IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,377,464
Granted Patent B2
US 7,377,464 · App. 11/092,278 · Granted May 27, 2008

Seatbelt retractor having an inertial sensor weight with a guide surface

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,377,464
App. No.
11/092,278
Granted
May 27, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A seatbelt retractor assembly ( 10 ) has a seatbelt retractor ( 14 ) and an actuator ( 26 ) for locking and unlocking the seatbelt retractor ( 1 ). An inertial sensor mass ( 30, 32, 33 ) detects changes in vehicle speed. The mass ( 30, 32, 33 ) has a guide surface ( 34, 35, 36 ) for interacting with the actuator ( 26 ). The guide surface ( 34, 35, 36 ) moves between an unlocking position in which the actuator ( 26 ) unlocks the seatbelt retractor ( 14 ) and a locking position in which the actuator ( 26 ) locks the seatbelt retractor ( 14 ). The guide surface ( 30 ) has an inner profile portion ( 62 ) and at least an outer profile portion ( 64 ). The actuator ( 26 ) is in contact with the inner profile portion ( 62 ) in the unlocking position while moving into contact with the outer profile portion ( 64 ) as the actuator ( 26 ) moves towards the locking position. The inner profile portion ( 62 ) causes a different acceleration of the actuator ( 26 ) than the outer profile portion ( 64 ).

Claims (7)

1. A seatbelt retractor assembly comprising:

a seatbelt retractor;

an actuator for locking and unlocking said seatbelt retractor;

an inertial sensor mass for detecting changes in vehicle acceleration resting on a sensor housing, said inertial sensor mass having a wide portion above a narrow portion, the narrow portion having a bottom with a pivot point of the sensor mass relative to the housing which establishes the sensor mass tilt angle θ, the wide portion having a guide surface for interacting with an actuator surface to move said actuator;

said guide surface being horizontally and vertically movable between an unlocking position wherein said actuator unlocks said seatbelt retractor and a locking position wherein said actuator locks said seatbelt retractor as the inertial sensor tilts about the pivot point; and

said guide surface comprising an inner profile portion and an outer profile portion, said actuator surface in contact with said inner profile portion in said unlocking position and continuing in contact with said outer profile portion as said actuator moves toward said locking position, said outer profile portion causing a deceleration, thereby slowing said actuator prior to said locking position.

2. The seatbelt retractor assembly of claim 1 wherein said outer profile portion causes a deceleration of said actuator surface and said inner profile portion causes an acceleration of said actuator surface.

Assignments (10)
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 Mar 29, 2005
From: MORGAN, CHRISTOPHER D.
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 016431/0290 →