Patent ID: 6702326
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A passenger restraining protective system having a seat belt retracting apparatus for retracting a seat belt in order to restrain a passenger of a vehicle, comprising:a first pretensioner having a motor adapted to operate when the possibility of a collision is determined to exist, to thereby retract the seat belt until the tension of the seat belt reaches a first belt tension that is higher than the belt tension that exists during normal driving conditions, the motor including a deceleration mechanism for converting rapid rotation of the motor into torque for producing the first belt tension; a second pretensioner adapted to operate when a collision is determined to have occurred, to thereby retract the seat belt until the tension of the seat belt reaches a second belt tension that is higher than said first belt tension; a controller which, when a collision is determined to have occurred, is adapted to cause said second pretensioner to operate, irrespective of the operation of said first pretensioner.