Extended low tension range dual tension safety belt retractor

Claim 2

In a safety belt retractor having a frame, a belt storage reel rotatably mounted to said frame, a rewind spring means for biasing said reel in a belt rewind direction under the urging of a first bias, tension reducing means for providing a second rewind bias on said reel of an amount less than said first bias to provide a reduced tension on said belt, activating means for activating said tension reducing means in response to reel rotation in a predetermined manner, the improvement in means for deactivating said tension reducing means in response to reel rotation under the urging of said second bias comprising the provision of: spiral cam surface means mounted to said frame and presenting a spiral surface having an extent of more than one full revolution about a spiral center; cam follower means mounted to said frame for movement along said surface; means for driving said cam follower means along said surface in direct response to rotation of said reel; and means operated by radial displacement of said cam follower means relative said spiral center due to travel of more than one full revolution about said center for deactivating said tension reducing means.

Claim 3

The improvement in safety belt retractor of claim 1 wherein said tension reducing means includes a pawl and ratchet, said pawl engaging said ratchet when in an activated position to provide said second rewind bias, and means for mounting said pawl for rotation concurrent with rotation of said reel when in said activated position due to the operation of said activating means and said reel is biased by said second rewind bias; and said means operated by radial displacement of said cam follower means includes abutment means for engaging said pawl during its rotation with said reel and for moving said pawl to a deactivated position out of engagement with said ratchet when said cam follower means is radially displaced by a predetermined amount.

Claim 4

The improvement in safety belt retractor of claim 2 wherein said retractor includes a cover for said spring means and tension reducing means and said spiral surface is formed on an inner side of said cover.

Claim 5

The improvement in safety belt retractor of claim 1 wherein: said means for mounting said pawl for rotation concurrent with rotation of said reel includes a member rotatably mounted to said retractor frame and a pivot pin pivotally mounting said pawl; said means for driving said cam follower means includes an arm pivotally mounted to said pivot pin and mounting said follower for rotation relative said pin; and said means operated by radial displacement of said follower includes an abutment surface on said arm and disposed for engaging and moving said pawl to a deactivated position on movement of said arm about said pin by said cam follower means.

Claim 6

The improvement in safety belt retractor of claim 4 wherein said member is biased by said rewind spring means in a first direction opposite to the direction of rotation thereof under said second reduced rewind bias; and said spiral cam surface terminates at one end in a stop surface, whereby rotation of said member in said first direction is limited by said cam follower means abutting said stop surface.

Claim 7

In a safety belt retractor having a belt storage reel and rewind spring means for biasing said reel in a belt rewind direction, means for providing a reduced rewind bias on said reel to provide a reduced tension on said belt; means for activating said means for providing a reduced rewind bias in response to reel rotation in a predetermined manner; and means for deactivating said means for providing a reduced rewind bias in response to reel rotation in a belt rewind direction of more than one full revolution under the influence of said reduced tension, the improvement in said deactivating means comprising the provision of: camming means including a spiral cam surface and a cam follower driven by rotation of said reel when biased by said reduced rewind bias along said surface, movement of said follower by said surface operating to deactivate said means for providing a reduced rewind bias.

Claim 8

In a safety belt retractor having a belt storage reel and rewind spring means for biasing said reel in a belt rewind direction, means for providing a reduced rewind bias on said reel to provide a reduced tension on said belt; means for activating said means for providing a reduced rewind bias in response to reel rotation in a predetermined manner; and means for deactivating said means for providing a reduced rewind bias in response to reel rotation in a belt rewind direction of more than one full revolution under the influence of said reduced tension, the improvement in said deactivating means comprising the provision of: camming means including a spiral cam surface and a cam follower driven by rotation of said reel when biased by said reduced rewind bias along said surface, movement of said follower by said surface operating to deactivate said means for providing a reduced rewind bias.

