Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A seat belt retractor may be spaced from and mounted at an attitude to the vertical that is different than the attitude of the retractor; and a mechanical connection therebetween operates the retractor to block belt protraction from the retractor reel when the vehicle and/or seat belt experience an acceleration or deceleration above a predetermined amount. Preferably, the retractor is of substantial conventional manufacture, and the remote actuator uses the same kind of proven inertia-sensitive components to provide a low-cost and proven system. Preferably, the remote actuator is connected mechanically by a cable to the retractor, and the cable actuates the retractor to its blocking position to stop belt protraction. Herein, the retractor is shown as being mounted on a tiltable seat back of a vehicle seat that may change its attitude to the vertical very substantially while the remote inertia-sensitive actuator is mounted in the seat rest of the vehicle seat and does not change its attitude, and the cable extends therebetween. In the illustrated retractor, the cable turns a gear in both the remote actuator and in the retractor. An inertia flywheel sensitive to rotation, or an inertia, weight sensitive to acceleration or deceleration, when acceleration or deceleration is above the predetermined amount, will stop rotation of the gear at the remote actuator. The gear stops the attached cable from rotating; and the cable stops the rotation of a gear in the retractor thereby causing an actuation of a retractor main pawl into a toothed gear to block reel rotation and belt protraction. The flexible cable is looped to allow it to lengthen or shorten to accommodate various pivoted positions for the seat back.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim