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US 6,966,518 B2Granted
Clutch for tension reducer
AssigneeKey Safety Systems, Inc.
InventorsKenneth H. Kohlndorfer, Mark F. Gray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A seat belt retractor assembly has a seat belt retractor for generating a retraction force to rewind a seat belt on a reel. A coupling device selectively couples and decouples the retractor from the reel. A tensioning device generates a tensioning force in the seat belt when in an activated state. The coupling device decouples the retractor from the reel when the tensioning device is activated.
Claims16
A seat belt retractor assembly comprising:
- a reel for a seat belt;
- a seat belt retractor for generating a retraction force to rewind the seat belt on said reel;
- a coupling device for selectively coupling and decoupling said retractor to said reel, said coupling device comprising an overrunning clutch for selectively coupling and decoupling said retractor from said reel;
- and
- a tensioning device for generating a tensioning force in the seat belt when in an active state, said coupling device decoupling said retractor from said reel when said tensioning device is in said active state and a first speed of said reel exceeds a second speed of said retractor.
2 more elements
A seat belt retractor assembly comprising:
- a reel for a seat belt;
- a seat belt retractor for generating a retraction force to rewind the seat belt on said reel;
- a retraction force-reducing device for reducing the retraction force of said seat belt retractor, said retraction force-reducing device linked to said retractor;
- an overruning clutch for selectively coupling and decoupling said retractor to said reel when a first speed of said reel exceeds a second speed of said retractor;
- and
- a tensioning device for generating a tensioning force in the seat belt when in an active state, said clutch decoupling said retractor from said reel when said tensioning device is in said active state.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.