General Safety Corporation

Timothy J Schmidt

Ronald A Heintzleman

Cecil A Collins

Alfred J Fisher, Iii

Valentim Jacob, Jr

A safety belt retractor for providing motor vehicle occupant protection is disclosed. The retractor has a rotatable spool for storing safety belt webbing and a rewind spring for exerting a retraction force on the belt webbing. The retractor includes a comfort mechanism for relieving the tension exerted on the belt webbing by the rewind spring. The comfort mechanism is actuated in response to a deliberate motion exerted on the belt webbing which is different than belt movements normally associated with operation of the retractor. The tension relief feature can be automatically cancelled in response to the occurrence of a predetermined condition for returning the belt webbing to a taut position.

Comfort mechanism for safety belt retractor assembly

A safety belt retractor for providing motor vehicle occupant protection is disclosed. The retractor has a rotatable spool for storing safety belt webbing and a rewind spring for exerting a retraction force on the belt webbing. The retractor also includes a comfort mechanism for releasing tension on the belt webbing which is exerted by the rewind spring. The comfort mechanism is actuated in response to a deliberate motion exerted on the belt webbing which is different than belt movements normally associated with operation of the retractor.

Comfort mechanism for seat belt retractor assembly

A seat belt retractor assembly particularly adapted for mounting in a motor vehicle door as part of a passive belt system. The retractor includes both an inertia sensitive actuator and a tension relief or 'comfort' features. The retractor further includes an operating system which renders the inertia sensitive actuator and comfort mechanism inoperative while the vehicle door is being opened or closed to allow the belt webbing to be freely withdrawn and retracted onto the retractor spool during such door movement. The operating system is actuated by an electrical solenoid. The force output and size of the electrical solenoid are minimized by employing a system which uses rotation of the retractor spool which 'cocks' a latch plate member against spring tension and using the solenoid only to release the release plate when necessary.

Passive seat belt retractor assembly

This invention relates to a seat belt retractor for a motor vehicle which can be operated in an emergency locking mode wherein belt retraction is prevented only upon vehicle deceleration, or in an automatic locking mode where the retractor operates as a one-way clutch to inhibit belt withdrawal. A mode switching mechanism is provided which causes the operating mode of the retractor to change when the seat belt webbing is either fully extended or fully retracted. The mode switching mechanism employs a rotating actuator ring gear having one or more tabs which engage an actuator lever which is caused to move between two positions. In one position of the actuator lever, the locking bar of the retractor is urged into engagement with the toothed sprockets of the retractor causing the retractor to operate in the automatic locking mode. In the other position of the actuator lever, biasing of the locking bar is relieved so that the retractor operates in the emergency locking mode. The design according to this invention provides wide flexibility in terms of packaging of the retractor and is easily modified to accomodate various lengths of seat belt webbing.

Dual mode seat belt retractor assembly

This invention relates to a seat belt retractor for a motor vehicle which can be operated in an emergency locking mode wherein belt retraction is prevented only upon vehicle deceleration, or in an automatic locking mode where the retractor operates as a one-way clutch to inhibit belt withdrawal. A mode switching mechanism is provided which causes the operating mode of the retractor to change when the seat belt webbing is either fully extended or fully retracted. The mode switching mechanism employs a rotating actuator ring gear having one or more tabs which engage an actuator lever which is caused to move between two positions. In one position of the actuator lever, the locking bar of the retractor is urged into engagement with the toothed sprockets of the retractor causing the retractor to operate in the automatic locking mode. In the other position of the actuator lever, biasing of the locking bar is relieved so that the retractor operates in the emergency locking mode. The design according to this invention provides wide flexibility in terms of packaging of the retractor and is easily modified to accommodate various lengths of seat belt webbing.

An improved seat belt retractor of the emergency locking variety is described. The primary improvement resides in providing a spur gear component which is insert molded directly onto one of the toothed sprockets of the retractor spool. By eliminating the two-piece prior art assembly, and molding the spur gear directly onto the toothed sprocket, the spur gear strength characteristics are vastly improved. Moreover, the relative positioning between the teeth of the spur gear and those of the toothed sprocket may be controlled with a very high degree of accuracy. This design further eliminates the required step of assembling the spur gear and sprocket together, and avoids problems of these components becoming separated during assembly or use.

Method of molding an integral spur gear and toothed sprocket assembly

Seat belt retractor assembly

A dual mode seat belt retractor assembly particularly useful for motor vehicles is described. The seat belt retractor according to this invention converts between an emergency locking retractor which locks only when the vehicle is subjected to a deceleration level above a predetermined level to an automatic locking mode wherein withdrawal of webbing from the retractor is inhibited. An automatic locking retractor is advantageous for firmly positioning child restraint systems. The emergency locking retractor, however, has advantages in terms of occupant comfort and convenience for adult occupants since they provide freedom of movement within the vehicle. In accordance with this invention, the retractor is converted between automatic locking and emergency locking operating modes through rotation of a drive plate which moves an actuator lever between two positions of engagement with an actuator cam rotatable with the retractor spool. One position permits normal operation of the retractor as an emergency locking retractor while another provides automatic locking operation.

A combination seat belt retractor particularly useful for motor vehicles is described. The seat belt retractor according to this invention converts between an emergency locking retractor which locks only when the vehicle is subjected to a deceleration level above a predetermined level to an automatic locking mode wherein the seat belt webbing cannot be withdrawn from the retractor. The convertible feature is particularly advantageous since an emergency locking retractor does not provide the desired firm positioning of child restraint systems. The emergency locking retractor, however, has advantages in terms of occupant comfort and convenience since they permit free movement of the occupants within the vehicle. In accordance with this invention, the retractor is converted to the automatic locking mode by first fully withdrawing the seat belt webbing therefrom. Such action causes a switching lever to force a leaf spring in a position against the retractor locking bar. When, however, a predetermined amount of seat belt webbing is returned upon the retractor spool, the leaf spring returns to its normal position, thereby restoring emergency locking operation to the retractor.

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MI, United States of America

Timothy J Schmidt