Electric Patents (Class 242/390.8)
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Publication number: 20130032654Abstract: In an electrical cord reel, a rotatable member can rotate about a winding axis to spool and unspool a linear material. An input power connector can couple to an electrical power source. An output power connector on the rotatable member can couple to an electrical cord at least partially wound about the rotatable member. A switch is adjustable to allow or prevent electrical current flow from the input power connector to the output power connector. In an aspect, the electrical cord reel includes an electric cord comprising a first power wire, a second power wire, and a signal wire. A method of controlling the electric cord spool system includes energizing the first power wire and the signal wire. The method further includes determining a continuity of the signal wire. The method further includes de-energizing the first power wire when determining discontinuity of the signal wire.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2012Publication date: February 7, 2013Applicant: GREAT STUFF, INC.Inventors: James B.A. Tracey, Mark Rosenau, Joseph M. Hill, III, Johnathan R. Tracey
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Patent number: 8366034Abstract: A seat belt retractor may include: a motor that generates a driving force for retracting and unreeling a seat belt by rotating a shaft, a gear case has an interior portion that houses a gear that converts a rotary force of the shaft into a driving force, a harness connected to a side of the motor including the shaft that is disposed opposite the gear case, a motor case having an opening disposed in only one end thereof, and a motor cap disposed on a side of the motor including the shaft opposing the gear case. The motor cap may include a passage portion through which the harness passes to an exterior thereof. The opening in the motor case may be sealed by attaching the motor case to the motor cap and the gear case in a sandwiched manner.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2010Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventors: Tatsuya Harada, Hiroko Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 8348215Abstract: A system for raising and lowering a ceiling fixture featuring a reel box with a cable reel and cable, and a motor connected to the cable reel. The cable extends out of the reel box and attaches to a ceiling fixture. The motor rotates the cable reel to wind and unwind the cable. A hollow female cone is connected below the reel box. The cable passes through the female cone. A male cone is attached to the cable below the female cone. The male cone has is adapted to fit inside the female cone. Electrical contact rings are disposed on the inner surface of the female cone for house wiring and the outer surface of the male cone for fixture wiring. When the male cone is in the female cone, the electrical contact rings operatively connect.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2010Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Inventor: Christopher A. Smith
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Patent number: 8344670Abstract: The invention relates to a retraction device for a movable piece of furniture, having a pulling means windable on a roll, and an electric motor is provided for driving the roll. The retraction device also has a coupling for releasably connecting the movable piece of furniture to the electric drive, and the coupling has a first coupling part for fastening to the movable piece of furniture and a second coupling part connected to the pulling means. The first coupling part has an opening for at least the partial acceptance of the second coupling part. A locking mechanism is provided by which the first coupling part can be connected to the second coupling part in at least two different positions, and the second coupling part is located at different depths in the opening in the two different positions.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2009Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Julius Blum GmbHInventor: Simon Gassner
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Publication number: 20120325953Abstract: The present invention includes a hose reel having side rollers. A hose reel includes: a housing defined by at least one or more base members; a spool rotatably disposed within the housing, wherein the spool is adapted to connect to a flexible hose; a winding mechanism to rotate the spool and to coil the flexible hose around the spool; and one or more rollers associated with said housing, wherein the one or more rollers are able to rotate during coiling of the flexible hose around the spool.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2011Publication date: December 27, 2012Inventors: Elad Refael Adler, Vadim Prokofiev
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Publication number: 20120325952Abstract: The present invention includes an expandable hose reel, which may include: a housing defined by at least one or more base members; a spool rotatably disposed within the housing, wherein the spool is adapted to connect to a flexible hose; a winding mechanism to rotate the spool and to coil the flexible hose around the spool; and an expansion mechanism to modify a length of the spool.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2011Publication date: December 27, 2012Inventors: Richard Douglas Evans, Avraham Maltz
