Anti-creep seat belt buckle and tongue combination

• US 4,184,234 A
• Filed: 09/18/1978
• Issued: 01/22/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Anthony, James R., Lortz, Allan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelak, Bernard A.
• Application Number:
  US05/942,938
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 24/196, 24/171
• US Class Current: 24/196
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2557 with strap length adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4019 Sliding part or wedge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4084 Looped strap

Abstract

A seat belt buckle and tongue combination with means limiting relative motion between the combination frame and the belt or web attached thereto. A roller bar is slidably mounted to the combination frame with the opposite ends of the bar extending into slots on the frame. A pair of helical springs are positioned in the slots to urge the roller bar toward a stop edge on the frame to secure the web against the stop edge and limit relative motion between the web and the roller bar. A pair of clips secure the springs within the slots.

Claims

1. In a device for restraining movement of a person with said device including a frame and a roller bar movably mounted on said frame, a web extending around said bar, said web having a first end portion to anchor said web, wherein the improvement comprises:

said frame including stop means contactable against said web operable to limit movement of said web relative to said bar;

biasing means mounted on said frame and operably engaged with said bar being operable to normally urge said bar toward said stop means and said web against said stop means but being yieldable upon application of a certain force to allow movement of said bar from said stop means and movement of said web relative to said bar, said frame includes a wall with a slot extending through said wall in which said bar is slidably mounted, said biasing means includes a spring urging said bar toward one end of said slot, said spring is located in said slot, said biasing means includes retaining means securing said spring in said slot; and

said retaining means includes a clip with a pair of spaced apart legs, said legs include proximal ends attached together, said legs extend through said slot and wall with said spring located and retained between said legs.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said clip has a pair of shoulders located outwardly of said legs at said proximal ends, said legs include projections formed thereon, said legs extend through said wall with said shoulders and projections located outwardly of said wall limiting movement of said clip relative to said wall.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said legs have distal ends, said legs have portions located farthest from said shoulders at said distal ends.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said legs have distal ends, said legs extend in a direction away from said shoulders and then in a direction toward said shoulders with said distal ends located nearer said shoulders than certain portions of said legs.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said clip extends externally of and atop said wall and then downwardly adjacent opposite sides of said wall, said clip includes mutually opposed distal end portions which extend inwardly into said slot retaining said spring in said slot between said distal end portions and said wall.

6. A seat belt device comprising:

a frame with a pair of slots having a roller bar with opposite ends slidably mounted in said slots, said frame also having a web stop extending parallel to said bar;

a web extending at least partially around said bar; and

biasing means mounted on said frame operable to position and releasably hold said web against said web stop limiting relative motion between said bar and web;

retaining means mounted on said frame adjacent said biasing means and being operable to retain said biasing means on said frame;

said biasing means includes a pair of helical springs positioned in said slots and said retaining means includes a pair of clips projecting into said slots securing said springs therein.

7. A seat belt device comprising:

a frame with a pair of slots having a roller bar with opposite ends slidably mounted in said slots, said frame also having a web stop extending parallel to said bar;

a web extending at least partially around said bar; and

biasing means mounted on said frame operable to position and releasably hold said web against said web stop limiting relative motion between said bar and web;

retaining means removably positioned adjacent said biasing means and being operable to retain said biasing means on said frame;

said biasing means includes a pair of separate springs positioned in said slots and said retaining means includes a pair of clips securing said springs therein.