Retractable Patents (Class 280/807)
  • Patent number: 7377550
    Abstract: A retractor of a three-point rear seatbelt system is affixed to a rear roof rail without excessively protruding out at the bottom of the rear roof rail. Such an arrangement provides sufficient rear vision of the vehicle and strengthens the rigidity of the rear roof rail where the retractor is fixed in order to withstand heavy loads associated with seat belt systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Ho-Chul Lee
  • Patent number: 7374206
    Abstract: A retractor of a seatbelt apparatus to be installed in a vehicle is structured such that a Hall sensor and a magnetic disc as a mechanism configured to detect the position of a rotor in a motor are also used as mechanisms for detecting the amount of winding or unwinding a seatbelt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuaki Nomura
  • Patent number: 7370887
    Abstract: To provide rider restraint means capable of allowing a rider to freely leave a vehicle without a manual release operation when there is no need to restrain the rider to the vehicle. The rider restraint means includes a belt restraining a rider, buckles making the belt detachable, a guide rail making the buckles slidable, a retractor unit controlling the slide of the buckles, and coupling release means releasing coupling between the belt and the buckles in conjunction with the slide of the buckles. The coupling release means includes an inner wire, a wire stopper, and a wire end. The coupling release means releases the coupling between the belt and the buckles when the retractor unit loosens the winding after collision and the buckles slide by a predetermined distance or more or when the rider continues to pull the belt in a state other than collision and the buckles slide by a predetermined distance or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisashi Matsuo
  • Publication number: 20080093833
    Abstract: A seat belt apparatus includes a belt reel having a belt wound thereon, a motor for driving the reel to take up the belt; a control section for adjusting an amount of electric current supply to the motor to thereby control a belt-taking-up driving force of the motor, a current detection section for detecting the current supplied to the motor, and a rotation detection section for detecting a rotational position of the reel. The control section includes a constant current control section for executing a constant current control mode so that the current supply to the motor takes a target value, and a target current supply value change section for changing the target value when a detection signal from the rotation detection section has satisfied a predetermined condition in the constant current control mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shotaro Odate
  • Patent number: 7360795
    Abstract: An anchorage device for a motor vehicle is provided, including a pretensioning wheel, a pulley connected to the pretensioning wheel via a torsion bar first portion, a seat belt connecting member connected to the pulley, and a locking device coupled with the pulley via a torsion bar second portion. The torsion bar first portion provides resistance to rotation of the pulley during outward locking travel of the seat belt connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Zelmer, Jon E. Burrow
  • Publication number: 20080079254
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor includes a winding device for winding and unwinding a webbing by rotation and a winding state detection mechanism for detecting the winding state of said webbing onto the winding device. The winding state detecting mechanism includes a first gear which is connected to a rotary shaft of the winding device; a second gear which has a large-diameter gear portion meshing with the first gear and a small-diameter gear portion having a number of teeth smaller than that of the large-diameter gear portion; a ring cam which is provided with an internal gear portion, formed in the inner periphery thereof, meshing with the small-diameter gear portion of the second gear and is also provided with a cam portion formed in the outer periphery thereof; and a signal output device which receives a cam action of the ring cam to output a signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hayato Uchibori, Kazuyoshi Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 7343999
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor system and a method of controlling the seat belt retractor system. The seat belt is retracted at a faster rate when a threat is detected using a high-voltage generated by a local power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Cuddihy, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Curtis Kalina
  • Publication number: 20080054618
    Abstract: To securely hold occupants without interruption during breakage caused by collision using each ECU in a system configuration based on a motorized seatbelt retractor having an ECU combined with a motor in which harness length along which many currents flow is made short. A main ECU and a subsidiary ECU each have functions corresponding to those are provided to a control unit for controlling a motor for a motorized seatbelt retractor, the main ECU determines output start conditions and transmits commands, and the subsidiary ECU autonomously performs detailed motor current control and the like. To securely hold occupants without interruption during breakage caused by collision using each ECU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi,Ltd.