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Patent number: 8336800Abstract: The present invention relates to a powered hose reel device for taking up a hose about a reel without having to do so by hand. A reel is disposed between the reel support walls and mounted on one end to a rim integrally formed on an inner wall of one of the reel support walls. The reel is adapted to carry a hose thereabout. There is a motor mounted to one of the reel support portions, and disposed within the chamber formed by the inner wall of the reel. A rechargeable battery provides power. A shaft is operatively connected to the motor and is engaged with a bracket mounted to the inner surface of the reel. When the motor is activated the shaft turns the reel. A hose guide assembly is provided for leading and guiding the hose during the retrieving of the hose about the reel. A solar panel recharges the battery when the device is not operating.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2010Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Inventor: John D. Lopez
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Patent number: 8302895Abstract: A reel with a rotatable spool. The reel includes a motor coupled to a drive shaft and configured to rotate the drive shaft in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. A drive assembly is disposed on the drive shaft and rotation of the drive shaft in the first direction moves the drive assembly along the drive shaft and into engagement with the spool. Rotation of the drive shaft in the second direction moves the drive assembly along the drive shaft and out of engagement with the spool. When the drive assembly is engaged with the spool, the drive assembly rotates the spool in a windup direction. When the drive assembly is out of engagement with the spool, the spool may be rotated manually in an unwind direction without encountering resistance from the motor.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2010Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Glendinning Marine Products, Inc.Inventors: Anthony D. Inman, Michael A. Gasque, Mark M. Rose
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Patent number: 8275491Abstract: A vehicle control system for causing a follower vehicle to follow a leader may have a tether system mounted to the follower vehicle. The tether system may include a tether having an end adapted to be attached to the leader, a length sensor, and an angle sensor. A path tracking system operatively associated with the tether system determines a path traveled by the leader. A path control system operatively associated with the path tracking system and the follower vehicle causes the follower vehicle to follow the path traveled by the leader. A spacing control system operatively associated with the path tracking system and the follower vehicle causes the follower vehicle to maintain a predetermined spacing between the follower vehicle and the leader.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2012Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Autonomous Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey L. Ferrin, Brett Thayn, Michael Hornberger
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Publication number: 20120211579Abstract: A clutch includes a clutch housing that rotates with a spindle and has inner teeth; a pair of pawls that can engage with the inner teeth; a gear wheel that is joined to a motor and has a pair of sliding grooves that hold the pawls such that the pawls can move in the sliding grooves between a first position when the motor is not operating, a second position at which the pawls engage with the inner teeth of the clutch housing through operation of the motor, and a third position at which the pawls become positioned on the opposite side to that of the second position across the first position upon operation of the pretensioner; and a return prevention mechanism that prevents the pawls from returning to the first position and the second position after having moved to the third position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2010Publication date: August 23, 2012Inventors: Eiji Maemura, Hiroko Yoshikawa, Junichi Nagatomo
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Patent number: 8210460Abstract: The disclosed seat belt tensioner for a seat belt system may comprise a seat belt spindle, a gearwheel connected to the seat belt spindle, and a latching pawl for locking the seat belt spindle in the tensioned position by engaging in the teeth of the gearwheel. The latching pawl may be configured to be brought into a first pawl position for blocking the gearwheel in the seat belt unrolling direction and into a second pawl position for blocking the gearwheel in the seat belt-tensioning direction of rotation. The latching pawl may also be configured to perform a first pivot-over operation from the first pawl position into the second pawl position and to perform a second pivot-over operation from the second pawl position into the first pawl position when the gearwheel exerts a force on the latching pawl that exceeds a predetermined force required for the respective pivoting-over operation.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2006Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Walter Scherzinger, Roland Schnabl, Thomas Schwer
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Publication number: 20120098324Abstract: A drive arrangement (1) for driving a motor (9) in a seat belt pre-tensioner incorporates a power supply circuit (6) in the form of an H bridge and a voltage boost circuit 16 which are controlled by a control unit (17). The control unit (17) controls the voltage boost circuit (16) to increase the voltage output to the motor (9) to speed up the rotation of the motor (9) whilst the motor (9) winds in slack in a seat belt (13).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2011Publication date: April 26, 2012Applicant: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT ABInventors: Antoine Fouilleul, Roger Darraba
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Patent number: 8116921Abstract: A vehicle control system for causing a follower vehicle to follow a leader may have a tether system mounted to the follower vehicle. The tether system may include a tether having an end adapted to be attached to the leader, a length sensor, and an angle sensor. A path tracking system operatively associated with the tether system determines a path traveled by the leader. A path control system operatively associated with the path tracking system and the follower vehicle causes the follower vehicle to follow the path traveled by the leader. A spacing control system operatively associated with the path tracking system and the follower vehicle causes the follower vehicle to maintain a predetermined spacing between the follower vehicle and the leader.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2008Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Autonomous Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey L. Ferrin, Brett Thayn, Michael Hornberger
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Patent number: 8091821Abstract: A method for controlling an electric belt retractor (16) which has an electric motor (20) which can drive a belt spool (18) in a belt band retraction direction and/or in a belt band withdrawal direction, and a blocking catch which is able to be guided into blocking teeth in order to block a rotation of the belt spool (18) in the belt band withdrawal direction, comprises the following steps: Operating the electric motor (20) in belt band retraction direction for tensioning the belt band (26); Detecting a possible belt band withdrawal; Determining a stable vehicle state; and Re-operating the electric motor (20) in belt band retraction direction only when a belt band withdrawal is detected.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2006Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Rainer Burkart, Thomas Busch
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Patent number: 8028949Abstract: In a webbing take-up device 10, a worm gear 34, which is connected to a motor 44, engages with a gear wheel 32, and when the worm gear 34 rotates, driving force is transmitted via the gear wheel 32 and a clutch 26, whereby a take-up shaft 20 is rotated in a take-up direction. Helix angles of teeth of the worm gear 34 and the gear wheel 32 are set so that thrust force generated at this time along the axial direction of the gear wheel 32 faces a leg plate 16 fixed side of a case 30. Accordingly, because the thrust force acts on the leg plate 16 fixed side of the case 30, i.e., on a frame 12, there is no need to provide the case 30 or a cover clutch 31 with high strength and rigidity.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2005Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoInventors: Takuhiro Saito, Katsuki Asagiri
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Patent number: 7988197Abstract: A seat belt retractor (6) according to the present invention, when mounted on a vehicle body, has an ECU (16) laid out in such a manner that an ECU connector (16c) faces a vehicle side connector (18) mounted to a predetermined position of the vehicle body. Such a vehicle side connector (18) is connected to a power supply (17). Such a layout of the ECU (16) allows the ECU connector (16c) to be directly electrically connected to the vehicle side connector (18).Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Masato Takao, Koji Inuzuka, Koji Tanaka, Daisuke Murakami
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Publication number: 20110147510Abstract: A reversible seat belt tensioner includes an electric motor (2), a belt shaft (1) drivable in the belt winding direction by the electric motor (2) via a drive wheel (10), and a drive shaft (9) transmitting the rotational movement of the electric motor (2) to the drive wheel (10). The drive shaft (9) is connected to at least one of the drive wheel (10) and the electric motor (2) via a helical gear unit. The use of a helical gear unit provides the advantage that the rotational axes of the meshing components can be arranged at angles other than 90 degrees with respect to each other because the components in the helical gear units only come into punctiform contact.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Inventors: Andreas Lucht, Matthias Borgward, Sébastien Baudinet
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Publication number: 20110133013Abstract: A device for paying out and retracting an electric power cord (4) comprising two driven cord winder members, the first member being a cord winding reel (1) and the second member being a drive element (7, 8) for engaging the cord (4) at a distance from the reel (1). An electric motor (20) can drive one of the two cord winder members in two directions and is connected with driving force to the other cord winder member (7, 8) by way of a slipper clutch (13) and a one-way clutch (12).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2009Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.Inventors: Auke-Jan Veenstra, Henricus Wilhelmus Johannes Baltussen
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Patent number: 7953532Abstract: A seatbelt device for a vehicle including: a belt reel having webbing wound thereon; a position detection device that detects a winding position of the belt reel; a motor that drives the belt reel to rotate to thereby perform winding of the webbing; and a control section that performs control of electric current conduction to the motor, wherein: the control section performs electric current conduction to the motor at a predetermined amount at the time of a rear vehicular collision or when a rear vehicular collision is predicted; and the electric current conduction amount is controlled, so that during electric current conduction at the predetermined electric current conduction amount, when a winding position detected by the position detection device reaches a predetermined position, variation in the winding position is suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2008Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shotaro Odate, Osamu Tsurumiya, Yo Ito
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Patent number: 7942449Abstract: A seat belt retractor includes a frame having a back plate and a side wall protruding from each of multiple side edges of the back plate. The seat belt retractor also includes a spool supported by the frame and configured to rotate and wind a seat belt, a motor configured to rotate the spool, and an electronic control unit configured to drive and control the motor. The electronic control unit is mounted between the side walls of the frame and the back plate is disposed in an inner space of a vehicle body member and faces a vehicle interior direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2010Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Daisuke Murakami, Koji Inuzuka, Koji Tanaka, Masato Takao
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Publication number: 20110101145Abstract: A seat belt device includes a spindle 11 for retracting a seat belt 13, an electric actuator 55, a pre-tensioner 14 and a power transmission mechanism 20, wherein the power transmission mechanism 20 can reversibly switch the connection and disconnection between the electric actuator 55 and the spindle 11 before the pre-tensioner 14 is activated, while when the pre-tensioner 14 is activated, the power transmission mechanism 20 non-reversibly interrupts the connection between the electric actuator 55 and the spindle 11.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2006Publication date: May 5, 2011Inventors: Eiji Maemura, Yukinori Midorikawa, Masuo Matsuki
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Patent number: 7934673Abstract: To obtain a webbing take-up device that can not only transmit to a take-up shaft only rotation from a motor by a clutch but is also simple and compact. A clutch of this webbing take-up device has a simply configuration where sliders 144 of a clutch body portion 114 are caused by frictional force to be retained in a case, whereby the sliders 144 and lock bars 154 are caused to relatively move and the lock bars 154 are caused by this relative movement to move to positions where they engage with or disengage from a ratchet 134. Consequently, the overall configuration of a clutch 100 can be made significantly compact (thinned) in comparison to a configuration that causes a pawl to move using an inertial disk that is large and has weight as in a conventional clutch. Thus, the overall configuration of a webbing take-up device 10 can be made compact.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2005Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoInventors: Takuhiro Saito, Katsuki Asagiri, Shinji Mori
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Publication number: 20110095120Abstract: A reel with a rotatable spool. The reel includes a motor coupled to a drive shaft and configured to rotate the drive shaft in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. A drive assembly is disposed on the drive shaft and rotation of the drive shaft in the first direction moves the drive assembly along the drive shaft and into engagement with the spool. Rotation of the drive shaft in the second direction moves the drive assembly along the drive shaft and out of engagement with the spool. When the drive assembly is engaged with the spool, the drive assembly rotates the spool in a windup direction. When the drive assembly is out of engagement with the spool, the spool may be rotated manually in an unwind direction without encountering resistance from the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2010Publication date: April 28, 2011Applicant: Glendinning Marine Products, Inc.Inventors: Anthony D. Inman, Michael A. Gasque, Mark M. Rose
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Publication number: 20110089281Abstract: An apparatus (1, 51, 101) for deploying and retracting a flexible portion of material (2, 202, 302, 402, 502, 502, 702), the apparatus (1, 51, 101) comprising a flexible portion of material (2, 202, 302, 402, 502, 502, 702) having an arrangement (203, 303, 403, 503, 603, 703) for carrying threads (4, 204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704) along the flexible portion of material (2, 202, 302, 402, 502, 502, 702). The threads (4, 204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704) extend along the flexible portion of material (2, 202, 302, 402, 502, 502, 702) via the thread carrying arrangement (203, 303, 403, 503, 603, 703), The apparatus (1, 51, 101) has a container (6, 56, 106) for storing the flexible portion of material (2, 202, 302, 402, 502, 502, 702), the container (6, 56, 106) having an arrangement (7, 111) for facilitating movement of the threads (4, 204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704) so that the flexible portion of material (2, 202, 302, 402, 502, 502, 702) is incrementally loaded into the container (6, 56, 106).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2008Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventors: Peter Boyd, Andrew Woods
