Seat belt retractor

Abstract

The disclosed seat belt retractor can be used to suppress noise and vibration to a vehicle occupant. The seat belt retractor may comprise a spool for retracting and withdrawing a seat belt and a base frame for rotatably supporting the spool. The base frame may comprise a first supporting member, a second supporting and a spacing member for coupling the first and second supporting member at a predetermined distance. The spacing member can be a member for setting the pair of the first supporting member and the second supporting member parallel to each other

1 . A seat belt retractor, comprising: 
 a spool for retracting and withdrawing a seat belt; and    a base frame for rotatably supporting the spool, wherein the base frame comprises: 
 a pair of flat plate-shaped first and second supporting members for rotatably supporting the spool; and  
 a spacing member for coupling the pair of the first and the second supporting members at a predetermined distance, and  
   wherein the spacing member is a member for setting the pair of the first and the second supporting member substantially parallel to each other.    
   
   
       2 . The seat belt retractor according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the spacing member and the pair of the first and second supporting members comprises an engaging portion, and 
 wherein at least the other of the spacing member and the pair of the first and second supporting members comprises an engaged portion to be engaged with the engaging portion.    
   
   
       3 . The seat belt retractor according to  claim 1 , wherein the base frame further comprises a second frame configured to be attached to a motor vehicle body, and 
 wherein the pair of the first supporting member and the second supporting member is coupled with the second frame via a cushioning device.    
   
   
       4 . The seat belt retractor according to  claim 3 , wherein the cushioning device is formed of a cushioning member.  
   
   
       5 . The seat belt retractor according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a motor for generating a rotating drive force to rotate the spool; and    a speed-reduction mechanism for transmitting a rotating drive force of the motor to the spool,    wherein the motor is supported by at least one of the first supporting member and the second supporting member, and    wherein the speed-reduction mechanism is supported by either the first supporting member or the second supporting member.    
   
   
       6 . The seat belt retractor according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacing member is a plurality of spacing members.  
   
   
       7 . A seat belt apparatus comprising: 
 a seat belt for restraining an occupant;    a seat belt retractor including a spool for retracting and withdrawing a seat belt; and a pair of flat plate-shaped first and second supporting members for rotatably supporting the spool; and a spacing member for coupling the pair of the first and the second supporting members at a predetermined distance and for setting the pair of the first and the second supporting members substantially parallel to each other;    a tongue configured to be slidably supported by the seat belt;    a buckle for detachable engagement with the tongue.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one cushioning device that couples a second frame with at least one of the first supporting member and the second supporting member.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a motor for generating a rotating drive force to rotate the spool; and    a speed-reduction mechanism for transmitting the rotating drive force of the motor to the spool,    wherein the motor is supported by at least one of the first supporting member and the second supporting member, and    wherein the speed-reduction mechanism is supported by either the first supporting member or the second supporting member.    
   
   
       10 . A seat belt retractor comprising: 
 a spool for retracting and withdrawing a seat belt; and    a base frame for rotatably supporting the spool, wherein the base frame comprises: 
 a pair of flat plate-shaped first and second supporting members for rotatably supporting the spool;  
 a plurality of spacing members for coupling the pair of the first and second supporting members at a predetermined distance, and  
   wherein the plurality of spacing members are the same length.    
   
   
       11 . The seat belt retractor according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of spacing members comprises an engaging portion, and 
 wherein at least one of the first and second supporting members comprises an engaged portion to be engaged with the engaging portion.    
   
   
       12 . The seat belt retractor according to  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of spacing members is configured for setting the pair of the first supporting member and the second supporting member parallel to each other.  
   
   
       13 . The seat belt retractor according to  claim 10 , wherein the base frame further comprises at least one cushioning device that couples a second frame with at least one of the first supporting member and the second supporting member.  
   
   
       14 . The seat belt retractor according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a motor for generating a rotating drive force to rotate the spool; and    a speed-reduction mechanism for transmitting the rotating drive force of the motor to the spool,    wherein the motor is supported by at least one of the first supporting member and the second supporting member, and    wherein the speed-reduction mechanism is supported by either the first supporting member or the second supporting member.