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US 5,964,427 AGranted
Seat belt mechanism
AssigneeBreed Automotive Technology, Inc.
InventorBrian Edward Aiston
Life of this patent
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AssigneeBreed Automotive Technology, Inc.
InventorBrian Edward Aiston
Estimating the term…
The present invention provides for a seat belt mechanism comprising a spool from which a seat belt (1) is to be unwound, resilient means arranged to act on said spool to rewind said belt thereon, said resilient means comprising a first resilient member (8) and a second resilient member (13) arranged to exert a return force on said spool which is less than the return force exerted on said spool by said first resilient member (8) means (12, 15, 17, 19, 21) inhibiting the return force of said first resilient member (8) during initial rewinding of said spool so that said second resilient member (13) provides the primary return force for the spool, and wherein said first (8) and second (13) resilient members are operatively connected to said spool by gear train means (3, 4, 6, 7). The invention proves particularly advantageous in providing for resilient means which can exert a reduced return force during the rewinding of the belt for, preferably, a substantial portion of the rewinding thereof. Thus, the degree of comfort for the seat belt wearer is therefore increased during the rewinding of the belt about the spool.
A seat belt mechanism comprising a spool from which a seat belt is to be unwound, resilient means arranged to act on said spool to rewind said belt thereon, said resilient means comprising a first resilient member and a second resilient member arranged to exert a return force on said spool which is less than the return force exerted on said spool by said first resilient member, means inhibiting the return force of said first resilient member during initial rewinding of said spool so that said second resilient member provides the primary return force for the spool, and wherein said first and second resilient members are operatively connected to said spool by gear train means and wherein the second resilient member is disposed diametrically about the first resilient member.
A seat belt mechanism comprising a spool from which a seat belt is to be unwound, resilient means arranged to act on said spool to rewind sand belt thereon, said resilient means comprising a first resilient member and a second resilient member arranged to exert a return force on said pool which is less than the returning force exerted on said spool by said first resilient member, means inhibiting the return force of said first resilient member during initial rewinding of said spool so that said second resilient member provides the primary return force for the spool, and wherein said first and second resilient members are operatively connected to said spool by gear train means;
A seat belt mechanism comprising a spool from which a seat belt is to be unwound, resilient means arranged to act on said spool to rewind said belt thereon, said resilient means comprising a first resilient member ad a second resilient member arranged to exert a return force on said spool which is less than the return force exerted on said spool by said first resilient member, means inhibiting the return force of said first resilient member during initial rewinding of said spool so that said second resilient member provides the primary return force for the spool, and wherein said first and second resilient members are operatively connected to said spool by gear train means;
A seat belt mechanism comprising a spool from which a seat belt is to be unwound, resilient means arranged to act on said spool to rewind said belt thereon, said resilient means comprising a first resilient member and a second resilient member arranged to exert a return force on said spool which is less than the return force exerted on said spool by said first resilient member, means inhibiting the return force of said first resilient member during initial rewinding of said spool so that said second resilient member provides the primary return force for the spool, and wherein said first and second resilient members are operatively connected to said stool by gear train means;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.