Lockbar release for inertia locking seat belt retractor

In a seat belt retractor having a housing, a belt reel journaled for belt winding and unwinding rotation, a ratchet plate carried by the reel, and a lockbar selectively movable relative the housing between a locking position engaging the ratchet plate to lock the reel against belt unwinding rotation and an unlocking position disengaged from the ratchet plate to permit belt unwinding reel rotation, the improvement comprising:

• a support member having the reel rotatably journaled thereon;
• pivot means mounting the support member on the frame, said pivot means spaced from the reel shaft to permit arcuate movement of the reel about the pivot means;
• a latch hook pivotally mounted on the support member and normally engageable with the housing to establish the support member at a position establishing the ratchet plate of the reel in proximity with the lockbar for selective locking engagement by the lockbar;
• said latch hook having an associated manually actuable handle means by which the latch hook may be pivoted to disengage the housing whereby the occupant restraining belt load acting on the reel urges arcuate movement of the reel about the pivot means and away from proximity with the lockbar to permit belt unwinding reel rotation irrespective of the lockbar being located at the locking position.