American Safety Equipment Corporation

T Sam Crisp

A structural control locking means for a safety belt retractor having a belt storage spool rotatably mounted on a shaft, the spool having a programming ratchet and a locking ratchet, each ratchet having a respective equal plurality of teeth, and a programming pawl and a locking pawl for preventing spool rotation when engaged with the respective ratchet teeth. The structural control locking means preferably comprises the provision of an actuator means for initiating movement of the programming pawl into engagement with the teeth of the programming ratchet, an inertia sensor means for moving the actuator means and a control means. The control means includes a pawl mounting means for mounting the programming pawl and a driving means for drivingly engaging the locking pawl with the locking ratchet. Exemplary embodiments of the control means include the provision of a substantially bar-shaped configuration having first and second ends, the first end being pivotally connected to the locking pawl by the driving means; and alternately, the provision of a dog having a polygonal configuration including a programming portion and a locking portion. Rotation of the programming ratchet after engagement of the programming pawl with the programming ratchet moves the control means causing synchronized engagement of the locking pawl with the locking ratchet through movement of the driving means thereby preventing further belt protraction.

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Romford, United Kingdom

T Sam Crisp