# US 12,759,502 B2 · Energy absorbing seatbelt assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,502 B2 - Document ID: US12759502B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 19/128,773 - Filed: 2023-11-08 - Published: 2026-06-25 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2022-11-10 - Assignees: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition LLC - Applicants: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition LLC - Inventors: Alexander Szewczyk; Mark Gray; Shaun Streett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759502B2 ## CPC - B60R 22/28: incorporating energy-absorbing devices {(belt anchors provided with energy-absorbing means for protecting the occupants in case of physical contact therewith B60R21/055; belt retractors comprising energy-absorbing means B60R22/341, B60R22/4676)} - B60R 22/18: Anchoring devices - B60R 2022/1806: {for buckles} - B60R 2022/281: {for buckles} - B60R 2022/287: {of torsion rods or tubes} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An energy absorbing seatbelt assembly according to various implementations comprises a frame, a first spool portion, and a separately formed second spool portion, wherein both spool portions are rotatably coupled to the frame. A torsion bar comprises a first end coupled to the first spool portion and a second end coupled to the second spool portion, wherein both ends of the torsion bar rotate in opposite directions as the first and second spool portions rotate relative to the frame. The energy absorbing seatbelt assembly further comprises a cable with a first end coupled to the first spool portion, a second end coupled to the second spool portion, and a middle portion coupled to a seatbelt buckle or anchor, the middle portion of the cable extending between the first end of the cable and the second end of the cable. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An energy absorbing seatbelt assembly for a vehicle comprising: a frame; a first spool portion rotatably coupled to the frame and a second spool portion rotatably coupled to the frame, the second spool portion formed separately from the first spool portion; and a torsion bar with a first end coupled to the first spool portion and a second end coupled to the second spool portion; wherein, during a vehicle emergency event, the first spool portion rotates relative to the frame in a first direction and the second spool portion rotates relative to the frame in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The energy absorbing seatbelt assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cable with a first end coupled to the first spool portion and a second end coupled to the second spool portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The energy absorbing seatbelt assembly of claim 2, further comprising a buckle, wherein a middle portion of the cable is coupled to the buckle, the middle portion of the cable extending between the first end of the cable and the second end of the cable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The energy absorbing seatbelt assembly of claim 2, wherein the first spool portion defines a through hole and the second spool portion defines a through hole, and wherein the through hole of the first spool portion comprises a first diameter and a second diameter, and the through hole of the second spool portion comprises a first diameter and a second diameter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The energy absorbing seatbelt assembly of claim 4, wherein the first end of the cable extends through the through hole of the first spool portion and the second end of the cable extends through the through hole of the second spool portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The energy absorbing seatbelt assembly of claim 5, wherein the cable further comprises a first terminal coupled adjacent the first end of the cable and a second terminal coupled adjacent the second end of the cable, the first terminal having an outer diameter and the second terminal having an outer diameter, the outer diameter of the first terminal being larger than the first diameter of the through hole of the first spool portion and the outer diameter of the second terminal being larger than the first diameter of the through hole of the second spool portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The energy absorbing seatbelt assembly of claim 6, wherein the through hole of the first spool portion further comprises a shoulder between the first diameter of the through hole of the first spool portion and the second diameter of the through hole of the first spool portion, and wherein the through hole of the second spool portion further comprises a shoulder between the first diameter of the through hole of the second spool portion and the second diameter of the through hole of the second spool portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The energy absorbing seatbelt assembly of claim 7, wherein the first terminal comprises an end surface and the second terminal comprises an end surface, and wherein the end surface of the first terminal abuts the shoulder of the first through hole and the end surface of the second terminal abuts the shoulder of the second through hole. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The energy absorbing seatbelt assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first bushing and a second bushing, wherein the first bushing is disposed between the frame and the first spool portion, and wherein the second bushing is disposed between the frame and the second spool portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The energy absorbing seatbelt assembly of claim 9, wherein the frame comprises a first arm and a second arm, the first arm defining a first hole and the second arm defining a second hole. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The energy absorbing seatbelt assembly of claim 10, wherein the first spool portion comprises a mounting extension and the second spool portion comprises a mounting extension, and wherein the mounting extension of the first spool portion extends through the first hole and the mounting extension of the second spool portion extends through the second hole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The energy absorbing seatbelt assembly of claim 11, wherein the first bushing is disposed between an inner surface of the first hole and the mounting extension of the first spool portion, and wherein the second bushing is disposed between an inner surface of the second hole and the mounting extension of the second spool portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The energy absorbing seatbelt assembly of claim 10, wherein the frame further comprises a base extending between the first arm and the second arm, and wherein the base defines a third hole for mounting the frame to the vehicle using a fastener. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The energy absorbing seatbelt assembly of claim 1, wherein the first spool portion comprises an extension and the second spool portion comprises a cavity, and wherein the extension extends into the cavity and the second spool portion is rotatable about the extension. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The energy absorbing seatbelt assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end of the torsion bar comprises a non-circular shape and the second end of the torsion bar comprises a non-circular shape. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The energy absorbing seatbelt assembly of claim 15, wherein the first spool portion comprises a torsion bar cavity, and wherein the torsion bar cavity of the first spool portion comprises a non-circular shape that matches the non-circular shape of the first end of the torsion bar. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The energy absorbing seatbelt assembly of claim 16, wherein the second spool portion comprises a torsion bar cavity, and wherein the torsion bar cavity of the second spool portion comprises a non-circular shape that matches the non-circular shape of the second end of the torsion bar. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The energy absorbing seatbelt assembly of claim 17, wherein the first end of the torsion bar is disposed within the torsion bar cavity of the first spool portion and the second end of the torsion bar is disposed within the torsion bar cavity of the second spool portion. ### Claim 19 An energy absorbing seatbelt assembly for a vehicle comprising: a buckle; a frame; a first spool portion rotatably coupled to the frame and a second spool portion rotatably coupled to the frame, the second spool portion formed separately from the first spool portion; a torsion bar with a first end coupled to the first spool portion and a second end coupled to the second spool portion; and a cable with a first end coupled to the first spool portion, a second end coupled to the second spool portion, and a middle portion coupled to the buckle, the middle portion of the cable extending between the first end of the cable and the second end of the cable; wherein, during a vehicle emergency event, the cable is tensioned causing the first spool portion to rotate relative to the frame in a first direction and the second spool portion to rotate relative to the frame in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. ### Claim 20 An energy absorbing seatbelt assembly for a vehicle comprising: a frame; a first spool portion rotatably coupled to the frame and a second spool portion rotatably coupled to the frame, the second spool portion formed separately from the first spool portion; and a torsion bar with a first end coupled to the first spool portion and a second end coupled to the second spool portion; wherein the first spool portion comprises a spool extension and the second spool portion comprises a spool cavity, wherein the spool extension extends into the spool cavity and the second spool portion is rotatable about the spool extension; and wherein, during a vehicle emergency event, the first spool portion rotates relative to the frame and the second spool portion in a first direction and the second spool portion rotates relative to the frame and the first spool portion in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction.