Buckle assembly for continuous loop occupant restraint belt system

• US 4,291,918 A
• Filed: 09/19/1979
• Issued: 09/29/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Finn, Bernard J., Reid, Kenneth H., Haddlesey, Brian T.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCall, James T.
• Application Number:
  US06/077,009
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 297/476, 297/468, 297/483, 280/801, 280/808, 280/803, 24/78, 24/193, 24/196, 24/170, 24/191
• US Class Current: 297/483
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2557 with strap length adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2561 Tongue elements
• 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 24/4077 Looped strap

Abstract

A buckle assembly for a continuous loop lap and shoulder restraint belt system includes a latch plate assembly carried by the belt and a buckle mounted on the body. The latch plate includes a housing having a cinching member pivotally mounted thereon. The continuous loop belt passes around the cinching member. The buckle has a lip member on the buckle housing which projects into proximity with the restraint belt generally along one side of the cinching member to provide an abutment surface against which the cinching member may clamp the restraint belt. When a load is imposed on the lap belt portion of the continuous loop belt, the cinching member is rotated in the direction to clamp the belt against the abutment surface of the buckle housing to prevent sliding movement of the continuous loop belt in the direction to increase the length of the lap belt. When a load is imposed on the shoulder belt portion of the continuous loop belt, the cinching member is pivoted in the opposite direction to unclamp the continuous loop belt and permit sliding movement of the belt in the direction to shorten the lap belt portion and lengthen the shoulder belt portion. When the latch plate is disengaged from the buckle the belt may pass freely in either direction around the cinching member so that the latch plate is free falling to a desired position along the belt.

Claims

1. In combination, a single loop continuous restraint belt, a latch plate slidably movable along the restraint belt to divide the restraint belt into variable length shoulder belt and lap belt portions, a buckle having a frame and means adapted for latching engagement with the latch plate to establish the lap and shoulder belt portions in their respective restraining positions across a seated occupant, a cinching member pivotally mounted on the latch plate and having the restraint belt passing therearound so that sliding movement of the belt through the latch plate in either direction induces pivotal movement of the cinching member in a corresponding direction of rotation, and a lip member integral with the frame of the buckle and projecting into proximity with the restraint belt generally along one side of the cinching member and adapted to provide an abutment surface against which the cinching member clamps the restraint belt upon attempted sliding movement of the restraint belt through the latch plate in the one direction which pivots the cinching member toward the lip member whereby the restraint belt is permitted to travel in only the other direction when the latch plate is engaged within the buckle.

2. In combination, a single loop continuous restraint belt, a latch plate slidably movable along the restraint belt to divide the restraint belt into variable length shoulder belt and lap belt portions, a buckle having a frame and means adapted for latching engagement with the latch plate to establish the lap and shoulder belt portions in their respective restraining positions across a seated occupant, a cinching member pivotally mounted on the latch plate and having the restraint belt passing therearound so that sliding movement of the belt through the latch plate in either direction induces pivotal movement of the cinching member in a corresponding direction of rotation, a lip member integral with the frame of the buckle and projecting into proximity with the restraint belt generally along one side of the cinching member and adapted to provide an abutment surface against which the cinching member clamps the restraint belt upon attempted sliding movement of the restraint belt through the latch plate in the one direction which pivots the cinching member toward the lip member whereby the restraint belt is permitted to travel in only the other direction when the latch plate is engaged within the buckle, and said cinching member being spaced from the latch plate sufficiently to permit free sliding travel of the belt therebetween in either direction when the latch plate is disengaged from the buckle.