    Inventor: Youma ISHII
  • Patent number: 7328918
    Abstract: A seat belt device for a central portion of a rearmost row seat includes a retractor. The retractor is attached at a vehicle roof above a central passenger on the central seat portion of the rear row seat. More specifically, a pair of left and right roof rails are interconnected by a first reinforcement extending in a vehicle width direction before the central passenger, and the first reinforcement and a rear header are interconnected by a second reinforcement extending in a longitudinal direction. A retractor is attached at the first reinforcement. A seat belt withdrawn from the retractor is disposed so as to extend via a seat belt anchor disposed in the rear header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Yasunari Hirotani
  • Publication number: 20080018156
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle comprises a seat having a seat belt assembly comprising two or more seat belts, a latch attached to each seat belt, and a corresponding buckle, wherein each buckle releasably engages each corresponding latch in a corresponding housing, and a release mechanism located remote from each housing, wherein actuation of the release mechanism disengages each seat belt latch from its corresponding buckle. For certain seat assemblies with at least three seat belts, the first seat belt and the second seat belt are mounted on the seat back, and the third seat belt is mounted free of the seat back, each of the three seat belt latches are capable of being disengaged independent of the other two seat belt latches, and each of the three seat belts has a retractor which pulls the corresponding seat belt to a retracted position when each buckle is disengaged from each corresponding latch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: GLOBAL SEATING SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Christian U. Hammarskjold, Frank J. Butch, Jim Howard
  • Publication number: 20080012284
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided to facilitate the electrical connection between a harness assembly and a motor-side terminal strip and the operation of assembling the harness assembly so as to improve the operating efficiency. A terminal assembly is formed by supporting terminals of a harness assembly to predetermined positions of a motor cap. The terminal assembly is fitted and attached to a motor body, thereby automatically and electrically connecting the terminals to corresponding motor-side terminal strips of the motor body. Therefore, there is provided a facilitated electrical connection of the harness assembly to the motor body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Koji Inuzuka, Koji Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20080012285
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a safety belt system has a belt spool and a belt webbing withdrawal measurement arrangement, which has a control disk, a magnetic sensor element and a magnetic cogwheel driven by the control disk and constructed as a separate part. In addition, a method is described to determine the belt webbing withdrawal in a belt retractor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holbein, Michael Stuetz, Marc Arndt
  • Patent number: 7306261
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor includes a spool formed into a hollow cylindrical shape and capable of winding a seatbelt onto a spool outer periphery or unwinding the seatbelt from the spool outer periphery. The retractor includes a motor accommodated in a cylindrical space of the spool and a motor speed-reduction mechanism configured to reduce the rotational speed of the motor via a plurality of gears. A controller is provided to control the operation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuaki Nomura
  • Patent number: 7251111
    Abstract: In controlling a seatbelt retracting device having a mechanism for retracting a seatbelt with a motor, a current flowing to the motor is detected, and a rate of increase in the current is calculated. When the rate of increase exceeds a predetermined value, the motor is stopped. When the current exceeds a predetermined value, the motor is stopped as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Tanaka, Koji Inuzuka
  • Patent number: 7240923
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor for winding a seatbelt includes a spool for winding the seatbelt, a motor for generating rotational torque to rotate the spool, and a clutch mechanism. The clutch mechanism connects a power transmission path to transmit the rotational torque of the motor to the spool in a connected mode, and disconnects the power transmission path in a disconnected mode. A noise preventing device prevents noise when the clutch mechanism is in the disconnected mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Tanaka, Koji Inuzuka
  • Patent number: 7240924
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a spool for seat belt protraction and retraction. An energy absorption mechanism is provided for absorbing energy from the spool during seat belt protraction. The energy absorption mechanism has a first part for a relatively high rate of energy absorption and a second part for a relatively low rate of energy absorption. A shift mechanism for shifting between the first part and the second part is also provided. The shift mechanism is a link movable between a first link position wherein the first part is engaged with the spool and a second link position wherein the second part is engaged with the spool. The link is drivable between the first link position and the second link position by energy from seat belt protraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Kohlndorfer, Richard Koning, Mark Gray
  • Patent number: 7237640
    Abstract: A vehicle seat belt apparatus includes a reel to wind a seat belt, a motor to control a belt tension of the seat belt by rotating the reel, and a lock section to allow rotation of the reel in a normal state, and to prevent rotation of the reel in a belt extracting direction in an actuated state. A control section is provided to restrict a lock operation of the lock section by rotating the motor in a belt retracting direction when the belt tension is controlled by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Tobata
  • Patent number: 7216827
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor includes a spool for winding a seatbelt, a motor for generating rotational torque to rotate the spool, a clutch mechanism for connecting a power transmission path to transmit rotational torque of the motor to the spool in a connected mode and for disconnecting the power transmission path in a disconnected mode, and a clutch mechanism disconnection detecting device for detecting disconnection of the clutch mechanism. A motor control device stops the motor according to a detection signal from the clutch mechanism disconnection detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Tanaka, Koji Inuzuka
  • Patent number: 7201399
    Abstract: An occupant restraint system (30) includes first and second lap belts (32 and 34) for collectively extending across a lap of the occupant (22). First and second shoulder belts (36 and 38) extend over the shoulders of the occupant (22). A buckle assembly (58) interconnects the lap belts (32 and 34) and the shoulder belts (36 and 38). The occupant restraint system (30) also includes first and second buckle-lowering belts (94 and 96) attached to the buckle assembly (58) for creating a downwardly acting biasing force on the buckle assembly (58) so as to move the buckle assembly (58) downwardly relative to the seat (10) and towards the lap of the occupant (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Frank, Alex G. Meduvsky
  • Patent number: 7195089
    Abstract: In the seat belt apparatus of the invention, a belt retracting motor is operated so as to retract the seat belt by a predetermined amount when it is determined that the vehicle will roll over based on a lateral acceleration, a roll rate and a roll angle which are detected and calculated by a lateral acceleration sensor and a roll rate sensor, according to a predetermined first determination condition. Also, a pretensioner is operated so as to retract the seat belt by a predetermined amount when it is determined that the vehicle will roll over according to a second determination condition indicating that there is a higher possibility of rollover. When it is determined that the vehicle will not roll over, operation of the belt retracting motor is cancelled, and the seat belt is permitted to be pulled out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takaaki Enomoto
  • Patent number: 7188868
    Abstract: In the seat belt pretensioner device according to the present invention, because the buckle is pulled by urging an intermediate point of the cable, it is possible to pull the seat belt and buckle by a required stroke with a relatively small stroke of the power actuator, and this contributes to a compact design of the device. Because the buckle can be pulled via a fixed point of a cable guide, the buckle and, hence, seat belt can be pulled in a stable manner, and a high level of reliability can be achieved. For instance when the power actuator comprises a piston rod that is pushed out by high pressure gas, because a high pressure gas can be produced with a relatively small device, the size and weight of the device can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7140571
    Abstract: An electric retractor extracts and retracts a seat belt in response to tension in the seat belt. The electric retractor may include a spool rotatably attached to a retractor frame. A seat belt is wound on the spool. The spool is rotated by a motor via a worm gear system that permits limited axial motion of the worm, but generally prevents the motor from being back-driven by tension in the seat belt to prevent forced seat belt extraction. The gear system may also cut off power to the motor in the event of excessive seat belt tension to prevent further payout of the seat belt. A senses tension in the seat belt and activates the motor to retract or extract the seat belt from the retractor. An emergency control system may override the web guide control in response to abnormal vehicle dynamics to provide reversible pre-crash pretensioning and/or crash pretensioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Autoliv, ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael K. Hishon, Samuel D. Engler, Krzysztof W. Karwaczynski
  • Patent number: 7100945
