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:
Aug. 19, 1980
Filed:
Jun. 01, 1979
Bernard J Finn, Troy, MI (US);
Charles B Steger, Warren, MI (US);
Kenneth H Reid, Mt. Clemens, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A seat belt retractor for use in a passive seat belt system having one of the belt ends attached to the vehicle door. A belt reel is rotatably mounted on the retractor housing for belt winding and unwinding rotation. A toothed ratchet plate is carried by the reel. A lockbar is pivotally mounted on a support link which is in turn pivotally mounted on the retractor housing. A stop provided on the housing limits movement of the support link in the direction toward the toothed ratchet plate to establish the support link at a normal position wherein the pivot axis of the lockbar is situated over center with respect to the locking face of the lockbar and the pivot axis of the support link. Accordingly, whenever the inertia sensing pendulum moves the lockbar into locking engagement with the ratchet plate, the stop supports the support link and the lockbar against movement by the belt load so that the reel is locked against unwinding rotation. A manually operated handle is connected to the support link and permits the occupant to forcibly move the support link in the direction away from the stop and the ratchet plate so that the pivot axis of the lockbar is moved over center with respect to the support link pivot axis and the face of the lockbar engaging the ratchet plate. Thus, the lockbar is disengaged from locking engagement with the ratchet plate so that the belt may be unwound to terminate restraint of the occupant and permit opening movement of the door.