US3838832A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety belt retractor locking device
Assignee: Irvin Automotive Products Inc
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Filing: 1973-01-02
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Granted: 1974-10-01
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Expires: 1993-01-02
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle acceleration sensitive locking device is disclosed for use with a conventional safety belt retractor having a shaft mounted ratchet. The locking device includes an inertial mass mounted to sense change in vehicle velocity above a level predetermined to be dangerous. The inertial mass, through a pivotal lever, controls the movement of a pawl by precluding or enabling the pawl to block the rotation of the ratchet and the safety belt retractor shaft and, thereby, prevent protraction of the safety belt.
Inventors
- 👤 L Romanzi
- 👤 R David
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 06:59
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/34; B60R22/36; B60R22/41; B60R22/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
420 words
A safety belt retractor locking device comprising: a. a frame, b. a shaft rotatably mounted on the frame; c. a belt attached the shaft for protraction and retraction with respect thereto; d. means for rotating the shaft to retract the belt; e. a ratchet wheel mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith; f. a pawl pivotally mounted on the frame for movement from an inoperable position wherein said pawl is spaced from the ratchet to an operate position wherein said pawl engages the ratchet to prevent protraction of the belt; g. means for moving the pawl to its operate position; h. an inertial mass mounted on the frame and responsive to a change in vehicle velocity, said mass having a contact element disposed for movement between a first position wherein the velocity change is below a predetermined magnitude and a second position wherein the velocity change is greater than said predetermined magnitude. i. a lever pivotally mounted on the frame and responsive to protraction and retraction of the belt, said lever having a contact element disposed for movement between: 1. a first position wherein said lever contact is spaced from the mass contact upon retraction of the belt; 2. a second position wherein said lever contact engages the mass contact upon protraction of the belt when the mass is in its first position; and 3. a third position wherein said lever contact is in noncontacting relation with the mass contact upon protraction of the belt when the mass is in its second position; j. means for moving the lever to its second and third positions; k. said lever contact being in alignment with the mass contact to prevent movement of the lever to its third position whEn the mass is in its first position, and said lever contact being out-of-alignment with the mass contact to permit movement of the lever to its third position when said mass is in its second position; 1. said lever and said pawl being in driving engagement with each other such that when the lever is in its first and second positions the pawl is in its inoperable position, and when the lever is in its third position the pawl is in its operate position to prevent further protraction of the belt; and m. clutch means mounted on the shaft for partial rotation therewith, said clutch means being operatively connected to the pawl and lever to displace said lever to its first position and said pawl to its inoperable position upon retraction of the belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
420 words
A safety belt retractor locking device comprising: a. a frame, b. a shaft rotatably mounted on the frame; c. a belt attached the shaft for protraction and retraction with respect thereto; d. means for rotating the shaft to retract the belt; e. a ratchet wheel mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith; f. a pawl pivotally mounted on the frame for movement from an inoperable position wherein said pawl is spaced from the ratchet to an operate position wherein said pawl engages the ratchet to prevent protraction of the belt; g. means for moving the pawl to its operate position; h. an inertial mass mounted on the frame and responsive to a change in vehicle velocity, said mass having a contact element disposed for movement between a first position wherein the velocity change is below a predetermined magnitude and a second position wherein the velocity change is greater than said predetermined magnitude. i. a lever pivotally mounted on the frame and responsive to protraction and retraction of the belt, said lever having a contact element disposed for movement between: 1. a first position wherein said lever contact is spaced from the mass contact upon retraction of the belt; 2. a second position wherein said lever contact engages the mass contact upon protraction of the belt when the mass is in its first position; and 3. a third position wherein said lever contact is in noncontacting relation with the mass contact upon protraction of the belt when the mass is in its second position; j. means for moving the lever to its second and third positions; k. said lever contact being in alignment with the mass contact to prevent movement of the lever to its third position whEn the mass is in its first position, and said lever contact being out-of-alignment with the mass contact to permit movement of the lever to its third position when said mass is in its second position; 1. said lever and said pawl being in driving engagement with each other such that when the lever is in its first and second positions the pawl is in its inoperable position, and when the lever is in its third position the pawl is in its operate position to prevent further protraction of the belt; and m. clutch means mounted on the shaft for partial rotation therewith, said clutch means being operatively connected to the pawl and lever to displace said lever to its first position and said pawl to its inoperable position upon retraction of the belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
a second position wherein said lever contact engages the mass contact upon protraction of the belt when the mass is in its first position; and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
a second position wherein said lever contact engages the mass contact upon protraction of the belt when the mass is in its first position; and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 1, wherein the third position of said lever locates the lever contact a predetermined distance from the location of said contact when the lever is in its second position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 2, wherein said mass contact comprises a crown portion of the mass; said pivotally mounted lever having an arm extending toward the mass; and said lever contact comprising a pin depending from the arm and projecting toward the crown.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
a third position wherein said lever contact is in noncontacting relation with the mass contact upon protraction of the belt when the mass is in its second position; j. means for moving the lever to its second and third positions; k. said lever contact being in alignment with the mass contact to prevent movement of the lever to its third position whEn the mass is in its first position, and said lever contact being out-of-alignment with the mass contact to permit movement of the lever to its third position when said mass is in its second position;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
a third position wherein said lever contact is in noncontacting relation with the mass contact upon protraction of the belt when the mass is in its second position; j. means for moving the lever to its second and third positions; k. said lever contact being in alignment with the mass contact to prevent movement of the lever to its third position whEn the mass is in its first position, and said lever contact being out-of-alignment with the mass contact to permit movement of the lever to its third position when said mass is in its second position;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 1, wherein said clutch means comprises a slip ring rotatably mounted on the shaft and having a lug projecting therefrom; said lever having a lug projecting toward said ring; said lugs disposed to interengage upon retraction of the belt to displace the lever to its first position and the pawl to its inoperable position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 1, wherein said clutch means comprises a cam rotatably mounted on the shaft and having a camming edge disposed to interengage with the pawl upon retraction of the belt to displace said pawl to its inoperable position and the lever to its first position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
106 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 5, wherein said cam further includes a second camming edge and a recess portion located between said edges; said second camming edge disposed to interengage with the pawl upon initial protraction of the belt to displace said pawl to its inoperable position and the lever to its second position; and said recess portion disposed to receive said pawl upon subsequent protraction of the belt when the mass is in its second position to permit movement of said pawl to its operate position and the lever to its third position to prevent further protraction of the belt.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for pivotally mounting the mass on the frame; and bias means urging the mass toward its first position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 7, wherein the center of gravity of the mass is located below the mounting 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) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-04-01 | 1978-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-30 | 1982-04-01 | 1982-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-30 | 1986-04-01 | 1986-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |