Body impact reducing seat-belt connection - has cable coiled on torsion-spring loaded spool with ratchet mechanism controlling rotation

摘要

The device is used on seat belt connections to reduce the impact of the user's body against the webbing. It has a torsion spring, one end of which is connected with a spool and the other end with a frame structure bolted to the car body. The spool has a coiled-on length of cord connected to a cable to which one end of the seat belt webbing is joined. Following a pull on the cord, the spool is rotated and part of the force is taken up by the torsion spring. The rotary movement of the spool is controlled by a ratchet mechanism allowing the spool to rotate only in the spring tensioning direction. The ratchet mechanism thus prevents a backlash, when the rotary movement stops.