Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Reeling device – With spring motor
Patent
1998-01-30
1999-10-12
Jillions, John M.
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Reeling device
With spring motor
B60R 2244
Patent
active
059644273
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a seat belt mechanism and, in particular, to a mechanism for providing increased comfort to the wearer.
With the commonly used retracting seat belt the spool of the seat belt is attached directly to a retraction spring. Each turn of the seat belt spool results in a 360.degree. tightening of the retraction spring. One disadvantage of this arrangement is that the resistive force created by the retraction spring on the seat belt webbing increases as the seat belt webbing is unwound and as the retraction spring is wound. When the belt is in use, and a substantial length of webbing has been unwound from the spool, the resulting highly retractive force exerted by the spring can cause an uncomfortable pressure on the body of the wearer. Attempts to alleviate this problem by providing a so-called "comfort zone" associated with the seat belt mechanism have met with only limited success, primarily because the extent of such comfort zone is disadvantageously restricted.
The present invention seeks to provide for a seat belt mechanism having advantages over known mechanisms.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a seat belt mechanism comprising a spool from which a seat belt is to be unwound, resilient means arranged to act on said spool to rewind said belt thereon, said resilient means comprising a first resilient member and a second resilient member arranged to exert a return force on said spool which is less than the return force exerted on said spool by said first resilient member, means inhibiting the return force of said first resilient means during initial rewinding of said spool so that said second resilient member provides the primary return force for the spool, and wherein said first and second resilient members are operatively connected to said spool by gear train means.
The invention proves particularly advantageous in providing for resilient means which can exert a reduced return force during the rewinding of the belt for, preferably, a substantial portion of the rewinding thereof. Thus, the degree of comfort for the seat belt wearer is therefore increased during the rewinding of the belt about the spool.
Preferably, said means for inhibiting the return force of said first resilient member is arranged to prevent the biasing operation of said first resilient member.
The return force to be exerted on the spool during the aforementioned substantial portion of the rewinding of the seat belt can be readily, and advantageously, arranged to comprise solely the return force exerted by the second resilient member.
In particular, the means for inhibiting the return force of the first resilient member can be arranged to simultaneously operatively connect said second resilient member to said spool.
Thus, a particularly compact, and relatively simple, structure can be achieved in the seat belt mechanism. Such features can be further enhanced by providing for common gear train means for the operative engagement of both the first and second resilient means with said spool.
Preferably, said mechanism includes first and second rotatable members wherein said first resilient member is operatively connected between said first and second rotatable members and said second resilient member is operatively connected between said second rotatable member and an anchor point of said mechanism.
An advantageously coaxial arrangement can then be provided for the mechanism of the present invention.
In this manner, said means for inhibiting the return force of said first resilient member can be arranged to connect said second rotatable member to said first rotatable member for rotation therewith and under the influence of said second resilient member.
Advantageously, said gear train means includes a sun and planet gear arrangement.
In particular, said sun gear is advantageously arranged to be driven by said spool and said planet gears are arranged to provide driving engagement to said resilient means.
According to a particular embodiment, said planet gears can be arranged to d
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patent: 5775618 (1998-07-01), Krambeck
Breed Automotive Technology Inc.
Jillions John M.
Seitzman Markell
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