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Publication number: 20110083754Abstract: A reel assembly comprises a drum configured to rotate about a drum axis. The drum is configured to receive a linear material wrapped around a spool surface thereof as the drum rotates about the drum axis. A housing substantially encloses the drum, wherein a portion of the housing defines an aperture configured to receive the linear material therethrough. A reciprocating mechanism connects to the drum and reciprocatingly rotates the drum relative to the shell about a generally vertical axis as the drum rotates about the drum axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2010Publication date: April 14, 2011Applicant: GREAT STUFF, INC.Inventors: Ray Caamano, Christian Okonsky Gerard, Daniel Francis Caputo
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Patent number: 7905441Abstract: The disclosed seat belt tensioner is for a seat belt safety system that may comprise a seat belt spindle, a drive motor for driving the seat belt spindle, and a gear connected to the drive motor.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2006Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Walter Scherzinger, Roland Schnabl, Thomas Schwer
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Patent number: 7883046Abstract: A reel with a rotatable spool. The reel includes a motor coupled to a drive shaft and configured to rotate the drive shaft in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. A drive assembly is disposed on the drive shaft and rotation of the drive shaft in the first direction moves the drive assembly along the drive shaft and into engagement with the spool. Rotation of the drive shaft in the second direction moves the drive assembly along the drive shaft and out of engagement with the spool. When the drive assembly is engaged with the spool, the drive assembly rotates the spool in a windup direction. When the drive assembly is out of engagement with the spool, the spool may be rotated manually in an unwind direction without encountering resistance from the motor.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2008Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Glendinning Marine Products, Inc.Inventors: Anthony D. Inman, Michael A. Gasque, Mark M. Rose
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Publication number: 20110018330Abstract: A seat belt retractor includes a frame having a back plate and a side wall protruding from each of multiple side edges of the back plate. The seat belt retractor also includes a spool supported by the frame and configured to rotate and wind a seat belt, a motor configured to rotate the spool, and an electronic control unit configured to drive and control the motor. The electronic control unit is mounted between the side walls of the frame and the back plate is disposed in an inner space of a vehicle body member and faces a vehicle interior direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2010Publication date: January 27, 2011Inventors: Daisuke Murakami, Koji Inuzuka, Koji Tanaka, Masato Takao
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Patent number: 7866704Abstract: A seat belt retractor includes at least one frame having a back board and side walls extending from side rims of the back board, a spool supported by the at least one frame configured to wind up a seat belt, a motor configured to rotate the spool, and an electronic control unit mounted to the frame for controlling the driving of the motor. The electronic control unit includes a base, an electronic control unit board fixed to the base, and a cover attached to the base to cover the electronic control unit board. The electronic control unit includes an opening at a lower end that opens an interior of the electronic control unit to an exterior.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2008Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Masato Takao, Koji Inuzuka, Koji Tanaka, Daisuke Murakami
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Publication number: 20100294872Abstract: The present invention provides a water hose winding device. The winding device main body includes a water hose winding rack, a water inlet adapter, a water hose exit guide hole, a driving motor, and a gearing component. The water outlet end of the water hose is configured with a wireless winding control mechanism, which includes a radio signal transmitter and a control switch. The winding device main body is configured with a radio signal receiver to receive the wireless control signal transmitted by the radio signal transmitter, and the driving end radio signal receiver is electrically connected to the driving motor. When the driving end radio signal receiver receives the wireless control signal, it can start or shut off the driving motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2009Publication date: November 25, 2010Inventor: Hsin-Fa Wang
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Patent number: 7823679Abstract: A method of controlling a motorized retractor includes a spool onto which a webbing belt for restraining an occupant is wound, a motor operated according to a predetermined signal, and a clutch mechanism enabling transmission of power from the motor to the spool. When cancelling power transmission of the clutch mechanism by the operation of the motor, the rotating speed or the driving time period of the motor is varied according to the load on the clutch mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2008Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Masato Takao, Koji Tanaka
