US3883089A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety belt device
Assignee: American Safety Equipment Corp
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Filing: 1973-10-29
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Granted: 1975-05-13
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Expires: 1993-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A safety belt retractor having a frame, a strap receiving spool mounted for rotation on the frame with the spool being urged into a strap wound position and a lockbar is provided having a pawl for engaging the teeth of a ratchet tooth gear. Inertia responsive means are associated with the lockbar which is normally biased into a position out of engagement with the gear, the inertia responsive means being responsive to sudden acceleration of the strap off the spool for causing the lockbar pawl to engage with the teeth. The inertia responsive means is selectively blocked from causing the pawl to engage with the teeth upon sudden acceleration of the strap off the spool during protraction of the strap off of the spool and is responsive to a retractive movement of the strap to move into a released position.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert R Close
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:59
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/34; B60R22/36; B60R22/38; B60R22/41
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
In a safety belt retractor having a strap receiving spool mounted for roTation in a frame with said spool being urged into a strap wound position and including a lockbar having at least one locking pawl thereon adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet tooth gear on the spool, inertia responsive means adapted to engage said lockbar in response to sudden acceleration of said strap off said spool and move said lockbar to cause said pawl to engage with said teeth, the improvement comprising the provision of: means operatively connected to said spool adapted to block said inertia responsive means thereby for selectively preventing said inertia responsive means for causing said pawl to engage with said teeth upon sudden acceleration of said strap off said spool until a retractive movement of said spool releases said inertia responsive means to thereby cause said pawl to engage with said teeth.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
In a safety belt retractor having a strap receiving spool mounted for roTation in a frame with said spool being urged into a strap wound position and including a lockbar having at least one locking pawl thereon adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet tooth gear on the spool, inertia responsive means adapted to engage said lockbar in response to sudden acceleration of said strap off said spool and move said lockbar to cause said pawl to engage with said teeth, the improvement comprising the provision of: means operatively connected to said spool adapted to block said inertia responsive means thereby for selectively preventing said inertia responsive means for causing said pawl to engage with said teeth upon sudden acceleration of said strap off said spool until a retractive movement of said spool releases said inertia responsive means to thereby cause said pawl to engage with said teeth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
101 words
The improvement in the retractor of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively blocking said inertia responsive means further includes a flange connected to said spool for rotation therewith, a pivoted member, and means for mounting said pivoted member for positioning a first portion of said pivoted member in blocking relation to said inertia responsive means, and a second portion in surface engagement with said flange, whereby, during protraction of said strap, said pivoted member is urged into a blocking position and, upon a retractive movement, is urged by engagement between said flange and said second portion out of blocking engagement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
113 words
The improvement in the retractor of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively blocking said inertia responsive means also includes a nut threadably mounted on said frame and axially movable in a direction away from said pivoted member first portion when said strap is unrolled off said spool, said nut having a camming portion thereon movable from a first position whereby said camming portion holds said pivoted member in position blocking said inertia responsive means prior to said strap being unrolled off said spool to a second position whereby said camming portion moves to a position unblocking said inertia responsive means when a predetermined amount of said strap is unrolled off said spool.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
The improvement in the retractor of claim 2 wherein said pivoted member includes a yoke-like member having spaced legs pivotally mounted at one end to said frame, said legs including portions thereof extending into slots in said frame and being selectively movable therein, a yoke portion integral with the other end of said legs, said yoke portion underlying said inertia responsive means, and resilient means biasing said yoke portion into a position underlying said inertia responsive means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The improvement in the retractor of claim 4 wherein said slots are mounted offset with respect to the axis of rotation of said shaft, the retraction of said strap back onto said spool rotating said flange in a manner moving said yoke-like member out of position underlying said inertia responsive means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement in the retractor of claim 5 wherein the leg portions of said yoke-like member are mounted overcenter with respect to said slots.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement in the retractor of claim 6 wherein said camming portion abuts against said yoke portion when in said first position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a safety belt retractor having a strap receiving spool normally urged into a strap rewind position, locking means including a lockbar for locking said spool against protraction, said inertia responsive means for causing lockup of said lockbar upon acceleration of said strap off of said spool at a rate above a predetermined amount, the improvement comprising the provision of: blocking means adapted to engage said inertia responsive means in blocking relationship thereto for mormally blocking operation of said inertia responsive means and being responsive to a retractive movement of said strap back onto said spool after an initial protraction therefrom to allow operation of said inertia responsive means to thereby cause lockup Of said lockbar upon a subsequent acceleration of said strap above a predetermined amount.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a safety belt retractor having a strap receiving spool normally urged into a strap rewind position, locking means including a lockbar for locking said spool against protraction, said inertia responsive means for causing lockup of said lockbar upon acceleration of said strap off of said spool at a rate above a predetermined amount, the improvement comprising the provision of: blocking means adapted to engage said inertia responsive means in blocking relationship thereto for mormally blocking operation of said inertia responsive means and being responsive to a retractive movement of said strap back onto said spool after an initial protraction therefrom to allow operation of said inertia responsive means to thereby cause lockup Of said lockbar upon a subsequent acceleration of said strap above a predetermined amount.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
96 words
The improvement in the retractor of claim 8 wherein said means for normally blocking operation of said inertia responsive means includes a flange member connected to said spool for rotation therewith, and a yoke-like member having spaced legs pivotally mounted at one end of said frame, said legs including portions thereof extending into slots in said frame and being selectively movable therein, a yoke portion integral with the other end of said legs, said yoke portion underlying said inertia responsive means, and resilient means biasing said yoke portion into a position underlying said inertia responsive means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The improvement in the retractor of claim 9 wherein said slots are mounted offset with respect to the axis of rotation of said spool, the retraction of said strap back onto said spool rotating said flange member in a manner moving said yoke-like member out of position underlying said inertia responsive means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement in the retractor of claim 10 wherein the leg portions of said yoke-like member are mounted overcenter with respect to said slots.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement in the retractor of claim 11 wherein said camming portion abuts against said yoke portion when in said first position.
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) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |