Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a belt reel rotatably mounted in a frame. A blocking means blocks rotation of a blockable part of the belt reel and a belt webbing carrier on the belt reel that is substantially drum-shaped. The belt webbing carrier is associated with a rotor that is in rotary drive connection with the belt webbing carrier. Upon rotation of the rotor the volumes of at least two chambers filled with a free-flowing medium are varied, and the chambers rotate about the axis of rotation of the belt reels. The free-flowing medium flows in each case from a chamber diminishing in volume into a chamber increasing in volume.

Abstract: A device for assisting one-man launching of boats from boat trailers is provided. A tensioned rope is retained and secured within a reel attached to a boat trailer or other location. In use, the tensioned rope is secured to the trailered boat and retains the boat after the boat is floated free of its trailer. The reel may be removably secured to a number of locations to enable a multiple of uses such as a boat attached line for towing a bait container or sea anchor. The invention includes a trailer having a tensioned rope to allow automatic controlled release of a boat during launch.

Abstract: A safety belt retractor is provided as a safety system in motor vehicles. The belt shaft is mounted in a U-shaped housing and serves as a carrier for a belt strap wound thereon. A rotation dampener is provided as a force limiting element and acts upon the belt shaft. The rotation dampener comprises: a cylindrical housing filled with a highly viscous medium, at least one apertured disk fixedly disposed in the cylindrical housing, and at least one disk piston disposed in the cylindrical housing parallel to the apertured disk, wherein the disk piston is fixedly connected to the belt shaft, the rotation of which is to be dampened, and wherein the disk piston is provided with a radially extending piston wing that rotates upon rotation of the disk piston.

Abstract: The seat belt module is electronically controlled using magneto-rheological fluid. A CPU delivers a signal to an electromagnetic coil within the module at the beginning of a crash to cause the viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid to increase sufficient to lock the spool on which the seat belt is wound against rotation. Thereafter, a subsequent signal is delivered by the CPU to the coil to reduce the magnetic field and the viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid allowing the spool to be unwound in a programmed manner so as to reduce the forces imposed on an occupant by the seat belt. The CPU may be pre-programmed in response to signals from sensors throughout the vehicle that deliver signals corresponding to the characteristics of the occupant and may be programmed in response to signals from these sensors and from an air bag to respond in real time.

Abstract: A hose reel has a drum (4) having a damper (15) for damping rotational movement of the drum in at least one direction, corresponding to the unwinding of a hose pipe from the drum. The damper prevents unwanted unwinding of hose pipe from the drum due to inertia in the latter.

Abstract: A governing device including a return spring and a spool upon which a line or cord is wound, includes on a fixed housing element a magnetic or a conductive material and on the rotating portion of the spool respectively either a magnet or a layer of conductive material is provided. When the line or cord is retracted by the spring, a hysteresis loop is formed in the conductive material by the magnet causing an eddy current which slows down the rate of retraction of the line to provide safety in the rate of return of the line or cord.

Abstract: A cable storage box for a telephone or other communications extension cord comprises a cover, a reel and a housing. The housing has an opening with a leading edge formed thereon. The leading edge has a taper surface with a retention portion formed thereon for engaging with corresponding jack when the jack tends to be pulled out.

Abstract: A cable winding device for an electrical unit, in particular, for a vacuum cleaner, is described. The cable winding device has a cable drum, rotatably mounted on a fixed support piece, with a locking element. After the release of the locking element the cable drum may be driven in the winding-in direction by a drive. The release of the locking element occurs by an electrically-operated release mechanism.

Abstract: A safety belt retractor is provided as a safety system in motor vehicles. The belt shaft is mounted in a U-shaped housing and serves as a carrier for a belt strap wound thereon. A rotation dampener is provided as a force limiting element and acts upon the belt shaft. The rotation dampener comprises: a cylindrical housing filled with a highly viscous medium, at least one apertured disk fixedly disposed in the cylindrical housing, and at least one disk piston disposed in the cylindrical housing parallel to the apertured disk, wherein the disk piston is fixedly connected to the belt shaft, the rotation of which is to be dampened, and wherein the disk piston is provided with a radially extending piston wing that rotates upon rotation of the disk piston.

Abstract: A hydraulic braking mechanism or governor is mounted on a spring-loaded reel for controlling the rate of rotation of the reel as the elongated member which is wound upon the wheel is being rewound thereon.

Abstract: A hydraulic braking mechanism or governor is mounted on a spring-loaded reel for controlling the rate of rotation of the reel as the elongated member which is wound upon the wheel is being rewound thereon.

Abstract: A roller for a roller blind in the shape of a tube (T) comprising a mechanism known per se is braked by means of friction, in that a compression spring (7) is compressed when the blind is pulled down and establishes a force between a collar (6) on the non-rotating rod (2) of the roller blind, and a nut (8) which is rotated by the tube. The nut has a shoulder (8a) which cooperates with a corresponding shoulder (14) at the end of the non-rotating rod. An alternative spring force is obtained by means of a piston in an air cylinder in which a calibrated exhaust opening for the air reduces the braking action when rotation is slow.

Abstract: A traction device has a casing, a drum mounted in the casing for undergoing rotation, and a traction rope having a first end connected to the drum and a second end extending through an opening in the casing. A roller is disposed in the casing for guiding the traction rope and a biasing member for resiliently biasing the traction rope onto the roller. A spring has a first end connected to the drum for urging the drum in a direction of rewinding the traction rope on the drum. A rope coupling is connected to the second end of the traction rope for preventing the second end of the traction rope from passing through the opening of the casing. A tension meter is disposed between the traction rope and the rope coupling for measuring a tension of the traction rope. A shaft is supported by the casing for undergoing rotation relative to the drum and is connected to a second end of the spring. A ratchet mechanism rotates the shaft to apply an initial load to the spring.

Abstract: A belt reel has a spindle having a main body portion and a relatively rotatable end member that can be latched to a fixed frame upon triggering of an activation device. The main body portion of the spindle is formed with a bore which is filled with hydraulic fluid. The spindle further includes a force-limiting element which cooperates with the hydraulic fluid in the bore to produce a resistance against which the spindle body must be rotated when the relatively rotatable end member is latched to the frame.

Abstract: A seatbelt retractor is operably coupled to a belt dereeling retarder mechanism which utilizes a magnetorheological fluid and a coil for imposing a magnetic field on the fluid to selectively change the fluid properties and a braking or retarding effect imposed on the belt retractor during dereeling or payout of the belt. The retarder may include a piston coupled to a rotatable shaft coupled to the belt retractor reel and displacing fluid through the magnetic field in response to actuation of the belt. Alternate embodiments include a multiple disc brake coupled to the retractor reel through a gear drive speed increaser or a cylindrical housing and core member defining an annular space occupied by the magnetorheological fluid and connected to the belt retractor reel through a speed increasing gear drive.

Abstract: A roller for a roller blind in the shape of a tube (T) comprising a mechanism known per se is braked by means of friction, in that a compression spring (7) is compressed when the blind is pulled down and establishes a force between a collar (6) on the non-rotating rod (2) of the roller blind, and a nut (8) which is rotated by the tube. The nut has a shoulder (8a) which cooperates with a corresponding shoulder (14) at the end of the non-rotating rod. An alternative spring force is obtained by means of a piston in an air cylinder in which a calibrated exhaust opening for the air reduces the braking action when rotation is slow.

Abstract: A take-up reel for winding and storing an elongate hose or electrical cable comprises a reel supported by a stationary support shaft and urged in a first direction by a torsional spring. A viscous clutch assembly comprising multiple disks housed in a chamber filled with a viscous fluid is coupled to the reel to provide a retarding force that is proportional to velocity. The velocity proportional retarding force causes the rewind velocity of the reel to stabilize at a constant velocity. A unidirectional clutch is provided to decouple the viscous clutch from the reel when the hose or cable is being payed-out thereby permitting the hose or cable to be payed-out without resistance from the viscous clutch. By providing a unidirectional viscous clutch that acts to retard only the take-up velocity of the hose reel, it is possible to provide an apparatus that permits the hose to be payed-out at any speed while providing the substantial safety benefits of a viscous speed governor during take-up.

Abstract: A hydraulic velocity damper for use in a seat belt retractor system to control and limit the maximum velocity of seat belt payout during loading. The seat belt webbing payout is independent of the amount of load applied to a spindle body of the hydraulic velocity damper. In one embodiment, two pistons within an elliptical housing of a rotatable spindle body rotate about two independent drive screws. As the pistons rotate about respective drive screws, the pistons move towards each other to pressurize a hydraulic fluid within a chamber defined by the housing. At a predetermined pressure, a web covering at least one metering hole in each piston ruptures and the hydraulic fluid is positively displaced from within the chamber into an inner cavity of each piston. The rate at which the spindle body rotates is limited by the fluid displacement, regardless of the pressure within the chamber.

Abstract: A take-up reel for winding and storing an elongate hose or electrical cable comprises a reel supported by a stationary support shaft and urged in a first direction by a torsional spring. A viscous clutch assembly comprising multiple disks housed in a chamber filled with a viscous fluid is coupled to the reel to provide a retarding force that is proportional to velocity. The velocity proportional retarding force causes the rewind velocity of the reel to stabilize at a constant velocity. A one-way clutch is provided to decouple the viscous clutch from the reel when the hose or cable is being payed-out thereby permitting the hose or cable to be payed-out without resistance from the viscous clutch. By providing a unidirectional viscous clutch that acts to retard only the take-up velocity of the hose reel, it is possible to provide an apparatus that permits the hose to be payed-out at any speed while providing the substantial safety benefits of a viscous speed governor during take-up.

Abstract: A restraining assembly for use in conjunction with a linear transducer. The restraining assembly comprises a plurality of spaced apart magnets positioned on a stationary frame, where the magnets provide a reverse torque and restrict excessive rotational speed on a spool when a copper disc or equivalent magnetic flux medium is rotated at a close proximity to the face of the magnets. When a cable is suddenly released and allowed to freely return on the rotating spool, the restraining assembly restrains the high rotational speed at which the cable can accelerate when returning or retracting to the spool, such that the restraining assembly prevents the cable from self-destruction and/or damage to the linear transducer.

Abstract: A reeling device for hoses or cables, whereby the reeling device (1) comprises a non-rotatable member (5), a member (3) which is rotatably mounted thereon and which rotates during unrolling or reeling of the hose or cable (2), a spring device (22) for rotating the rotatable member (3) in a reeling direction for reeling or winding up the hose or cable (2) and a viscosity brake (25) for slowing down the rotary speed of the rotatable member (3) when said rotatable member is rotated in the reeling direction by the spring device. The viscosity brake (25) includes a stationary brake housing (26) which is mounted on members (38) of or connected to the non-rotatable member (5) and the viscosity brake (25) has a movable member (27) which is located inside the brake housing (26) and which includes a movement-transfer device (32) which is provided outside the brake housing (26) for obtaining movement-transfer cooperation between the rotatable member (3) and the movable member (27) of the viscosity brake (25).

Abstract: An improved measuring tape which allows both inside and outside dimensions to be read directly from the same printed face of the tape. The tape measure comprises a case having a tape coiled inside the case and extending out of the case through a slot in the case. Inside the case is a guide wheel which guides the tape along a bottom wall of the case. The front wall of the case is transparent so that the graduations on the tape can be seen adjacent to the bottom wall. A pointer on the case points to the graduations such that when the tape is fully retracted, the pointer points to a measurement corresponding to the width if the case. This enables the case and the tape to be used to make inside measurements. Another embodiment includes a lock which secures the tape at any extended position, and a brake which slows the tape on retraction and prevents damage to the tape or to the end hook.

Abstract: A retractable system, apparatus, and method for dispensing, receiving, and storing flexible members are disclosed. The system, apparatus, and method are comprised of a spool, an air-damper member, and a house member. The spool is adapted to receive and store varying lengths of a flexible member. The air-damper member is concentrically disposed in the spool and defines at least two rotatable air filled chambers or channels. The house member secures the spool and the air-damper member in a concentric enclosed airy arrangement.

Abstract: A sliver can for receiving a sliver has a can body with an open upper end. A spring plate is vertically moveable by a verticle travel stroke in the can body. At least one spring is arranged in the can body biasing the spring plate upwardly into a rest position. The spring plate is downwardly moveable against the force of the at least one spring by the weight force of a sliver received in the can body. A retaining device is connected to the spring plate and acts on the spring plate for preventing a return movement of the spring plate into the rest position over the entire length of the vertical travel stroke. The retaining device includes a locking element for locking the spring plate against the force of the at least one spring.

Abstract: A conventional webbing-locking inertia reel is modified by integration of a device for the prevention of slap-back lock of the inertia reel upon excessively rapid retraction of the webbing worn by a seat occupant as a safety belt and/or harness. The device also slows the retraction of the webbing enough to prevent a hard collision of the webbing stop at the inertia reel. This is accomplished by interacting the reel shaft with a specially designed damping disk so that both the shaft and the damping disk rotate counter-clockwise when an external force pulls the webbing from its rotatable spool, while simultaneously the shaft also interacts with a conventional housed return spring, causing it to wind and build up a rewinding force, which, when the external force is removed or ceases, causes rotation of the shaft, spool, and damping disk clockwise and rewinds the webbing on the spool.

Abstract: A retraction mechanism for a lighter includes a case with a pinion rotatably mounted therein. A spool is attached to the pinion and a cord, for attaching to the lighter, is wound onto the spool. A spring is provided to rotate the pinion in a direction which winds the cord onto the spool. A rack has teeth that engage teeth on the pinion so that the rack moves linearly with rotation of the pinion. A cylinder body with an aperture is located within the case and a piston, attached to the rack, is within the aperture thereby defining a cylinder chamber which varies in size as the piston moves within the aperture. A passage in the piston allows air to flow between the cylinder chamber and the interior of the case as the cylinder chamber varies in size. The passage has an orifice which changes in size with movement of the piston within the cylinder body, thereby providing a device which dampens winding and unwinding of the cord about the spool.

Abstract: A remotely controllable retractable lifeline extender having an electric motor attached thereto to provide powered payout and retraction of the lifeline to a user located below. The remote retractable lifeline extender may be fastened to the ceiling or rafter of a structure, or to some other sturdy structural component thereof having a great deal of clearance below the connection point. The device is actuated by a hand-held remote control unit used by the worker to be attached to the lifeline. By activating the remote control unit, the lifeline is lowered to the worker by the motor-powered unit. The lifeline is attached to the worker's safety belt or harness by a fastening member such as a locking snap hook or carabiner.

Abstract: A coiled material dispenser with automatic spring retractor for respooling wire and the like after a portion of the material has been removed. The dispenser being capable of adaptably receiving different size spools is suspended at or near a work station where a portion of such material is required to be despooled and removed for use. The spring rewinder automatically retracts at least a portion of the excess material back onto the spool. A brake arm allows the respooling of the material to be stopped at any point by simply releasing tension on the material.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to provide a tape measure which is capable of applying a frictional braking force to a winding reel by using a simple mechanism that may produce a larger friction force acting on the reel when winding a measuring strip downward into the housing. A housing accommodates a winding reel having a bearing rotatably supported by a supporting shaft. The winding reel contains a driving spring. The supporting shaft has a sectional form represented by a combination of two arcs, one of which has a large radius and the other has a small radius. In case of drawing a substantially horizontal measuring strip into the housing with the bearing being supported by large diameter portion of the supporting shaft, the winding reel whose bearing is loosely fitted on the supporting shaft may dance in the housing at an increased speed of its rotation and, at the same time, may contact at its projecting circumferences and side surfaces with the inside wall of the housing.

Abstract: A power string and chalk line tool for obtaining a straight line reference using a line having a wound end and a free end is provided. The tool includes a housing having an upper face and a lower face, a support rod mounted between the upper and lower faces, and a line aperture. A spool having two end plates separated by a hollow axle is sized to fit and rotatably mounted about the support rod inside the housing, such that the wound end of the line can be wound around the spool and the free end of the line can be pulled from the housing via the line aperture. A coil spring affixed to the spool maintains rotational tension on the spool, biasing the spool against unwinding the line from the spool and towards rewinding the line onto the spool. A speed control member is provided that is movably attached to the housing and extends adjacent the spool for applying pressure against the spool to create friction, thereby reducing the speed of or stopping spool rotation.

Abstract: A structure composed of articulated rods extending between a fixed attachment point and a free attachment point for the object to be supported. This structure is extensible in the direction of the straight line joining the fixed attachment point and the free attachment point, and is symmetrical about this line and more or less rigid in directions perpendicular to the direction of extension. The spool rotates about a pin inserted in said structure at a point close to the free attachment point. A cord is connected to a spring for winding up the cord. The cord has one end fixed to said structure close to said line at a point between the fixed attachment point and the spool. The other end of the cord is fixed to the circumference of the spool.

Abstract: An exercise resistance mechanism provides resistance to unwinding of a flexible line from about a reel. In a preferred embodiment, an arbor is mounted on a shaft by a one-way clutch in such a manner that the arbor rotates in one direction together with the shaft, and rotates in a second, opposite direction relative to the shaft. A first portion of the arbor is connected to an end of a spring extending from a recoil spring pack. A second portion of the arbor is connected to the reel in such a manner that the reel rotates together with the arbor. The arbor and spring end are in full view during assembly of the resistance mechanism. Two holes are provided near the hub of the reel so that a replacement line can be secured to the reel while the original flexible line remains connected thereto and provides a handle for maintaining tension in the recoil spring.