Retractor seat belt reel having electrical switch for automotive safety circuit

Claim 2

A retraction seat belt reel assembly of the type comprising a pair of spaced-apart frame plates, a reel rotatably mounted on a shaft extending between said frame plates, a seat belt wound on said reel, and a locking pawl movable between first and second positions, said pawl being disengaged from said reel when in said first position and being in locking engagement with said reel when in said second position to prevent withdrawal of belt material from said reel, a pin mounted on said locking pawl adjacent to one of said frame plates, a frame plate slot in said one frame plate, said pin extending through said frame plate slot and externally of said one frame plate, said pin being movable in said slot upon movement of said locking pawl between said first and second positions, a locking member mounted on said shaft at a location between said one frame plate and said reel, said locking member frictionally engaging said reel, said locking member having rotation limiting and control means to limit its rotation and constituting means to control the position of said pin and the movement of said pawl between said first and second positions, a switch in combination with said reel assembly comprising: a switch housing mouNted against said one frame plate and overlying said frame plate slot, first and second electrical terminals in said housing, said first terminal having a first contact arm, and said second terminal having a second contact arm, said second contact arm extending across said frame plate slot and being movable towards and away from said first contact arm to change the condition of said switch, said pin being engageable with said second contact arm to maintain said switch in one condition, the condition of said switch being changed when said locking pawl and said pin move between said first and second positions, whereby the condition of said switch is changed when said locking pawl is engaged with said reel thereby to control a safety circuit in an automobile in which said assembly is mounted.

Claim 3

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said locking member comprises a locking arm, said rotation limiting and control means comprising a locking arm slot in said locking arm, said pin extending through said locking arm slot.

Claim 4

The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pin maintains said switch in a closed condition with said second contact arm in engagement with said first contact arm when said locking pawl is in said first position.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said housing comprises a base, a cover, and sidewalls extending between said base and cover, said base being against said one frame plate, a housing slot in said base, said housing slot conforming to, and being in alignment with, said frame plate slot, said pin extending through said housing slot.

Claim 6

The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said housing is generally triangular, said housing slot extending from a location adjacent to one apex of said housing towards the center thereof.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said first terminal extends along one side of said housing and said first contact arm extends from said apex along another side of said housing, said one side and said other side extending from said apex.

Claim 8

The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein one of said terminals is electrically connected to said one frame plate by metallic fastening means, said fastening means extending through said base of said housing and functioning to mechanically secure said housing to said one frame plate.

Claim 9

A retraction seat belt reel assembly of the type comprising a pair of spaced-apart frame plates, a reel rotatably mounted on a shaft extending between said frame plates, a seat belt wound on said reel, and a locking pawl movable between first and second positions, said pawl being disengaged from said reel when in said first position and being in locking engagement with said reel when in said second position to prevent withdrawal of belt material from said reel, a pin mounted on said locking pawl adjacent to one of said frame plates, a frame plate slot in said one frame plate, said pin extending through said frame plate slot and externally of said one frame plate, said pin being movable in said slot upon movement of said locking pawl between said first and second positions, a locking member mounted on said shaft at a location between said one frame plate and said reel, said locking member frictionally engaging said reel, said locking member having rotation limiting and control means to limit its rotation and constituting means to control the position of said pin and the movement of said pawl between said first and second positions, a switch in combination with said reel assembly comprising: a switch housing mounted against the external surface of said one frame plate, said switch housing being generally triangular and comprising a base, a cover, and sidewalls extending between said base and cover, a housing slot in said base, said housing slot conforming to, and being in alignment with, said frame plate slot, said pin extending through said housing slot and into the interior of said housing, said housing slot having oNe of its ends located adjacent to one apex of said housing and having its other end located centrally in said housing, said pin being proximate to said one end of said housing slot when said locking pawl is in said first position and being proximate to said other end of said housing slot when said locking pawl is in said second position, first and second electrical terminals in said housing, said second electrical terminal having a second contact arm which extends across said housing slot, said first electrical terminal extending along one side of said housing and having a first contact arm extending along another side of said housing, said one side and said other side extending from said apex, said second contact arm being normally spaced from said first contact arm and being flexibly moved by said pin towards, and into engagement with, said first contact arm when said locking pawl moves from said second position to said first position with concomitant movement of said pin from said other end of said housing slot to said one end of said housing slot whereby, said switch is closed when said locking pawl is in said first position, said second contact arm being resiliently movable away from said first contact arm when said locking pawl moves from said first position to said second position with concomitant movement of said pin from said one end of said housing slot to said other end of said housing slot whereby said switch is open when said locking pawl is in said second position, and metallic fastener means securing said housing to said one frame plate, said fastener means extending through portions of said second terminal thereby to electrically connect said second terminal to said other frame plate.

Claim 10

A retraction seat belt reel assembly of the type comprising a pair of spaced-apart frame plates, a reel rotatably mounted on a shaft extending between said frame plates, a seat belt wound on said reel, and a locking pawl movable between first and second positions, said pawl being disengaged from said reel when in said first position and being in locking engagement with said reel when in said second position to prevent withdrawal of belt material from said reel, a pin mounted on said locking pawl adjacent to one of said frame plates, a frame plate slot in said one frame plate, said pin extending through said frame plate slot and externally of said one frame plate, said pin being movable in said slot upon movement of said locking pawl between said first and second positions, a locking member mounted on said shaft at a location between said one frame plate and said reel, said locking member frictionally engaging said reel, said locking member having rotation limiting and control means to limit its rotation and constituting means to control the position of said pin and the movement of said pawl between said first and second positions, a switch in combination with said reel assembly comprising: a switch housing mounted against the external surface of said one frame plate, said switch housing being generally triangular and comprising a base, a cover, and sidewalls extending between said base and cover, a housing slot in said base, said housing slot conforming to, and being in alignment with, said frame plate slot, said pin extending through said housing slot and into the interior of said housing, said housing slot having oNe of its ends located adjacent to one apex of said housing and having its other end located centrally in said housing, said pin being proximate to said one end of said housing slot when said locking pawl is in said first position and being proximate to said other end of said housing slot when said locking pawl is in said second position, first and second electrical terminals in said housing, said second electrical terminal having a second contact arm which extends across said housing slot, said first electrical terminal extending along one side of said housing and having a first contact arm extending along another side of said housing, said one side and said other side extending from said apex, said second contact arm being normally spaced from said first contact arm and being flexibly moved by said pin towards, and into engagement with, said first contact arm when said locking pawl moves from said second position to said first position with concomitant movement of said pin from said other end of said housing slot to said one end of said housing slot whereby, said switch is closed when said locking pawl is in said first position, said second contact arm being resiliently movable away from said first contact arm when said locking pawl moves from said first position to said second position with concomitant movement of said pin from said one end of said housing slot to said other end of said housing slot whereby said switch is open when said locking pawl is in said second position, and metallic fastener means securing said housing to said one frame plate, said fastener means extending through portions of said second terminal thereby to electrically connect said second terminal to said other frame plate.