Safety belt locking with conical inertia member

Claim 2

A locking mechanism operated by inertia and adapted for use with a safety belt having a withdrawal direction and a retracting direction, said safety belt being adapted to be wound around a reel having a ratchet wheel, said locking mechanism comprising: a. a substantially conical inertia member having a base and an apex, said inertia member being adapted to be dispoSed in a central position when said locking mechanism is not in operation and adapted to be displaced from said central position by inertia; b. a retaining platform for said inertia member, said inertia member being supported on said retaining platform; c. a substantially conical actuating member having an apex and an open bottom, said actuating member being disposed above said inertia member and centered over said central position of said inertia member; d. a locking dog affixed to said actuating member, whereby displacement of said inertia member from said central position causes movement of said actuating member and said locking dog to restrain said safety belt against movement in the withdrawal direction; and e. said inertia member further comprising a plurality of recesses in the base of the inertia member and a plurality of balls rotatably positioned in said recesses, said balls resting on said retaining platform and supporting said inertia member thereon, said inertia member being adapted to roll on said retaining platform by means of the rotatable balls.

Claim 3

The locking mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the angle formed by the sides of said actuating member at its apex is greater than the angle formed by the sides of said inertia member at its apex.

Claim 4

The locking mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said locking dog engages said ratchet wheel at one of its ends and has a pivot point at its other end.

Claim 5

The locking mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said actuating member is slightly tilted, thereby providing uniform sensitivity to the engaging action of the locking dog to the ratchet wheel.

Claim 6

The locking mechanism according to claim 4 wherein the angle formed by the side of said actuating member adjacent the pivoting end of said locking dog with the vertical plane is greater than the angle formed by the side of said actuating member adjacent the engaging end of said locking dog with the vertical plane.

Claim 7

The locking mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said inertia member has a closed base structurally enclosing the inertia member at its bottom and providing a surface for said recesses; and wherein said actuating member is in contact with said inertia member.

Claim 8

The locking mechanism according to claim 4 wherein the side of said actuating member adjacent to the pivoting end of said locking dog is slightly shorter than the side of said actuating member adjacent to the engaging end of said locking dog.

Claim 9

A locking mechanism operated by inertia and adapted for use with a safety belt, said safety belt having a withdrawal direction and a retracting direction, said safety belt being adapted to be wound around a reel having a ratchet wheel, said locking mechanism comprising: a. an inertia member having a substantially conical shape, a base and an apex, said inertia member being adapted to be disposed in a central position when said locking mechanism is not in operation and adapted to be displaced from said central position by inertia; b. a retaining platform for said inertia member, said inertia member being supported on said retaining platform, said platform having upturned sides, said inertia member having two substantially stable positions, a rest position when said inertia member is located in the approximate center of said retaining platform, and an engaged position when said inertia member is located at or near the periphery of said retaining platform; c. a substantially conical actuating member disposed above said inertia member, centered over said central rest position of said inertia member, said actuating member having an open bottom, being slightly tilted, and being in contact with said inertia member; d. a locking dog affixed to said actuating member, whereby displacement of said inertia member from said rest position causes said locking dog to restrain said safety belt against movement in the withdrawal direction, said locking dog engaging said ratchet wheel at one of its ends and having a piVot point at its other end, the angle formed by the side of said actuating member adjacent the pivoting end of said locking dog with the vertical plane being greater than the angle formed by the side of said actuating member adjacent the engaging end of said locking dog with the vertical plane, thereby providing uniform sensitivity to the engaging action of the locking dog to the ratchet wheel; e. said inertia member further comprising a plurality of recesses in the base of the inertia member and a plurality of balls rotatably positioned in said recesses, said balls resting on said retaining platform and supporting said inertia member thereon, said inertia member being adapted to roll on said retaining platform in any direction by means of said rotatable balls.

Claim 10

A locking mechanism operated by inertia and adapted for use with a safety belt, said safety belt having a withdrawal direction and a retracting direction, said safety belt being adapted to be wound around a reel having a ratchet wheel, said locking mechanism comprising: a. an inertia member having a substantially conical shape, a base and an apex, said inertia member being adapted to be disposed in a central position when said locking mechanism is not in operation and adapted to be displaced from said central position by inertia; b. a retaining platform for said inertia member, said inertia member being supported on said retaining platform, said platform having upturned sides, said inertia member having two substantially stable positions, a rest position when said inertia member is located in the approximate center of said retaining platform, and an engaged position when said inertia member is located at or near the periphery of said retaining platform; c. a substantially conical actuating member disposed above said inertia member, centered over said central rest position of said inertia member, said actuating member having an open bottom, being slightly tilted, and being in contact with said inertia member; d. a locking dog affixed to said actuating member, whereby displacement of said inertia member from said rest position causes said locking dog to restrain said safety belt against movement in the withdrawal direction, said locking dog engaging said ratchet wheel at one of its ends and having a piVot point at its other end, the angle formed by the side of said actuating member adjacent the pivoting end of said locking dog with the vertical plane being greater than the angle formed by the side of said actuating member adjacent the engaging end of said locking dog with the vertical plane, thereby providing uniform sensitivity to the engaging action of the locking dog to the ratchet wheel; e. said inertia member further comprising a plurality of recesses in the base of the inertia member and a plurality of balls rotatably positioned in said recesses, said balls resting on said retaining platform and supporting said inertia member thereon, said inertia member being adapted to roll on said retaining platform in any direction by means of said rotatable balls.