US 4,081,153 A · Safety belt tensioning and rewinding retractor

Abstract

A safety belt tensioning and rewinding retractor has a safety belt storage reel rotatably mounted to a retractor frame, emergency locking means for locking the reel against belt protraction, a member rotatably mounted in the retractor frame and means for limiting rotation of such member in a first rotative direction, a first biasing means connected between such member and reel for biasing the member toward the limiting means and the reel in an opposite belt rewinding direction, means for releaseably connecting the member to the reel to block the bias of the first biasing means when the belt is placed in a position of use and second biasing means for biasing the member in a belt rewind direction such that when the bias of the first biasing means is blocked through the connection of the member and reel, a reduced lower tension is applied to the seat belt in use due to the bias of the second biasing means applied to the reel in a rewind direction. The first and second biasing means include coil springs positioned laterally of one another in a narrow housing positioned against one side wall of the retractor frame with means for interconnecting the second laterally disposed coil spring to the aforementioned member through a serpentine spring connection in a preferred embodiment or a gear drive connection in a second embodiment for driving the member and reel when the bias of the main rewind spring is blocked.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A safety belt tensioning and rewinding retractor having a safety belt storage reel rotatably mounted to a retractor frame and lockable against belt unwinding by emergency locking means, said retractor comprising:

a member rotatably mounted to said frame and means for limiting rotation of said member in a first rotative direction;
first spring means connected between said member and reel for biasing said member toward said limiting means and said reel in an opposite, belt rewinding direction;
means for releasably connecting said member to said reel to block the bias of said first spring means when said belt is placed in a position of use;
and
second spring means for biasing said member in a belt rewind direction whereby said reel, when connected to said member by said connecting means, is biased in a rewind direction by said second spring means.

2 more elements

In a safety belt retractor having a belt storage reel rotatably mounted on a retractor frame and emergency locking means for preventing belt unwinding when activated, the improvement in means for rewinding the safety belt onto the reel comprising the provision of:

first spring means for biasing said reel in a belt rewinding direction;
blocking means for blocking out the bias of said first spring means when said belt is placed in a position of use to relieve the belt of said bias;
second spring means for applying a second lower bias on said reel in a belt rewinding direction;
and
means for mounting said first and second spring means to said frame in spaced relation in a lateral direction relative to the axis of said reel.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Safety belt tensioning and rewinding retractor

Life of this patent

Safety belt tensioning and rewinding retractor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19