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. 08, 1989
Filed:
Apr. 04, 1988
Louis R Brown, Livonia, MI (US);
Wallace C Higbee, Romeo, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A vehicle safety apparatus includes a safety belt retractor having a reel which is urged to rotate in a belt retraction direction. A comfort assembly is operable between an engaged condition blocking rotation of the reel in the belt retraction direction and a disengaged condition. The comfort assembly includes a manually actuatable push button which initiates operation of the comfort assembly from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition. The comfort assembly also includes a blocking member which blocks movement of a pawl into engagement with a ratchet wheel until the push button has been actuated. The comfort assembly further includes a cam which also blocks movement of the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel until the reel has been rotated in a belt retraction direction through at least a major portion of a revolution of the reel. The comfort assembly accommodates limited movement of an occupant in a vehicle. However, if the movement of the occupant of the vehicle is effective to withdraw more than a predetermined length of belt from the reel, the comfort assembly is disengaged and cannot be reengaged until the push button is again actuated.