Seat belt system
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a member rotatably driven by a motive power source of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- a seat belt retractor having a spool supported for rotation in belt retraction and belt withdrawal direction; and
clutch means for connecting the spool and the driven member so that rotation of the driven member rotates said spool in the belt retraction direction in response to the vehicle decelerating at a rate above a predetermined rate, said clutch means comprising;
a ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth extending therefrom, said ratchet wheel being connected to and rotatable with the driven member;
a clutch dog supported for pivotal movement to a position engaging a tooth on said ratchet wheel to connect said spool with said driven member; and
means for pivoting said clutch dog into the position engaging said tooth on said ratchet wheel in response to the vehicle decelerating at a rate above the predetermined rate.
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Abstract
An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a member driven by a motive power source of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a seat belt retractor having a spool supported for rotation in belt retraction and belt withdrawal directions. The spool is connected with the driven member to rotate the spool in the belt retraction direction in response to the vehicle decelerating at a rate above a predetermined rate.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a member rotatably driven by a motive power source of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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a seat belt retractor having a spool supported for rotation in belt retraction and belt withdrawal direction; and clutch means for connecting the spool and the driven member so that rotation of the driven member rotates said spool in the belt retraction direction in response to the vehicle decelerating at a rate above a predetermined rate, said clutch means comprising; a ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth extending therefrom, said ratchet wheel being connected to and rotatable with the driven member; a clutch dog supported for pivotal movement to a position engaging a tooth on said ratchet wheel to connect said spool with said driven member; and means for pivoting said clutch dog into the position engaging said tooth on said ratchet wheel in response to the vehicle decelerating at a rate above the predetermined rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for use with a vehicle seat belt retractor having a spool with belt webbing wound thereon, and which spool is supported for rotation in belt retraction and withdrawal directions, said apparatus comprising:
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a first drum connectable with the spool for rotation with the spool; an elongate flexible member having a first end portion wound about said first drum to rotate said first drum and the spool in the belt retraction direction in response to tensioning of said elongate flexible member; and clutch means for connecting a second end portion of said elongate flexible member with a rotatable member of the vehicle for tensioning said elongate flexible member in response to deceleration of the vehicle at a rate above a predetermined rate, said clutch means comprising; a ratchet wheel having a plurality of teeth extending therefrom, said ratchet wheel being connected to and rotatable with the rotatable member; a second rotatable drum connected to said second end portion of said elongate flexible member for winding said elongate flexible member thereon during rotation of said second drum to tension said elongate flexible member; a clutch dog carried by said second drum for pivotal movement to a position engaging a tooth on said ratchet wheel to connect said second drum with said rotatable member for rotation with the rotatable member; and means for pivoting said clutch dog into said position engaging a tooth on said ratchet wheel in response to the vehicle decelerating at a rate above the predetermined rate. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification