US3632055A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Seat belt retractor
Assignee: Jim Robbins Seat Belt Co
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Filing: 1970-01-13
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Granted: 1972-01-04
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Expires: 1990-01-13
Abstract
Abstract A seat belt retracting reel assembly including a U-shaped support bracket rotatably supporting a reel having ratchet members at either end thereof and with an elongated flexible seat belt element connected to the reel and wound thereabout. A locking pawl is supported between the sidewalls of the support bracket and is movable between locked and unlocked positions for respectively preventing and allowing rotation of the reel. There is also included an input member rotatable with one of the ratchet members and having a spiral cam track to coact with a holdout member for moving the holdout member radially so that the latter prevents the locking pawl from moving to the locked position during initial unwinding of the flexible seat belt. A platelike clutch member is mounted coaxially with the reel and is biased into frictional engagement with the other ratchet member so as to rotate therewith. A projection extends from he locking pawl and is disposed in a slot in the clutch member. The slot has a first leg which is disposed about the projection as the clutch member is rotated in response to initial unwinding of the seat belt to prevent the locking pawl from moving to the locked position. The slot has a second leg which is disposed about the projection after the seat belt has been fully extended and there is a slight winding rotation followed by unwinding to move the locking pawl to the locked position in engagement with the ratchet members.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W Stoffel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:20
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/34; B60R22/347; B60R22/35; B60R22/353
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 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 thereon and unwound therefrom; locking means provided with a projection and supported by said support means for movement between locked and unlocked positions for respectively preventing and allowing rotation of said reel means; holding means engageable with said locking means for preventing said locking means from moving to said locked position during initial unwinding of said flexible element from said reel means; and actuator means including a slot through which said projection extends, said slot having a first leg for disposition about said projection whereby said actuating means moves in response to initial unwinding rotation of said reel means to prevent said locking means from moving toward said locked position, said slot having a second leg for disposition about said projection whereby said actuating means moves in response to a slight winding followed by unwinding rotation of said reel means to move said locking means to said locked position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 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 thereon and unwound therefrom; locking means provided with a projection and supported by said support means for movement between locked and unlocked positions for respectively preventing and allowing rotation of said reel means; holding means engageable with said locking means for preventing said locking means from moving to said locked position during initial unwinding of said flexible element from said reel means; and actuator means including a slot through which said projection extends, said slot having a first leg for disposition about said projection whereby said actuating means moves in response to initial unwinding rotation of said reel means to prevent said locking means from moving toward said locked position, said slot having a second leg for disposition about said projection whereby said actuating means moves in response to a slight winding followed by unwinding rotation of said reel means to move said locking means to said locked position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuation means includes a platelike clutch member supported coaxially with said reel means, said clutch member being frictionally driven by said reel means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 2 with first biasing means urging said clutch member into frictional engagement with said reel means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said reel means includes a least one circular ratchet member, said locking means engaging said ratchet member in said locked position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 4 including second biasing means for urging said locking means toward said locked position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said holding means includes a holdout member movable between a first position engaging said locking means and a second position out of engagement with said locking means and an input member responsive to rotation of said reel means for moving said holdout member from said first position toward said second position during unwinding rotation of said reel means and in the opposite direction during winding rotation Of said reel means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said reel means includes third biasing means for urging winding rotation thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said slot is generally V-shaped with said legs thereof diverging from one another from an apex.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said clutch member is mounted to rotate with said reel means during winding rotation of the latter to urge said apex of said slot into engagement with said projection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said clutch member and said ratchet member are disposed adjacent one another and said first biasing means reacts with said support means to urge said clutch member toward said ratchet member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
144 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein: said support means includes a generally U-shaped bracket having a base and parallel sidewalls, and a shaft supported by said sidewalls; said reel means includes a cylinder disposed concentrically about said shaft, a pair of said ratchet members which are platelike and are secured to opposite ends of said cylinder, said ratchet members being supported by said shaft for rotation relative to said bracket, said cylinder having a slot extending therealong and said flexible element is connected to said shaft and extends through said slot to be wound and unwound about said cylinder between said ratchet members; said locking means includes a locking pawl extending between said sidewalls and a pin extending between and supported by said sidewalls, said locking pawl being rotatably supported by said pin for movement between said locked and unlocked positions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
70 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said input member is disposed for rotation with one of said ratchet members and includes a cam track which is at least in part spirally disposed about the axis of said shaft, and said holdout member includes a cam follower portion disposed in said cam track for moving said holdout member radially during winding and unwinding rotation of said reel means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said holdout member has an elongated opening therein disposed about said shaft, and peg and slot means interconnecting said holdout member and the adjacent sidewall for preventing said holdout member from rotating about the axis of said shaft, a tab extending from said locking pawl for engaging said holdout member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first leg of said slot is disposed along an arc having a center coincident with the axis of rotation of 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) | 1975-01-03 | 1975-07-05 | 1976-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-03 | 1979-07-05 | 1980-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-03 | 1983-07-05 | 1984-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |