Alliedsignal Inc.

Bsrd Limited

Alan George Smithson

Brian Edward Aiston

Joseph Patrick Harte

Kenneth Williamson

A web clamping retractor comprising: a stationary frame (12) and a reel assembly (14), the reel assembly includes a mounting member (22) that is slidingly mounted to the frame via a U-shaped needle member (150). An upper leg (154) of the U-shaped needle member functions as an activation bar to move a clamping wedge (49a) into clamping engagement about a seat belt (19) after a spool or reel member has been pre-blocked. The lower leg (18) of the U-shaped needle member serves as a shaft about which the reel rotates.

Lifting reel assembly web clamping retractor

The web-locker retractor has a pair of identical clamping wedges having teeth which are shaped to penetrate the material of a seat belt in order to displace the fibres of the material and engage therewith. Upon an engagement with the belt, the teeth interfit with those of one wedge fitting between those of the other. The teeth are arranged in arrays one of which is an offset mirror image of the other. The teeth of the two arrays are inclined oppositely to the direction of belt protection. Posts and sockets on the wedges co-operate to restrain the wedges to move perpendicularly to the belt plane, against a biasing spring. Upon locking, the web locker does not deflect the belt and therefore does not have to overcome a component of the tensile load on the belt. A retractor of light construction is therefore possible.

Growing community of inventors

Cumbria, United Kingdom

Alan George Smithson