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:
Feb. 15, 1983
Filed:
Oct. 28, 1980
Kenneth H Reid, Mt. Clemens, MI (US);
Bernard J Finn, Troy, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A linear belt storage retractor includes a locking mechanism attached to the end of the belt and travelling vertically inside a vertical tubular housing mounted on the vehicle body. The weight of the locking mechanism retracts the belt into the tubular housing. The locking mechanism includes a ramp member attached to the belt and having a ramp surface facing the inner wall of the tubular housing. A wedge member is seated upon the ramp surface and moves radially relative the inner wall upon axial movement relative the ramp member. A platform engages the wedge member and is spring biased to support the wedge member at a normal position away from the inner wall. Upon occurrence of ramp member acceleration with the belt in the belt extending direction, the resting inertia of the wedge member and platform overcomes the spring so that movement of the wedge member lags behind the ramp member and the ramp member forces the wedge member radially outward to initiate self actuating frictional locking engagement of the wedge member with the inner walls to lock the ramp member against belt extending movement. A pendulum acts upon the platform to move the wedge member axially relative the ramp member in response to a vehicle deceleration so that the wedge member moves radially to engage the inner wall and thereby initiate self actuating frictional locking engagement to lock the belt against belt extending movement.