Belt storage apparatus

Claim 2

In a pawl and ratchet mechanism including a reel element for storing in coiled form in a fully wound condition a tensile element of finite length, said reel element being rotatable from a position corresponding to the fully wound condition of said tensile element in an extending direction for uncoiling said tensile element and through an equal number of revolutions in a retracting direction for restoring said tensile element to the fully wound condition, spring means biasing said reel element in the retracting direction, a ratchet element having a plurality of tooth segments, said ratchet element being rotatable as a unit with said reel element, a pawl engageable on said tooth segments for preventing rotation of said reel element in the extending direction, spring means biasing said pawl for engagement on said tooth segments, a shutter element rotatable as a unit with said ratchet element and relative to the latter between a first position and a second position, means associated with said shutter element for locating the latter in the first position during rotation of said reel element in the extending direction and in the second position during rotation of said reel element in the retracting direction, and means on said shutter element engageable on said pawl for preventing engAgement of said pawl on said tooth segments when said shutter element is in the second position relative to said ratchet element, said shutter element in the first position thereof permitting engagement of said pawl on said tooth segments for preventing rotation of said reel element in the extending direction, the combination comprising, latch means associated with said reel element and with said shutter element movable between a latched position preventing movement of said shutter element to the first position relative to said reel element and an unlatched position permitting movement of said shutter element to the first position, latch operating means associated with said latch means and operative to effect movement of said latch means from the unlatched position to the latched position in response to sequential rotation of said reel element first in the retracting direction to the position corresponding to substantially the fully wound condition of said tensile element and then in the extending direction so that said shutter element is prevented from achieving the first position relative to said reel element during succeeding revolutions of the latter in the extending direction, and unlatching means associated with said latch means operative to move said latch means from the latched to the unlatched position in response to rotation of said reel element in the retracting direction after said tensile element has been uncoiled beyond substantially the fully wound condition.

Claim 3

In a pawl and ratchet mechanism including a reel element for storing in coiled form in a fully wound condition a tensile element of finite length, said reel element being rotatable from a position corresponding to the fully wound condition of said tensile element in an extending direction for uncoiling said tensile element and through an equal number of revolutions in a retracting direction for restoring said tensile element to the fully wound condition, spring means biasing said reel element in the retracting direction, a ratchet element having a plurality of tooth segments, said ratchet element being rotatable as a unit with said reel element, a pawl engageable on said teeth segments for preventing rotation of said reel element in the extending direction, spring means biasing said pawl for engagement on said tooth segments, a shutter element rotatable as a unit with said ratchet element and relative to the latter between a first position and a second position, means associated with said shutter element for locating the latter in the first position during rotation of said reel element in the extending direction and in the second position during rotation of said reel element in the retracting direction, and means on said shutter element engageable on said pawl for preventing engagement of said pawl on said tooth segments when said shutter element is in the second position relative to said ratchet element, said shutter element in the first position thereof permitting engagement of said pawl on said tooth segments for preventing rotation of said reel element in the extending direction, the combination comprising, a latch member, means connecting said latch member to said reel element for rotation as a unit therewith and for movement relative thereto between a latched position and an unlatched position, means on said shutter element defining a latch keeper, said latch member in the latched position thereof engaging said keeper thereby to prevent movement of said shutter element to the first position and in the unlatched position being remote from said keeper thereby to permit movement of said shutter element to the first position, latch operating means associated with said latch member and operative to effect movement of said latch member from the unlatched position to the latched position in response to sequential rotation of said reel element first in the retracting direction to the position corresponding to substantially the fully wound condition of said tensile element and then in the extending direction So that said shutter element is prevented from achieving the first position relative to said reel element during succeeding revolutions of the latter in the extending direction, and unlatching means associated with said latch member operative to move the latter from the latched to the unlatched position in response to rotation of said reel element in the retracting direction after said tensile element has been uncoiled beyond substantially the fully wound condition.

Claim 4

In a pawl and ratchet mechanism including a reel element for storing in coiled form in a fully wound condition a tensile element of finite length, said reel element being rotatable from a position corresponding to the fully wound condition of said tensile element in an extending direction for uncoiling said tensile element and through an equal number of revolutions in a retracting direction for restoring said tensile element to the fully wound condition, spring means biasing said reel element in the retracting direction, a ratchet element having a plurality of tooth segments, said ratchet element being rotatable as a unit with said reel element, a pawl engageable on said teeth segments for preventing rotation of said reel element in the extending direction, spring means biasing said pawl for engagement on said tooth segments, a shutter element rotatable as a unit with said ratchet element and relative to the latter between a first position and a second position, means associated with said shutter element for locating the latter in the first position during rotation of said reel element in the extending direction and in the second position during rotation of said reel element in the retracting direction, and means on said shutter element engageable on said pawl for preventing engagement of said pawl on said tooth segments when said shutter element is in the second position relative to said ratchet element, said shutter element in the first position thereof permitting engagement of said pawl on said tooth segments for preventing rotation of said reel element in the extending direction, the combination comprising, a latch member, means connecting said latch member to said reel element for rotation as a unit therewith and for movement relative thereto between a latched position and an unlatched position, means on said shutter element defining a latch keeper, said latch member in the latched position thereof engaging said keeper thereby to prevent movement of said shutter element to the first position and in the unlatched position being remote from said keeper thereby to permit movement of said shutter element to the first position, latch operating means associated with said latch member and operative to effect movement of said latch member from the unlatched position to the latched position in response to sequential rotation of said reel element first in the retracting direction to the position corresponding to substantially the fully wound condition of said tensile element and then in the extending direction So that said shutter element is prevented from achieving the first position relative to said reel element during succeeding revolutions of the latter in the extending direction, and unlatching means associated with said latch member operative to move the latter from the latched to the unlatched position in response to rotation of said reel element in the retracting direction after said tensile element has been uncoiled beyond substantially the fully wound condition.

Claim 5

In a pawl and ratchet mechanism including a frame, a reel element having an integral ratchet disc with a plurality of tooth segments thereon, said reel element being adapted for storing in coiled form in a fully wound condition a tensile element of finite length and being supported on said frame for rotation from a position corresponding to the fully wound condition of said tensile element in an extending direction for uncoiling said tensile element and through an equal number of revolutions in a retracting direction for restoring said tensile element to the fully wound condition, spring means biasing said reel element for rotation in the retracting direction, a pawl supported on said frame for engagement on said tooth segments for preventing rotation of said reel element in the extending direction, and spring means biasing said pawl for engagement on said tooth segments, the combination comprising, a control element supported on said frame for rotation as a unit with said reel element, a shutter element supported on said frame for rotation as a unit with said control element and for rotation relative to the latter between a first position and a second position, means associated with said shutter element operative to locate the latter in the first position during rotation of said reel element in the extending direction and in the second position during rotation of said reel element in the retracting direction, means on said shutter element engageable on said pawl in the second position of said shutter element for preventing engagement of said pawl on said tooth segments, said shutter element in the first position thereof permitting engagement of said pawl on said tooth segments for preventing rotation of said reel element in the extending direction, a latch member disposed on said control element for movement relative to the latter between a latched position and an unlatched position, means on said shutter element defining a latch keeper, said latch member in the latched position thereof engaging said keeper thereby to prevent movement of said shutter element to the first position and in the unlatched position being remote from said keeper thereby to permit movement of said shutter element to the first position, an actuator element disposed on said control element for movement between an operative position engaging said latch member and locating the latter in the latched position and an inoperative position remote from said latch member, means disposed between said actuator element and said reel element responsive to rotation of the latter in the retracting direction for moving said actuator element from the inoperative to the operative position thereof when said tensile element achieves substantially the fully wound condition so that said shutter element is prevented from achieving the first position thereof during the next succeeding rotations of said reel element in the extending direction, and unlatching means disposed between said latch member and said control element for moving said latch member to the unlatched position in response to rotation of said reel element in the retracting direction after said tensile element has been uncoiled beyond the fully wound condition.

Claim 6

In a pawl and ratchet mechanism including a frame, a reel element having an integral ratchet disc with a plurality of tooth segments thereon, said reel element being adapted for storing in coiled form in a fully wound condition a tensile element of finite length and being supported on said frame for rotation from a position corresponding to the fully wound condition of said tensile element in an extending direction for uncoiling said tensile element and through an equal number of revolutions in a retracting direction for restoring said tensile element to the fully wound condition, spring means biasing said reel element for rotation in the retracting direction, a pawl supported on said frame for engagement on said tooth segments for preventing rotation of said reel element in the extending direction, and spring means biasing said pawl for engagement on said tooth segments, the combination comprising, a control element supported on said frame for rotation as a unit with said reel element, a shutter element supported on said frame for rotation as a unit with said control element and for rotation relative to the latter between a first position and a second position, means associated with said shutter element operative to locate the latter in the first position during rotation of said reel element in the extending direction and in the second position during rotation of said reel element in the retracting direction, means on said shutter element engageable on said pawl in the second position of said shutter element for preventing engagement of said pawl on said tooth segments, said shutter element in the first position thereof permitting engagement of said pawl on said tooth segments for preventing rotation of said reel element in the extending direction, a latch member disposed on said control element for movement relative to the latter between a latched position and an unlatched position, means on said shutter element defining a latch keeper, said latch member in the latched position thereof engaging said keeper thereby to prevent movement of said shutter element to the first position and in the unlatched position being remote from said keeper thereby to permit movement of said shutter element to the first position, an actuator element disposed on said control element for movement between an operative position engaging said latch member and locating the latter in the latched position and an inoperative position remote from said latch member, means disposed between said actuator element and said reel element responsive to rotation of the latter in the retracting direction for moving said actuator element from the inoperative to the operative position thereof when said tensile element achieves substantially the fully wound condition so that said shutter element is prevented from achieving the first position thereof during the next succeeding rotations of said reel element in the extending direction, and unlatching means disposed between said latch member and said control element for moving said latch member to the unlatched position in response to rotation of said reel element in the retracting direction after said tensile element has been uncoiled beyond the fully wound condition.

Claim 7

In a pawl and ratchet mechanism including a frame, a reel element having an integral ratchet disc defining a circumferential surface portion with a plurality of tooth segments therein, said reel element being adapted for storing in coiled form in a fully wound condition a tensile element of finite length and being supported on said framE for rotation from a position corresponding to the fully wound condition of said tensile element in an extending direction for uncoiling said tensile element and through an equal number of revolutions in a retracting direction for restoring said tensile element to the fully wound condition, spring means biasing said reel element for rotation in the retracting direction, a pawl supported on said frame for engagement on said tooth segments for preventing rotation of said reel element in the extending direction, and spring means biasing said pawl for engagement on said tooth segments, the combination comprising, a control element supported on said frame for rotation as a unit with said reel element and including an arcuate slot, a shutter disc equal in diameter to said ratchet disc and including a plurality of circumferential surface elements corresponding in number to the number of said ratchet tooth segments and a flange adapted for reception in said arcuate slot, means rotatably supporting said shutter disc on said frame with said flange projecting through said arcuate slot so that said shutter disc is rotatable as a unit with said control element and relative to the latter between a first position and a second position as defined by engagement between said flange and opposite ends of said arcuate slot, friction means disposed between said frame and said shutter disc operative to retard rotation of the latter, said friction means cooperating with said flange and with said arcuate slot in locating said shutter disc in the first position during rotation of said reel element in the extending direction and in the second position during rotation of said reel in the retracting direction, said circumferential surface elements being engageable on said pawl in the second position of said shutter disc for preventing engagement of said pawl on corresponding ones of said tooth segments and remote from said pawl in the first position of said shutter disc thereby to permit engagement of said pawl on said tooth segments, a latch member disposed on said control element for movement relative thereto between a latched position and an unlatched position, return spring means biasing said latch member toward the unlatched position, means on said flange defining a latch keeper, said latch member in the latched position thereof engaging said keeper thereby to prevent movement of said shutter disc to the first position and in the unlatched position being remote from said keeper thereby to permit movement of said shutter disc to the first position, an actuator element disposed on said control element for rotation as a unit therewith and for bodily shiftable movement relative thereto between an inoperative position and an operative position, means on said actuator element engaging said latch member in the operative position of said actuator element for moving said latch member to the latched position thereof, said actuator element in the inoperative position being remote from said latch member, and means disposed between said frame and said actuator element for effecting bodily shiftable movement of the latter from the inoperative position in response to rotation of said reel in the retracting direction to a position corresponding to substantially the fully wound condition of said tensile element so that said shutter element is prevented from achieving the first position thereof during the next succeeding revolutions of said reel element in the extending direction, said return spring means being operative to move said latch member to the unlatched position thereof in response to rotation of said reel in the retracting direction after said tensile element has been extended beyond substantially the fully retracted condition.

Claim 8

In a pawl and ratchet mechanism including a frame, a reel element having an integral ratchet disc defining a circumferential surface portion with a plurality of tooth segments therein, said reel element being adapted for storing in coiled form in a fully wound condition a tensile element of finite length and being supported on said framE for rotation from a position corresponding to the fully wound condition of said tensile element in an extending direction for uncoiling said tensile element and through an equal number of revolutions in a retracting direction for restoring said tensile element to the fully wound condition, spring means biasing said reel element for rotation in the retracting direction, a pawl supported on said frame for engagement on said tooth segments for preventing rotation of said reel element in the extending direction, and spring means biasing said pawl for engagement on said tooth segments, the combination comprising, a control element supported on said frame for rotation as a unit with said reel element and including an arcuate slot, a shutter disc equal in diameter to said ratchet disc and including a plurality of circumferential surface elements corresponding in number to the number of said ratchet tooth segments and a flange adapted for reception in said arcuate slot, means rotatably supporting said shutter disc on said frame with said flange projecting through said arcuate slot so that said shutter disc is rotatable as a unit with said control element and relative to the latter between a first position and a second position as defined by engagement between said flange and opposite ends of said arcuate slot, friction means disposed between said frame and said shutter disc operative to retard rotation of the latter, said friction means cooperating with said flange and with said arcuate slot in locating said shutter disc in the first position during rotation of said reel element in the extending direction and in the second position during rotation of said reel in the retracting direction, said circumferential surface elements being engageable on said pawl in the second position of said shutter disc for preventing engagement of said pawl on corresponding ones of said tooth segments and remote from said pawl in the first position of said shutter disc thereby to permit engagement of said pawl on said tooth segments, a latch member disposed on said control element for movement relative thereto between a latched position and an unlatched position, return spring means biasing said latch member toward the unlatched position, means on said flange defining a latch keeper, said latch member in the latched position thereof engaging said keeper thereby to prevent movement of said shutter disc to the first position and in the unlatched position being remote from said keeper thereby to permit movement of said shutter disc to the first position, an actuator element disposed on said control element for rotation as a unit therewith and for bodily shiftable movement relative thereto between an inoperative position and an operative position, means on said actuator element engaging said latch member in the operative position of said actuator element for moving said latch member to the latched position thereof, said actuator element in the inoperative position being remote from said latch member, and means disposed between said frame and said actuator element for effecting bodily shiftable movement of the latter from the inoperative position in response to rotation of said reel in the retracting direction to a position corresponding to substantially the fully wound condition of said tensile element so that said shutter element is prevented from achieving the first position thereof during the next succeeding revolutions of said reel element in the extending direction, said return spring means being operative to move said latch member to the unlatched position thereof in response to rotation of said reel in the retracting direction after said tensile element has been extended beyond substantially the fully retracted condition.