The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 13, 1990
Filed:
Jun. 14, 1989
Robert J Rumpf, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Lawrence M Refior, Attica, MI (US);
Lenard D Klebba, Romeo, MI (US);
Steven G Corrion, Utica, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
In a seat belt retractor having a comfort mechanism, a spindle having belt webbing wound thereon is supported for rotation in belt retraction and belt withdrawal directions. A wind-up spring biases the spindle to rotate in the belt retraction direction. A rotatable member is rotatable relative to the spindle. Actuating means has a first condition in which the rotatable member is free to rotate and a second condition in which rotation of the rotatable member is blocked. An auxiliary wind-up spring has one end connected to the rotatable member and another end connected to the spindle. The auxiliary wind-up spring is (i) wound about a portion of the spindle to a taut condition when the actuating means is in its first condition to cause the spindle and the rotatable member to rotate together, (ii) unwound upon rotation of the spindle in the belt withdrawal direction when the actuating means is in its second condition to enable the spindle to rotate relative to the rotatable member, and (iii) rewound about the portion of the spindle to the taut condition to limit rotation of the spindle in the belt retraction direction relative to the rotatable member after withdrawal of the belt webbing from the spindle when the actuating means is in its second condition. A predetermined amount of slack is set in the belt when the comfort mechanism is engaged.