US4371128A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Seat belt retractor assembly with pawl mounted pendulum
Assignee: American Safety Equipment Corp
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Filing: 1980-10-06
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Granted: 1983-02-01
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Expires: 2000-10-06
Abstract
Abstract An emergency spool release for use with a seat belt retractor mechanism is shown wherein the seat belt mechanism includes a spool for storing a belt which restrains the passenger of a vehicle during an emergency. The belt is urged into a retracted position by spring means while the protracted position of the belt is restrained in an emergency by the automatic engagement of a locking pawl against ratchet teeth found on the periphery of the spool. The automatic engagement is accomplished by a unique inertia locking system which uses two sets of pawls and two ratchets. The first locking pawl mounts a second pawl which is placed in motion by an inertia mass also mounted upon the first pawl. The second pawl engages a second set of ratchet teeth which pull the second pawl and thus the first pawl into engagement with the first set of ratchet teeth to lock the spool.
Inventors
- 👤 Akira Tanaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:57
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/34; B60R22/36; B60R22/40; B60R2022/3424; B60R22/3416
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
In an emergency locking seat belt retractor mechanism including a belt winding spool, at least one spool associated ratchet member having a plurality of ratchet teeth, locking pawl means mounted for engaging the ratchet teeth of said ratchet member on actuation thereof, and an improved emergency responsive means for automatically actuating said locking pawl means to lock said spool via said ratchet member comprising: an inertia responsive mass mounted upon said locking pawl means; said locking pawl means having one end thereof provided with one or more slots for forming an end tab; said end tab having an aperture therein for mounting said inertia mass, and said end tab offset from said locking pawl means within said belt retractor mechanism parallel to the horizontal for mounting said inertia mass vertically thereto; a second pawl slidably mounted upon said locking pawl means for automatic actuation by said inertia responsive mass in response to an emergency; said second pawl configured to slide into said one or more slots within said locking pawl means for slidably mounting thereon; a second ratchet member having a plurality of ratchet teeth mounted upon said spool which engages said second pawl when said second pawl is actuated by said inertia responsive mass; and means on said second pawl to engage said first mentioned locking pawl means and draw said first locking pawl means into engagement with said first mentioned ratchet teeth thereby locking said spool.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
In an emergency locking seat belt retractor mechanism including a belt winding spool, at least one spool associated ratchet member having a plurality of ratchet teeth, locking pawl means mounted for engaging the ratchet teeth of said ratchet member on actuation thereof, and an improved emergency responsive means for automatically actuating said locking pawl means to lock said spool via said ratchet member comprising: an inertia responsive mass mounted upon said locking pawl means; said locking pawl means having one end thereof provided with one or more slots for forming an end tab; said end tab having an aperture therein for mounting said inertia mass, and said end tab offset from said locking pawl means within said belt retractor mechanism parallel to the horizontal for mounting said inertia mass vertically thereto; a second pawl slidably mounted upon said locking pawl means for automatic actuation by said inertia responsive mass in response to an emergency; said second pawl configured to slide into said one or more slots within said locking pawl means for slidably mounting thereon; a second ratchet member having a plurality of ratchet teeth mounted upon said spool which engages said second pawl when said second pawl is actuated by said inertia responsive mass; and means on said second pawl to engage said first mentioned locking pawl means and draw said first locking pawl means into engagement with said first mentioned ratchet teeth thereby locking said spool.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
96 words
In an emergency locking seat belt retractor mechanism, as claimed in claim 1, the improvement in emergency responsive means additionally comprising: said second pawl having at least one tooth for engaging said ratchet teeth on said second ratchet member; said second pawl and second ratchet member molded with sharp teeth angles to prevent said at least one pawl tooth from bouncing back upon engagement with said ratchet teeth of said second ratchet member; and said locking pawl and ratchet member stamped with limited teeth angles to provide the strength necessary to engage and lock said spool.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
In an emergency locking seat belt retractor mechanism, as claimed in claim 1, the improvement in emergency responsive means additionally comprising: said second pawl slidably mounted upon said first mentioned locking pawl means and retained thereon by said offset of said end tab.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
In an emergency locking seat belt retractor mechanism, as claimed in claim 3, the improvement in emergency responsive means additionally comprising: said second pawl slidably mounted upon said locking pawl means pivots about an axis perpendicular to the plane thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
In an emergency locking seat belt retractor mechanism, as claimed in claim 3, the improvement in emergency responsive means additionally comprising: said second pawl slidably mounted upon said locking pawl means pivots about an axis parallel to and contained by the plane thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
In an emergency locking seat belt retractor mechanism, as claimed in claim 1, the improvement in emergency responsive means additionally comprising: said locking pawl having a longitudinal axis with said end tab offset formed by bending said end tab at an angle to said longitudinal axis of said pawl whereby said tab is parallel to said horizontal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
211 words
In an emergency locking seat belt retractor mechanism including a belt winding spool, at least one spool associated ratchet member having a plurality of ratchet teeth, locking pawl means mounted for engaging the ratchet teeth of said ratchet member on actuation thereof, and an improved emergency responsive means for automatically actuating said locking pawl means to lock said spool via said ratchet member comprising: an inertia responsive mass mounted upon said locking pawl means; said locking pawl means having one end relieved to form an opening; an inertia mass platform mounted in said opening having a platform parallel to the horizontal upon which said inertia mass is mounted vertical to said horizontal; a second pawl slidably mounted upon said locking pawl means for automatic actuation by said inertia responsive mass in response to an emergency; said inertia mass platform slidably retaining said second pawl upon said locking pawl; a second ratchet member having a plurality of ratchet teeth mounted upon said spool which engages said second pawl when said second pawl is actuated by said inertia responsive mass; and means on said second pawl to engage said first mentioned locking pawl means and draw said first locking pawl means into engagement with said first mentioned ratchet teeth thereby locking said spool.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
