Webbing length adjustor

• US 20010039696A1
• Filed: 04/09/2001
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Britax Childcare Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Britax Child-Care Products Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Maciejczyk, Wieslaw
• Granted Patent: US 6,560,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/170
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/14 with snap-action
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2809 with additional tether connected to the top of the child seat and passing above the top of the back-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/30 Coupling devices other than buckles, including length-adjusting fittings or anti-slip devices adaptations of manual three-point seat belt systems for use by small passengers using other means than belt anti-slip devices B60R22/024; buckles A44B11/00; releasable fastenings in general F16B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/21 Strap tighteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/394 Cam lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4016 Pivoted part or lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4072 Pivoted lever

Abstract

A webbing length adjustor adapted to clamp webbing when tension is applied to a tension end of the webbing. The adjustor has a webbing guide, a clamp element pivotally mounted on the webbing guide, a locking cam on the clamp element which in a locked position clamps the webbing between the locking cam and the webbing guide to prevent movement of the webbing through the adjustor when tension is applied, a release actuator, and a projection on the clamp element that abuts against the webbing between the locking cam and the tension end thereof so that the webbing exerts a force against the projection which urges the clamp element in a direction that holds or moves the locking cam in or into a locked position. The projection is adapted to always slightly deflect the webbing, even when the clamp element is in its locked position.

Claims

1. A webbing length adjustor adapted to clamp webbing having a free end and a tension end when tension is applied to the tension end of the webbing, the adjustor comprising;

a webbing guide,

a clamp element pivotally mounted with respect to said webbing guide,

a locking cam on said clamp element which in a locked position clamps said webbing between said locking cam and said webbing guide to prevent movement of said webbing through said adjustor when said tension is applied to the tension end,

a release actuator to cause rotation of said clamp element to move said locking cam to a position where said webbing is released to allow it to move in either direction through said adjustor, and

a projection on said clamp element that abuts against the webbing between the locking cam and the tension end thereof so that said webbing when tensioned exerts a force against said projection which urges or causes rotation of said clamp element in a direction that holds or moves said locking cam in or into said locked position.

2. A webbing length adjustor as in

claim 1

wherein the projection is adapted to always slightly deflect the webbing, even when the clamp element is in its locked position.

3. A webbing length adjustor as in

claim 1

wherein the webbing guide comprises a bracket which has a surface over which the webbing locates and the locking cam acts to clamp the webbing against the surface.

4. A webbing length adjustor as in

claim 1

wherein the projection on the clamp element is of arcuate shape and extends away from the axis of rotation of the clamp element.

5. A webbing length adjustor as in

claim 1

wherein the locking cam has a surface designed to grip or otherwise positively catch against the surface of the webbing.

6. A webbing length adjustor as in

claim 1

wherein the release actuator comprises a manual actuator.

7. A webbing length adjustor as in

claim 6

wherein the release actuator comprises a flange which is lifted or pushed by a person'"'"'s fingers.

8. A webbing length adjustor as in

claim 6

wherein the release actuator comprises a button actuator used to cause rotation of the clamp element.

9. A webbing length adjustor as in

claim 1

wherein the webbing guide is provided with a recess into which the projection locates and wherein the webbing is pushed into the recess by the projection so that its path from the locking cam is into the recess, around the end of the projection and back out of the recess and onto a surface of the webbing guide.

10. A webbing length adjustor as in

claim 1

wherein in the case of a child safety seat, the webbing guide comprises a portion of the shell of the seat molded to form the webbing guide

11. A webbing length adjustor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.