SLIP TONGUE WITH INFLATOR BAND

• US 3,820,842 A
• Filed: 11/17/1972
• Issued: 06/28/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stephenson R
• Original Assignee: Stephenson R
• Inventors: STEPHENSON R
• Application Number:
  US05/307,703
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement

Abstract

An inflatable band restraint system mounted to a strap structure which is in turn movably mounted on a tongue for reception in a buckle for positioning of the inflatable band restraint on an occupant.

Claims

1. Occupant restraint system comprising an inflatable band in uninflated condition and positioned at least across the chest position of an occupant of a vehicle, means for supplying inflating gas to said band for inflation thereof, means sensitive to deacceleration of the vehicle for causing said inflatable gas to flow from said means to said inflatable band for inflation thereof, webbing means connected to said inflatable band, a tongue freely slideably mounted on said webbing for reception in a seat belt buckle, said buckle mounted on the vehicle and positioning said inflatable band across the occupant when said tongue is mounted in the buckle, said inflatable band being positioned at its ends by connecting structure to the vehicle.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said webbing affixed to said inflatable band and said inflatable band extending across both the chest and lap positions of the occupant.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said inflatable band retained at at least one of its ends by a retracting device mounted on the vehicle.

4. Occupant restRaint system comprising an inflatable band in uninflated condition and positioned across an occupant of a vehicle, means for supplying inflating gas to said band for inflation thereof, means sensitive to deacceleration of the vehicle for causing said inflatable gas to flow from said means to said inflatable band for inflation thereof, webbing means connected to said inflatable band, a tongue freely slideably mounted on said webbing for reception in a seat belt buckle, said buckle mounted on the vehicle and positioning said inflatable band across the occupant when said tongue is mounted in the buckle, said inflatable band being positioned at its end by connecting structure to the vehicle, said tongue further directly attached to said inflatable band by a tearaway mounting which allows separation of the tongue from said band on inflation of the band.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising disposition of the inflatable band only across the chest position of the occupant with said webbing extending across the lap position.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 the end of said inflatable band not connected to the webbing and the end of the webbing not connected to the inflatable band being mounted on retracting devices mounted on the vehicle.