Abstract: An automatic locking safety belt rewind reel includes a U-shaped bracket supporting a shaft to which is affixed a spring rewound reel having a ratchet wheel end plate and a rockable ratchet wheel locking first pawl is spring biased out of engagement with the ratchet wheel. An internally toothed second ratchet wheel rockably mounted on the shaft is coupled to the first pawl. Carried by the shaft within the internal ratchet wheel is an inertia wheel carrying a second pawl and a cam wheel so related that rapid acceleration of the shaft causes a lag in the inertia wheel rotation, actuation of the two pawls and locking of the reel. In order to permit free unwinding of the reel, a frustoconical annular retractor member is axially movable toward and away from the path of a follower on the second pawl to respectively free and restrain the pawl in its disengaged position and the retractor member is spring biased to its retracted position and solenoid actuated to its advanced pawl retracting position.

Abstract: An automatic locking safety belt retractor includes a bracket supporting a belt retracting reel provided with end first ratchet wheels and a first pawl member swingable into locking engagement with the ratchet wheel and spring biased out of engagement. A second ratchet wheel is rockable relative to the reel and is connected to the first pawl to advance it with advance of the second ratchet wheel. A cam rotates with the reel shaft and a second pawl carrying inertia wheel is rotatable on the shaft, the second pawl engaging the second ratchet wheel when the inertia wheel lags the cam to thereby advance the second ratchet wheel and lock the reel. A third ratchet wheel is rotatable with the inertia wheel and an inertia sensing pendulum, when actuated, advances a locking pawl into locking engagement with the third ratchet wheel to lock the reel. The acceleration required to actuate the pendulum sensor is less than that required to lock the reel, due to the inertia lag of the inertia wheel.

Abstract: An inflatable hollow belt which is longitudinally self shapeable, includes a woven body having warps on one side of lesser length and greater overall strength than the warps on the other side, and an interwoven weft so that the deflated belt can be compactly collapsed and the inflated belt curves along its length. The belt is produced by weaving the hollow belt with the warps along one side having a relatively high heat shrinkage, and then applying heat to the belt to shrink such warps. The wefts and the longer warps are of sufficient strength to withstand the inflation pressure.

Abstract: A vehicle safety belt system includes a spring rewind belt retractor reel provided with a solenoid actuated brake and a network controlled by an inertia switch to brake the reel by the energization or deenergization of the solenoid and to maintain the reel in a braked condition an adjustable time interval following the deactuation of the inertia switch. The network includes a solid state Darlington switch having across its input a memory capacitor which is charged by the actuation of the inertia switch and a relay across its output which controls the brake solenoid.