Patent ID: 7744031
Filing Date: 2010-06-29
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A motorized seat belt retractor, comprising: a take-up spool configured to rotate in a winding direction and an unwinding direction; a motor for providing a driving force in a first direction and a second direction to the take-up spool, wherein the take-up spool rotates in the winding direction when the driving force is provided in the first direction; a mechanism coupled to a shaft of the motor, the mechanism being configured to rotate freely in the first direction and rotate in the second direction when either i) a predetermined force is applied to the take-up spool in the unwinding direction during or after application of the driving force in the first direction or ii) the motor applies the driving force in the second direction in order to overcome a predetermined resistance of the mechanism, wherein the mechanism comprises a one-way bearing that is disposed about the shaft of the motor and a spring disposed about the one-way bearing, the one-way bearing being configured to freely rotate in first direction, and the spring provides a frictional resistance to an outer diameter of the one-way bearing; and a locking retractor configured to prevent the take-up spool from rotating in the unwinding direction when the predetermined force is applied to the take-up spool in the unwinding direction during or after application of the driving force in the first direction.