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:
Nov. 17, 1992
Filed:
May. 06, 1991
Shigeru Kotama, Aichi, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho, Aichi, JP;
Abstract
A preloader for use in a webbing retractor for allowing a webbing to be fitted closely around a vehicle occupant at the time of an emergency of a vehicle. The preloader includes a gas generating device for generating a gas instantaneously at the time of an emergency of the vehicle; a moving member adapted so as to be moved by the pressure of the gas; a force converting/transmitting device connected to the moving member and adapted to move together with the moving member so as to convert the moving force of the moving member into a torque acting in a webbing taking-up direction and transmit the torque to a takeup shaft of the webbing retractor; and a force transmission preventing device for preventing the moving force of the moving member from being transmitted to the force converting/transmitting device when a load exceeding a predetermined value is applied by the force converting/transmitting device to the moving member. When a force exceeding the predetermined value is applied by the force converting/transmitting device to the moving member with the webbing fitted closely around the occupant, the moving force of the moving member is prevented from being transmitted to the force converting/transmitting device by means of the force transmission preventing device. Hence, it is possible to prevent the webbing from being pulled excessively, that is, beyond a desired state in which the webbing is fitted closely around the occupant with an appropriate tightness, thereby preventing discomfort from being imparted to the occupant.