Spring Attachment Patents (Class 242/375)
  • Patent number: 5794881
    Abstract: A gel tensioning device maintains tension on a gel. The gel is wound between two rollers as the diameters of the rollers change by rolling and unrolling the gel, the amount of movement between the two rollers also changes. This difference in movement is absorbed by a spring that biases the rollers relative to one another. The present invention preferably applies force to one of the rollers, that one roller connects to a special spring assembly and through that special spring assembly to the other roller. The special spring assembly includes a special kind of spring, which has desirable characteristics but is susceptible to reverse winding. A roller clutch allows force to be applied to the spring in the winding direction only and not in the non-winding direction. This prevents damage to the spring from any reverse winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Light & Sound Design, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nigel Evans
  • Patent number: 5573198
    Abstract: A tape roll rewind device includes a rotatable tape spool with tape wound thereon; and a device for 1) storing energy in response to rotation of the tape spool in a first direction, 2) storing a maximum amount of energy regardless of the amount of rotation of the tape spool in the first direction, and 3) utilizing the stored energy to rotate the tape spool in a second direction to rewind tape onto the tape spool upon the ending of rotation of the tape spool in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes
    Inventors: Arnold Fassman, John R. Nobile, Victor C. Riccardi, William A. Ross, William A. Salancy
  • Patent number: 5460337
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt retractor for vehicular seat belt restraining systems having a spiral retraction spring (16) including a radially inner spring connection on the shaft (12) of the belt reel and a radially outer spring connection on a connecting part (18) firmly connected to the frame. A cylindrical part (141) of a cassette (14) surrounds the retraction spring (16). According to the invention the shaft (12) with the inner spring connection is eccentrically disposed with respect to the cylindrical part (141) of the cassette (14) in such a manner that, when the belt webbing is fully coiled, the outer circumference of the retraction spring (16) is disposed substantially concentrically in the cylindrical part (141) of the cassette (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: TRW Repa GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Schmid, Thomas Modinger