Patent US3901459A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3901459A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Safety belt retractor locking device
Assignee: Irvin Automotive Products Inc
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Filing: 1974-05-28
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Granted: 1975-08-26
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Expires: 1994-05-28
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 and interconnecting linkage, displaces a pawl to its operate position to block rotation of the ratchet and the safety belt retractor shaft and, thereby, prevent protraction of the safety belt when the change in vehicle velocity exceeds the predetermined level. The device further includes restraining means operative to restrict movement of the mass to prevent actuation of the locking device upon initial protraction and full retraction of the belt.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis Romanzi
- 👤 David S Robinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:25
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/34; B60R22/36; B60R22/41; B60R22/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
294 words
A safety belt retractor locking device comprising: a. a frame; b. a shaft rotatably mounted on the frame; c. a belt attached to 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. a gear mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith; h. a latch pivotally mounted on the pawl for movement from an inoperable position wherein said latch is spaced from the gear to an operate position wherein said latch engages the gear for movement therewith to displace said pawl to its operate position; i. an inertial mass mounted on said frame and responsive to a change in vehicle velocity, said mass 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; j. a lever pivotally mounted on the frame in engagement with the mass and displaced for movement responsive to the position of the mass; k. said lever further being in engagement wIth the latch such that when the mass is in its second position the latch is displaced by the lever to its operate position to prevent further protraction of the belt; and l. restraining means mounted on the frame responsive to protraction and retraction of the belt, said restraining means being operative to prevent movement of the mass to its second position upon initial protraction and full retraction of said belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
294 words
A safety belt retractor locking device comprising: a. a frame; b. a shaft rotatably mounted on the frame; c. a belt attached to 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. a gear mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith; h. a latch pivotally mounted on the pawl for movement from an inoperable position wherein said latch is spaced from the gear to an operate position wherein said latch engages the gear for movement therewith to displace said pawl to its operate position; i. an inertial mass mounted on said frame and responsive to a change in vehicle velocity, said mass 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; j. a lever pivotally mounted on the frame in engagement with the mass and displaced for movement responsive to the position of the mass; k. said lever further being in engagement wIth the latch such that when the mass is in its second position the latch is displaced by the lever to its operate position to prevent further protraction of the belt; and l. restraining means mounted on the frame responsive to protraction and retraction of the belt, said restraining means being operative to prevent movement of the mass to its second position upon initial protraction and full retraction of said belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 1, wherein said restraining means comprises a cam wheel rotatably mounted on the frame and a cam follower pivotally mounted on said frame in engagement with the wheel; said wheel being operatively driven by said gear.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 2, wherein said cam wheel includes a lobe portion projecting radially outwardly beyond the edge of the wheel; bias means urging the cam follower into riding contact with the edge of said wheel; said follower engaging said lobe and being displaced toward the mass to prevent movement of said mass to its second position upon full retraction of the belt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 3, wherein said lever is located between the cam follower and the inertial mass; said displaced follower engaging the lever to prevent movement thereof upon full retraction of the belt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 3, wherein said cam wheel further includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs projecting outwardly normal to the plane of the wheel; said gear including a raised helical projection received between a pair of the spaced lugs and rotatably engageable with said lugs to drive the wheel upon protraction and retraction of the belt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 3, wherein said lever is located between the cam follower and the inertial mass; said displaced follower engaging the lever to prevent movement thereof upon initial protraction of the belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 3, wherein said restraining means further comprises clutch means operatively connected to the shaft for partial rotation therewith; said clutch means engaging the cam follower for maintaining said follower in its displaced position upon initial protraction of the belt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 7, wherein said clutch means comprises a slip ring rotatably connected to the shaft; said ring having a projecting lug engaging a surface portion of the displaced follower upon initial protraction of said belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 8, wherein said slip ring is rotatably mounted on the gear for partial rotation therewith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 1, wherein said gear further includes a plurality of teeth projections; said latch in its operate position engageable with one of said teeth to displace the pawl to its operate position when the mass is in its second position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 1, further comprising bias means for urging the pawl to its inoperable position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 1, wherein said mass is formed having a generally circular recess including a bottom wall tapering radially outwardly and upwardly from the center thereof; said lever including a contact element receivable in said recess.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 12, wherein said lever contact element is formed having a rounded surface slideably engaging the bottom wall of the recess upon movement of the mass.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 13, wherein said recess includes side walls defining a shoulder to retain the lever contact element within said recess during movement of the mass.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as reciTed in claim 1, wherein said mass includes a post portion; said frame having an opening for receiving said post.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 15, wherein said frame includes interior wall surfaces defining the opening and said post is formed having outer wall surfaces; at least one of said interior and outer wall surfaces being tapered to permit the mass to pivot relative to the frame.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 16, wherein said mass further includes an enlarged upper portion; said post depending from the upper portion of said mass; and the outer walls of said post tapering inwardly toward the enlarged portion of the mass.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
150 words
The safety belt retractor locking device as recited in claim 1, wherein said mass is formed having a generally circular recess including a bottom wall tapering radially outwardly and upwardly from the center thereof, and side walls defining a shoulder; said lever including a contact element having a rounded surface slideably engaging the bottom wall of the recess; said mass including a post portion formed having outer wall surfaces; said frame including interior wall surfaces defining an opening for receiving the post; at least one of said interior and outer wall surfaces being tapered to permit the mass to pivot relative to the frame; said lever contact element engaging the shoulder of the recess upon movement of the mass to its second position to limit further pivotal movement of said mass and prevent the outer wall surfaces of the post from contacting the interior wall surfaces of the frame opening.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a safety belt retractor locking device having an inertial mass disposed for movement responsive to changes in velocity, the improvement comprising: a. a support; b. said mass being pivotally mounted on said support and having a head portion and a post portion, said post portion extending downwardly from said head portion and having an outer wall surface; c. said support having an interior wall surface defining an opening for receiving the post portion; d. said head portion having a camming surface; e. said camming surface having a restraining lip at its outer periphery; f. a cam follower resting on said camming surface wherein pivotal movement of said mass causes displacement of said cam follower; g. said cam follower engaging said restraining lip upon pivotal movement of said mass a predetermined amount preventing further pivotal movement of said mass; and h. the outer wall surface of the post portion being spaced from the inner wall surface of the support opening during pivotal movement of the mass to the position where the cam follower engages with the restraining lip.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a safety belt retractor locking device having an inertial mass disposed for movement responsive to changes in velocity, the improvement comprising: a. a support; b. said mass being pivotally mounted on said support and having a head portion and a post portion, said post portion extending downwardly from said head portion and having an outer wall surface; c. said support having an interior wall surface defining an opening for receiving the post portion; d. said head portion having a camming surface; e. said camming surface having a restraining lip at its outer periphery; f. a cam follower resting on said camming surface wherein pivotal movement of said mass causes displacement of said cam follower; g. said cam follower engaging said restraining lip upon pivotal movement of said mass a predetermined amount preventing further pivotal movement of said mass; and h. the outer wall surface of the post portion being spaced from the inner wall surface of the support opening during pivotal movement of the mass to the position where the cam follower engages with the restraining lip.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
The improvement of claim 19, wherein the interior wall of the support opening is substantially cylindrical, and the outer wall of the post portion is substantially conical having its greatest diameter at the bottom of said post and its smallest diameter adjacent the head portion of the mass.
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) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |