US3885753A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Seat belt retractor mechanism
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
•
Filing: 1974-03-14
•
Granted: 1975-05-27
•
Expires: 1994-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A seat belt retractor mechanism having a belt receiving reel adapted to be held against rotation in belt protraction direction by a locking bar. The locking bar is driven into locking position by an inertia sensor comprising a pendulum. The improvement comprises an elongated drive link having at one end a first portion abutting the pendulum and a second portion having an interlocking lost motion connection with the locking bar. The drive link at its other end has a pawl appendage. The pendulum when accelerated causes the drive link to be moved an initial distance to place the pawl appendage into abutting relation to an annular ratchet plate secured to the reel, the locking bar being nonresponsive to movement of the drive link during its initial movement because of the lost motion connection therebetween. Rotation of the reel caused by protraction forces exerted on the belt subsequent to pendulum displacement causes the drive link to be moved, through engagement of its pawl appendage with the annular ratchet plate, beyond its initial movement to drive the locking bar into a reel locking position preventing further belt protraction.
Inventors
- 👤 David G Connors
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:09
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/34; B60R22/36; B60R22/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
278 words
A seat belt retractor mechanism having a belt receiving reel rotatably mounted on a shaft journalled in side walls of a support bracket, the reel at each of its ends having circular ratchet plates with peripheral ratchet teeth, a locking bar paralleling the reel shaft and pivotally mounted in the bracket side walls for movement into engagement with the circular ratchet plates to lock the reel against rotation in seat belt protraction direction, and an inertia sensor comprising a pendulum for driving the locking bar into circular ratchet plate engagement, wherein the improvement comprises: a substantially vertical, elongated, drive link paralleling one side wall of the support bracket, the drive link at one end having a first portion abutting the pendulum and a second portion having an interlocking connection with the locking bar, the drive link at its other end having a pawl appendage, an annular ratchet plate having internal ratchet teeth, the annular ratchet plate being secured to a circular ratchet plate for rotation with the latter and thereby the reel, the pendulum when accelerated causing the drive link to be raised an initial distance to place its pawl appendage into ratchet engagement with the annular ratchet plate, the interlocking connection between the drive link and the locking bar having a lost motion segment wherein the locking bar is nonresponsive to initial movement of the driving link, rotation of the reel caused by protraction forces exerted on the belt subsequent to pendulum displacement causing the annular ratchet plate to further raise the drive link to drive the locking bar into engagement with the circular ratchet plate to lock the reel against further movement in belt protraction direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
278 words
A seat belt retractor mechanism having a belt receiving reel rotatably mounted on a shaft journalled in side walls of a support bracket, the reel at each of its ends having circular ratchet plates with peripheral ratchet teeth, a locking bar paralleling the reel shaft and pivotally mounted in the bracket side walls for movement into engagement with the circular ratchet plates to lock the reel against rotation in seat belt protraction direction, and an inertia sensor comprising a pendulum for driving the locking bar into circular ratchet plate engagement, wherein the improvement comprises: a substantially vertical, elongated, drive link paralleling one side wall of the support bracket, the drive link at one end having a first portion abutting the pendulum and a second portion having an interlocking connection with the locking bar, the drive link at its other end having a pawl appendage, an annular ratchet plate having internal ratchet teeth, the annular ratchet plate being secured to a circular ratchet plate for rotation with the latter and thereby the reel, the pendulum when accelerated causing the drive link to be raised an initial distance to place its pawl appendage into ratchet engagement with the annular ratchet plate, the interlocking connection between the drive link and the locking bar having a lost motion segment wherein the locking bar is nonresponsive to initial movement of the driving link, rotation of the reel caused by protraction forces exerted on the belt subsequent to pendulum displacement causing the annular ratchet plate to further raise the drive link to drive the locking bar into engagement with the circular ratchet plate to lock the reel against further movement in belt protraction direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A seat belt retractor mechanism according to claim 1, in which: the annular ratchet plate teeth are positioned in a predetermined relationship to the circular ratchet plate teeth, the locking bar being driven into full depth insertion into the circular ratchet plate teeth in timed sequence to engagement of the drive link pawl with the annular ratchet plate teeth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A seat belt retractor mechanism according to claim 2, in which: the pendulum and drive link are located externally of the one side wall of the bracket, and the drive link pawl appendage projects through a guide slot in the bracket one side wall into operative relationship to the annular ratchet plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A seat belt retractor mechanism according to claim 3, in which: the drive link pendulum abutting portion and the locking bar interlocking portion are both at the lower end of the drive link, the interlocking portion being laterally offset from the pendulum abutting portion, and the drive link pawl appendage is at the upper end thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A seat belt retractor mechanism according to claim 4, in which: the annular ratchet plate is interposed between the slotted side wall of the bracket and the adjacent circular ratchet plate and is secured to the latter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A seat belt retractor mechanism according to claim 1, in which: the pendulum and drive link are located externally of the one side wall of the bracket, and the drive link pawl appendage projects through a guide slot in the bracket one side wall into operative relationship to the annular ratchet plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A seat belt retractor mechanism according to claim 6, in which: the annular ratchet plate is interposed between the slotted side wall of the bracket and the adjacent circular ratchet plate and is secured to the latter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A seat belt retractor mechanism according to claim 7, in which: the pendulum abutting portion of the drive link and the interlocking portion of the locking bar are both at the lower end of the drive link, the interlocking portion being laterally offset from the pendulum abutting portion, and the drive link pawl appendage is at the upper end thereof.
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) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |