US4084840A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle sensitive retractor
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
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Filing: 1976-02-23
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Granted: 1978-04-18
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Expires: 1996-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle sensitive safety belt retractor is provided with actuating means responsive to acceleration of the vehicle for moving pawl means into engagement with ratchet means mounted on a belt strap reel of the retractor, and thereby preventing protraction of the belt. The actuating means includes mounting means provided with an arm, pendulum means having a cap in contact with the pawl means and freely suspended from the top of the arm and stop means associated with the arm for preventing horizontal displacement of the cap. Sliding friction, as well as entrapment of dirt particles and corroded material between the pendulum means and the top of the arm, is substantially avoided. The retractor is highly reliable in operation and inexpensive to maintain.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernest Dorchester Buff
- 👤 Jonathan Plaut
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:36
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/34; B60R22/36; B60R22/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A safety belt retractor, comprising: a. support means; b. reel means rotatably mounted on said support means; c. belt means attached to said reel means for protraction and retraction with respect thereto; d. biasing means for urging said reel means in a retracting direction; e. ratchet means mounted in connection to said reel means for rotation therewith; f. pawl means mounted on said support means for engaging said ratchet means to stop rotation of said reel means and thereby prevent further protraction of said belt means; and g. actuating means responsive to acceleration of said vehicle and including (1) mounting means comprising a substantially horizontal arm having an aperture therein, (2) pendulum means comprising a pendulum weight on the lower end of a shaft connected at its upper end to a cap having its upper surface contacting said pawl means and its lower surface supported on its outer edge by said arm and (3) stop means positioned on said arm about said outer edge for preventing horizontal displacement of said cap, said pendulum means being freely suspended from said mounting means and being displaceable by inertia from a normally substantially vertical position, such displacement operating to move said pawl means into engagement with said ratchet means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A safety belt retractor, comprising: a. support means; b. reel means rotatably mounted on said support means; c. belt means attached to said reel means for protraction and retraction with respect thereto; d. biasing means for urging said reel means in a retracting direction; e. ratchet means mounted in connection to said reel means for rotation therewith; f. pawl means mounted on said support means for engaging said ratchet means to stop rotation of said reel means and thereby prevent further protraction of said belt means; and g. actuating means responsive to acceleration of said vehicle and including (1) mounting means comprising a substantially horizontal arm having an aperture therein, (2) pendulum means comprising a pendulum weight on the lower end of a shaft connected at its upper end to a cap having its upper surface contacting said pawl means and its lower surface supported on its outer edge by said arm and (3) stop means positioned on said arm about said outer edge for preventing horizontal displacement of said cap, said pendulum means being freely suspended from said mounting means and being displaceable by inertia from a normally substantially vertical position, such displacement operating to move said pawl means into engagement with said ratchet means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A retractor as recited in claim 1, wherein said actuating means is responsive to acceleration having a magnitude in the order of at least about 0.1 g.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A retractor as recited in claim 1, wherein said pendulum means is not displaced from a substantially vertical position by acceleration having a magnitude less than about 0.3 g.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A retractor as recited in claim 1, wherein the lower surface of said cap has an outside diameter of about 0.1 to 3 inches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A retractor as recited in claim 1, wherein said pawl means weighs about 0.5 to 300 grams.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A retractor as recited in claim 1, wherein said pendulum weight has a center of mass located about 0.1 to 4 inches from a substantially horizontal plane passing through said lower surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A retractor as recited in claim 1, wherein said lower surface has a pointed configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A retractor as recited in claim 1, wherein said lower surface has a reduced configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A retractor as recited in claim 1, including spring means for holding said pawl means in contact with said upper surface of said cap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A retractor as recited in claim 1, wherein said cap has a cammed surface and said pawl means has a downwardly extending ball-shaped projection which contacts said cammed surface so as to provide for uniform movement of said pawl means upon displacement of said pendulum means by acceleration radially operable thereon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A retractor as recited in claim 10 wherein said lower surface has a pointed configuration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A retractor as recited in claim 10, wherein said surface has a reduced configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A retractor as recited in claim 1, including spring means supported by said support means and connected to said pawl means biasing said pawl means in contact with said cap.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A retractor as recited in claim 13, including adjustable means for varying the spring means tension.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1981-04-17 | 1981-10-17 | 1982-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-17 | 1985-10-17 | 1986-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-17 | 1989-10-17 | 1990-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |