Patent ID: 7963473

Claim:
A retractor for a seat belt restraining system for restraining an occupant of an automobile having a sensor detecting an impact event, the retractor comprising: a spool receiving a portion of the seat belt; a first force limiting element connected to the spool; a locking mechanism operatively connected to the spool through the first force limiting element; a second force limiting element connected to the spool; a pretensioner having a drive mechanism including a rotatable pinion operatively connected to the spool through the second force limiting element; and a selectively actuatable clutch positioned between the second force limiting element and one of the spool or the drive mechanism, the selectively actuatable clutch coupling and decoupling the drive mechanism and the spool independently of activation of the pretensioner and the drive mechanism and independently of rotation of the spool, wherein the selectively actuatable clutch is positioned between the second force limiting element and the pinion of the drive mechanism, and includes a hub and a clutch drive mechanism, the hub, pinion and second force limiting element including corresponding engagement features, the clutch drive mechanism axially translating the hub to engage the pinion and second force limiting element, the hub being positioned radially in-between the second force limiting element and the pinion, activation of the selectively actuatable clutch controlling force transmission between the spool and the drive mechanism of the pretensioner.