Passenger restraint pawl and ratchet assembly with positive engagement

A locking mechanism for passenger restraint devices, comprising:

• a ratchet for linking to a passenger restraint and mounted to rotate about a first pivot axis;
• and
• a pawl comprising a pivotally mounted upper portion and a pawl arm extending outward from the upper portion,
• wherein a first end of the pawl arm is pivotally coupled with the upper portion,
• wherein a second end of the pawl arm, distal to the second end, includes a tooth for engaging teeth on the ratchet,
• wherein the upper portion pivots about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis,
• wherein the pawl arm pivots about a third pivot axis spaced apart from and parallel to the second pivot axis,
• wherein the first end of the pawl arm comprises a contact surface,
• wherein the upper portion comprises a contact surface positioned to abut the contact surface of the pawl arm during the pivoting of the pawl arm,
• wherein one of the contact surfaces is nonplanar, and
• wherein the one of the contact surfaces that is nonplanar is beveled from a center point at an angle of less than about 45 degrees, whereby a gap is present on one side of the center point during the pivoting of the pawl arm relative to the upper portion of the pawl.

An amusement park ride, comprising:

• a vehicle track;
• a vehicle adapted for traveling on the vehicle track;
• and
• a passenger restraint system in the vehicle including a restraint and a locking mechanism,
• wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
• a ratchet connected to the restraint and mounted to rotate with movement of the passenger restraint;
• and
• a pawl comprising an upper portion pivotally mounted to rotate about a first pivot axis and a pawl arm extending from the upper portion, wherein a first end of the pawl arm is pivotally coupled with the upper portion to independently pivot about a second pivot axis spaced apart from the first pivot axis and wherein a second end of the pawl arm, distal to the first end, includes a tooth for engaging a plurality of teeth on a surface of the ratchet wheel,
• wherein the first end of the pawl arm comprises a contact surface,
• wherein the upper portion comprises a contact surface positioned to abut the contact surface of the pawl arm during the pivoting of the pawl arm,
• wherein one of the contact surfaces is nonplanar, and
• wherein the one of the contact surfaces that is nonplanar is beveled from a center point at an angle of less than about 45 degrees, whereby a gap is present on one side of the center point during the pivoting of the pawl arm relative to the upper portion of the pawl.