US4720148A — Belt retractor with tongue/buckle controlled lock…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 319 words

A child seat with harness for installation in an automobile comprising: a child seat configured to receive a child and mountable upon an automobile seat; harness means including a belt and being mounted to said child seat and extendable over the child to secure the child within said child seat; an interlocking seat belt buckle and tongue mounted to said child seat and said harness means; and, automatic retractor means mounted to said child seat and including a spring biased spool rotatably mounted thereto wrappingly receiving said belt and normally urging said belt to a retracted condition whereat said belt is wrapped on said spool but yieldably to allow withdrawal of said belt; and wherein: said retractor means includes a pair of spaced apart walls mounted to said child seat with said spool rotatably mounted thereto, a ratchet shaped end plate fixedly secured to said spool and rotatable therewith, a spring engaged with said spool urging said spool with said belt to said retracted condition, a cam plate movably mounted adjacent one of said walls, a spring biased bar movably mounted to said walls and having a locking position engageable with said ratchet shaped end plate and a removed position allowing said spool to rotate with said cam plate and normally positioned to contact said bar and hold said bar in said removed position but releasable to move with said spool as said belt is withdrawn and allow said bar to move to said locking position, and an elongated pivot member movably mounted to said seat with one end positioned adjacent said buckle and an opposite end positioned adjacent said cam plate normally holding said cam plate in position to hold said bar in said removed position but movable to release said cam plate to move allowing said bar to move to said locking position when said tongue is contacted against said one end and inserted into said buckle.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 319 words

A child seat with harness for installation in an automobile comprising: a child seat configured to receive a child and mountable upon an automobile seat; harness means including a belt and being mounted to said child seat and extendable over the child to secure the child within said child seat; an interlocking seat belt buckle and tongue mounted to said child seat and said harness means; and, automatic retractor means mounted to said child seat and including a spring biased spool rotatably mounted thereto wrappingly receiving said belt and normally urging said belt to a retracted condition whereat said belt is wrapped on said spool but yieldably to allow withdrawal of said belt; and wherein: said retractor means includes a pair of spaced apart walls mounted to said child seat with said spool rotatably mounted thereto, a ratchet shaped end plate fixedly secured to said spool and rotatable therewith, a spring engaged with said spool urging said spool with said belt to said retracted condition, a cam plate movably mounted adjacent one of said walls, a spring biased bar movably mounted to said walls and having a locking position engageable with said ratchet shaped end plate and a removed position allowing said spool to rotate with said cam plate and normally positioned to contact said bar and hold said bar in said removed position but releasable to move with said spool as said belt is withdrawn and allow said bar to move to said locking position, and an elongated pivot member movably mounted to said seat with one end positioned adjacent said buckle and an opposite end positioned adjacent said cam plate normally holding said cam plate in position to hold said bar in said removed position but movable to release said cam plate to move allowing said bar to move to said locking position when said tongue is contacted against said one end and inserted into said buckle.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

The child seat of claim 1 wherein: said opposite end is spring biased against said cam plate.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 35 words

The child seat of claim 2 wherein: said cam plate includes a projection normally captured by said opposite end when said bar is in said removed position and said tongue is apart from said buckle.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 43 words

The child seat of claim 3 wherein: said end plate includes a stop surface contacted by said bar limiting movement of said spool when said bar is in said locking position and said tongue is inserted in said buckle contacting said pivot member.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 276 words

A seat belt buckle/retractor combination comprising: a frame; a pair of interlocking members including a seat belt buckle and a mating tongue, said buckle mounted to said frame with said buckle having a mouth; a harness having an end with a belt thereat and an opposite end with said tongue thereat insertable into said mouth; a spool to wrappingly receive said belt and having an axle and end walls at least one of which is configured as a ratchet wheel with said spool rotatably mounted to said frame; a spring mounted to said frame and normally urging said spool to rotate to a retracted position whereat said belt is wrapped thereon; a spring biased member mounted to said frame and movable between a removed position whereat said spring biased member is located apart from said ratchet wheel and a locking position whereat said member lockingly engages said ratchet wheel limiting movement of said spool; a cam plate mounted to said frame adjacent one of said walls and movable from a first position whereat said cam plate contacts and blocks movement of said spring biased member to said locking position to a second position whereat said cam plate moves allowing said spring biased member to move to said locking position; and, an operator mounted to said frame and including a first end located near said mouth and a second end normally contactable against said cam plate to hold same in said first position, said operator movable away from said cam plate as said operator is contacted by said tongue when said tongue is inserted in said buckle allowing said cam plate to move to said second position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 276 words

A seat belt buckle/retractor combination comprising: a frame; a pair of interlocking members including a seat belt buckle and a mating tongue, said buckle mounted to said frame with said buckle having a mouth; a harness having an end with a belt thereat and an opposite end with said tongue thereat insertable into said mouth; a spool to wrappingly receive said belt and having an axle and end walls at least one of which is configured as a ratchet wheel with said spool rotatably mounted to said frame; a spring mounted to said frame and normally urging said spool to rotate to a retracted position whereat said belt is wrapped thereon; a spring biased member mounted to said frame and movable between a removed position whereat said spring biased member is located apart from said ratchet wheel and a locking position whereat said member lockingly engages said ratchet wheel limiting movement of said spool; a cam plate mounted to said frame adjacent one of said walls and movable from a first position whereat said cam plate contacts and blocks movement of said spring biased member to said locking position to a second position whereat said cam plate moves allowing said spring biased member to move to said locking position; and, an operator mounted to said frame and including a first end located near said mouth and a second end normally contactable against said cam plate to hold same in said first position, said operator movable away from said cam plate as said operator is contacted by said tongue when said tongue is inserted in said buckle allowing said cam plate to move to said second position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 67 words

The combination of claim 5 wherein: said operator is pivotally mounted to said frame and has a tongue contact surface at said first end aligned with said mouth but diverging therefrom; said tongue includes a flat main body with an inclined surface contactable with said contact surfaces as said tongue is inserted into said mouth forcing said operator away from said mouth and releasing said cam plate.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 61 words

The combination of claim 6 and further comprising: an operator spring engaged between said frame and said operator being operable to normally urge said first end toward said mouth while said second end is in contact with and holding said cam plate but being yieldable to allow said operator to pivot when contacted by said tongue to release said cam plate.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

The combination of claim 7 wherein: said first end and said second end of said operator extend in opposite directions.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 62 words

The combination of claim 8 and further comprising: a child seat with said frame, said buckle and said harness mounted thereto, said child seat includes an outer side and an inner side with said frame mounted on said inner side and said buckle mounted on said outer side, said operator projects through said child seat to adjacent said frame and said buckle.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 246 words

A retractor for mounting to an child seat having a harness, an interengaged combination of a tongue and seat belt buckle comprising: a frame; a spool to wrappingly receive a portion of said harness and having an axle and end walls at least one of which is configured as a ratchet wheel with said spool rotatably mounted to said frame; a spring mounted to said frame and normally urging said spool to rotate to a retracted position whereat a portion of said harness is wrapped thereon; a spring biased member mounted to said frame and movable between a removed position whereat said member is located apart from said ratchet wheel and a locking position whereat said member lockingly engages said ratchet wheel limiting movement of said spool; a cam plate mounted to said frame adjacent one of said walls and movable from a first position whereat said cam plate contacts and blocks movement of said member to a second position whereat said cam plate moves allowing said member to move to said locking position; and, an operator mounted to said frame and including a first end and a second end with said second end normally contactable against said cam plate to hold same in said first position, said operator movable away from said cam plate as said first end of said operator is contacted by said interengaged combination when said tongue is inserted into said buckle allowing said cam plate to move to said second position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 246 words

A retractor for mounting to an child seat having a harness, an interengaged combination of a tongue and seat belt buckle comprising: a frame; a spool to wrappingly receive a portion of said harness and having an axle and end walls at least one of which is configured as a ratchet wheel with said spool rotatably mounted to said frame; a spring mounted to said frame and normally urging said spool to rotate to a retracted position whereat a portion of said harness is wrapped thereon; a spring biased member mounted to said frame and movable between a removed position whereat said member is located apart from said ratchet wheel and a locking position whereat said member lockingly engages said ratchet wheel limiting movement of said spool; a cam plate mounted to said frame adjacent one of said walls and movable from a first position whereat said cam plate contacts and blocks movement of said member to a second position whereat said cam plate moves allowing said member to move to said locking position; and, an operator mounted to said frame and including a first end and a second end with said second end normally contactable against said cam plate to hold same in said first position, said operator movable away from said cam plate as said first end of said operator is contacted by said interengaged combination when said tongue is inserted into said buckle allowing said cam plate to move to said second position.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 61 words

The combination of claim 10 wherein: said operator is pivotally mounted to said walls and has a tongue contact surface at said first end; and, said tongue includes a flat main body with an inclined surface contactable with said contact surface as said tongue is inserted into said buckle forcing said operator away from said buckle and releasing said cam plate.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 61 words

The combination of claim 11 and further comprising: an operator spring engaged between said frame and said operator being operable to normally urge said first end toward said buckle while said second end is in contact with and holding said cam plate but being yieldable to allow said operator to pivot when contacted by said tongue to release said cam plate.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

The combination of claim 12 wherein: said first end and said second end of said operator extend in opposite directions.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 252 words

A retractor for mounting to a child seat having a harness, an interengaged combination tongue and seat belt buckle comprising: a frame; a spool to wrappingly receive a portion of said harness and having an axle and end walls at least one of which is configured as a ratchet wheel with said spool rotatably mounted to said frame; a first spring mounted to said frame and normally urging said spool to rotate to a retracted position whereat a portion of said harness is wrapped thereon; a spring biased member mounted to said frame and movable between a removed position whereat said member is unlocked from said ratchet wheel and a locking position whereat said member lockingly engages said ratchet wheel limiting movement of said spool; and, cam means including cam plate means mounted to said frame movable from a first position whereat said cam plate means extends outwardly of said ratchet wheel and contacts and blocks movement of said member to a second position whereat said cam plate means moves inwardly of said ratchet wheel allowing said member to move to said locking position, said cam means further including elongated operator means mounted to said frame with said operator means normally holding said cam plate means in said first position, said operator means having an outer end and being movable as said outer end of said operator means is contacted by said interengaged combination when said tongue is inserted into said buckle with said cam plate means moving to said second position.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 252 words

A retractor for mounting to a child seat having a harness, an interengaged combination tongue and seat belt buckle comprising: a frame; a spool to wrappingly receive a portion of said harness and having an axle and end walls at least one of which is configured as a ratchet wheel with said spool rotatably mounted to said frame; a first spring mounted to said frame and normally urging said spool to rotate to a retracted position whereat a portion of said harness is wrapped thereon; a spring biased member mounted to said frame and movable between a removed position whereat said member is unlocked from said ratchet wheel and a locking position whereat said member lockingly engages said ratchet wheel limiting movement of said spool; and, cam means including cam plate means mounted to said frame movable from a first position whereat said cam plate means extends outwardly of said ratchet wheel and contacts and blocks movement of said member to a second position whereat said cam plate means moves inwardly of said ratchet wheel allowing said member to move to said locking position, said cam means further including elongated operator means mounted to said frame with said operator means normally holding said cam plate means in said first position, said operator means having an outer end and being movable as said outer end of said operator means is contacted by said interengaged combination when said tongue is inserted into said buckle with said cam plate means moving to said second position.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 55 words

The combination of claim 14 wherein: said operator means is pivotally mounted to said walls and has a first contact surface at said outer end; said combination tongue and seat belt buckle when mating have a second contact surface contactable with said first contact surface moving said operator means and releasing said cam plate means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 69 words

The combination of claim 15 and further comprising: an operator spring engaged between said frame and said cam means being operable to normally urge said outer end in a first direction while said cam plate means is in contact with and holding said spring biased member but being yieldable to allow said operator means to pivot when contacted to release said cam plate means from said spring biased member.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 312 words

A child seat harness for installation in an automobile comprising: a child seat configured to receive a child and mountable upon an automobile seat; a harness mounted to said child seat and extendable over the child to secure the child within said child seat; an interlocking tongue and seat belt buckle mounted to said child seat and said harness; and, automatic retractor means mounted to said child seat and including a frame, a spool to wrappingly receive a portion of said harness and having an axle and end walls at least one of which is configured as a ratchet wheel with said spool rotatably mounted to said frame, a first spring mounted to said frame and normally urging said spool to rotate to a retracted position whereat said harness is wrapped thereon, a spring biased member mounted to said frame and movable between a removed position whereat said spring biased member is unlocked from said ratchet wheel and a locking position whereat said member lockingly engages said ratchet wheel limiting movement of said spool, and cam means including cam plate means mounted to said frame and movable from a first position extending outwardly of said ratchet wheel whereat said cam plate means contacts and blocks movement of said member to a second position inwardly of said ratchet wheel whereat said cam plate means moves allowing said member to move to said locking position, said cam means further including elongated operator means mounted to said frame with said operator means having spring means normally holding said cam plate means in said first position, said operator means having an outer end and being movable as said outer end of said operator means is contacted and moved by said interlocking tongue and seat belt buckle as said tongue is inserted into said seat belt buckle with said cam plate means moving to said second position.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 312 words

A child seat harness for installation in an automobile comprising: a child seat configured to receive a child and mountable upon an automobile seat; a harness mounted to said child seat and extendable over the child to secure the child within said child seat; an interlocking tongue and seat belt buckle mounted to said child seat and said harness; and, automatic retractor means mounted to said child seat and including a frame, a spool to wrappingly receive a portion of said harness and having an axle and end walls at least one of which is configured as a ratchet wheel with said spool rotatably mounted to said frame, a first spring mounted to said frame and normally urging said spool to rotate to a retracted position whereat said harness is wrapped thereon, a spring biased member mounted to said frame and movable between a removed position whereat said spring biased member is unlocked from said ratchet wheel and a locking position whereat said member lockingly engages said ratchet wheel limiting movement of said spool, and cam means including cam plate means mounted to said frame and movable from a first position extending outwardly of said ratchet wheel whereat said cam plate means contacts and blocks movement of said member to a second position inwardly of said ratchet wheel whereat said cam plate means moves allowing said member to move to said locking position, said cam means further including elongated operator means mounted to said frame with said operator means having spring means normally holding said cam plate means in said first position, said operator means having an outer end and being movable as said outer end of said operator means is contacted and moved by said interlocking tongue and seat belt buckle as said tongue is inserted into said seat belt buckle with said cam plate means moving to said second position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-01-18	1991-07-20	1992-01-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-01-18	1995-07-20	1996-01-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-01-18	1999-07-20	2000-01-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Belt retractor with tongue/buckle controlled locking cam

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