Importance

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Abstract

A housing is formed by a plastic shroud between two metal mounting brackets, and a drive shaft is rotably supported by the brackets. A spool is mounted on the shaft for rotation and is formed by first and second powdered metal plate members which define a track within which a cable is wound upon itself in a spiral overlapping manner. The first plate member has an integral hub which defines an undercut cavity receiving a fitting secured to the inner end of the cable and also defines a set of recesses receiving lugs on the second plate member which has an integrally formed ring gear. A powdered metal control plate is integrally formed with an external gear located within the ring gear, and the ring gear has two teeth with leading and trailing surfaces in simultaneous contact with corresponding trailing and leading surfaces on the external gear for preventing backup of the spool. The cable passes through a downstop pawl which pivots to engage a notch within the spool when the cable is fully extended, and in a modification a projecting end portion of the shaft is provided with a one-way anti-theft drive coupling. A torque limiting clutch as a one-piece powdered metal clutch cam which is integral with an eccentric drive cam, and an adjacent powdered metal clutch plate carries a set of wire springs which drive the clutch cam.

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First Claim