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Patent number: 7819430Abstract: A seat belt retractor includes a frame having a back plate and a side wall protruding from each of multiple side edges of the back plate. The seat belt retractor also includes a spool supported by the frame and configured to rotate and wind a seat belt, a motor configured to rotate the spool, and an electronic control unit configured to drive and control the motor. The electronic control unit is mounted between the side walls of the frame and the back plate is disposed in an inner space of a vehicle body member and faces a vehicle interior direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2008Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Daisuke Murakami, Koji Inuzuka, Koji Tanaka, Masato Takao
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Patent number: 7793983Abstract: A seat belt retractor including an integral electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU is detachably installed between lower edges of respective both side walls of a frame. Further, a motor is detachably fixed to a lower surface of a case of the ECU. Since the ECU is disposed between the frame and the motor, the ECU can be protected from an external force by means of the frame and the motor.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2008Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Daisuke Murakami, Koji Inuzuka, Koji Tanaka, Masato Takao
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Patent number: 7793984Abstract: A seatbelt retractor integrated with an electronic control unit. A motor is disposed above both side walls of a frame and on the same side as a spool with respect to a back board. The motor is detachably fixed to at least one of the back board and the both side walls and of the frame. The ECU is detachably mounted to an upper stay extending upward from the back board of the frame and to be mounted to the vehicle body. In this manner, the motor and the ECU are integrated with a seatbelt retractor. Since the ECU is mounted to the upper stay, the weight of the ECU is dispersed not only to the main body of the seatbelt retractor but also to the upper stay. Thus, the vibration of the seatbelt retractor may be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2008Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Daisuke Murakami, Koji Inuzuka, Koji Tanaka, Masato Takao
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Publication number: 20100219279Abstract: A toy for use with any helium balloon comprised of a hand held device with an internal motorized reel that releases and retracts the balloon string when activated by a switch. The user enjoys lifting the balloon at the push of a button and retracting it back from the higher altitude at will and all the time being able to stop the balloon at a given elevation height.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2010Publication date: September 2, 2010Inventor: Alejandro Doring
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Patent number: 7753158Abstract: A seat belt retractor, which is capable of winding and unwinding a seat belt for occupant restraint by mechanism of an electric motor, removes slack of the seat belt and controls the restraining feeling on a vehicle occupant to be as little as possible. A seat belt retractor of a seat belt apparatus to be installed in a vehicle is adapted to control a motor to perform an action of increasing seat belt tension to wind up a seat belt which is excessively unwound from the spool when a vehicle occupant wears the seat belt and to be driven according to such a setting that, at the initial stage of the action of increasing the seat belt tension, the tension increasing rate until the seat belt tension reaches a target tension is lower than a predetermined rate.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2006Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Masato Takao, Koji Tanaka, Koji Inuzuka
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Patent number: 7744031Abstract: A motorized seat belt retractor, comprising: a take-up spool configured to rotate in a winding direction and an unwinding direction; a motor for providing a driving force in a first direction and a second direction to the take-up spool, wherein the take-up spool rotates in the winding direction when the driving force is provided in the first direction; a mechanism coupled to a shaft of the motor, the mechanism being configured to rotate freely in the first direction and rotate in the second direction when either i) a predetermined force is applied to the take-up spool in the unwinding direction during or after application of the driving force in the first direction or ii) the motor applies the driving force in the second direction in order to overcome a predetermined resistance of the mechanism; and a locking retractor configured to prevent the take-up spool from rotating in the unwinding direction when the predetermined force is applied to the take-up spool in the unwinding direction during or after applicatType: GrantFiled: October 11, 2006Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Inventors: Kevin Wei-Loong Ng, Michael T. Moury
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Publication number: 20100151922Abstract: The present invention provides an earphone line retracting device, and an automatic line retracting earphone having the earphone line retracting device, a non-radiation wire mobile phone having the earphone line retracting device, and an electronic device having the earphone line retracting device. The earphone line retracting device at least comprises: a winder, drive means driving the winder, and signal connector means, characterized in that the earphone line retracting device further comprises shift gear means, by which the drive means drives the winder.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2009Publication date: June 17, 2010Applicant: XINJIANG TIANDI GROUPInventor: Daqing ZHENG
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Patent number: 7735766Abstract: A seatbelt retractor reduces the temporary weight during seatbelt withdrawal to increase an occupant's comfort. When a seatbelt is not being worn by an occupant (off), projections of an internal gear are placed in a circumferential center between adjacent projections by the spring force of springs. When a spool rotates in the belt withdrawing direction, the internal gear also rotates in the belt withdrawing direction. This arrangement disables a reduction mechanism's power transmission to cut off the direct connection between the spool and electric motor connected to a sun gear to reduce the temporary weight during withdrawal of the seatbelt. When the internal gear rotates at a predetermined angle, the projections come into contact with the projections to thereby stop the rotation of the internal gear. This enables the power transmission of the reduction mechanism, whereby the spool and electric motor are brought into direct connection via the reduction mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2006Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Yasuaki Nomura
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Patent number: 7735767Abstract: A webbing take-up device (10, 100) is disclosed, wherein a motor (44) is provided directly below a take-up shaft (20) between a pair of leg plates (16, 18) with a rotary shaft (50) of the motor (44) disposed perpendicularly to the take-up shaft (20), and a clutch (26) is provided at one side of one leg plate (16). Further, a gear (76) of a motor gear portion (46) is removably connected to a worm gear (34) in a clutch gear portion (28), and a mounting stay (84) is detachably attached to a case (30) with screws (86), so that the motor (44) and the motor gear portion (46) can be detached independently of the case (30) while still being assembled together. Still further, a pretensioner mechanism (156) and a sensor mechanism (182) are provided at one end side of a spool (118), and an urging mechanism (136) is disposed at the other end side thereof.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2005Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoInventors: Takuhiro Saito, Katsuki Asagiri, Shuichi Harada, Shinji Mori, Fuminori Komiya, Tomonori Kimura, Hitoshi Takamatsu, Tomonori Nagata, Kazuhiko Aihara, Masaki Yasuda
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Patent number: 7726693Abstract: When the worn state of the webbing is lifted, current of a current value I0 corresponding to the appropriate storing speed of the webbing is supplied to the motor, whereby a take-up shaft rotates and the webbing is taken up. At a point in time when the webbing has been taken up to the extent that the webbing does not hinder the exiting of a vehicle by a passenger, the size of the supply current to the motor is reduced from the initial current value I1 to a current value I1. A reference current value IL of a stall current for determining whether to stop the motor when a foreign object or the like has become entangled between the webbing and an in-vehicle part can also be set to be small in correspondence to the reduced current value I1.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2006Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-SeisakushoInventor: Teruhiko Koide
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Patent number: 7720585Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a passenger protection device that includes, a brake pedal sensor configured to detect the amount by which a brake pedal of a vehicle is operated, a webbing, one end of the webbing fixed to the vehicle, configured to restrain a passenger seated on a seat of the vehicle, a retractor connected to the other end of the webbing, the rector configured to retract the webbing and inhibit of the webbing extraction, and an ECU electrically coupled to the brake pedal sensor, the ECU configured to detect that the brake pedal operation amount detected by the pedal sensor exceeds a first threshold value, the ECU configured to revise the threshold value based on safety related information of the vehicle to control the inhibition of the webbing extraction of the retractor.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2004Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Nisson Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunichi Fukuda, Kazunori Tomimatsu
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Publication number: 20100107627Abstract: An energy generation and storage system that uses a buoyant balloon suspended in a fluid and connected by a tether to a reel. The tether is taut and keeps the balloon from rising due to the buoyant force. A motor can do work to wind the reel in such a way that the balloon is pulled down against the buoyant force. Energy can be extracted from the system by allowing the balloon to rise, pulling on the tether and turning the reel that is connected to a generator. The generator and the motor can be the same unit, or they can be independent units which both connect to the reel.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2009Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventor: John Paul MORGAN
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Publication number: 20100102775Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a retractable overhead charging cord dispenser which has multi-positioning capability to provide plug-in electric power to PHEVs parked at various positions in a garage or the like. An illustrative embodiment of the retractable overhead charging cord dispenser includes an arm assembly, a cord guide arm carried by the arm assembly, a cord storage device provided in the arm assembly and a retractable charging cord extendable from the cord storage device and extending through and protruding from the cord guide arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2008Publication date: April 29, 2010Inventors: Bala Chander, Ted James Miller, David W. Schultz, Dale Gilman
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Publication number: 20100084500Abstract: A reel with a rotatable spool. The reel includes a motor coupled to a drive shaft and configured to rotate the drive shaft in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. A drive assembly is disposed on the drive shaft and rotation of the drive shaft in the first direction moves the drive assembly along the drive shaft and into engagement with the spool. Rotation of the drive shaft in the second direction moves the drive assembly along the drive shaft and out of engagement with the spool. When the drive assembly is engaged with the spool, the drive assembly rotates the spool in a windup direction. When the drive assembly is out of engagement with the spool, the spool may be rotated manually in an unwind direction without encountering resistance from the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2008Publication date: April 8, 2010Inventors: Anthony D. Inman, Michael A. Gasque, Mark M. Rose
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Publication number: 20100038467Abstract: The invention relates to a retraction device for a movable piece of furniture, having a pulling means windable on a roll, wherein an electric motor is provided for driving the roll, and having a coupling for releasably connecting the movable piece of furniture to the electric drive, having a first coupling part for fastening to the movable piece of furniture and a second coupling part connected to the pulling means, the first coupling part having an opening for at least the partial acceptance of the second coupling part, a locking mechanism being provided by which the first coupling part can be connected to the second coupling part in at least two different positions, the second coupling part being located at different depths in the opening in the two different positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2009Publication date: February 18, 2010Inventor: Simon GASSNER
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Patent number: 7614439Abstract: A roller tube has a tubular wall and a longitudinal axis. A channel runs longitudinally in an exterior surface of the tubular wall and is configured to receive an attachment insert for sheet material such as a solar shade, movie screen, decorative shade or the like. The channel has first and second side walls that extend from an interior portion of the tubular wall toward the exterior surface. The second side wall extends further away from the longitudinal axis of the roller tube than the first side wall. This creates a lip in the exterior surface of the roller tube, enabling the attachment insert to be mounted flush with the exterior surface of the roller tube and avoiding any bumps from being formed in the sheet material as it is wound around the tube. The tube wall varies in thickness and has a relatively thick section to accommodate the channel being formed therein.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2006Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Inventor: Stephen Lukos
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Patent number: 7611086Abstract: A seatbelt retractor includes a spool for winding a seatbelt; a locking mechanism having a locking member rotatable together with the spool in a normal condition and being prevented from rotating in a seatbelt-withdrawing direction in an emergency condition; an energy-absorbing mechanism interposed between the spool and the locking member for absorbing shock energy exerted on a passenger when the spool rotates in the seatbelt-withdrawing direction relative to the locking member in the emergency condition; and a motor for generating power to rotate the spool. A power transmission mechanism is connected to the locking member for transmitting the power of the motor to the spool through the power transmission mechanism, the locking member, and the energy-absorbing mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2004Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Koji Inuzuka, Koji Tanaka
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Patent number: 7607604Abstract: The disclosed seat belt tensioner may comprise a drive motor, a gear connected to the drive motor, and a seat belt spindle connected to the gear by a spindle clutch. The spindle clutch may have spindle clutch pawls, which engage in pawl teeth of the seat belt spindle to couple the seat belt spindle and the gear. The spindle clutch may also comprise a synchronization pawl configured to alit the pawl teeth before the spindle clutch pawls engage in the pawl teeth.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2006Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Walter Scherzinger, Roland Schnabl, Thomas Schwer
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Publication number: 20090243367Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To provide a seat belt winding method, a seat belt retractor, and a seat belt apparatus capable of stopping the motor even when the seat belt is being wound and restarting the winding of the seat belt, and capable of reducing excess repetition of stopping and starting of the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2007Publication date: October 1, 2009Inventors: Koji Tanaka, Daisuke Murakami