    Abstract: Method for actuating a reversible belt pretensioner for pretensioning a belt webbing, the belt pretensioner having a drive which acts on the belt reel, and the seat belt having, as a belt extraction lock, a locking device which acts on the belt reel in the unwinding direction and whose locking can be released only if the belt reel is rotated through a specific angle of rotation in the winding-on direction. After the triggering of the belt pretensioner, the drive of the belt pretensioner for opening the locking device is actuated in an opening mode such that firstly, in a winding-on phase, the belt reel rotates through the specific angle of rotation in the winding-on direction. In a subsequent holding phase, the drive of the belt pretensioner is actuated for a predefinable holding time TH such that the belt reel is held in its angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Bullinger, Walter Eberle, Markus Woldrich
  • Patent number: 7090161
    Abstract: A webbing retractor has two torque transmitting routes for taking-up, such that rapid and reliable taking-up, and gentle taking-up are possible. When an engaging claw of a pawl restricts rotation of a ratchet plate, due to planetary gears rotating around a sun gear, rotation is transmitted from a drive gear to a carrier plate. On the other hand, when restriction of rotation of the ratchet plate is released, a clutch spring tightens around a tube portion of the carrier plate while rotation of the drive gear pulls one peripheral direction end of the clutch spring in a direction of rotation thereof. Frictional resistance between the tube portion and the clutch spring is increased, and rotation is transmitted from the drive gear to the carrier plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Shinji Mori, Teruhiko Koide, Fuminori Komiya
  • Patent number: 7080799
    Abstract: A linear drive has a cylinder, a piston guided displaceably in said cylinder, and a pinion. The piston is provided with teeth which can engage into the pinion in order to rotate the pinion upon displacement of the piston. The drive further has at least one deformable element which prevents blocking when the teeth enter into engagement with the pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Singer, Wolf-Dieter Hoenl, Thomas Moedinger, Patrick Foussier
  • Patent number: 7077231
    Abstract: An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle has a seatbelt and operates to restrain an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant. An electric retractor has a DC motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt. An MPU applies voltage having a predetermined waveform to the DC motor, and then detects a waveform of current flowing to the DC motor. The MPU carries out fault diagnosis of the DC motor, based upon the detected waveform of current when the voltage having the predetermined waveform is applied to the DC motor. Thus, accurate fault diagnosis of the apparatus can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukinori Midorikawa
  • Patent number: 7055774
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt comprises a belt spool (12) rotatably mounted in a frame (10) and a coupling disc (32) rotatably mounted relative to the belt spool. With a rotation relative to the belt spool, the coupling disc can bring about a locking of the rotation of the belt spool in unwinding direction of the safety belt. The belt spool has a first friction element (22) and the coupling disc has a second friction element (66). The first and second friction elements are positioned such that they are able to connect the belt spool and the coupling disc with each other with a friction fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralf Strobel
  • Patent number: 7040444
    Abstract: An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle having doors, and a seatbelt, for restraining an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant includes an electric retractor having a motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt, a controller for controlling the motor, and a door opening/closing detector for detecting opening and closing of a predetermined one of the doors. When the door opening/closing detector detects the opening of the predetermined one of the doors, the controller controls the motor to carry out retraction of the seatbelt at a higher speed than when the door opening/closing detector detects the closing of the predetermined one of the doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinori Midorikawa, Osamu Kawai
  • Patent number: 7029033
    Abstract: A seatbelt apparatus is provided to apply a proper restrictive feeling on passengers, corresponding to traveling condition of a vehicle. In the seatbelt apparatus, on receipt of detection signals from a fore-and-aft acceleration sensor 97 and a left-and-right acceleration sensor 99, a controller 101 controls respective tensions of seatbelts for driver seat and assistant driver's seat individually. Owing to the controller 101, it is established at a vehicle's braking to make a seatbelt tension of the assistant driver's seat larger than that of the driver seat. When the vehicle is turning, it is carried out to make a seatbelt tension of the driver seat larger than that of the assistant driver's seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Tobata
  • Patent number: 7029032
