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:
Jan. 27, 2004
Filed:
Aug. 27, 2002
Matthew C. Frank, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus ( ) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant ( ) includes first and second lengths of belt webbing ( ) for extending over the occupant. First and second spools ( ) are supported for rotation in a belt retraction direction ( ) and an opposite belt withdrawal direction ( ). The apparatus ( ) includes a mechanism ( ) for blocking rotation of the spools ( ) in the belt withdrawal direction ( ) until a predetermined force is applied to the spools, and for permitting rotation of the spools in the belt withdrawal direction when a force above the predetermined force is applied to the spools. The mechanism ( ) drivingly interconnects the spools and permits rotation of one of the spools ( ) in the belt withdrawal direction ( ) after blocking rotation in the belt withdrawal direction without causing rotation of the other spool in the belt withdrawal direction.