Patent ID: 7540537
Filing Date: 2009-06-02
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A pretensioning apparatus for tensioning a seat belt webbing of a three point seat belt that is installed in a vehicle, the pretensioning apparatus comprising: a tubular member anchored to a floor or door sill of a vehicle in the vicinity of a base of a vehicle seat such that the tubular member extends in a direction going from the front of the vehicle towards the rear of the vehicle; a piston located inside of the tubular member, the piston being movable along the tubular member towards the rear of the vehicle in the event of a vehicle crash; a seat belt webbing guide fixed to the vehicle seat and positioned rearward of the tubular member; a cable having a first end that is attached to the piston and a second end attached to an end of the seatbelt webbing in the vicinity of the tubular member; and when the piston is moved rearward along the interior of the tubular member the cable is guided between the piston and the seatbelt webbing so that the cable pulls the seat belt webbing attached at the second end of the cable toward the front of the vehicle.