Automatic locking safety belt retraction reel

Claim 2

An automatic locking vehicle safety belt system comprising a belt retractor reel, a belt extending from said retractor reel, spring means urging said reel to rotate in a belt retracting direction, a rotatable drive member engaged and driven by said belt and spaced from said reel, a locking member movable between an advanced position locking said belt against withdrawal and a retracted position, means resiliently urging said locking member to its retracted position, drive coupling means movable between a disengage position and an engage position drive coupling said locking member to said drive member to advance said locking member with the rotation of said drive member toward its advanced position urging a portion of said belt to said drive member and means for advancing said drive coupling means to said engage position.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said drive member comprises a roller, said belt extending about said roller, and said drive coupling means comprises a gear coaxially affixed to and rotatable with said roller and a rack located on and movable with said locking member into engagement with said gear with the advance of said locking member from its retracted position.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 wherein said means comprises means for advancing said locking member from its retracted position.

Claim 5

An automatic locking vehicle safety belt system comprising a belt retractor reel, spring means urging said reel to rotate in a belt retraction direction, a roller spaced from said reel, a belt extending from said reel about said roller, a gear located on and rotatable with said roller, a locking member movable between an advanced position locking said belt against withdrawal and a retracted position, means resiliently urging said locking member to its retracted position and having a rack located thereon and movable therewith into engagement with said gear with the advance of said locking member from its retracted position, a pawl mounted on said locking member for movement thereoN between an advance position engaging said gear and a retracted position, and means for advancing and retracting said pawl, engagement of said gear by said pawl and rotation of said gear by said roller advancing said locking member to bring said rack into engagement with said gear whereby further rotation of said gear advances said rack and locking member.

Claim 6

An automatic locking vehicle safety belt system comprising a belt retractor reel, spring means urging said reel to rotate in a belt retraction direction, a roller spaced from said reel, a belt extending from said reel about said roller, a gear located on and rotatable with said roller, a locking member movable between an advanced position locking said belt against withdrawal and a retracted position, means resiliently urging said locking member to its retracted position and having a rack located thereon and movable therewith into engagement with said gear with the advance of said locking member from its retracted position, a pawl mounted on said locking member for movement thereoN between an advance position engaging said gear and a retracted position, and means for advancing and retracting said pawl, engagement of said gear by said pawl and rotation of said gear by said roller advancing said locking member to bring said rack into engagement with said gear whereby further rotation of said gear advances said rack and locking member.

Claim 7

The system of claim 4 wherein said pawl advancing and retracting means comprises spring means urging said pawl to its advanced position, a solenoid mounted on said locking member and means responsive to the electrical energization of said solenoid for retracting said pawl.

Claim 8

An automatic locking vehicle safety belt system comprising a bracket including a base plate and side plates, a retractor reel rotatably supported between the upper forward sections of said side plates, a roller journalled between the lower rear sections of said side plates and including a knurled medial section and a coaxial gear end section rotatable with said medial section, a locking member swingably mounted between said bracket side plates above said roller and including a finger located forwardly of said roller and being rearwardly directed and swingable toward said roller and having a rack movable into engagement with said gear with the advance swinging of said locking member from its retracted position, means resiliently urging said locking member to its retracted position and a pawl mounted on said locking member and means for moving said pawl into engagement with said gear to thereby advance said locking member to advance said rack into engagement with said gear, the rotation of said roller with the retraction of said belt rotating said gear to advance said locking member toward said roller and thereby advance said finger into engagement with said belt and clinch said belt about said roller to prevent further rotation of said belt.

Claim 9

An automatic locking vehicle safety belt system comprising a bracket including a base plate and side plates, a retractor reel rotatably supported between the upper forward sections of said side plates, a roller journalled between the lower rear sections of said side plates and including a knurled medial section and a coaxial gear end section rotatable with said medial section, a locking member swingably mounted between said bracket side plates above said roller and including a finger located forwardly of said roller and being rearwardly directed and swingable toward said roller and having a rack movable into engagement with said gear with the advance swinging of said locking member from its retracted position, means resiliently urging said locking member to its retracted position and a pawl mounted on said locking member and means for moving said pawl into engagement with said gear to thereby advance said locking member to advance said rack into engagement with said gear, the rotation of said roller with the retraction of said belt rotating said gear to advance said locking member toward said roller and thereby advance said finger into engagement with said belt and clinch said belt about said roller to prevent further rotation of said belt.

Claim 10

The system of claim 6 including spring means urging said pawl toward engagement with said gear.

Claim 11

The system of claim 7 including an electromagnet retaining said pawl from engagement with said gear upon energization of said electromagnet.