US3905562A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle safety belt retractors
Assignee: Kangol Magnet Ltd
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Filing: 1973-05-25
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Granted: 1975-09-16
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Expires: 1993-05-25
Abstract
Abstract A retractor for a vehicle safety belt has a housing rotatably supporting a shaft from which a belt can be unwound against the tension of a rewind spring, a flywheel freely journalled on the shaft to rotate therewith and a pawl eccentrically journalled on the shaft and movable by the flywheel on retardation thereof relative to the shaft from an inoperative position to a locking position in which the pawl is engaged between the shaft and internal teeth of the housing to prevent rotation of the shaft to unwind the belt. The inertia of the flywheel results in such retardation when the belt is pulled abruptly and a pendulum holds the flywheel against rotation on sensing acceleration of the retractor. Shock absorbing means such as a spring clutch between the internal teeth and the housing can be provided.
Inventors
- 👤 John Kell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:55
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/34; B60R22/36; B60R22/405; B60R22/341; B60R22/3413; B60R22/28; B60R2022/285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
254 words
A vehicle seat belt retractor comprising a housing, s shaft rotatably mounted in the housing, a seat belt having an end thereof secured to the shaft, spring means urging the shaft to rotate to wind the belt thereon, a flywheel member carried on an end of the shaft so as to rotate therewith during rotation of the shaft in the belt unwinding direction below a predetermined speed and so as to lag behind said shaft by rotation relative thereto when said predetermined speed is exceeded, a hub protruding eccentrically from said shaft end, a plate-like pawl member pivotably carried on said hub axially adjacent said flywheel member and having a peripheral recess, a tooth portion on said pawl member, tooth means carried by said housing and located around and radially outwardly of the pawl member, axially extending abutment means on said flywheel member extending into the peripheral recess of said pawl member for engagement therewith, and resilient means maintaining said pawl and flywheel members in a relative position defined by said abutment means in which position the tooth portion is spaced from the tooth means as long as the shaft rotates in the belt unwinding direction below said predetermined speed, said resilient means permitting pivoting of the pawl member on said hub but responsive to lagging of said flywheel member behind said shaft when said speed is exceeded to bring said tooth portion into engagement with said tooth means and thereby check rotation of said shaft in said direction relative to said tooth means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
254 words
A vehicle seat belt retractor comprising a housing, s shaft rotatably mounted in the housing, a seat belt having an end thereof secured to the shaft, spring means urging the shaft to rotate to wind the belt thereon, a flywheel member carried on an end of the shaft so as to rotate therewith during rotation of the shaft in the belt unwinding direction below a predetermined speed and so as to lag behind said shaft by rotation relative thereto when said predetermined speed is exceeded, a hub protruding eccentrically from said shaft end, a plate-like pawl member pivotably carried on said hub axially adjacent said flywheel member and having a peripheral recess, a tooth portion on said pawl member, tooth means carried by said housing and located around and radially outwardly of the pawl member, axially extending abutment means on said flywheel member extending into the peripheral recess of said pawl member for engagement therewith, and resilient means maintaining said pawl and flywheel members in a relative position defined by said abutment means in which position the tooth portion is spaced from the tooth means as long as the shaft rotates in the belt unwinding direction below said predetermined speed, said resilient means permitting pivoting of the pawl member on said hub but responsive to lagging of said flywheel member behind said shaft when said speed is exceeded to bring said tooth portion into engagement with said tooth means and thereby check rotation of said shaft in said direction relative to said tooth means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A retractor as claimed in claim 1 having an additional inertia sensing means responsive to a predetermined acceleration or deceleration of the retractor to hold the flywheel member against rotation with the shaft in the unwinding direction, whereby said rotation of the shaft causes said pivoting of the pawL member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
80 words
A retractor as claimed in claim 2 in which the flywheel member is formed with teeth around the periphery thereof, in which a pivotably mounted catch member is provided, and in which means mounts said catch member for pivotation from a first position spaced from said teeth to a second position in engagement with said teeth to hold the flywheel member against rotation in response to the sensing by said additional inertia sensing means of said predetermined acceleration or deceleration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
A retractor as claimed in claim 3 in which the additional inertia sensing means comprises a pendulum, having a downwardly open recess in the underside thereof and an upright mounting member having a free end received within said recess to mount the pendulum for pendulous movement in response to said predetermined acceleration or deceleration, and in which said catch member mounting means mounts said catch member for pivotation from said first to said second position in response to said pendulous movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
A retractor as claimed in claim 4 in which said mounting member comprises a pin having a substantially vertical axis, an actuator plate is located above the pendulum so as to be engageable thereby on the pendulous movement thereof, and guide means are provided above and below the pendulum for guiding the plate for movement coaxially of the mounting member, the catch member mounting means mounting the catch member to be pivoted due to engagement by the actuator plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A retractor as claimed in claim 5 in which the plate is the planar wall of a substantially hemispherical capsule containing the pendulum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A retractor as claimed in claim 1 having a series of teeth provided on the periphery of the flywheel member, and a lever pivotably mounted to engage with said teeth, the tilting of the pendulum moving the lever to engage the teeth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A retractor as claimed in claim 1 having an energy absorbing means between said housing and said tooth means, said energy absorbing means yieldably holding the belt against withdrawal when the tooth portion is engaged with said tooth means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A retractor as claimed in claim 8 in which said energy absorbing means comprises a first series of plates secured to the housing, a second series of plates interleaved with said first series of plates and secured to said tooth means, and spring means urging said interleaved series of plates into frictional engagement.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-15 | 1979-03-17 | 1979-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-15 | 1983-03-17 | 1983-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-15 | 1987-03-17 | 1987-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |