Abstract: An improvement to ratchet wheels having a releasable pawl for engaging the ratchet wheel to prevent rotation thereof so as to allow release of the pawl from engagement with the ratchet wheel at a lower force. The pawl is in two parts hingedly joined together for movement between a locked position in an over-the-center state and a released position where the pawl is free to flex. A cam disc is operably connected to the pawl to move the pawl to the released position. In the absence of pressure from the cam disc, the pawl returns to the locked state from gravity and/or a spring member.

Abstract: A seat belt system of the conventional three point restraint type includes an electric motor which replaces the usual rewind spring on the belt retractor. When the seat belt is buckled up, the motor is set into operation and pulls the shoulder belt up into engagement with the body of the occupant in the seat, and then is pulsed backward to provide safe tensionless comfort in which the seat belt is located close to the body of the person being restrained but safely spaced away from the body of the occupant. The cycle of tightening of the belt and then releasing it by a predetermined short distance to provide the tensionless comfort position is repeated whenever the occupant either closes the seat belt buckle, shifts the position of the seat by operating the seat release or seat reclining levers, or leans forward beyond the tensionless range, thereby applying tension to the seat belt.

Abstract: An automatically locking safety belt retractor has a belt storage spool with side mounted ratchet wheels, a locking bar pivotally mounted in the retractor side walls with pawl teeth for engaging the ratchet wheels, a programming ratchet wheel mounted to turn with the spool, a programming pawl and associated vehicle inertia sensor means mounted on the locking bar to cause the programming pawl to engage the programming ratchet wheel in response to actuation of the sensor means, the programming pawl movement imparted by the programming ratchet lifting the locking bar into engagement with the spool ratchet wheels and control means for preventing movement of the programming pawl when the webbing is not protracted to a position of use, the exemplary control means including a webbing sensor arm formed integrally of the programming pawl and shaped to engage webbing build up on the spool inwardly of the spool side ratchet wheel while the programming pawl engages a programming ratchet outwardly of the spool ratchet whe

Abstract: An emergency locking dual spool safety belt retractor having a frame, two belt storage spools rotatably mounted in said frame, a spool locking ratchet on each spool and an inertia sensor for sensing vehicle acceleration or deceleration above a predetermined value is provided with a split pawl locking means for locking the two belt storage spools in response to operation of the inertia sensor wherein resilient means are provided, including a pawl guide positioning the pawl members and cushioning them between the spool ratchets and resilient bushings surrounding ends of the pawl members and guide which penetrate the retractor frame side walls, whereby lockup of both spools by the two separate pawl members is assured even in a false latching condition and when one or the other pawl member engages a ratchet in a tooth to tooth condition, the resiliency of the resilient guide and bushings cooperating to maintain the pawl members in spool locking condition in response to operation of the inertia sensor.

Abstract: An improved three-point passive belt restraint system having a flexible shoulder belt positioning arm. The flexible belt positioning arm is adapted for positioning the shoulder belt adjacent the occupants shoulder when the belt restraint system is in the occupant restraint position. Further, the flexible belt positioning arm is mounted to a sled whereby the sled and positioning arm are moved away from the occupant to an occupant non-restraint position upon door opening.The flexible belt positioning arm includes an upper tube arm attached to the sled and a lower tube arm which includes a web guide for guiding and positioning the shoulder belt adjacent the occupant's shoulder. The upper and lower tube arms are connected at their inner ends by a flexible connection. The flexible connection allows flexing of the upper and lower tube arms relative each other to prevent occupant injury during crash conditions or inadvertent contact.

Abstract: An emergency spool release for use with a seat belt retractor mechanism is shown wherein the seat belt mechanism includes a spool for storing a belt which restrains the passenger of a vehicle during an emergency. The belt is urged into a retracted position by spring means while the protracted position of the belt is restrained in an emergency by the automatic engagement of a locking pawl against ratchet teeth found on the periphery of the spool. The automatic engagement is accomplished by an inertia locking system. In some situations, the automatic inertia locking system does not disengage thereby making it difficult to accomplish further protraction of the seat belt in a post emergency situation. The locking pawl in the seat belt mechanism of this invention is capable of a rotational motion to engage the ratchet teeth under the urging of the inertia locking device. It is also capable of a transverse motion under the urging of a manual unlocking device for post emergency release.

Abstract: An improved housing is provided for a seat belt retractor mechanism. The retractor mechanism attaches to a seat belt retractor frame and has a belt rewind spring disposed therein which attaches at one end to a belt storage spool. The housing includes a housing body and a housing cap which rotatably abuts the body in covering relation and which engages the other end of the spring. The rotatable abutment is made possible by a plurality of socket members disposed along the outer periphery of the housing body and a plurality of resilient deformable locking flanges positioned upon the cap. The resilient flanges are formed on the cap in a manner creating a bias toward a position placing the locking fingers above the socket members when the cap is rotated relative to the body during the assembly process to tension the spring. When the spring has been sufficiently tensioned, the flanges are aligned with the sockets and deformed to an extent causing locking fingers on the flanges to latchingly engage the sockets.