Seat belt retracting and winding device

A safety belt retractor having a safety belt wound upon a spool rotatably journaled in a retractor frame comprising:

• first belt retraction biasing means for biasing said spool in a belt rewind direction;
• means for selectively blocking out the bias of said first biasing means;
• and
• a second biasing means for biasing said spool in a belt rewind direction,
• wherein said means for selectively blocking out the bias of said first biasing means includes means operable in response to a slight retraction movement of said spool following unwinding of said belt to a position of use for blocking out the bias of said first biasing means.

A safety belt retractor having a frame, a safety belt storage spool mounted on said frame and biased toward a belt stored condition under a first bias applied by a first spring means and a safety belt connected to said spool comprising:

• means for relieving the spool of said first bias applied thereto by said first spring means;
• means mounted on said frame for applying a second lower bias upon said spool when the first bias of said first spring means is relieved;
• and
• means for reapplying the first bias of said first spring means upon said spool in response to a movement of said spool beyond a predetermined amount under the influence of said means for applying a second lower bias.

A seat belt retracting and winding device comprising:

• a frame,
• a winding reel rotatably supported by said frame, spring means connected between said frame and said winding reel and including a first spring and a second spring,
• said winding reel being adapted to wind thereon a seat belt with a spring force of at least one of said first and second springs, and
• means for controlling the combination of spring forces of said first and second springs to produce smaller and larger spring forces and operable at least in response to the stopping of rotation of said winding reel in the belt pay out direction at least when said belt is paid out and then to slight rotation of said reel in the opposite direction due to slight retraction of said belt as it is put into use for securely exerting only said smaller spring force on said reel while said belt is paid out and in use.