초록 ▼

A method is provided for sealing locking components of a retractor, wherein the locking components cooperate with a spool shaft extending from, and rotatable with, a rotatable spool of the retractor to selectively lock rotation of the spool. The method includes mounting a base of an open-ended housi

A method is provided for sealing locking components of a retractor, wherein the locking components cooperate with a spool shaft extending from, and rotatable with, a rotatable spool of the retractor to selectively lock rotation of the spool. The method includes mounting a base of an open-ended housing to the retractor with the spool shaft accessible via an opening in the base when so mounted, positioning a sealing member to extend about and engage a periphery of the opening and to also extend about and engage a periphery of the spool shaft, operatively arranging the locking components within the interior of the housing, and hermetically sealing a cover to the open end of the housing after the housing is mounted to the retractor. The sealing member engages the peripheries of the first opening and the spool shaft and blocks ingress of moisture and particles to the locking components.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of sealing locking components of a retractor, wherein the locking components cooperate with a spool shaft extending from a rotatable spool of the retractor to selectively lock rotation of the spool, and wherein the spool shaft rotates with the rotatable spool, the method comprising: moun

1. A method of sealing locking components of a retractor, wherein the locking components cooperate with a spool shaft extending from a rotatable spool of the retractor to selectively lock rotation of the spool, and wherein the spool shaft rotates with the rotatable spool, the method comprising: mounting a base of an open-ended housing to the retractor, the housing defining a first opening through the base into an interior of the housing, the spool shaft accessible via the first opening when the base of the housing is mounted to the retractor,positioning a first sealing member to extend about and engage a periphery of the first opening and to also extend about and engage a periphery of the spool shaft, the first sealing member blocking ingress of moisture and particles to the locking components,operatively arranging the locking components within the interior of the housing, andhermetically sealing a cover to the open end of the housing after the housing is mounted to the retractor, the first sealing member engages the peripheries of the first opening and the spool shaft, and the locking components are operatively arranged within the interior of the housing. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning the first sealing member to extend about and engage the periphery of the first opening comprises positioning the first sealing member such that the first sealing member engages the housing about the first opening and also engages the spool shaft circumferentially about the spool shaft when the housing is mounted to the retractor such that the first sealing member forms a seal between the first opening of the housing and the spool shaft to block the ingress of moisture and particle to the locking components. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the housing defines a channel extending into the base of the housing about the first opening, the channel sized to receive and retain therein the first sealing member, and wherein positioning the first sealing member to extend about and engage the periphery of the first opening comprises inserting the first sealing member into the channel. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the retractor comprises a frame defining a frame sidewall through which the spool shaft extends, and wherein mounting the base of the open-ended housing to the retractor comprises mounting the base of the open-ended housing to the frame sidewall with an exterior surface of the base opposite to the interior of the housing in contact with the frame sidewall. 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the frame sidewall and the base of the open-ended housing each define at least one mounting aperture therethrough and the cover defines at least one mounting aperture therein, and wherein mounting the base of the open-ended housing to the retractor comprises passing at least one fixation member through the at least one mounting aperture defined through the frame sidewall and through the at least one mounting aperture defined through the base of the open-ended housing and securing the at least one fixation element within the at least one mounting aperture defined in the cover to thereby secure the housing and the cover, with the locking components operatively arranged within the interior of the housing, to the frame sidewall of the retractor. 6. The method of claim 4 wherein mounting the base of the open-ended housing to the retractor comprises affixing the exterior surface of the base of the housing to the frame sidewall. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein affixing the exterior surface of the base of the housing to the frame sidewall comprises interposing a bonding medium between and in contact with the exterior surface of the base of the housing and the frame sidewall. 8. The method of claim 4 wherein the retractor includes a locking bar movably mounted to the frame sidewall and engageable with the spool to lock rotation of the spool relative to the frame sidewall, and wherein the locking components control a position of the locking bar to selectively lock the spool relative to the frame sidewall, and wherein the housing defines a second opening, separate from the first opening, through the base, one end of the locking bar accessible via the second opening when the base of the housing is mounted to the retractor, and wherein the method further comprises:positioning a second sealing member to extend about and engage a periphery of the second opening and to also extend about a periphery of the locking bar to block ingress of moisture and particles to the locking components, andmounting one of the locking components to the one end of the locking bar such that the second sealing member forms a seal between the one of the locking components and the second opening,and wherein hermetically sealing a cover to the open end of the housing comprises hermetically sealing the cover to the open end of the housing after the housing is mounted to the retractor, the first sealing member is positioned to-engage the peripheries of the first opening and the spool shaft, the second sealing member is positioned to extend about the periphery of the locking bar and to also extend about and engage the periphery of the second opening, the one of the locking components is mounted to the one end of the locking bar through the second opening and remaining ones of the locking components are operatively arranged within the interior of the housing. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein positioning the second sealing member comprises positioning the second sealing member such that the second sealing member engages the housing about the second opening and also engages the one of the locking components when the one of the locking components is mounted to the one end of the locking bar through the second opening such that the second sealing member forms a seal between the second opening of the housing and the one of the locking components to block ingress of moisture and particles to the one or more locking components. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the housing defines a channel extending into the base of the housing about the second opening, the channel sized to receive and retain therein the second sealing member, and wherein positioning the second sealing member to extend about and engage the periphery of the second opening comprises inserting the second sealing member into the channel. 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the open-ended housing comprises a housing sidewall extending from the base about an outer perimeter of the housing such that the interior of the housing is defined between the base of the housing and the housing sidewall, a free end of the housing sidewall defining one of a channel and a lip, and wherein the cover comprises a cover sidewall extending about an outer perimeter thereof, a free end of the cover sidewall defining the other of a channel and a lip configured complementarily to the one of the channel and the lip defined by the housing sidewall,and wherein hermetically sealing the cover to the open end of the housing comprises:bringing the one of the channel and the lip of the housing sidewall into contact with the other of the channel and the lip of the cover, andhermetically sealing the free end of the cover sidewall to the free end of the housing sidewall such that the lip forms a hermetic seal with the channel. 12. The method of claim 11 wherein hermetically sealing the free end of the cover sidewall to the free end of the housing sidewall comprises ultrasonically welding the free end of the cover sidewall to the free end of the housing sidewall.