Patent US3603525A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3603525A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Retracting reel assembly
Assignee: Jim Robbins Seat Belt Co
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Filing: 1969-07-14
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1989-07-14
Abstract
Abstract A retracting reel assembly including a U-shaped support member rotatably supporting a reel means upon which a flexible belt element is wound and unwound. A locking pawl is supported by the support member for movement to and from a locking position for preventing rotation of the reel means in the unwinding direction. A clutch member engages the locking pawl and is rotated by the reel means for moving the locking pawl to the locking position. A cam operated stop member is movable to and from a position for preventing movement of the clutch member which would move the locking member to the locked position until a predetermined length of the flexible belt has been unwound from the reel means. There is also included a delay means comprising an electromagnet operable upon the locking pawl, and circuit means for controlling current flow to the electromagnet for preventing movement of the locking pawl to the locked position for a predetermined period following the initial portion of unwinding of the flexible belt from the reel means.
Inventors
- 👤 William L Pringle
- 👤 John S Cucheran
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:28
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/34; B60R22/343
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A retracting reel assembly comprising: support means; reel means rotatably supported by said support means; an elongated flexible element connected to said reel means and adapted to be wound and unwound therefrom; a locking pawl; a clutch means for moving said locking pawl, in response to rotation of said reel means, between an unlocked position for allowing rotation of said reel means and a locked position for preventing rotation of said reel means; retention means engageable with said locking pawl for retaining said locking pawl in said unlocked position for a predetermined period following the initial portion of said unwinding. CM,2Sembly as set forth in claim 1 including control means for rendering said retention means operable to retain said locking pawl in said unlocked position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
42 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including movable stop means for preventing movement of said locking pawl to said locked position by said clutch means until a predetermined length of said flexible element has been unwound from said reel means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said clutch means and said stop means are mechanically connected to and operated by said reel means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said retention means comprises an electromagnet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said control means includes a switch responsive to initial unwinding of said flexible element for activating said electromagnet by supplying current thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said control means further includes circuit breaker means for discontinuing current flow to said electromagnet at the end of said predetermined period following the initial portion of said unwinding.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said clutch means and said stop means are mechanically connected to and operated by said reel means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
341 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein: said support means includes a generally U-shaped bracket having a base and parallel sidewalls, and a shaft rotatably supported by said sidewalls; said reel means includes a cylinder disposed concentrically about said shaft, a circular platelike ratchet member secured to each end of said cylinder and to said shaft, said cylinder having a slot extending therealong and said flexible element being connected to said shaft and extending through said slot to be wound and unwound about said cylinder, and biasing means for urging said rachet members and said shaft to rotate in the winding direction; said electromagnet is supported on said base and said locking pawl is supported by and extends between said walls and includes an extension engageable with said electromagnet; said clutch means comprises a clutch plate rotatably supported on said shaft between a first of said ratchet members and the adjacent sidewall, a friction member disposed between said clutch plate and said first ratchet member, and means biasing said clutch plate into engagement with said friction member, said clutch plate being operatively connected to said locking pawl through a pin and slot arrangement; and said stop means includes a stop member engageable with said clutch plate and movable between a stop position for preventing rotation of said clutch plate in the direction for moving said locking pawl to said locked position and a release position for allowing such rotation of said clutch plate, a cam member secured to the second of said ratchet members and having a cam track which is at least in part spirally disposed about the axis of said shaft, a cam follower disposed in said cam track, and linkage means operatively interconnecting said cam follower and said stop member so that said stop member is prevented from moving from said stop position until said cam follower has been moved radially relative to said axis a predetermined amount as a result of the unwinding of said flexible element said predetermined length to rotate said reel means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |