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:
Jan. 20, 1981
Filed:
Dec. 03, 1979
Charles B Steger, Warren, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A seat belt retractor has a belt reel rotatably journaled on a housing. A ratchet plate carried by the reel has teeth facing in both the belt winding and unwinding directions. A lockbar is pivotally movable between a disengaged position allowing reel rotation and first and second ratchet engaging positions overcenter from one another with respect to the axis of reel rotation for engagement respectively with the unwinding facing and winding facing ratchet teeth. A support link supports the lockbar at the disengaged position for pivotal movement by an inertia sensor into engagement with the unwinding facing teeth to lock the reel against belt unwinding and thereby restrain the seated occupant. A handle permits reciprocal movement of the support link away from the ratchet plate to permit belt unwinding reel rotation which pivots the lockbar overcenter and establishes the lockbar for subsequent engagement with the belt winding facing teeth upon initiation of belt windup by the reel windup spring so that the belt is held at the extended length to facilitate occupant egress. Subsequent reciprocal movement of the support link by the handle permits belt winding reel rotation by the rewind spring to rewind the belt and return the lockbar overcenter to the normal position for subsequent pivotal movement by the inertia sensor.