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. 23, 1996
Filed:
May. 18, 1995
John B Sparhawk, Royal Oak, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A device (10) has a spool (20) for storing a seat belt (28) wound on the spool (20). The spool (20) is rotatable about an axis (22) in belt withdrawal (A) and belt retraction (B) directions. A ratchet wheel (24) is fixed for rotation with the spool (20). A movable pawl (32) has a blocking position for blocking the ratchet wheel (24) and the spool (20) against rotation in the belt withdrawal direction (A) and a release position for permitting rotation of the ratchet wheel (24) and the spool (20) in the belt withdrawal direction (A). A permanent magnet (46) is attached to the pawl (32) for movement with the pawl (32). A control means (30) controls movement of the permanent magnet (46) and the pawl (32) between the release and blocking positions. The magnetic control means (30) includes a first magnetic biasing means (58) for biasing the permanent magnet (46) and the pawl (32) toward the blocking position. The magnetic control means (30) also includes a second magnetic biasing means (52) for biasing the permanent magnet (46) and the pawl (32) toward the release position. The second magnetic biasing means (52) is preferably an electromagnet, and the flow of electrical energy to the electromagnet is controlled by an actuator mechanism (60) that may include an inertia sensor assembly (62) and a timer (86).