Abstract: A safety belt retractor having a pair of actuating means which are independently responsive or condition sensitive to acceleration of webbing withdrawal and to ominidirectional acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle. The condition sensed first actuates a pilot pawl and the pilot pawl mechanically and positively engages means which drive the locking pawl to prevent webbing withdrawal from the webbing drum or reel. The pilot pawl is cam activated by the relative movement between a flywheel and the shaft of the drum or reel as is sensed by sudden withdrawal force on the webbing, or upon relative delay of rotation or lag in the flywheel consequent to inertial displacement of a pendulum and following pawl to ratchet engagement with the flywheel.

Abstract: A retractor lock and pawl saddle combination for seat belt retractors and particularly inertial retractors in which the saddle supports the pawl or lock and the saddle is deformably installed in the retractor frame dimensionally supporting and journalling the shaft of the retractor drum and having a deflective portion in support of the pawl so that as the pawl engages the ratchet wheel, a portion of the saddle flexes guidably and the pawl is carried to thrust and lock abutment against the retractor frame. The flexing portion of the saddle supports an inertial sensor such as a pendulum and the pendulum upon movement pivots the pawl to engage the ratchet wheel. The saddle pawl and sensor are preassembled and are then sprung into place between the upstanding walls of the retractor frame.

Abstract: An integrally formed sensing switch for use with a seat belt retractor assembly and having a housing portion provided with an integrally hinged seat belt follower push arm plate adapted for pivotal movement in association therewith. The push arm plate has a fixed actuator pin extension on the lower surface thereof which selectively extends into the housing in response to movement of the push arm plate and depresses a spring leaf contact element provided in the housing portion so as to selectively open and close an electrical sensing circuit made thus responsive to spool condition as webbing is extended or webbing is retracted. The upper surface of the push arm plate engages the outer surface of seat belt webbing coiled on the retractor spool and is biased to move therewith as the seat belt pays into and out of the retractor assembly.

Abstract: A saddle pawl and pendulum support for vehicle sensitive inertial retractors having a saddle element which pivotally supports a pawl and which also supports, in spaced-apart relation, a pendulum operable on an omnidirectional seat. The pendulum includes a head element detachable from the pendulum mass and the head element rests on the circular knife edge of the seat and registers beneath a tab extension of the pawl so that upon the tilting of the pendulum in respect to the vertical axis through the seat, the head tilts and engages the tab and tilts the pawl into locking engagement with rotary ratchet teeth provided on a retractor drum or spool. The mass of the pendulum depends beneath the seat and is secured to the head by means of a rod which extends axially through the circular knife edge seat.