Single retractor continuous loop restraint system
First Claim
1. In a continuous loop restraint system for vehicles comprising a continuous loop of webbing anchored at a first end to the lower part of the vehicle and at its second end to the upper part of the vehicle and releasable anchor means releasably connecting the central portion of the webbing to the lower part of the vehicle on the other side of the user than the first mentioned anchor such that the portion of the webbing between the anchors at the lower part of the vehicle passes over the user'"'"'s lower torso and the portion between the upper anchor and the releasable anchor passes over the user'"'"'s upper torso, a retractor attached to the second end of the webbing to store excess webbing thereon, the improvement comprising the provision of:
- said releasable connector including limiting means for allowing the webbing to pass therethrough only in a direction to shorten the webbing portion over the lower torso and lengthen the portion of the webbing over the upper torso.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A safety belt system includes a continuous loop of webbing which is anchored at one end to the vehicle floor and anchored at the other end to the roof or upper part of the vehicle. A buckle is mounted on the other side of the seat from the first-mentioned floor anchor, and a connector which is positionable along the webbing includes a tongue plate which mates with the buckle. The system has been improved by the provision of the combination of including limiting means on the connector for allowing the webbing to pass only in a direction to shorten the portion between the floor anchor and the buckle over the lower torso of the user and to lengthen the portion of the webbing between the retractor and the connector over the upper torso. The retractor is more powerful than a normal retractor to pull the webbing through the limiting means. The retractor may further include a tensionless feature to relieve the force from the retractor on the webbing. The system may further include override means to override the limiting means and allow the webbing to pass through the connector in both directions. The override means includes a grip which is held when the connector is held and which releases the override means when the connector is inserted in the buckle. The grip means may include a bar extending between part of the connector. The webbing passes between the bar and the part of the connector to be gripped thereby. The bar is movable to override the gripping of the webbing.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. In a continuous loop restraint system for vehicles comprising a continuous loop of webbing anchored at a first end to the lower part of the vehicle and at its second end to the upper part of the vehicle and releasable anchor means releasably connecting the central portion of the webbing to the lower part of the vehicle on the other side of the user than the first mentioned anchor such that the portion of the webbing between the anchors at the lower part of the vehicle passes over the user'"'"'s lower torso and the portion between the upper anchor and the releasable anchor passes over the user'"'"'s upper torso, a retractor attached to the second end of the webbing to store excess webbing thereon, the improvement comprising the provision of:
said releasable connector including limiting means for allowing the webbing to pass therethrough only in a direction to shorten the webbing portion over the lower torso and lengthen the portion of the webbing over the upper torso. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a continuous loop restraint system for vehicles comprising a continuous loop of webbing anchored at a first end to the lower part of the vehicle and at its second end to the upper part of the vehicle and releasable anchor means releasably connecting the central portion of the webbing to the lower part of the vehicle on the other side of the user than the first mentioned anchor such that the portion of the webbing between the anchors at the lower part of the vehicle passes over the user'"'"'s lower torso and is a lap portion and the portion between the upper anchor and the releasable anchor passes over the user'"'"'s upper torso and is a shoulder portion, the improvement comprising the provision of:
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limiting means on the releasable anchor operated by belt tension for normally limiting movement of said webbing relative to said releasable anchor in a direction loosening said lap portion when said lap portion is under tension; and retractor means attached to the second end of the webbing for storing excess webbing thereon, said retractor means including means for normally biasing said webbing in a direction to shorten said lap portion. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification