Tongue plate device for use in seat belt system

• US 4,091,508 A
• Filed: 12/03/1975
• Issued: 05/30/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamada, Makoto, Kinaga, Eiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelak, Bernard A.
• Application Number:
  US05/637,474
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 24/171, 24/194, 24/77 R, 24/196, 297/389, 280/747
• US Class Current: 24/171
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/10 sliding wedge
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2557 with strap length adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1812 Connections between seat belt and buckle tongue
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/30 Coupling devices other than buckles, including length-adjusting fittings or anti-slip devices adaptations of manual three-point seat belt systems for use by small passengers using other means than belt anti-slip devices B60R22/024; buckles A44B11/00; releasable fastenings in general F16B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3423 and separable fastening means for attached fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4019 Sliding part or wedge

Abstract

A tongue plate device for use in a seat belt system of the kind using a continuous webbing consisting of a lap portion and a shoulder portion for restraining an occupant onto a seat of a vehicle. The tongue plate device can be easily slipped on the webbing when the occupant fasten the seat belt and locked in any desired position on the webbing by simple manipulation by the occupant so as to restrain the occupant onto the seat without giving a sense of oppression while ensuring improved restraining effect for the occupant in an emergency.

Claims

1. A tongue plate device for use in a three-point seat belt system of the kind using a continuous webbing consisting of a lap belt and a shoulder belt for restraining an occupant onto a seat of a vehicle, comprising a tongue plate having a buckle engaging portion at one end thereof and a webbing passage portion at the other end thereof, a locking plate engaging said webbing at said webbing passage portion of said tongue plate for locking said webbing against passing movement, resilient means for normally urging said locking plate in the locking direction, and releasing means for urging said locking plate in the releasing direction so as to unlock said webbing from said locking plate, said releasing means being operatively connected to said locking plate by cam means and having an edge protector provided in said webbing passage and coupled to said tongue plate, wherein said releasing means comprises a push rod which acts to move said locking plate in a direction normal to the moving direction thereof through said cam means, and said resilient means comprises a torsion coil spring which is mounted on a pin fixed to said tongue plate and is anchored to said locking plate and said push rod at the respective ends thereof.

2. A tongue plate device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tongue plate is a thin plate of metal formed at one end thereof with an opening engaged by said buckle and at the other end thereof with another opening permitting passage of said webbing therethrough.

3. A tongue plate device for use in a three-point seat belt system of the kind using a continuous webbing consisting of a lap belt and a shoulder belt for restraining an occupant onto a seat of a vehicle, comprising a tongue plate having a buckle engaging portion at one end thereof and a webbing passage portion at the other end thereof, a locking plate engaging said webbing at said webbing passage portion of said tongue plate for locking said webbing against passing movement, resilient means for normally urging said locking plate in the locking direction, and a push rod for urging said locking plate in the releasing direction thereby unlocking said webbing from the state engaged and locked by said locking plate, said push rod being coupled to said locking plate by a pin member such that moving said push rod causes said locking plate to move in a direction normal thereto.

4. A tongue plate device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tongue plate is a thin plate of metal formed at one end thereof with an opening engaged by said buckle and at the other end thereof with another opening permitting passage of said webbing therethrough.

5. A tongue plate device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said resilient means comprises a torsion coil spring which is mounted on a pin fixed to said tongue plate and is anchored to said locking plate and said push rod at the respective ends thereof.

6. A tongue plate device according to claim 3 wherein said locking plate has a generally T-shaped configuration.

7. A tongue plate device according to claim 3 wherein a cover member is coupled to said tongue plate, said push rod being slidably disposed in a groove in said cover member.

8. A tongue plate device according to claim 3 wherein said cover member includes pin members for engaging and aligning said locking plate and said tongue plate.