US 5,507,449 AGranted

Seat belt retractor with noise suppression

AssigneeTRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

InventorKenneth H. Kohlndorfer

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Abstract

A seat belt retractor (14) includes a spool (16) supported for winding and unwinding rotation, and an emergency locking mechanism (60) which, when actuated, blocks unwinding rotation of the spool (16). The emergency locking mechanism (60) is actuated upon movement of a locking member (72) from a first position to a second position. A collision indicator (74) applies a predetermined force to the locking member (72) to move the locking member (72) toward the second position in response to a predetermined condition indicative of a vehicle collision. A movable spring (100) has a blocking position in which it suppresses noise by resisting movement of the locking member (72) toward the second position. The spring (100) is movable into and out of the blocking position in response to rotation of the spool (16). As a fail-safe feature, the spring (100) is deflectable under the influence of the predetermined force, and thus permits the collision indicator (74) to move the locking member (72) toward the second position in response to the predetermined condition when the spring (100) is in the blocking position.

Claims15

Dependent claims

Apparatus comprising:

a spool supported for winding and unwinding rotation;
locking means for blocking unwinding rotation of said spool when said locking means is actuated, said locking means including a movable locking member and being actuated upon movement of said locking member from a first position to a second position;
said locking means further including collision indicator means for applying a predetermined force to said locking member to move said locking member from said first position toward said second position in response to a predetermined condition indicative of a vehicle collision;
and
means for suppressing noise, said means for suppressing noise including a movable spring having a blocking position in which said spring suppresses noise by resisting movement of said locking member from said first position toward said second position, said spring being movable into and out of said blocking position in response to rotation of said spool;
said spring being deflectable under the influence of said predetermined force to permit said collision indicator means to move said locking member from said first position toward said second position in response to said predetermined condition when said spring is in said blocking position;
said spring having a first portion, a second portion, and means for defining a moment arm which transmits said predetermined force from said first portion to said second portion to bend said second portion under the influence of said predetermined force.

4 more elements

Apparatus comprising:

a spool supported for winding and unwinding rotation;
locking means for blocking unwinding rotation of said spool when said locking means is actuated, said locking means including a movable locking member and being actuated upon movement of said locking member from a first position to a second position;
said locking means further including collision indicator means for applying a predetermined force to said locking member to move said locking member from said first position toward said second position in response to a predetermined condition indicative of a vehicle collision;
and
means for suppressing noise, said means for suppressing noise including a movable spring having a blocking position in which said spring suppresses noise by resisting movement of said locking member from said first position toward said second position, said spring being movable into and out of said blocking position in response to rotation of said spool;
said spring being deflectable under the influence of said predetermined force to permit said collision indicator means to move said locking member from said first position toward said second position in response to said predetermined condition when said spring is in said blocking position;
said spring having a portion that contacts said locking member to resist movement of said locking member when said spring is in said blocking position, said portion of said spring being spaced from said locking member when said spring is out of said blocking position.

4 more elements

Apparatus comprising:

a spool supported for winding and unwinding rotation about an axis;
locking means for blocking unwinding rotation of said spool when said locking means is actuated, said locking means including a movable locking member and being actuated upon movement of said locking member from a first position to a second position;
said locking means further including collision indicator means for applying a predetermined force to said locking member to move said locking member from said first position toward said second position in response to a predetermined condition indicative of a vehicle collision;
and
means for suppressing noise, said means for suppressing noise including a spring supported for movement about said axis, said spring having a blocking position in which said spring suppresses noise by resisting movement of said locking member from said first position toward said second position, said spring being movable into and out of said blocking position in response to rotation of said spool;
said spring being deflectable under the influence of said predetermined force to permit said collision indicator means to move said locking member from said first position toward said second position in response to said predetermined condition when said spring is in said blocking position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.