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for actuating a reversible belt pretensioner for pretensioning a belt webbing, wound around a belt reel, of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, the belt pretensioner having a drive which acts on the belt reel. The seat belt has a locking device, acting on the belt reel in the unwinding direction, as a belt extraction lock. After the triggering of the belt pretensioner and when a predefinable condition is met, the belt pretensioner is actuated in such a way that the belt reel rotates at least to such an extent in the winding-up direction that the locking device of the belt reel opens and releases the belt webbing for unwinding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Bullinger, Walter Eberle
  • Patent number: 7021582
    Abstract: A motorized seat belt retractor having a load limiter to control the tensile load on a seat belt webbing, especially when the webbing is withdrawn due to an emergency condition. The load limiter controls the tension by controlling the condition of the motor that drives the retractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Tanaka, Hiromasa Tanji, Hideaki Yano, Hiroaki Fujii
  • Patent number: 7011341
    Abstract: A vehicle restraint system (30) comprises first and second lap belts (32 and 34), first and second shoulder belts (36 and 38), and a buckle assembly (90) for interconnecting the lap belts (32 and 34) and the shoulder belts (36 and 38). The vehicle restraint system (30) also comprises first and second lap belt retractors (46 and 104) for the first and second lap belts (32 and 34), respectively. A linking mechanism (218) connects the first and second lap belt retractors (46 and 104) and is adapted to transfer motion between the first and second lap belt retractors (46 and 104). As a result, the first and second lap belts (32 and 34) are retracted in unison and by equal amounts during retraction and are withdrawn in unison and by equal amounts during withdrawal from the first and second lap belt retractors (46 and 104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold J. Herberg, Joseph J. Zwolinski
  • Patent number: 7003385
    Abstract: A method for vehicle-sensitive actuation of a locking mechanism for a seatbelt retractor in a vehicle by means of a actuation signal that is generated by a control unit equipped with a microcontroller. Measured signals are transmitted to the control unit from several sensors that detect the vehicle situation. The actuation signal is suppressed when a suppression algorithm in the control unit determines that the seatbelt is not in use, that the vehicle is standing still, that the vehicle speed is not above a certain limit value, or that only the vehicle acceleration measured in the vertical direction exceeds a certain triggering limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Bolz, Uwe Class, Arnold Herberg
  • Patent number: 6997277
    Abstract: An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle has a seatbelt and operates to restrain an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant. An electric retractor has a DC motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt. An MPU applies voltage having a predetermined waveform to the DC motor, and then detects a waveform of current flowing to the DC motor. The MPU carries out fault diagnosis of the DC motor, based upon the detected waveform of current when the voltage having the predetermined waveform is applied to the DC motor. Thus, accurate fault diagnosis of the apparatus can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinori Midorikawa, Osamu Kawai
  • Patent number: 6997474
    Abstract: An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus includes an electric retractor having a motor for retracting and protracting a seatbealt. The apparatus also includes an airbag driving device, a pretensioner, a speed detecting device, and a controller. The controller controls at least one of the actuation time or expansion pressure of an airbag by the airbag driving device, actuation time of the pretensioner, a force of the pretensioner for retracting the seatbelt, and a force of the seatbelt driving device for retracting the seatbelt, based upon the speed of protraction of the seatbelt. The controller controls the airbag driving device to shorten the actuation time of the airbag when the speed of protraction of the seatbelt is greater than a predetermined value, and prolongs the actuation time of the airbag when the detected speed of protraction of the seatbelt is lower than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinori Midorikawa, Osamu Kawai
  • Patent number: 6994288
    Abstract: A belt retractor comprising a tensioning device having a cylinder and a piston displaceably guided in said cylinder, said piston being provided with a tooth rack section into which a pinion can engage to drive said belt retractor, wherein said tooth rack section comprises at least one segment which is detachably attached to said piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Patent number: 6976708
    Abstract: A failure diagnostic system detects a failure of a seat belt retractor having a motor for rotating a webbing take-up spool. The failure diagnostic system includes a power supplying device for supplying driving power to the motor for a predetermined period of time; a detecting device for detecting a current or voltage in a wire winding of the motor; and a determining device for determining the failure based on the current or voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Aoki, Kenji Kitazawa
  • Patent number: 6935590
