Linear locking seat belt retractor

Claim 2

A seat belt locking and retracting mechanism comprising: a longitudinally extending track member; a belt carriage member mounted on the track member for movement therealong and having a belt attached thereto; a locking means mounted on one of the members and actuatable to a locked position engaging the other member to lock the carriage member against movement along the track member; an actuating element extending longitudinally adjacent the track member along the path of carriage movement and being selectively movable relative thereto to actuate the locking means; and an inertia sensing means operatively engageable with the actuating element for moving the actuating element whereby the locking means is actuated by the actuating element in response to a sensed acceleration condition to lock the carriage member against movement along the track member.

Claim 3

A seat belt locking and retracting mechanism comprising: a longitudinally extending track having locking teeth spaced therealong; a belt carriage mounted on the track for longitudinal movement therealong and having the belt attached thereto; a locking pawl mounted on the belt carriage and adapted for actuation to a locked position engaging the teeth of the track to lock the carriage against movement along the track; a longitudinally extending actuating element mounted in parallel spaced relation with the track and adapted for movement relative the track; means acting between the locking pawl and the actuating element to actuate the locking pawl to the locked condition upon movement of the actuating element relative the track; and an inertia sensing means mounted at a fixed longitudinal position relative the track, said inertia sensing means being operatively associated with actuating element to impart movement to the actuating element in response to a sensed acceleration condition whereby the locking pawl is actuated by the actuating element to lock the carriage against movement along the track.

Claim 4

A seat belt locking and retracting mechanism comprising: a longitudinally extending track having locking teeth spaced therealong; a belt carriage mounted on the track for longitudinal movement therealong and having the belt attached thereto; a locking pawl mounted on the belt carriage and adapted for actuation to a locked position engaging the teeth of the track to lock the carriage against movement along the track; a longitudinally extending actuating element mounted in parallel spaced relation with the track and adapted for movement relative the track; means acting between the locking pawl and the actuating element to actuate the locking pawl to the locked condition upon movement of the actuating element relative the track; and an inertia sensing means mounted at a fixed longitudinal position relative the track, said inertia sensing means being operatively associated with actuating element to impart movement to the actuating element in response to a sensed acceleration condition whereby the locking pawl is actuated by the actuating element to lock the carriage against movement along the track.

Claim 5

A seat belt locking and retracting mechanism comprising: a track having locking teeth spaced therealong; a belt carriage mounted on the track for movement therealong and having the belt attached thereto; spring means acting on the carriage and urging the carriage along the track in the belt retracting direction; a locking pawl pivotally mounted on the belt carriage and adapted for actuation to a locked position engaging the teeth of the track to lock the carriage against movement along the track in at least the belt extending direction; spring means associated with the locking pawl urging the locking pawl to a normal position disengaged from the teeth of the track to permit movement of the carriage in the belt extending and retracting directions; an actuating element mounted in spaced parallel relation from the track and adapted for a rotary movement about a longitudinally extending axis to engage and actuate the locking pawl to the locked position; and an inertia sensing means mounted at a fixed longitudinal position relative the track, said inertia sensing means supporting the actuating element in a normal position and adapted to impart rotary movement to the actuating element in response to a sensed acceleration condition whereby the locking pawl is actuated by the actuating element to lock the carriage against movement along the track.

Claim 6

A seat belt locking and retracting mechanism comprising: a track having locking teeth spaced therealong; a belt carriage mounted on the track for movement therealong and having the belt attached thereto; spring means acting on the carriage and urging the carriage along the track in the belt retracting direction; a locking pawl pivotally mounted on the belt carriage and adapted for actuation to a locked position engaging the teeth of the track to lock the carriage against movement along the track in at least the belt extending direction; spring means associated with the locking pawl urging the locking pawl to a normal position disengaged from the teeth of the track to permit movement of the carriage in the belt extending and retracting directions; an actuating element mounted in spaced parallel relation from the track and adapted for a rotary movement about a longitudinally extending axis to engage and actuate the locking pawl to the locked position; and an inertia sensing means mounted at a fixed longitudinal position relative the track, said inertia sensing means supporting the actuating element in a normal position and adapted to impart rotary movement to the actuating element in response to a sensed acceleration condition whereby the locking pawl is actuated by the actuating element to lock the carriage against movement along the track.