IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,137,650
Granted Patent B2
US 7,137,650 · App. 11/157,642 · Granted Nov 21, 2006

Seat belt pretensioner

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,137,650
App. No.
11/157,642
Granted
Nov 21, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pretensioner for a three point seat belt has a cylinder adapted to be attached to a structural member of the vehicle and a piston disposed within the cylinder. The piston can move translationally relative to the cylinder in a pretensioning direction. A flexible member is arranged in a curved profile with a seat belt webbing being attached to the flexible member. The flexible member has a first end that can be pulled by the piston and a second end releasably connected to an exterior of the cylinder such that when the piston moves translationally relative to the cylinder the second end of the flexible member moves translationally relative to the cylinder along the exterior of the cylinder.

Claims (29)

1. A pretensioner for a three point seat belt comprising:

a cylinder adapted to be attached to a structural member of the vehicle and a piston disposed within the cylinder;

a means for moving the piston translationally relative to the cylinder in a pretensioning direction; and

a flexible member that is arranged in a curved profile with a seat belt webbing being attached to the flexible member, the flexible member having a first end that can be pulled by the piston and having a second end releasably connected to an exterior of the cylinder such that when the piston moves translationally relative to the cylinder the second end of the flexible member moves translationally relative to the cylinder along the exterior of the cylinder in the pretensioning direction.

2. The pretensioner for a three point seat belt according to claim 1 wherein the flexible member is a cable.

3. The pretensioner for a three point seat belt according to claim 1 wherein a loop is located at the second end of the flexible member, the loop extending around the exterior of the cylinder, the loop being secured to the cylinder by a frangible member.

4. The pretensioner for a three point seat belt according to claim 2 wherein a loop is located at the second end of the cable the loop extending around the exterior of the cylinder, the loop being secured to the cylinder by a frangible member.

5. The pretensioner for a three point seat belt according to claim 1 wherein the second end of the flexible member is attached to a carriage, the carriage being configured to move along the exterior of the cylinder, the carriage secured to the cylinder by a frangible member.

6. The pretensioner for a three point seat belt according to claim 2 wherein the second end of the cable is attached to a carriage, the carriage being configured to move along the exterior of the cylinder, the carriage secured to the cylinder by a frangible member.

7. The pretensioner for a three point seat belt according to claim 1 wherein a loop is located at the second end of the flexible member, the loop extending around the exterior of the cylinder, the loop being secured to the cylinder by a mechanically releasable member.

8. The pretensioner for a three point seat belt according to claim 2 wherein a loop is located at the second end of the cable the loop extending around the exterior of the cylinder, the loop being secured to the cylinder by a mechanically releasable member.

9. The pretensioner for a three point seat belt according to claim 1 wherein the second end of the flexible member is attached to a carriage, the carriage being configured to move along the exterior of the cylinder, the carriage secured to the cylinder by a mechanically releasable member.

10. The pretensioner for a three point seat belt according to claim 2 wherein the second end of the cable is attached to a carriage, the carriage being configured to move along the exterior of the cylinder, the carriage secured to the cylinder by a mechanically releasable member.

11. A pretensioner for a three point seat belt comprising:

a cylinder adapted to be attached to a structural member of the vehicle and a piston disposed within the cylinder;

a pyrotechnically activated means for moving the piston translationally relative to the cylinder in a pretensioning direction; and

a flexible member that is arranged in a curved profile with a seat belt webbing being attached to the flexible member, the flexible member having a first end that can be pulled by the piston and having a second end with a loop is located at the second end of the flexible member, the loop extending around the exterior of the cylinder, the loop being secured to the cylinder by a member that releases the loop when the piston moves translationally relative to the cylinder, such that when the piston moves translationally relative to the cylinder the loop moves translationally relative to the cylinder along the exterior of the cylinder in the pretensioning direction.

12. The pretensioner for a three point seat belt according to claim 11 wherein the flexible member is a cable.

13. The pretensioner for a three point seat belt according to claim 11 further comprising means for restraining motion of the flexible member in a non-pretensioning direction after the loop has moved translationally relative to the cylinder along the exterior of the cylinder.

14. The pretensioner for a three point seat belt according to claim 12 further comprising means for restraining motion of the flexible member in a non-pretensioning direction after the loop has moved translationally relative to the cylinder along the exterior of the cylinder.

15. A pretensioner for a three point seat belt comprising:

a cylinder adapted to be attached to a structural member of the vehicle and a piston disposed within the cylinder;

a pyrotechnically activated means for moving the piston translationally relative to the cylinder in a pretensioning direction; and

a flexible member that is arranged in a curved profile with a seat belt webbing being attached to the flexible member, the flexible member having a first end that can be pulled by the piston and having a second end that is attached to a carriage, the carriage being configured to move along the exterior of the cylinder, the carriage secured to the cylinder by a member that releases the carriage when the piston translationally relative to the cylinder, such that when the piston moves translationally relative to the cylinder the carriage moves translationally relative to the cylinder along the exterior of the cylinder in the pretensioning direction.

16. The pretensioner for a three point seat belt according to claim 15 wherein the flexible member is a cable.

17. The pretensioner for a three point seat belt according to claim 15 further comprising means for restraining motion of the flexible member in a non-pretensioning direction after the carriage has moved translationally relative to the cylinder along the exterior of the cylinder.

18. The pretensioner for a three point seat belt according to claim 16 further comprising means for restraining motion of the flexible member in a non-pretensioning direction after the carriage has moved translationally relative to the cylinder along the exterior of the cylinder.

19. The pretensioner for a three point seat belt according to claim 15 further comprising a rail that extends along the cylinder and the carriage is mounted for sliding movement on the rail.

20. The pretensioner for a three point seat belt according to claim 19 wherein the piston and the cylinder are located below the rail.

Assignments (6)
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 →
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 →