    Abstract: A flexible member sensor for detecting motion and tension of a flexible member includes a rigid member pivotally connected to a base, in contact with the flexible member. A sensor detects pivotal motion of the rigid member in response to movement of the flexible member. The sensor may provide a corresponding signal to a motion control system that adjusts the tension of the flexible member accordingly. In one implementation, the flexible member sensor is integrated with a feedback control system for an electric seat belt retractor that includes a feedback control loop. The flexible member sensor measures tension in seat belt webbing retained by the retractor. A motor coupled to a servo amplifier rotates a spool of the electric retractor to extract or retract webbing in accordance with the output of the flexible member sensor. The seat belt tension may thus be continuously maintained at a desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: Krzysztof W. Karwaczynski
  • Patent number: 6921041
    Abstract: A seat-belt retractor is provided wherein no further belt retraction is necessary to unlock the belt spool following a tensioning of the belt webbing. Specifically, the seat-belt retractor has a belt spool that is rotatably mounted in a frame and a coupling pawl that is pivotally mounted on one face of the belt spool. The drive wheel is mounted in the frame co-axially with the belt spool. The drive wheel has an annular internal toothing extending around the coupling pawl. The coupling pawl has a free end shaped with a coupling tooth or a pair of coupling teeth and is movable, in a tension-released condition of belt webbing, from an engagement position where the coupling tooth or teeth is or are engaged in a tooth gap or two adjacent tooth gaps of the internal toothing, to a release position disengaged from the internal toothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dieter Biller
  • Patent number: 6918558
    Abstract: A motorized seat belt retractor having a load limiter to control the tensile load on a seat belt webbing, especially when the webbing is withdrawn due to an emergency condition. The load limiter controls the tension by controlling the condition of the motor that drives the retractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Tanaka, Hiromasa Tanji, Hideaki Yano, Hiroaki Fujii
  • Patent number: 6916045
    Abstract: A seat belt load limiter employs a magnetostrictive sensor to detect the elastic loading and plastic deformation of a torsion rod forming part of a seat belt retractor. A magnet and a coil are placed about or adjacent to the torsion rod. When the torsion rod undergoes elastic or plastic strain, an electrical voltage is induced in the coil which is used to detect elastic or plastic strain of the torsion rod. A vehicle safety system uses the output of the magnetostrictive sensor to inform the vehicle operator when the seat belt load limiter is in need of replacement. The output of the magnetostrictive sensor as processed by the vehicle safety system can also be used to detect a situation where the seat occupant is not restrained by the seat belt and to make an airbag deployment decision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward W. Clancy, III, Gerald J. Keller, Brian Blackburn
  • Patent number: 6908112
    Abstract: A method of protecting a passenger in a vehicle from a series of collisions. The method includes detecting that the vehicle is in danger of being involved in a first collision; winding up a webbing of a seat belt to restrain the passenger; permitting the passenger to move forward and the webbing to withdraw; winding up the webbing to restrain and return the passenger to a normal seated position; maintaining the passenger in a restrained condition; determining that the vehicle is in danger of being involved in a second collision; permitting the passenger to move forward and the webbing to withdraw; winding up the webbing to restrain the passenger and return the passenger to a normal seated position; maintaining the passenger in a restrained position; and releasing the restraint on the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Yano, Koji Tanaka, Hiromasa Tanji
  • Patent number: 6871813
    Abstract: A vehicular seatbelt retractor includes a load control for controlling an excessive force applied to a web and a web sensor for sensing the webbing acceleration of a seatbelt to take counteraction against the abnormal state of a vehicle at a quick speed, in which the load control enables a disk to be frictionally engaged with one surface of a spool winding portion, thereby dissipating the force applied to a web, and a torsion bar coupled at one end with a boss to be cooperated with a spool, thereby controlling the force applied to the web and the web sensor enables a latch member elastically supported at one end by an inertia spring to sense the web acceleration in an adjusted time range along with a wing thereby to take counteraction against the abnormal state of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Automotive Systems Sungwoo Corporation
    Inventor: Gi Young Bae
  • Patent number: 6863308
