SAFETY BELT MECHANISM

• US 3,740,000 A
• Filed: 07/12/1971
• Issued: 06/19/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Takezo Takada
• Original Assignee: Takezo Takada
• Inventors: Takada, Takezo
• Primary Examiner(s): Schroeder, Werner H.
• Application Number:
  US05/161,682
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 242/17R,17SB,107.4,107.5,107.6,107.7 297/388,389 280/15SB 244/122 200/61.58SB
• US Class Current: 242/384
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/343 with electrically actuated locking means B60R22/3405 takes precedence

Abstract

An automatic locking safety belt takeup reel includes a Ushaped bracket supporting a spring biased belt rewind reel having ratchets at opposite ends and a shaft supported by the bracket carries pawls movable into and out of engagement with the ratchets with the rocking of the shaft. A solenoid mounted on the bracket cross-piece actuates an armature connected by a lost motion link to a crank arm on the shaft. The solenoid is connected to a voltage source through an inertia or attitude sensing switch to energize the solenoid and lock the reel by the pawl and ratchet engagement open tilting or rapid deceleration of the vehicle mounting the switch.

Claims

1. An automatic locking safety belt retraction reel mechanism comprising a bracket including a base plate and a pair of laterally spaced parallel side plates integrally formed with and projecting from opposite edges of and perpendicular to said base plate, a belt accommodative reel extending between and rotatably supported by said side plates, a rewind spring urging said reel to rotate in a belt retracting first direction, a pair of ratchet wheels mounted on and rotatable with said reel and disposed proximate opposite ends of said reel and proximate said side plates, a shaft parallel to and transversely offset from the axis of said reel extending between and journalled to said side plates a pair of parallel pawl elements located at opposite ends of said shaft in registry with respective ratchet wheels and projecting transversely outwardly from said shaft and rockable therewith into and out of engagement with said ratchet wheels, a crank arm located on and projecting transversely outwardly from said shaft, a solenoid mounted on said base plate, an armature movable to a first position and releasable for movement to a second position with the energization and deenergization respectively of said solenoid and coupled to said crank arm to rotate said shaft and rock said pawls into engagement with said ratchet wheels upon energization of said solenoid and the movement of said armature to its first position, means including a normally open inertia switch for connecting said solenoid to a source of current, and spring means biasing said armature to its second position and said pawl elements out of engagement with said ratchet wheels.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 comprising a link interconnecting said armature and crank arm to rock said crank arm and shaft with the energization of said solenoid.

3. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein said link has an opening formed therein engaged by said crank arm, said opening being of greater dimension in the direction of movement thereof than said crank arm to provide a lost motion coupling between said armature and said crank arm.

4. The mechanism of claim 2, including a casing housing said bracket and reel and having an opening in the top wall thereof providing a passageway for a belt extending from said reel.