US 3,940,082 A · Blocking member for locking mechanism of a vehicle occupant restraint belt retractor

Abstract

An inertia locking mechanism of a vehicle occupant restraint belt retractor includes a blocking member that moves forwardly in response to frontal vehicle deceleration so as to block movement of the locking member of the mechanism back towards a nonlocking position after movement toward a locking position under the impetus of an inertia member. The blocking member has a lower end pivotally supported on the housing of the retractor about a transverse vehicle axis and extends upwardly between forward and rearward stops to an upper weighted portion that normally biases the blocking member rearwardly into engagement with the rearward stop. An actuating portion of the locking member normally engages the weighted portion of the blocking member and a blocking portion of the blocking member is located rearwardly of the actuating portion. When the rate of forward vehicle movement is decelerated abruptly, the inertia member moves the locking member toward a locking position where locking portions thereof engage a belt reel of the retractor to prevent belt unwinding reel rotation, and the blocking member moves forwardly under the actuating portion of the locking member so as to block movement thereof back toward the nonlocking position before the termination of the deceleration. The blocking member engages the forward stop to prevent the center of gravity of this member from moving forward of its pivotal support axis so that gravity will return the blocking member to its rearward position engaging the rearward stop.

Claims3

Dependent claims

In a vehicle occupant restraint retractor including a housing, an elongated restraint belt, a reel attaching one end of the belt and being mounted on the housing for belt winding and unwinding rotation in opposite directions, and spring means for biasing the reel in the belt winding direction of rotation, an inertia sensitive mechanism for locking the reel against rotation relative the housing comprising:

a locking member coacting between the housing and the reel and including a locking portion and an actuating portion, the actuating portion being movable from a first position to a second position to move the locking member from a nonlocking position to a locking position in which the reel is locked from rotation relative the housing, the actuating portion moving through an intermediate position between the first and second positions, a first inertia member movable in response to predetermined inertia forces, the first inertia member engaging the actuating portion of the locking member to effect movement of the locking member from the first position to the second position;
and a second inertia member movable under the impetus of inertia forces and moving into the path of movement of the actuating portion between the first and intermediate positions thereof so that the second inertia member blocks movement of the locking member toward the nonlocking position, the second inertia member being tuned to the first inertia member and the locking member so as to move into the blocking relationship with the locking member as the actuating portion of the locking member reaches the intermediate position.

In a vehicle occupant belt retractor including a housing, an elongated restraint belt, a reel attaching one end of the belt and being mounted on the housing for belt winding and unwinding rotation in opposite directions, ratchet teeth arranged about the reel in spaced annular configurations on opposite sides of the belt and facing in the belt unwinding direction of rotation, and spring means for biasing the reel in the belt winding direction of rotation,

an inertia sensitive locking mechanism comprising:
a first inertia member mounted on the housing for actuating movement in response to predetermined changes of the rate of vehicle movement;
a locking member pivotally mounted on the housing and including locking portions and an actuating portion, the actuating portion being engaged by the first inertia member so that the actuating movement of the first inertia member moves the actuating portion from a first position to a second position to move the locking member from a nonlocking position to a locking position with respect to the reel, the locking portions being spaced from the reel in the nonlocking position to permit belt unwinding reel rotation and being engaged with the ratchet teeth in the locking position to prevent such belt unwinding reel rotation, and the actuating portion moving through an intermediate position where the locking portions are just slightly spaced from the ratchet teeth on the reel;
and
a second inertia member mounted on the housing for movement under the impetus of inertia forces present upon change of rate of vehicle movement, the second inertia member moving into the path of movement of the actuating portion between the first and intermediate positions thereof so that the second inertia member blocks movement of the locking member toward the nonlocking position, and the second inertia member being tuned to the first inertia member and locking member so as to move into the blocking relationship with the locking member as the actuating portion of the locking member reaches the intermediate position.

2 more elements

a vehicle sensitive inertia locking mechanism comprising:
an inertia member mounted on the housing for forward actuating movement in response to abrupt deceleration of the rate of forward vehicle movement;
a locking member pivotally mounted on the housing and including locking portions and an actuating portion, the actuating portion being engaged by the inertia member so that the forward actuating movement of the inertia member moves the actuating portion from a first position to a second position to move the locking member from a nonlocking position to a locking position with respect to the reel, the locking portions being spaced from the reel in the nonlocking position to permit belt unwinding reel rotation and being engaged with the ratchet teeth in the locking position to prevent such belt unwinding reel rotation, and the actuating portion moving through an intermediate position where the locking portions are just slightly spaced from the ratchet teeth on the reel;
and
a blocking member mounted on the housing for forward movement under the impetus of inertia forces present as the forward rate of vehicle movement is decelerated, the blocking member moving forwardly into the path of movement of the actuating portion between the first and intermediate positions thereof so that the blocking member blocks movement of the locking member back toward the nonlocking position, and the blocking member being tuned to the inertia member and locking member so as to move into the blocking relationship with the locking member as the actuating portion of the locking member reaches the intermediate position.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Blocking member for locking mechanism of a vehicle occupant restraint belt retractor

Life of this patent

Blocking member for locking mechanism of a vehicle occupant restraint belt retractor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims3