US Patent 7090304 Retractor having vehicle sensitive sensor disabling mechanism

A seat belt retractor (10) includes a spool (104) about which seat belt webbing (18) is wound. The spool (104) is supported for rotation in a belt withdrawal direction and in an opposite belt retraction direction. A vehicle sensitive sensor (180) is responsive to at least one sensed vehicle condition for preventing rotation of the spool (104) in the belt withdrawal direction. The retractor (10) also includes a mechanism (200) for controlling the vehicle sensitive sensor (180). The mechanism (200) includes a ring gear (212) and a control lever (246). The ring gear (212) has internal gear teeth (234) and an external surface (236) having a cam profile. The external surface (236) of the ring gear (212) actuates the control lever (246) to enable and disable the vehicle sensitive sensor (180).