Vehicle occupant restraining belt arrangement

• US 4,057,290 A
• Filed: 07/27/1976
• Issued: 11/08/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Arima, Tatsuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Zugel, Francis K.
• Application Number:
  US05/709,215
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 297/385-389, 24/75
• US Class Current: 297/481
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2546 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/021 Means for holding the tongue or buckle in a non-use position, e.g. for easy access by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/023 Three-point seat belt systems comprising two side lower and one side upper anchoring devices B60R22/022, B60R22/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3401 Buckle

Abstract

A vehicle occupant restraining belt arrangement includes a female buckle and a male latch member slidably receiving an intermediate portion of a strip of webbing having its both ends fixed with respect to the vehicle body to define shoulder and lap belt portions. A slide member is adjustably mounted on an intermediate portion of the strip of webbing between the latch member and the lower end of the strip to prevent the latch from dropping onto the vehicle floor when the belt arrangement is not in use. The slide member is formed with a slit adapted to receive a free end of the latch member to retain the latch member in parallel to the strip of webbing.

Claims

1. In a vehicle occupant restraining belt arrangement:

a strip of webbing;

a male latch plate adapted to be inserted within a female buckle, said male latch plate having an opening through which said strip of webbing is slidably disposed, said male latch plate having one end formed with said opening and an opposite end;

means for limiting movement of said male latch plate in one direction along said strip of webbing beyond a predetermined position on said strip of webbing, said limiting means comprising a slide member having an eye means for receiving said strip of webbing with suitable resistance for slidably positioning said slide member on said strip of webbing, said slide member further comprising slot means for receiving the opposite end of said male latch plate to hold said male latch plate substantially parallel to said strip of webbing.

2. A vehicle occupant restraining belt arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said slot means comprises a slot substantially parallel to said eye means.

3. In a vehicle occupant restraining belt arrangement:

a strip of webbing having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end secured to the vehicle floor, said strip of webbing extending substantially vertically, with respect to the vehicle, when the vehicle occupant restraining belt arrangement is not in use;

a male latch plate adapted to be inserted within a female buckle, said male latch plate having an opening through which said strip of webbing is slidably disposed, said male latch plate having one end formed with said opening and an opposite end;

a slide member slidably mounted on said strip of webbing and positioned between said male latch plate and said lower end of said strip of webbing, said slide member engageable with said male latch plate to prevent downward movement of said male latch plate along said strip of webbing toward said lower end, said slide member having an eye through which said strip of webbing is slidably disposed with suitable resistance for slidably positioning said slide member on said strip of webbing and slot means for receiving the opposite end of said male latch plate to hold said male latch plate substantially parallel to said strip of webbing.

4. A vehicle occupant restraining belt arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein said slot means comprises a slot substantially parallel to said eye.