Abstract:
The vehicle sensitive retractor has a pendulum assembly which includes a pendulum dome. A support for the pendulum assembly includes a substantially cylindrical support member having a substantially circular line of contact at its upper end upon which the pendulum dome is disposed. Prior to actuation, the pendulum assembly has an infinite variety of operable static positions to which the pendulum assembly is adjustable according to the position in which the retractor is oriented by virtue of installation in the vehicle. As a result, the retractor may be tilted for installation without having to redesign the pendulum assembly and support. An actuating means is disposed above the pendulum dome. The actuating means is disposed in an unlocked position when the pendulum assembly is in any one of its infinite variety of operable static positions. The actuating means is moved to a locked position by the pendulum assembly during emergency situations to lock a reel and prevent further unwinding of a safety belt from the reel.
Abstract:
The vehicle-sensitive retractor has an improved inertia mechanism and support. The inertia mechanism is a lower pendulum assembly which includes a pendulum head in contact with an actuating means. The support for the lower pendulum assembly is an upper pendulum assembly which includes a trunnion, a swivel axis for the trunnion, and a support member for the trunnion. The trunnion has a substantially circular support edge upon which the pendulum head of the lower pendulum assembly is disposed. The trunnion and lower pendulum assembly are adapted to pivot automatically in one plane to a variety of operable static positions according to the position in which the retractor is oriented by virtue of installation in the vehicle. The lower pendulum assembly and trunnion comprise a double pendulum mechanism.
Abstract:
The vehicle-sensitive retractor has an improved, universal inertia mechanism and support assembly. The inertia mechanism is a sphere adapted to roll in an infinite variety of directions in an approximately horizontal plane. The support assembly includes a sphere support, a swivel axis for the sphere support, a trunnion and a swivel axis for the trunnion. The sphere rolls on the sphere support. The swivel axis for the sphere support is adapted to allow the sphere support to pivot in two directions. The swivel axis for the trunnion is also adapted to allow the trunnion to pivot in two directions. The swivel axis for the trunnion is disposed approximately perpendicular to the swivel axis for the sphere support. As a result, the sphere support is adapted to pivot in an infinite variety of lateral directions. The improved actuating means is disposed above the sphere and is adapted to respond to rolling of the sphere on the sphere support to actuate the reel locking mechanism. The retractor may be tilted for installation without having to redesign the inertia mechanism and support assembly.