Switchable load limiting seatbelt retractor
AssigneeAutoliv ASP, Inc.
InventorGunter Clute
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A seatbelt retractor is disclosed having a frame, a spindle, a tread head and a torsion bar. The frame is attached to a structure of a vehicle. The spindle is rotatably supported by the frame. The tread head is matingly coupled to the spindle for relative rotational movement therewith and the tread head is rotationally fixable relative to the frame. The torsion bar has a torsion bar first end fixed to a first spindle end and a torsion bar second end fixed to the tread head and the torsion bar has a protrusion that selectively engages the spindle after the tread head has been fixed and the spindle has rotated a predefined angle α relative to the fixed tread head.
Claims20
A seatbelt retractor comprising:
- a frame attached to a structure of a vehicle;
- a spindle rotatably supported by the frame;
- a tread head matingly coupled to the spindle for relative rotational movement therewith and wherein the tread head is rotationally fixable;
- and
- a torsion bar having a torsion bar first end fixed to a first spindle end and a torsion bar second end fixed to the tread head and wherein the torsion bar has a protrusion that selectively engages the spindle after the tread head has been fixed and the spindle has rotated a predefined angle α relative to the fixed tread head.
The seatbelt retractor of claim 14 wherein the first bar portion has rectangular cross-section.
A seatbelt retractor comprising:
- a frame attached to a structure of a vehicle;
- a spindle rotatably supported by the frame;
- a tread head matingly coupled to the spindle for relative rotational movement therewith and wherein the tread head is rotationally fixable;
- and
- a torsion bar having a torsion bar first end fixed to a first spindle end and a torsion bar second end fixed to the tread head and wherein the torsion bar has a protrusion that is disposed in a slot in the spindle, wherein the protrusion selectively engages an end of the slot after the tread head has been rotationally fixed and spindle has rotated a predefined angle α relative to the fixed tread head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.