The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 28, 1976
Filed:
Feb. 25, 1976
Joseph J Magyar, Rochester, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A seat belt retractor has a belt reel mounted for rotation relative a frame and a spring which biases the reel in the belt winding direction of rotation. A pawl is selectively movable between a disabled position and a position wherein the pawl engages the reel to lock the reel against belt unwinding rotation. A feeler arm on the pawl extends into engagement with the belt wound on the reel to hold the pawl in the disabled position when the belt is substantially fully wound on the reel and then permit movement of the pawl from the disabled position as the belt is unwound from the reel. An automatic locking mechanism includes a control disc which is frictionally clutched to the reel for limited rotation therewith and has an abutment for controlling movement of the pawl by moving to a blocking position in alignment with the pawl upon belt unwinding reel rotation so as to block movement of the pawl into engagement with the reel. Subsequent belt winding reel rotation moves the abutment to an unblocking position permitting movement of the pawl toward engagement with the reel. A lock-up delay mechanism includes a blocking lever which normally blocks the pawl from being operated by the control disc and is moved to an unblocking position by an inertia and attitude sensing member so that the pawl is operated by the control disc after the vehicle experiences an inertia condition or attitude change of predetermined magnitude. The pawl prevents return of the blocking lever to the position blocking operation of the pawl by the control disc until such time as the belt is substantially fully wound on the reel and the feeler arm returns the pawl to the disabled position.