Automatic locking safety belt retractor device

Abstract

A safety belt retractor includes a reel spring biased in a belt retraction direction and includes a braking mechanism which is operated by predetermined extractions of the belt followed by its retraction for selectively releasing the reel for retraction rotation or locking it against such rotation. Another braking mechanism is provided for locking the reel against extraction rotation in response to a vehicle predetermined acceleration or tilt. The retractor is characterized by a mechanism for releasing the reel retraction brake when the reel extraction brake mechanism is actuated. The braking mechanisms include oppositely oriented ratchet wheels rotatable with the reel and pawls movable into and out of engagement with respective ratchet wheels, the release mechanism including a motion transmission member actuated by the extraction braking pawl moving to engage position to move the retraction braking pawl to its retracted position. The motion transmission member is actuated by a slide member operated by the wheel extraction rotation in response to emergency conditions, the advancing slide member also advancing the extraction rotation locking pawl or the retraction locking pawl is actuated by an arm swingable with the extraction rotation locking pawl.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.