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:
Aug. 10, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 19, 1997
Kenneth H Kohlndorfer, Roseville, MI (US);
Mark F Gray, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Markell Seitzman, Orchard Lake, MI (US);
Breed Automotive Technology, Inc., Lakeland, FL (US);
Abstract
A seat belt retractor adapted to be secured about a seated occupant comprising: a spool (54) having a length of seat belt (36) wound thereon for securement of the occupant, a portion of the seat belt forming a shoulder belt portion, the spool rotationally supported upon a frame (52); a tension reducing mechanism for controlling the amount of spring force transmitted from a rewind spring to the spool and hence the force applied to the shoulder of the occupant via the shoulder belt portion of the seat belt, the mechanism comprising: a cylindrical first spool (80) having an ungrooved, smooth body (81) operatively connected to the spool to rotate with the spool; a second reel (100) positioned remote from the first reel (80) having a tapered peripheral surface having a continuous spiral groove of varying diameter thereon, a rewind spring (160) operatively connected to the second reel for providing a rewind force to rewind the seat belt upon the spool; a flexible link (88) joining the first and second reel and for transmitting the force of the spring to the first reel, the link (88) wound about the second reel within the spiral groove and wound about the first reel (80).