Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A storage device for a vehicle safety belt, said storage device comprising a housing, a coiling shaft, means mounting said coiling shaft for rotation in said housing, means for connecting a safety belt to said coiling shaft for coiling thereon, a ratchet wheel, said coiling shaft having an elongated smooth trunnion fast therewith, said ratchet wheel having a journal engaging said trunnion and mounting said ratchet wheel for rotation and axial movement relative to said coiling shaft, cooperating internal and external thread means on said ratchet wheel and said coiling shaft for effecting axial movement of said ratchet wheel in response to relative rotation between said ratchet wheel and said coiling shaft, said thread means normally interconnecting said ratchet wheel and said coiling shaft for rotation in unison, said thread means being formed separate from said trunnion and journal and arranged in spaced concentric relation relative thereto, said ratchet wheel having peripheral teeth and end teeth, a pawl for engaging said peripheral teeth for preventing rotation of said ratchet wheel with said coiling shaft, an inertia member engageable with said pawl for moving said pawl into engagement with said peripheral teeth, and fixed teeth on said housing for interlocking engagement with said end teeth after axial movement of said ratchet wheel to prevent further rotation of said coiling shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
A storage device for a vehicle safety belt, said storage device comprising a housing, a coiling shaft, means mounting said coiling shaft for rotation in said housing, means for connecting a safety belt to said coiling shaft for coiling thereon, a ratchet wheel, said coiling shaft having an elongated smooth trunnion fast therewith, said ratchet wheel having a journal engaging said trunnion and mounting said ratchet wheel for rotation and axial movement relative to said coiling shaft, cooperating internal and external thread means on said ratchet wheel and said coiling shaft for effecting axial movement of said ratchet wheel in response to relative rotation between said ratchet wheel and said coiling shaft, said thread means normally interconnecting said ratchet wheel and said coiling shaft for rotation in unison, said thread means being formed separate from said trunnion and journal and arranged in spaced concentric relation relative thereto, said ratchet wheel having peripheral teeth and end teeth, a pawl for engaging said peripheral teeth for preventing rotation of said ratchet wheel with said coiling shaft, an inertia member engageable with said pawl for moving said pawl into engagement with said peripheral teeth, and fixed teeth on said housing for interlocking engagement with said end teeth after axial movement of said ratchet wheel to prevent further rotation of said coiling shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The storage device of claim 1 together with an axial pressure spring between said ratchet wheel and said coiling shaft urging said ratchet wheel away from said fixed teeth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The storage device according to claim 1 wherein said ratchet wheel on that side remote from said end teeth is stepped so that the top circle diameter of said peripheral teeth is smaller than the external diameter of said end teeth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The storage device according to claim 3, wherein said peripheral teeth are provided on a sleeve-shaped section of said ratchet wheel, said sleeve-shaped section and an adjacent backing face of said ratchet wheel which backs said end face teeth defining together with adjacent portions of said housing a recess containing said inertia member and said pawl whereby the overall size of the storage device is reduced.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The storage device according to claim 1 wherein said trunnion has a length to diameter ratio of at least 1.5.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The storage device according to claim 1 wherein siad journal extends into a recess in an end of said coiling shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The storage device according to claim 2 wherein said journal extends into a recess in an end of said coiling shaft, and said pressure spring surrounds said journal in said recess.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
The storage device according to claim 1 wherein said coiling shaft is joined to spring means biasing said coiling shaft for rotation in a belt wind-up direction, wherein said spring means comprises a first spring with its inner end attached to said coiling shaft and its outer end attached to the periphery of a freely rotatable cell-shaped member and a second spring having its inner end attached to a central boss of the bell member and its outer end attached to a fixed point on said housing.