magnetic actuator (28). The brake element (24) is pressed against the brake surface (38) by means of the magnetic actuator (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holbein, Martin Butz, Daniel S. Helbich
  • Patent number: 7370822
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor including a compact brake system configured so that when a drive member of the brake system is inoperative, an operation control member is held in an inoperative position. In this state, rotation stop portions of the operation control member are held in positions opposed to the flat surfaces of an energy-absorbing-member support member, and the energy-absorbing-member support member is braked by the operation control member, whereby the rotation is stopped. When the drive member is activated, the operation control member is moved downward, so that the rotation allowable portion of the operation control member is located on the cylinder of the energy-absorbing-member support member. Then the brake applied to the energy-absorbing-member support member can be released to allow the rotation of the energy-absorbing-member support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Hiramatsu
  • Publication number: 20080061180
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor having first and second serially arranged torsion bars and a switching mechanism provides two levels of load limiting. A bridge bolt rotationally fixed to the inboard ends of the torsion bars is threaded into a locking base, and the switching mechanism prevents bridge bolt translation relative to the locking base in a default condition to limit seat belt load with the first torsion bar. Activation of the switching mechanism permits limited translation of the bridge bolt relative to the locking base to limit seat belt load with the second torsion bar. Additional translation of the bridge bolt relative to the locking base is prevented to re-establish load limiting with the first torsion bar. The switching mechanism includes a set of detent wedges, a retaining band and an electrically activated cutting mechanism, all disposed within the retractor frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: James L. Webber, James R. Wilde, Michael T. Moury
  • Patent number: 7331370
    Abstract: A lifting mechanism is provided for a window covering which allows a bottom rail of the window covering to maintain a static position unless raised or lowered by a user. The lifting mechanism is included within either a top or bottom rail of the window covering. The lifting mechanism includes cords which pass from a rail including the lifting mechanism to a rail not including the lifting mechanism and about cord redirectors located within the rail including the lifting mechanism. The lifting mechanism includes spools and associated springs for gathering excess portions of the cord thereon. A progressive resister is coupled to the spools with the progressive resister providing different amounts of resistance to spool rotation depending on the amount of cord upon each spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Shades Unlimited, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Militello, Barry L. Shevick, Robert L. Lathrop, III, Bruce R. Dendulk
  • Publication number: 20070295851
    Abstract: In a spring loaded shaft for automatically rewinding a cord or the like after it has been unwound for temporary use, provision is made for reducing the whipping effect by slowing the speed in which the rewinding occurs. An elongate member is attached to an end of the shaft and is disposed within a liquid substance contained in a housing such that rotation of the shaft is slowed by the interaction of the elongate member with the liquid substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: DL'Manufacturing
    Inventors: Donald L. Metz, Wendell K. Moulton
  • Patent number: 6923398
    Abstract: A winding mechanism retains a sheet material in a state in which the sheet material can be pulled out. The winding mechanism includes a flexible sheet material, a winding shaft attached to one end of the sheet material, a force application device that always applies a force to the winding shaft in a normal direction in which the sheet material is wound around the winding shaft, and a braking device that applies a braking force to the winding shaft only in the normal direction. In other words, the winding mechanism applies an appropriate braking force to the winding shaft when the sheet material is wound, but does not apply a braking force to the winding shaft when the sheet material is pulled out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventors: Akio Kosugi, Yuichi Shirase, Tohru Sambommatsu
  • Patent number: 6889930
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a seatbelt retractor of an automobile, which is provided with a frictional clutching means for decreasing the rotating speed of a drum shaft where a webbing and a spiral spring are fixed, whereby locking of a vehicle sensor is inhibited by reducing the shock caused by sudden expansion of the spiral spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Byoung Tae Jeong
  • Patent number: 6863236
    Abstract: An energy management device has a plurality of electromagnets positioned between a shaft and a seatbelt spool. When energized, the electromagnets move radially outwardly to engage the inside surface of a hub of the seatbelt spool. By adjusting the amount of current supplied to the electromagnets, the amount of friction, and thus the amount of energy dissipated, can be controlled. A D-ring can be supported on the cable which goes to a spool so that during a crash the ring moves forward as cable is pulled out of the spool which in turn is braked by the energy management device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Kempf, Barney Bauer
  • Patent number: 6805381