    Abstract: An end of a seat belt is connected to an actuator that can selectively remove a slack from the seat belt. The actuator includes a main actuator unit, a flywheel which provides a maximum inertia effect for a given space, and a cushioning member for decelerating a movement of the moveable end of the seat belt following a certain initial travel of the moveable end. The main actuator unit produces an early rise in the vehicle occupant deceleration, and the cushioning member smoothly connects the time history of the vehicle occupant deceleration to a ride-down condition whereby the deceleration acting on the vehicle occupant is favorably spread over time, and the maximum level of the deceleration can be minimized. The flywheel contributes to a favorable shaping of the time history of the vehicle occupant deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuki Motozawa
  • Patent number: 6851716
    Abstract: A belt tightener of a seat belt in a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, is provided with a retracting spring in order to return the belt. A counterspring, which can be adjusted by a motor, is connected in parallel with the retracting spring in order to be able to reduce the tensile force of the belt for comfort considerations. The motor can also be connected in drive terms to the belt via a coupling arrangement to give reversible belt tightening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Bullinger, Walter Eberle, Christian Mayer, Markus Woldrich, Kai Wustlich
  • Patent number: 6840474
    Abstract: A belt retractor for a vehicle safety belt comprises a frame, a belt reel rotatably mounted in the frame, a belt reel axle with an external toothing, and a pawl. The belt retractor has a sliding clutch by means of which the pawl can be brought to engage in the external toothing, in order to rotate the belt reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolf-Dieter Hönl, Thomas Modinger
  • Patent number: 6837520
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly for fastening a belt retractor to the body part of a motor vehicle. Said assembly comprises a mounting plate, which is involved in the fastening of the belt retractor, and which is provided as a separate reinforcement plate (13) with a continuous opening (14) for a fastening means. The reinforcement plate (13) comprises a slot-like opening (25) for placing it on the fastening bracket (12) of the belt retractor (10) such that the fastening bracket (12), when mounting the belt retractor (10) on the body part (26), rests between the reinforcement plate (13) and the body part (26), and the continuous openings (14) of the fastening bracket (12) and reinforcement plate (13) are aligned with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Klaus-Peter Singer
  • Publication number: 20040232268
    Abstract: A flexible member sensor for detecting motion and tension of a flexible member includes a rigid member pivotally connected to a base, in contact with the flexible member. A sensor detects pivotal motion of the rigid member in response to movement of the flexible member. The sensor may provide a corresponding signal to a motion control system that adjusts the tension of the flexible member accordingly. In one implementation, the flexible member sensor is integrated with a feedback control system for an electric seat belt retractor that includes a feedback control loop. The flexible member sensor measures tension in seat belt webbing retained by the retractor. A motor coupled to a servo amplifier rotates a spool of the electric retractor to extract or retract webbing in accordance with the output of the flexible member sensor. The seat belt tension may thus be continuously maintained at a desired level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Krzysztof W. Karwaczynski
  • Patent number: 6817629
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system (30) comprises first and second lap belts (32 and 34) and first and second shoulder belts (36 and 38). A buckle assembly (90) is provided for interconnecting the first and second shoulder belts (36 and 38) and the first and second lap belts (32 and 34). At least one lap belt retractor (50) is operatively connected to the first and second lap belts (32 and 34) and is electrically actuatable, in response to receiving a first electrical locking signal, for locking the at least one lap belt retractor (50) to prevent withdrawal of the first and second lap belts (32 and 34). An occupant actuatable mechanism (160) is operatively connected to the at least one lap belt retractor (50) and is responsive to actuation by the vehicle occupant for providing the first electrical locking signal to the at least one lap belt retractor (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold J. Herberg, Joseph J. Zwolinski, Alex G. Meduvsky
  • Publication number: 20040212189
    Abstract: A seat belt device (1) including an obstacle detection portion for detecting an obstacle in an area surrounding a vehicle, a collision prediction portion (21) for predicting a probability of a collision between the vehicle and the obstacle based on a detection signal from the obstacle detection portion, a pretensioner device (40), and a pretensioner control portion (22) which controls, when a collision prediction is received from the collision prediction portion (21), the operation of the pretensioner device (40) such that seat belt is retracted prior to the collision. Multilevel tensions for retraction of the seat belt are set for the pretensioner device (40), and furthermore, the tension of the seat belt can be change by the pretensioner control portion (22) in accordance with a collision prediction level determined by the collision prediction portion (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventor: Ryotaro Kachu