Device for a buckle type safety belt for vehicle

• US 3,974,979 A
• Filed: 08/20/1974
• Issued: 08/17/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Societe Anonyme Francaise Du Ferodo
• Original Assignee: Societe Anonyme Francaise Du Ferodo
• Inventors: Fieni, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Robert R.
• Application Number:
  US05/499,031
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 280/150SB, 297/389, 242/107.4 R
• US Class Current: 242/378.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/357 in response to fastening of the belt buckle

Abstract

A device for a buckle type safety belt for a vehicle. The device comprises a belt strap winding and unwinding device, and combined in the same mechanical unit a buckle mechanism member such as a catch, said member and the winding and unwinding device being mounted movably relative to each other so that in one position the winding and unwinding device is locked and in the other position it is released.

Claims

1. A device for a buckle type safety belt comprising a generally u-shaped frame member having opposed side walls connected by a forward wall, each of said sidewalls having a generally keyshaped opening comprising a first circular opening and a forwardly extending channel and a second circular opening in its rearward portion, said forward wall having a third opening for receiving catch plate means having an aperture for engaging external buckle means, lug means slidably mounted in each of said forwardly extending channels, said catch plate means having a forward end portion extending outwardly of said frame member through said third opening and a rearward end portion slidably mounted in said channels and adapted to engage said lug means, first spindle means rotatably mounted in and supported by each of said first circular openings, and adapted to carry a strap member, second spindle means rotatably mounted in and supported by said second circular openings, ratchet wheel means mounted on said second spindle means, pawl means rotatably mounted on said second spindle means, lever means connecting said lug means and said pawl means, and wherein forward sliding movement of said lug means causes said lever means to rotate said pawl means into locking engagement with said ratchet wheel means and rearward sliding movement of said lug means causes said lever means to rotate said pawl means into non-locking position, wherein said pawl means does not engage said ratchet wheel means, said first spindle means being spring-biased to urge said pawl means and said ratchet wheel means into locking engagement.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein spring means, attached to said lug means, forcibly engages said lever means whereby to move said pawl to non-locking position.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said frame member is enclosed by a casing provided with a forward opening for receiving said latch plate means and a rearward opening adapted to permit passage therethrough of a strap member.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the top of said forward wall is integral with an oblique wall portion extending upwardly and rearwardly of said forward wall, said oblique wall portion having an opening for receiving strap or beltfastening means.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein said casing is of biprismatic shape.

6. A device for a buckle type safety belt comprising a casing having top and bottom wall portions connected by opposed forward and rearward end wall portions, and opposed sidewall portions, said casing having a first aperture for admitting a first strap member in its rearward end wall portion, a second aperture for admitting a second strap member in its bottom wall portion, and a third aperture in said forward end wall portion for admitting catch plate means provided with a fourth aperture for engaging external buckle means, first rotatable drum means mounted on first spindle means adjacent said first aperture and adapted to carry a first belt member, first ratchet wheel means mounted on said first spindle means, second rotatable drum means mounted on said second spindle means adjacent said second aperture and adapted to carry a second belt member, second ratchet wheel means mounted on said second spindle means, pawl means positioned between said first and second ratchet wheel means having an upper portion mounted on third spindle means and a lower portion mounted on fourth spindle means, said third and fourth spindle means being substantially vertically disposed, said pawl means having a first bearing surface movable to locking engagement with said first ratchet wheel means and a second bearing surface movable to locking engagement with said second ratchet wheel means, lever means connecting said third spindle means with fifth spindle means positioned forwardly of said second spindle means, said first and second drum means being spring-biased to urge said pawl means and said first and second ratchet wheel means into locking engagement and wherein rotation of said second spindle means in a first direction causes said lever means to move said pawl means to locking engagement with respect to said first and second ratchet wheel means and rotation of said second spindle means in a second direction causes said lever means to move said pawl means to nonlocking engagement with respect to said first and second ratchet wheel means.