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor is operably coupled to a belt dereeling retarder mechanism which utilizes a magnetorheological fluid and a coil for imposing a magnetic field on the fluid to selectively change the fluid properties and a braking or retarding effect imposed on the belt retractor during dereeling or payout of the belt. The retarder may include a piston coupled to a rotatable shaft coupled to the belt retractor reel and displacing fluid through the magnetic field in response to actuation of the belt. Alternate embodiments include a multiple disc brake coupled to the retractor reel through a gear drive speed increaser or a cylindrical housing and core member defining an annular space occupied by the magnetorheological fluid and connected to the belt retractor reel through a speed increasing gear drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald G. Smith, Jr., Michael L. Oliver, William C. Kruckemeyer
  • Patent number: 6799738
    Abstract: A take-up reel for winding and storing an elongate hose or electrical cable comprises a reel that is rewound by a torsional spring. A viscous clutch is coupled to the reel by means of a unidirectional clutch, which engages the viscous clutch to the reel to rewind the reward speed, but disengages the viscous clutch from the reel when the hose or cable is being payed-out. This permits the hose or cable to be payed-out without resistance from the viscous clutch. The uni-directional viscous clutch assembly thus allows the hose to be payed-out at any speed while providing the substantial safety benefits of a viscous speed governor during rewind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Coxwells, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald D. Sauder, Andre J. Baca, Jeff Knosalla
  • Patent number: 6789761
    Abstract: A belt reel has a spindle having a main body portion and a relatively rotatable end member that can be latched to a fixed frame upon triggering of an activation device. The main body portion of the spindle is formed with a bore which is filled with hydraulic fluid. The spindle further includes a force-limiting element which cooperates with the hydraulic fluid in the bore to produce a resistance against which the spindle body must be rotated when the relatively rotatable end member is latched to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Takata-Petri Ulm (GmbH)
    Inventor: Oliver Glinka
  • Patent number: 6786511
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor for a vehicle seat belt has a belt reel for the seat belt. A free-flowing load limiting medium is arranged in a working chamber. A displacement means is drivable by the belt reel. The load limiting medium is transported through at least one flow channel by the displacement means. The flow cross-section in the flow channel is selected as a function of the kinematic viscosity of the load limiting medium, to achieve a belt force limitation profile over time which approaches that of a torque rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Heckmayr
  • Patent number: 6749142
    Abstract: A sheet-like element winding apparatus has an accommodating case 1, at one end portion of which a cap 2 is attached to, and also has a winding shaft 3, disposed in the accommodating case 1, for winding a sheet-like element, and a pushing means for rotating and pushing the winding shaft in a direction in which the sheet-like element is wound. A clutch mechanism is provided at an end portion of the winding shaft. When a sheet-like element is wound, the winding shaft is connected through the clutch mechanism to a damping means D1 for providing a damping force to the winding shaft. When a sheet-like element is drawn out, the connection between the winding shaft and the damping means is canceled through the clutch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Piolax Inc.
    Inventors: Oomi Arisaka, Hitoshi Miyamae, Hironao Tachizawa, Jinya Kamada
  • Patent number: 6719233
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a belt reel for seat belt webbing and a load limiter that has a flowable load-limiter medium which is transported through a flow channel, by a displacement device. The displacement device is drivable by the belt reel, at an energy consumption related to a crash, in which the flow resistance of the transported load-limiter medium in the flow channel or the volume of the load-limiter medium transported in the flow channel per unit time is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Specht, Thomas Heckmayr
  • Patent number: 6705559
    Abstract: A programmable seat belt damper assembly for a seat belt in a motor vehicle. The programmable seat belt damper assembly includes a retractor operatively connected to the seat belt for winding and unwinding the seat belt. The programmable seat belt damper assembly also includes a rotary damper operatively connected to the retractor and having a magneto-rheological (MR) fluid therein. The programmable seat belt damper assembly further includes a controller electrically connected to the rotary damper to control an apparent viscosity of the MR fluid to increase and decrease a damping torque of the rotary damper for the unwinding of the seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John L. Sullivan, John Matthew Ginder, Kirsten Marie Carr
  • Publication number: 20040035971
    Abstract: A deceleration device of a tape rule is equipped with a speed reduction gear wheel in the tape rule housing. The speed reduction gear wheel is in mesh with a transmission gear wheel of a reel for coiling a measuring tape such that the rotational speed of the reel when retrieving the extended tape is retarded thereby preventing the danger of scratching the user's finger or damaging the tape itself by abrasion or impingement. Engagement of the speed reduction gear wheel and the transmission gear wheel can be released by operating a flat pusher plate provided on the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventor: Shin-Lin Li