Claim 9

The improvement in safety belt retractor of claim 6 wherein means are provided for mounting said follower for concurrent rotation of substantially the same amount as said reel and said spiral cam surface has an extent of greater than one revolution, whereby said reel may rotate more than one revolution under the influence of said reduced rewind bias before said means for providing a reduced rewind bias is deactivated.

Claim 10

In a safety belt tensioning and rewinding retractor having a safety belt storage reel rotatably mounted to a retractor frame and lockable against belt unwinding by emergency locking means; a member rotatably mounted to said frame and means for limiting rotation of said member in a first rotative direction; first spring means connected between said member and reel for biasing said member toward said limiting means and said reel in an opposite, belt rewinding direction; tension relieving means for releasably connecting said member to said reel when activated to block the bias of said first spring means when said belt is placed in a position of use; and second spring means for biasing said member in a belt rewind direction whereby said reel, when connected to said member by said connecting means, is biased in a rewind direction by said second spring means wherein the bias of said second spring means on said member is of a lesser amount and is in an opposite direction to that of said first spring means acting on said member, the improvement comprising the provision of: spiral cam surface means mounted to said frame and presenting a spiral surface having an extent of more than one full revolution about a spiral center; cam follower means mounted to said frame for movement along said surface; means for driving said cam follower along said surface in direct response to rotation of said spool; and means operated by radial displacement of said follower relative said spiral center due to travel of more than one full revolution about said center for deactivating said tension relieving means.

Claim 11

In a safety belt tensioning and rewinding retractor having a safety belt storage reel rotatably mounted to a retractor frame and lockable against belt unwinding by emergency locking means; a member rotatably mounted to said frame and means for limiting rotation of said member in a first rotative direction; first spring means connected between said member and reel for biasing said member toward said limiting means and said reel in an opposite, belt rewinding direction; tension relieving means for releasably connecting said member to said reel when activated to block the bias of said first spring means when said belt is placed in a position of use; and second spring means for biasing said member in a belt rewind direction whereby said reel, when connected to said member by said connecting means, is biased in a rewind direction by said second spring means wherein the bias of said second spring means on said member is of a lesser amount and is in an opposite direction to that of said first spring means acting on said member, the improvement comprising the provision of: spiral cam surface means mounted to said frame and presenting a spiral surface having an extent of more than one full revolution about a spiral center; cam follower means mounted to said frame for movement along said surface; means for driving said cam follower along said surface in direct response to rotation of said spool; and means operated by radial displacement of said follower relative said spiral center due to travel of more than one full revolution about said center for deactivating said tension relieving means.

Claim 12

The improvement in safety belt retractor of claim 8 wherein said tension relieving means includes a pawl and ratchet, said pawl engaging said ratchet when in an activated position to provide said second rewind bias, and means for mounting said pawl for rotation concurrent with rotation of said spool when in an activated position due to the operation of said activating means and said spool is biased by said second rewind bias; and said means operated by radial displacement of said cam follower means includes abutment means for engaging said pawl during its rotation with said spool and for moving said pawl to a deactivated position out of engagement with said ratchet when said cam follower means is radially displaced by a predetermined amount.

Claim 13

The improvement in safety belt retractor of claim 9 wherein said retractor includes a cover for said first spring means and tension relieving means and said spiral surface is formed on an inner side of said cover.

Claim 14

The improvement in safety belt retractor of claim 10 wherein: said means for mounting said pawl for rotation concurrent with rotation of said spool includes a member rotatably mounted to said retractor frame and a pivot pin pivotally mounting said pawl; said means for driving said cam follower means includes an arm pivotally mounted to said pivot pin and mounting said follower for rotation relative said pins; and said means operated by radial displacement of said follower includes an abutment surface on said arm and disposed for engaging and moving said pawl to a deactivated position on movement of said arm about said pin by said cam follower means.

Claim 15

The improvement in safety belt retractor of claim 11 wherein said member is biased by said first spring means in a first direction opposite to the direction of rotation thereof under said second reduced rewind bias; and said spiral cam surface terminates at an outer end in a stop surface, whereby rotation of said member in said first direction is limited by said cam follower means abutting said stop surface.