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:
Jul. 16, 1996
Filed:
Feb. 21, 1995
Russell E Hamann, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Christopher S Koprowicz, Mission, TX (US);
Carl M Petersen, III, Waterford, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A seat belt retractor (10) includes a seat belt storage spool (14) on which a seat belt (16) is wound. The spool 14 is rotatable in belt retraction and belt withdrawal directions (A, B). First and second springs (50, 52) act in series and bias the spool (14) to rotate in the belt retraction direction. A ratchet wheel (54) is connected between the first and second springs (50, 52) and blocks the spring force of the first spring (50) from biasing the spool (14) in the belt retraction direction. The ratchet wheel (54) has a plurality of teeth (78). The ratchet wheel (54) is rotatable when blocking of the spring force of the first spring (50) does not occur and is stationary when blocking does occur. A pawl (56) is movable by an actuator (60) for selectively engaging a tooth (78) of said ratchet wheel (54) to prevent rotation of said ratchet wheel (54). An inertia mass member (81) is mounted on the ratchet wheel (54) to increase the overall rotational inertia of the ratchet wheel (54) and thereby retard the rotational velocity of the ratchet wheel (54) upon release of the pawl (56) from the ratchet wheel (54).