US3648946A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid time delay automatic retractor
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
•
Filing: 1970-04-16
•
Granted: 1972-03-14
•
Expires: 1990-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A seat belt retracting assembly including a U-shaped support bracket rotatably supporting a reel on a shaft. A locking pawl is rotatably supported by a pin extending between the side walls of the bracket for moving to and from a locked position in engagement with a pair of spaced parallel plate-like ratchet members defining the ends of the reel. An output impeller is disposed about the shaft exteriorly of one of the side walls of the bracket and is in sealing engagement with the shaft and defines a fluid chamber. The output impeller has an arm extending therefrom with a shoulder which engages a pin extending through the adjacent side wall from the locking pawl. An input impeller is disposed about the shaft within the fluid chamber. A spiral spring is disposed about the shaft for gripping engagement with the shaft during rotation in the extending direction but which allows the shaft to freely rotate therewithin when the shaft is rotating in the retracting direction. A coil spring is disposed about the spiral spring and engages the input impeller whereby upon initial extending rotation of the reel means, the input impeller will be rotated to react through fluid in the fluid chamber with the output impeller to hold the shoulder thereof in engagement with the extension of the locking pawl to maintain the locking pawl out of the locked position. Once the initial extending rotation of the reel means has been terminated, the wound up coil spring will unwind and continue to rotate the input impeller to continue to hold the output impeller in positive engagement with the extension of the locking pawl to prevent the locking pawl from moving into locked engagement with the ratchet members until a predetermined period has elapsed after termination of the initial extending rotation of the reel means. A clutch plate, which is in frictional engagement with one of the ratchet members and includes a slot through which the extension from the locking pawl extends, is disposed between one of the ratchet members and the adjacent side wall for maintaining the locking pawl out of the locked position until there is an additional extending rotation of the reel means in response to which the clutch plate positively moves the locking pawl to the locked position.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W Stoffel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:39
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/34; B60R22/347; B60R22/35
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A retractable seat belt assembly comprising: a seat belt; retractor means movable in a retracting direction for retracting said seat belt and movable in an extending direction for permitting extension of said seat belt; locking means movable between locked and unlocked positions for respectively preventing and allowing movement of said retractor means in said extending direction; and fluid clutch means operatively connected to said locking means comprising an input impeller disposed in a fluid chamber, an output impeller having at least a portion disposed in said fluid chamber, and energy means interconnecting said retractor means and said input impeller for causing said input impeller to act upon said output impeller for a predetermined period after terminating extending movement of said retractor means whereby movement of said locking means towards said locked position during movement of said retractor means in said extending direction and during a predetermined period thereafter is prevented.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A retractable seat belt assembly comprising: a seat belt; retractor means movable in a retracting direction for retracting said seat belt and movable in an extending direction for permitting extension of said seat belt; locking means movable between locked and unlocked positions for respectively preventing and allowing movement of said retractor means in said extending direction; and fluid clutch means operatively connected to said locking means comprising an input impeller disposed in a fluid chamber, an output impeller having at least a portion disposed in said fluid chamber, and energy means interconnecting said retractor means and said input impeller for causing said input impeller to act upon said output impeller for a predetermined period after terminating extending movement of said retractor means whereby movement of said locking means towards said locked position during movement of said retractor means in said extending direction and during a predetermined period thereafter is prevented.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
135 words
A retractable seat belt assembly comprising: a seat belt; retractor means movable in a retracting direction for retracting said seat belt to a fully retracted position and movable in an extending direction for permitting extension of said seat belt; locking means movable between locked and unlocked positions for respectively preventing and allowing extending movement of said retractor means in said extending direction; control means responsive to extending movement of said retractor means for preventing movement of said locking means to said locked position until the expiration of a predetermined period after the termination of said extending movement; and operative means for maintaining said locking means out of said locked position after said predetermined period and for thereafter moving said locking means to said locked position in response to additional extending movement of said retractor means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
135 words
A retractable seat belt assembly comprising: a seat belt; retractor means movable in a retracting direction for retracting said seat belt to a fully retracted position and movable in an extending direction for permitting extension of said seat belt; locking means movable between locked and unlocked positions for respectively preventing and allowing extending movement of said retractor means in said extending direction; control means responsive to extending movement of said retractor means for preventing movement of said locking means to said locked position until the expiration of a predetermined period after the termination of said extending movement; and operative means for maintaining said locking means out of said locked position after said predetermined period and for thereafter moving said locking means to said locked position in response to additional extending movement of said retractor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said control means includes; input means, output means responsive to said input means for preventing movement of said locking means to said locked position, and energy means responsive to extending movement of said retractor means for imparting the energy developed thereby to said input means during said extending movement and said predetermined period thereafter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said control means includes; input means, output means operable in response to movement of said input means for preventing movement of said locking means to said locked position, and energy means responsive only to extending movement of said retractor means for moving said input means during said extending movement and said predetermined period thereafter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said energy means includes a coil spring which is wound in response to extending movement of said retractor means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said energy means further includes a one-way drive means for transmitting drive to wind said coil spring during extending movement of said retractor means and for transmitting no drive to said coil spring during retracting movement of said retractor means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein the outer coil of said spring is connected to said input means and the inner coil thereof is connected to said one-way drive means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said control means includes a fluid chamber, said input means includes an input impeller, said output means includes an output impeller, said impellers being coaxial so that said output impeller is responsive to said input impeller through fluid in said chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 8 including operative means for maintaining said locking means out of said locked position after said predetermined period and for thereafter moving said locking means to said locked position in response to additional extending movement of said retractor means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said retractor means includes support means and reel means rotatably supported by said support means, said seat belt being connected to said reel means to be wound thereon and unwound therefrom, said coil spring being disposed coaxially with the axis of rotation of said reel means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said reel means includes a shaft, said output impeller being disposed about said shaft and in sealing engagement therewith, said shaft being rotatable relative to said output impeller, said output impeller defining said fluid chamber, said input impeller being disposed about said shaft within said fluid chamber, said input impeller having blades extending radially from said shaft, said output impeller having blades disposed radially outwardly of said input impeller blades.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said one-way drive means comprises a spiral spring wrapped about said shaft for winding said coil spring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 12 including a coupling collar disposed about said spiral spring for rotating with said spiral spring and engaging said inner coil of said coil spring to wind said coil spring.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
275 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said support means includes a generally U-shaped bracket having a base and parallel sidewalls, said shaft extends through said sidewalls, said reel means includes a cylinder concentrically disposed about said shaft, a circular platelike ratchet member secured to each end of said cylinder, said ratchet members being supported by said shaft for rotation relative to said bracket, said cylinder having a slot extending therealong, said seat being being connected to said shaft and extending through said slot to be wound and unwound about said cylinder, biasing means urging said ratchet members and said cylinder to rotate in the retracting direction, said locking means includes a pin extending between said sidewalls and a locking pawl rotatably supported by said pin for engaging said ratchet members when in said locked position, a clutch plate rotatably supported on said shaft between a first of said walls and the adjacent ratchet member, a spring reacting between said first wall and said clutch plate for urging the latter into frictional driven engagement with said adjacent ratchet member, said locking pawL having an extension extending therefrom, said clutch plate includes a slot therethrough in which said extension is disposed so as to be operable with said extension for maintaining said locking pawl out of said locked position after said pre-determined period has expired and for thereafter moving said locking pawl to said locked position in response to additional extending rotation of said adjacent ratchet member, said first wall includes a slot therethrough and said extension extends therethrough, and said output impeller includes an arm with a shoulder thereon for engaging said extension.
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) | 1975-03-14 | 1975-09-13 | 1976-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-14 | 1979-09-13 | 1980-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-14 | 1983-09-13 | 1984-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |