Seat belt retractor

Apparatus comprising:

• a first spool having means for supporting a first section of seat belt webbing;
• means for supporting said first spool for winding and unwinding rotation;
• a second spool having means for supporting a second section of seat belt webbing;
• means for supporting said second spool for winding and unwinding rotation;
• and
• cinch means for blocking unwinding rotation of said spools independently of vehicle deceleration, said cinch means blocking unwinding rotation of said first spool in response to a first amount of rotation of said spools which includes a predetermined amount of unwinding rotation of said second spool, said cinch means blocking unwinding rotation of said second spool in response to a second amount of rotation of said spools which includes a predetermined amount of unwinding rotation of said first spool.

Apparatus comprising:

• a first spool having means for supporting a first section of seat belt webbing on said first spool;
• means for supporting said first spool for winding and unwinding rotation;
• a second spool having means for supporting a second section of seat belt webbing on said second spool;
• means for supporting said second spool for winding and unwinding rotation;
• and
• cinch means for blocking unwinding rotation of said spools, said cinch means blocking unwinding rotation of said first spool in response to a first amount of rotation of said spools which includes a predetermined amount of unwinding rotation of said second spool, said cinch means blocking unwinding rotation of said second spool in response to a second amount of rotation of said spools which includes a predetermined amount of unwinding rotation of said first spool;
• said cinch means comprising a first movable locking pawl having a first locked position in which said first pawl blocks unwinding rotation of said first spool, a second movable locking pawl having a second locked position in which said second pawl blocks unwinding rotation of said second spool, first clutch means for enabling movement of said first pawl into said first locked position in response to rotation of said first spool when said first clutch means is enabled, second clutch means for enabling movement of said second pawl into said second locked position in response to rotation of said second spool when said second clutch means is enabled, first link means for enabling said second clutch means in response to rotation of said first spool, and second link means for enabling said first clutch means in response to rotation of said second spool.

Apparatus comprising:

• a first spool having means for supporting a first wound length of seat belt webbing on said first spool;
• means for supporting said first spool for winding and unwinding rotation;
• a second spool having means for supporting a second wound length of seat belt webbing on said second spool;
• means for supporting said second spool for winding and unwinding rotation;
• and
• cinch means for blocking unwinding rotation of said spools, said cinch means blocking unwinding rotation of said first spool in response to a first amount of rotation of said spools which includes a predetermined amount of unwinding rotation of said second spool, said cinch means blocking unwinding rotation of said second spool in response to a second amount of rotation of said spools which includes a predetermined amount of unwinding rotation of said first spool;
• said first amount of rotation of said spools including initial unwinding rotation of said first spool, followed by said predetermined amount of unwinding rotation of said second spool, and further followed by subsequent unwinding rotation of said first spool;
• said cinch means including a movable locking pawl having an initial position, an intermediate position, and a locked position in which said pawl blocks unwinding rotation of said first spool, said cinch means moving said pawl from said initial position to said intermediate position in response to said initial unwinding rotation of said first spool, said cinch means further moving said pawl from said intermediate position to said locked position in response to said subsequent unwinding rotation of said first spool;
• said cinch means further including spring means for biasing said pawl toward said locked position, link means for holding said pawl in said initial position prior to said initial unwinding rotation of said first spool and for releasing said pawl for movement to said intermediate position in response to said initial unwinding rotation of said first spool, and clutch means for holding said pawl in said intermediate position during said predetermined amount of unwinding rotation of said second spool and for releasing said pawl for movement to said locked position in response to said subsequent unwinding rotation of said first spool.

Apparatus comprising:

• a first spool having means for supporting a first wound length of seat belt webbing on said first spool;
• means for supporting said first spool for winding and unwinding rotation;
• a second spool having means for supporting a second wound length of seat belt webbing on said second spool;
• means for supporting said second spool for winding and unwinding rotation;
• and
• cinch means for blocking unwinding rotation of said spools, said cinch means blocking unwinding rotation of said first spool in response to a first amount of rotation of said spools which includes a predetermined amount of unwinding rotation of said second spool, said cinch means blocking unwinding rotation of said second spool in response to a second amount of rotation of said spools which includes a predetermined amount of unwinding rotation of said first spool;
• said second amount of rotation of said spools including said predetermined amount of unwinding rotation of said first spool, followed by unwinding rotation of said second spool, and further followed by winding rotation of said second spool;
• said cinch means including a movable locking pawl having an initial position, an intermediate position, and a locked position in which said pawl blocks unwinding rotation of said second spool, said cinch means moving said pawl from said initial position to said intermediate position in response to said unwinding rotation of said second spool, said cinch means further moving said pawl from said initial position to said locked position in response to said winding rotation of said second spool;
• said cinch means further including spring means for biasing said pawl toward said locked position, link means for holding said pawl in said initial position during said predetermined amount of unwinding rotation of said first spool and for releasing said pawl for movement to said intermediate position in response to said unwinding rotation of said second spool, and clutch means for holding said pawl in said intermediate position prior to said winding rotation of said second spool and for releasing said pawl for movement to said locked position in response to said winding rotation of said second spool.

Apparatus comprising:

• a first spool having means for supporting a first wound length of seat belt webbing on said first spool;
• means for supporting said first spool for winding and unwinding rotation;
• a second spool having means for supporting a second wound length of seat belt webbing on said second spool;
• means for supporting said second spool for winding and unwinding rotation;
• and
• cinch means for blocking unwinding rotation of said spools, said cinch means blocking unwinding rotation of said first spool in response to a first amount of rotation of said spools which includes a predetermined amount of unwinding rotation of said second spool, said cinch means blocking unwinding rotation of said second spool in response to a second amount of rotation of said spools which includes a predetermined amount of unwinding rotation of said first spool;
• said first amount of rotation of said spools including unwinding rotation of said first spool simultaneously with said predetermined amount of unwinding rotation of said second spool, and further including subsequent winding rotation of said first spool;
• said cinch means including a movable locking pawl having an initial position, an intermediate position, and a locked position in which said pawl blocks unwinding rotation of said first spool, said cinch means moving said pawl from said initial position to said intermediate position in response to said unwinding rotation of said first spool, said cinch means further moving said pawl from said intermediate position to said locked position in response to said subsequent winding rotation of said first spool;
• said cinch means including spring means for biasing said pawl toward said locked position, link means for holding said pawl in said initial position prior to said unwinding rotation of said first spool and for releasing said pawl for movement to said intermediate position in response to said unwinding rotation of said first spool, and clutch means for holding said pawl in said intermediate position prior to said subsequent winding rotation of said first spool and for releasing said pawl for movement to said locked position in response to said subsequent winding rotation of said first spool.

Apparatus comprising:

• a first spool having means for supporting a first wound length of seat belt webbing;
• means for supporting said first spool for winding and unwinding rotation;
• a second spool having means for supporting a second wound length of seat belt webbing;
• means for supporting said second spool for winding and unwinding rotation;
• a first movable locking pawl having a first locked position in which said first pawl blocks unwinding rotation of said first spool;
• a second movable locking pawl having a second locked position in which said second pawl blocks unwinding rotation of said second spool;
• first clutch means for enabling movement of said first pawl into said first locked position in response to rotation of said first spool when said first clutch means is enabled;
• second clutch means for enabling movement of said second pawl into said second locked position in response to rotation of said second spool when said second clutch means is enabled;
• first link means for enabling said second clutch means in response to rotation of said first spool;
• and
• second link means for enabling said first clutch means in response to rotation of said second spool.