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:
Jun. 10, 1980
Filed:
Dec. 01, 1978
Joseph J Magyar, Rochester, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
According to the invention a spring wound seat belt reel has a plurality of pawls which are movable between radially extended and radially retracted positions. A clutch acts between the reel and the pawls to retain the pawls at their respectively attained extended or retracted positions. The pawls move to their extended positions when the clutch is overcome by centrifugal force acting upon the pawls during winding rotation of the reel at a velocity normally induced by the winding spring. The clutch retains the pawls in their retracted positions when the occupant feeds the belt slowly into the retractor to retard the reel rotation to a velocity less than the velocity normally induced by the winding spring. A latch bar is pivotally mounted on the housing and has a latch face adapted for engagement by one of the extended pawls to prevent further belt winding and thereby relieve the taut condition of the belt about the occupant. The latch bar also has a reset face which successively engages the extended pawls during subsequent belt unwinding to forcibly return the extended pawls to their retracted positions. The latch bar may be pivotally moved away from engagement with the extended pawls to permit belt winding reel rotation irrespective of return of the pawls to the retracted position.