SAFETY BELT WEB ADJUSTER
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A safety belt web adjuster for use with a safety belt web, said safety belt web adjuster comprising:
- a first horizontal member having first and second ends;
a second horizontal member having third and fourth ends;
a first vertical member having a top surface and a bottom surface extending between the first and third ends;
a second vertical member having a top surface and bottom surface extending between the second and fourth ends;
a first ear extending away from the junction between the second horizontal member and first vertical member;
a second ear extending away from the junction between the second horizontal member and the second vertical member; and
a third horizontal member having a first substantially c-shaped end and a second substantially c-shaped end, the third horizontal member having no teeth or knurling, wherein the first substantially c-shaped end engages the first vertical member around the top and bottom surfaces and wherein the second substantially c-shaped end engages the second vertical member around the top and bottom surfaces;
wherein the third horizontal member is free to slide between the first and second horizontal members;
wherein the first ear and the second ear prevent the third horizontal member from sliding past the second horizontal member; and
wherein the third horizontal member can slide over the first horizontal member while engaging the first and second vertical members.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed toward a safety belt web adjuster that incorporates a sliding middle horizontal member around which the lower section of webbing is looped. This allows the webbing section to be trapped between two bars, one sliding and one fixed. The web adjuster of the present invention also allows for relatively easy adjustment of safety belt tension by moving the web adjuster through approximately 90 degrees of motion, thereby removing the bearing force on the webbing previously supplied by the fixed member, allowing the slack in the safety belt to be easily adjusted.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A safety belt web adjuster for use with a safety belt web, said safety belt web adjuster comprising:
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a first horizontal member having first and second ends;
a second horizontal member having third and fourth ends;
a first vertical member having a top surface and a bottom surface extending between the first and third ends;
a second vertical member having a top surface and bottom surface extending between the second and fourth ends;
a first ear extending away from the junction between the second horizontal member and first vertical member;
a second ear extending away from the junction between the second horizontal member and the second vertical member; and
a third horizontal member having a first substantially c-shaped end and a second substantially c-shaped end, the third horizontal member having no teeth or knurling, wherein the first substantially c-shaped end engages the first vertical member around the top and bottom surfaces and wherein the second substantially c-shaped end engages the second vertical member around the top and bottom surfaces;
wherein the third horizontal member is free to slide between the first and second horizontal members;
wherein the first ear and the second ear prevent the third horizontal member from sliding past the second horizontal member; and
wherein the third horizontal member can slide over the first horizontal member while engaging the first and second vertical members. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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2. A safety belt apparatus comprising:
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a web adjuster comprising;
a first horizontal member having first and second ends;
a second horizontal member having third and forth ends;
a first vertical member having a top surface and a bottom surface extending between the first and third ends;
a second vertical member having a top surface and bottom surface extending between the second and fourth ends;
a third horizontal member having a first substantially c-shaped end and a second substantially c-shaped end;
wherein the first substantially c-shaped end engages the first vertical member around both the top and bottom surfaces;
wherein the second substantially c-shaped end engages the second vertical member around both the top and bottom surfaces; and
wherein the third horizontal member is free to slide between the first and second horizontal members;
a first web affixed to the first horizontal member; and
a second web looped around the third horizontal member;
wherein tension on the second web generates a clamping force between the third horizontal member and the second horizontal member that substantially prevents loosening the web adjuster relative to the second web unless the clamping force is reduced by rotating the web adjuster at least 45 degrees from an upper/lower plane orientation. - View Dependent Claims (3, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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4. A safety belt apparatus comprising:
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a web adjuster comprising;
a first horizontal member having first and second ends;
a second horizontal member having third and forth ends, the second horizontal member having a configuration;
a first vertical member having a top surface and a bottom surface extending between the first and third ends;
a second vertical member having a top surface and bottom surface extending between the second and fourth ends;
a third horizontal member having a first substantially c-shaped end and a second substantially c-shaped end;
wherein the first substantially c-shaped end engages the first vertical member around both the top and bottom surfaces;
wherein the second substantially c-shaped end engages the second vertical member around both the top and bottom surfaces;
wherein the third horizontal member is free to slide between the first and second horizontal member;
wherein the configuration of the second horizontal member prevents said third horizontal member from sliding past the second horizontal member; and
wherein the first horizontal member fits through the first and second substantially c-shaped ends of the third horizontal member;
a first strap affixed to the first horizontal member; and
a second strap girded around the third horizontal member. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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20. A web adjuster for adjusting the effective length of a web under tension, said web adjuster comprising:
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a first horizontal member having first and second ends;
a second horizontal member having third and fourth ends;
a first vertical member having a top surface and a bottom surface extending between the first and third ends;
a second vertical member having a top surface and bottom surface extending between the second and fourth ends; and
a third horizontal member having a first substantially c-shaped end and a second substantially c-shaped end, wherein the first substantially c-shaped end engages the first vertical member around the top and bottom surfaces and wherein the second substantially c-shaped end engages the second vertical member around the top and bottom surfaces, wherein the third horizontal member is free to slide between the first and second horizontal members and wherein the third horizontal member is not coplanar with the first and second horizontal members;
wherein tension on the web generates a clamping force on the web between the third horizontal member and the second horizontal member that prevents movement of the web adjuster in the direction that reduces tension on the web unless the clamping force is reduced by rotating the web adjuster at least 45 degrees from an orientation of the web at the location of the web adjuster. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification