Automatic locking retractor for a seat belt assembly
US4725014A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 22, 1986 |
| Grant date | Feb 16, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 22, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R2022/3535
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An automatic locking retractor for a seat belt assembly, which comprises a housing having a shaft for webbing, a spring for urging the shaft in a predetermined direction to cause rewinding of the webbing, a rachet wheel integrally fixed to the shaft, a pawl for locking the rachet wheel in position, a diameter-sensing element capable of sensing the diameter of the webbing wound about the shaft, and a control member. The control member has a first leg on one end and a second leg on the other end and is fitted on the shaft to permit movement between a pair of stoppers and to permit frictional sliding when one of the stoppers is engaged and the shaft continues to rotate. The rachet wheel has teeth for engagement with the pawl and these teeth are arranged at an interval almost equal to the distance between the first and second leg of the control member. The first leg is positioned to be capable of assuredly engaging and guiding the pawl to one of the teeth of the rachet wheel to prevent rotation of the shaft in a direction to unwind the webbing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.