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. 11, 2005
Filed:
Nov. 19, 2002
David Prentkowski, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
David Prentkowski, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Key Safety Systems, Inc., Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Abstract
A belt-tensioning device for an occupant restraint is provided, designed to tension a belt () about an occupant at the onset of a vehicle collision, and to provide a measure of controlled force dissipation as the occupant loads the belt during the collision. In a preferred form, a tensioning member () moves in one direction () to tighten a belt about a vehicle occupant at the onset of a collision, and a braking device () is configured to apply a controlled braking force to movement of the tensioning member in the opposite direction after the tensioning member has tightened the belt about the vehicle occupant. An array of braking members () applies different levels of braking force to movement of the tensioning member in the opposite direction, thereby providing controlled braking force to movement of the tensioning member in the opposite direction.