IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,025,297
Granted Patent B2
US 7,025,297 · App. 10/876,354 · Granted Apr 11, 2006

Seat belt retractor

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,025,297
App. No.
10/876,354
Granted
Apr 11, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A seat belt retractor has a spool mounted for rotation on the retractor, for retraction or payout of seat-belt webbing depending upon the rotation direction of the spool. The spool is locked against rotation when a crash condition is sensed. A force limiter allows further payout of the seat belt webbing after the spool shaft has locked, under the influence of a vehicle occupant's forward momentum. The force limiter has a first resilient component attached in the force path between the spool and the locking component. A second resilient component is a wire releasably held in the force path between the spool and the locking component by a locking plate engaged with the locking component. The wire is released from the force path by disengagement between the locking plate and the locking component.

Claims (16)

1. A seat belt retractor comprising:

a spool mounted for rotation to allow retraction or pay-out of seat-belt webbing wound thereon depending upon the rotation direction of the spool;

a locking ring connected to the spool for rotation therewith;

a locking plate connected to the spool for rotation therewith;

a lock bar activated by a crash sensor to engage the locking ring to prevent rotation when a crash condition is sensed;

a first and a second force limiting means for controlling pay-out of the seat belt webbing after the locking ring has been locked against rotation;

the first force limiting means comprising resilient means having one end connected to the locking ring and the other end connected to the spool in the force path between the spool and the lock bar;

the second force limiting means comprising a wire having one end located in a recess in the spool and the other end connected to the locking plate;

a means for selectively connecting the locking plate to the lockbar such that when the locking plate is secured against rotation the second force limiting means is activated;

a means for selectively releasing the wire from the force path at a predetermined time during a crash; and

wherein the locking plate is selectively disconnected from the locking ring by a means for moving the locking plate in a direction parallel to the axis of the spool.

2. The seat belt retractor according to claim 1 , wherein a control signal is supplied in response to a means for sensing at least one value selected from a group of values consisting of: (a) the weight of a vehicle occupant, (b) the size of a vehicle occupant, (C) the position of a vehicle occupant, and (d) the severity of the crash; and the control signal is activated if the sensed at least one value is below a predetermined value.

3. The seat belt retractor according to claim 1 , wherein the control signal is supplied in dependence upon whether an airbag is deployed.

4. The seat belt retractor according to claim 1 , wherein the means for moving the locking plate comprises a pyrotechnic device or a solenoid.

5. The seat belt retractor according to claim 4 , wherein the locking plate and the locking ring have complimentary teeth formations for selectively engaging the locking plate and the locking ring.

6. The seat belt retractor according to claim 1 , wherein the locking plate and the locking ring have complimentary teeth formations for selectively engaging the locking plate and the locking ring.

Assignments (11)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2021
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS SECURITY AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 057828/0461 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2021
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS SECURITY AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 057775/0771 →
RELEASE OF INTEREST IN PATENTS- RELEASE OF REEL/FRAME 033673/0524 Recorded Apr 12, 2018
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.; KSS HOLDINGS, INC.; KSS ACQUISITION COMPANY; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; KEY ASIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE OF FLORIDA, LLC; KEY CAYMAN GP LLC; KEY INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; KEY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS FOREIGN HOLDCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 045933/0563 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2018
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 045927/0330 →
RELEASE OF INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Sep 2, 2014
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.; KSS HOLDINGS, INC.; KSS ACQUISITION COMPANY; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; HAMLIN INCORPORATED; KEY ASIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE WEST, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE, LP; KEY CAYMAN GP LLC; KEY ELECTRONICS OF NEVADA, INC.; KEY INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; KEY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS FOREIGN HOLDCO, LLC; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS OF TEXAS, INC.
Reel/Frame 033666/0605 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 2, 2014
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
Reel/Frame 033673/0524 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE TO RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL AND THE RECEIVING PARTY NAMES PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 031327 FRAME 676. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL. SEE ALSO THE ATTACHED DECLARATION. Recorded Aug 12, 2014
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.; KSS HOLDINGS, INC.; KSS ACQUISITION COMPANY; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; HAMLIN INCORPORATED; KEY ASIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE, LP; KEY CAYMAN GP LLC; KEY ELECTRONICS OF NEVADA, INC.; KEY INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; KEY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS FOREIGN HOLDCO, LLC; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS OF TEXAS, INC.
Reel/Frame 033521/0223 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 031327/0676 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 4, 2013
From: CITICORP USA, INC.
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
Reel/Frame 029565/0125 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2007
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC; KSS HOLDINGS, INC; KSS ACQUISITION COMPANY; AEGIS KEY CORP; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC; HAMLIN INCORPORATED; KEY ASIAN HOLDINGS, INC; KEY AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, INC; KEY AUTOMOTIVE OF FLORIDA, INC; KEY AUTOMOTIVE WEST, INC; KEY AUTOMOTIVE, LP; KEY CAYMAN GP LLC; KEY ELECTRONICS OF NEVADA, INC; HAMLIN ELECTRONICS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; KEY INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; KEY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS FOREIGN HOLDCO, LLC; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS OF TEXAS, INC
To: CITICORP USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 019297/0249 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2004
From: BELL, JOHN; JACK, BRIAN A.; PALLISER, MARTYN
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 015518/0354 →