US3598336A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Seatbelt retractor
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1970-01-07
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Granted: 1971-08-10
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Expires: 1990-01-07
Abstract
Abstract An automatic locking seatbelt retractor includes a rotatable reel biased in a belt retracting direction and having its end plates provided by circular peripherally toothed like ratchet members engageable by a rotatable spring biased pawl to block movement of the reel in an extending direction. A rotatable cam plate frictionally driven by the reel between two limit positions includes two spaced peripheral shoulders. Each shoulder is engageable with the pawl in alternate limit positions to hold the pawl out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet members. A pivoted blocking lever is movable between blocking and unblocking positions with respect to the pawl. A pivoted control lever is linked to the blocking lever and biased to either of two positions by an overcenter torsion spring. A reel-driven ring gear includes peripherally spaced abutments engageable with the control lever. When the reel is in a fully belt-retracted position, the cam plate is in one limit position and the blocking lever is in blocking position. One of the cam plate abutments and the blocking lever engage the pawl to hold the pawl out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet members. When the reel is rotated in a belt-extending direction and a predetermined length of belt is extended, the cam plate is frictionally driven to the other limit position and the other abutment of the cam plate engages the pawl. An abutment of the ring gear engages and then passes the control lever to move the control lever from one position to the other and in turn move the blocking member from blocking to unblocking position. Upon slight retraction and then extension of the belt after buckled to another belt to form a belt assembly, the cam plate is rotated toward the one limit position and the other abutment of the cam plate thereupon moves out of engagement with the pawl. The pawl is then spring biased into engagement with like teeth of the ratchet members and prevents further extension of the belt. As the belt is retracted, the cam plate is moved to the one limit position and the one plate abutment engages the pawl to hold it out of engagement with the ratchet members. The one abutment of the ring gear passes the control lever, and the other abutment of the ring gear engages the control lever immediately adjacent the fully retracted position of the belt to move the control lever to the one position and move the blocking lever to blocking position.
Inventors
- 👤 George Edward Frost
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:19
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/34; B60R22/347; B60R22/35; B60R22/353
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
In a retractor having support means, reel means rotatably mounted on the support means, belt means mounted on the reel means for extension and retraction relative thereto upon rotation of the reel means in extending and retracting directions relative to the support means, means biasing the reel means in a retracting direction to retract the belt means and stop means normally operative to hold the reel means against movement in an extending direction and to permit movement in a retracting direction by said biasing means, the combination comprising, a blocking member mounted on the support means for movement between a blocking position wherein the blocking member blocks the stop means and an unblocking position wherein the blocking member permits operation of the stop means, means releasably holding the blocking member selectively and alternately in blocking or unblocking position, moving means operable to move the blocking member between blocking and unblocking positions, and reel-driven means intermittently operatively connected to the moving means during movement of the reel means for actuating the moving means to move the blocking member to unblocking position upon movement of the reel means in an extending direction and to move the blocking member to blocking position upon movement of the reel means in a retracting direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a retractor having support means, reel means rotatably mounted on the support means, belt means mounted on the reel means for extension and retraction relative thereto upon rotation of the reel means in extending and retracting directions relative to the support means, means biasing the reel means in a retracting direction to retract the belt means and stop means normally operative to hold the reel means against movement in an extending direction and to permit movement in a retracting direction by said biasing means, the combination comprising, a blocking member mounted on the support means for movement between a blocking position wherein the blocking member blocks the stop means and an unblocking position wherein the blocking member permits operation of the stop means, means releasably holding the blocking member selectively and alternately in blocking or unblocking position, moving means operable to move the blocking member between blocking and unblocking positions, and reel-driven means intermittently operatively connected to the moving means during movement of the reel means for actuating the moving means to move the blocking member to unblocking position upon movement of the reel means in an extending direction and to move the blocking member to blocking position upon movement of the reel means in a retracting direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
250 words
In a retractor having support means, reel means rotatably mounted on the support means, belt means mounted on the reel means for extension and retraction relative thereto upon rotation of the reel means in extending and retracting directions relative to the support means, means biasing the reel means in a retracting direction to retract the belt means and stop means normally operative to hold the reel means against movement in an extending direction and to permit movement in a retracting direction by said biasing means, the combination comprising, a blocking member mounted on the support means for movement between a blocking position wherein the blocking member blocks the stop means and an unblocking position wherein the blocking member permits operation of the stop means, a control member mounted on the support means for movement between first and second positions relative thereto, means operably connecting the control member to the blocking member to move the blocking member between blocking and unblocking positions upon movement of the control member between first and second positions, and reel-driven means intermittently operatively connected to the control member during movement of the reel means for actuating the control member to move the blocking member to unblocking position upon movement of the control member to the first position and movement of the reel means in an extending direction, and to move the blocking member to blocking position upon movement of the control member to the second position and movement of the reel means in a retracting direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
250 words
In a retractor having support means, reel means rotatably mounted on the support means, belt means mounted on the reel means for extension and retraction relative thereto upon rotation of the reel means in extending and retracting directions relative to the support means, means biasing the reel means in a retracting direction to retract the belt means and stop means normally operative to hold the reel means against movement in an extending direction and to permit movement in a retracting direction by said biasing means, the combination comprising, a blocking member mounted on the support means for movement between a blocking position wherein the blocking member blocks the stop means and an unblocking position wherein the blocking member permits operation of the stop means, a control member mounted on the support means for movement between first and second positions relative thereto, means operably connecting the control member to the blocking member to move the blocking member between blocking and unblocking positions upon movement of the control member between first and second positions, and reel-driven means intermittently operatively connected to the control member during movement of the reel means for actuating the control member to move the blocking member to unblocking position upon movement of the control member to the first position and movement of the reel means in an extending direction, and to move the blocking member to blocking position upon movement of the control member to the second position and movement of the reel means in a retracting direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
265 words
In a retractor having support means, reel means rotatably mounted on the support means, belt means mounted on the reel means for extension and retraction relative thereto upon rotation of the reel means in extending and retracting directions relative to the support means, means biasing the reel means in a retracting direction to retract the belt means and stop means normally operative to hold the reel means against movement in an extending direction and to permit movement in a retracting direction by said biasing means, the combination comprising, a blocking member pivoted to the support means for swinging movement between a blocking position wherein the blocking member blocks the stop means and an unblocking position whereIn the blocking member permits operation of the stop means, a control member pivoted to the support means for swinging movement between first and second positions relative thereto, a link pivotally interconnecting the blocking member and control member to move the blocking member between blocking and unblocking positions upon movement of the control member between first and second positions, and a reel-driven annular member rotatably mounted on the support means and intermittently operatively connected to the control member having spaced peripheral means during movement of the reel means for actuating the control member to move the blocking member to unblocking position upon movement of the control member to the first position and movement of the reel means in an extending direction, and to move the blocking member to blocking position upon movement of the control member to the second position and movement of the reel means in a retracting direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
265 words
In a retractor having support means, reel means rotatably mounted on the support means, belt means mounted on the reel means for extension and retraction relative thereto upon rotation of the reel means in extending and retracting directions relative to the support means, means biasing the reel means in a retracting direction to retract the belt means and stop means normally operative to hold the reel means against movement in an extending direction and to permit movement in a retracting direction by said biasing means, the combination comprising, a blocking member pivoted to the support means for swinging movement between a blocking position wherein the blocking member blocks the stop means and an unblocking position whereIn the blocking member permits operation of the stop means, a control member pivoted to the support means for swinging movement between first and second positions relative thereto, a link pivotally interconnecting the blocking member and control member to move the blocking member between blocking and unblocking positions upon movement of the control member between first and second positions, and a reel-driven annular member rotatably mounted on the support means and intermittently operatively connected to the control member having spaced peripheral means during movement of the reel means for actuating the control member to move the blocking member to unblocking position upon movement of the control member to the first position and movement of the reel means in an extending direction, and to move the blocking member to blocking position upon movement of the control member to the second position and movement of the reel means in a retracting direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
225 words
In a retractor having support means, reel means rotatably mounted on the support means, belt means mounted on the reel means for extension and retraction relative thereto upon rotation of the reel means in extending and retracting directions relative to the support means, means biasing the reel means in a retracting direction to retract the belt means and stop means normally operative to hold the reel means against movement in an extending direction and to permit movement in a retracting direction by said biasing means, the combination comprising, first blocking means for the stop means moveable by the reel means to a predetermined blocking position with respect to the stop means upon rotation of the reel means in an extending direction through a predetermined arc, second blocking means for the stop means mounted on the support means for movement between blocking and unblocking positions with respect to the stop means, means locating the second blocking means in blocking position during movement of the reel means through the predetermined arc, cooperating means on the reel means and the second blocking means intermittently connected upon movement of the reel means through an arc greater than the predetermined arc for moving the second blocking means to unblocking position, and means relocating the second blocking means in blocking position during movement of the reel means in a retracting direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
225 words
In a retractor having support means, reel means rotatably mounted on the support means, belt means mounted on the reel means for extension and retraction relative thereto upon rotation of the reel means in extending and retracting directions relative to the support means, means biasing the reel means in a retracting direction to retract the belt means and stop means normally operative to hold the reel means against movement in an extending direction and to permit movement in a retracting direction by said biasing means, the combination comprising, first blocking means for the stop means moveable by the reel means to a predetermined blocking position with respect to the stop means upon rotation of the reel means in an extending direction through a predetermined arc, second blocking means for the stop means mounted on the support means for movement between blocking and unblocking positions with respect to the stop means, means locating the second blocking means in blocking position during movement of the reel means through the predetermined arc, cooperating means on the reel means and the second blocking means intermittently connected upon movement of the reel means through an arc greater than the predetermined arc for moving the second blocking means to unblocking position, and means relocating the second blocking means in blocking position during movement of the reel means in a retracting direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination recited in claim 3 wherein the reel-driven annular member includes an internally toothed ring gear driven by a reel-driven gear and having a pair of peripherally spaced radially extending abutments selectively and alternately engageable with the control member during movement of the reel means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
The combination recited in claim 3 wherein the reel-driven annular member includes a ring gear driven by the reel means and having a pair of peripherally spaced radially extending abutments of different extent, the abutment of lesser radial extent engaging the control member to move the blocking member to unblocking position and the abutment of greater radial extent engaging the control member to move the blocking member to blocking position, and cooperating means on the control member and abutment of lesser radial extent permitting the abutment of lesser radial extent and control member to bypass each other after engagement thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
92 words
The combination recited in claim 3 including overcenter spring means interconnected between the control member and support means and selectively and alternately biasing the control member to either the first position or the second position thereof, and stop means engageable by the control member upon movement thereof to the first position to locate the control member against the action of the overcenter spring means, engagement of the blocking member with the pawl providing a stop locating the control member in the second position thereof against the action of the overcenter spring means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-09 | 1975-02-08 | 1975-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-09 | 1979-02-08 | 1979-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-09 | 1983-02-08 | 1983-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |