Patent · US Expired

Tension reliever for seat belt retractor

US4386745A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
6References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 10, 1981
Grant dateJun 7, 1983
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 10, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R22/44
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A belt reel journaled on the retractor frame carries a ratchet plate having teeth including a front face and a back face. A pawl mounted on the frame is movable from a normal disengaged position to a position engaging either the unwinding facing front side of a tooth or engaging with the winding facing side of a tooth. A normally stationary clutch member is connected to the pawl by a cam and is selectively rotated in response to a sensed condition so that the cam moves the pawl to engage the unwinding facing side of a tooth to lock the reel against belt unwinding rotation. A manual operating handle is provided to rotate the clutch member independent of occurrence of the sensed condition so that the pawl is moved into engagement with the winding face side of a ratchet tooth to block belt winding reel rotation by a reel windup spring and hold the belt at a tension free slackened length about the seat occupant. The cam connection between the clutch member and the pawl blocks the pawl against movement to the disengaging position and also blocks the clutch member against return movement in the unwinding direction until a subsequent slight belt unwinding rotation cancels the tension reli…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.