Patent ID: 6648260
Filing Date: 2003-11-18
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A selectable load limiting seat restraint retractor for a seat restraint system in a vehicle comprising:a first housing for operative connection to vehicle structure; a rotatable take-up spool connected to a webbing of a seat restraint system for winding and unwinding the webbing; a rotatable first torsion bar operatively connected to said first housing to provide a first level of load limiting on the webbing during an impact, said take-up spool being operatively connected to said first torsion bar; a rotatable second torsion bar operatively connected to said first housing and orientated parallel to said first torsion bar to provide a second level of load limiting on the webbing during an impact, said second level of load limiting being less than said first level of load limiting; and a selectable load limiting mechanism operatively cooperating with said first torsion bar and said second torsion bar to select between said first level of load limiting and said second level of load limiting to provide digressive load limiting on the webbing during the impact.