211 words
In an emergency locking seat belt retractor mechanism including a belt winding spool, at least one spool associated ratchet member having a plurality of ratchet teeth, locking pawl means mounted for engaging the ratchet teeth of said ratchet member on actuation thereof, and an improved emergency responsive means for automatically actuating said locking pawl means to lock said spool via said ratchet member comprising: an inertia responsive mass mounted upon said locking pawl means; said locking pawl means having one end relieved to form an opening; an inertia mass platform mounted in said opening having a platform parallel to the horizontal upon which said inertia mass is mounted vertical to said horizontal; a second pawl slidably mounted upon said locking pawl means for automatic actuation by said inertia responsive mass in response to an emergency; said inertia mass platform slidably retaining said second pawl upon said locking pawl; a second ratchet member having a plurality of ratchet teeth mounted upon said spool which engages said second pawl when said second pawl is actuated by said inertia responsive mass; and means on said second pawl to engage said first mentioned locking pawl means and draw said first locking pawl means into engagement with said first mentioned ratchet teeth thereby locking said spool.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a seat belt retractor mechanism including a frame, a belt winding spool having a ratchet member mounted thereon and a locking pawl for engaging said ratchet member in an emergency condition, the improvement comprising: a separate inertia mass platform connected to and mounted upon said locking pawl; an inertia mass mounted upon said platform; a second pawl loosely mounted upon said locking pawl in contact with said mass; said second pawl retained in its mounted position upon said locking pawl by said platform; and a second ratchet mounted on said spool wherein an emergency condition displaces said mass which displaces said second pawl into engagement with said second ratchet which, in turn, draws said second pawl into further engagement for drawing said first mentioned locking pawl into engagement said first mentioned ratchet member to lock said spool.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a seat belt retractor mechanism including a frame, a belt winding spool having a ratchet member mounted thereon and a locking pawl for engaging said ratchet member in an emergency condition, the improvement comprising: a separate inertia mass platform connected to and mounted upon said locking pawl; an inertia mass mounted upon said platform; a second pawl loosely mounted upon said locking pawl in contact with said mass; said second pawl retained in its mounted position upon said locking pawl by said platform; and a second ratchet mounted on said spool wherein an emergency condition displaces said mass which displaces said second pawl into engagement with said second ratchet which, in turn, draws said second pawl into further engagement for drawing said first mentioned locking pawl into engagement said first mentioned ratchet member to lock said spool.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a seat belt retractor mechanism, as claimed in claim 8, the improvement further comprising: said belt winding spool having an axis of rotation; said locking pawl having a longitudinal axis parallel to said axis of rotation; said locking pawl having a first longitudinal end formed to receive and mount said inertia mass platform and said second pawl; said locking pawl having a second longitudinal end; spring means connected to said second longitudinal end of said locking pawl for urging said pawl in an axial direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
In a seat belt retractor mechanism, as claimed in claim 8, the improvement further comprising: said inertia mass platform having a platform offset at an angle parallel to the horizontal for mounting said inertia mass in a vertical position independent of the orientation of said axis of rotation of said spool and the longitudinal axis of said locking pawl.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
134 words
A seat belt retractor mechanism including a frame, a belt winding spool having a ratchet member mounted thereon and a locking pawl for engaging said ratchet member in an emergency condition, the improvement comprising: said locking pawl having one end relieved to form an opening; an inertia mass platform mounted in said opening having a platform parallel to the horizontal; an inertia mass mounted upon said horizontal platform; a second pawl mounted upon said locking pawl in contact with said inertia mass; and a second ratchet mounted on said spool wherein an emergency condition displaces said mass to displace said second pawl into engagement with said second ratchet which, in turn, draws said second ratchet into further engagement for drawing said locking pawl into engagement with said first mentioned ratchet for locking said spool.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
134 words
A seat belt retractor mechanism including a frame, a belt winding spool having a ratchet member mounted thereon and a locking pawl for engaging said ratchet member in an emergency condition, the improvement comprising: said locking pawl having one end relieved to form an opening; an inertia mass platform mounted in said opening having a platform parallel to the horizontal; an inertia mass mounted upon said horizontal platform; a second pawl mounted upon said locking pawl in contact with said inertia mass; and a second ratchet mounted on said spool wherein an emergency condition displaces said mass to displace said second pawl into engagement with said second ratchet which, in turn, draws said second ratchet into further engagement for drawing said locking pawl into engagement with said first mentioned ratchet for locking said spool.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
80 words
A seat belt retractor, as claim in claim 11, additionally comprising: said second pawl having at least one tooth for engaging said second ratchet member; said second pawl and second ratchet member molded with sharp teeth angles to prevent said at least one pawl tooth from bouncing back upon engagement with said second ratchet member; and said locking pawl and first mentioned ratchet member stamped with limited teeth angles to provide the strength necessary to engage and lock said spool.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A seat belt retractor, as claimed in claim 11, additionally comprising: spring means connected between a second end of said locking pawl and said frame for urging said locking pawl in an axial direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A seat belt retractor, as claimed in claim 11, additionally comprising: said inertia mass platform having at least three points for engaging said relieved end of said locking pawl and for latching said platform thereto.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A seat belt retractor, as claimed in claim 11, additionally comprising: said second pawl loosely mounted upon said locking pawl; and said second pawl retained in said loosely mounted position by said inertia mass platform.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-01-31 | 1986-08-02 | 1987-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-01-31 | 1990-08-02 | 1991-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-01-31 | 1994-08-02 | 1995-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |