Locking device for seatbelt systems

• US 4,319,667 A
• Filed: 07/15/1980
• Issued: 03/16/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Motonami, Masanao, Yasumatsu, Jun, Tsujiuchi, Yoshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Jillions, John M.
• Application Number:
  US06/169,177
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 242/107.2, 242/107.4 R-107.4 E, 280/501-808, 297/474-480, 188/65.1-65.4, 188/65.5
• US Class Current: 188/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/42 having means for acting directly upon the belt, e.g. by clamping or friction not combined with the retractor B60R22/185

Abstract

A locking device for seatbelt systems including a rotatable locking base with a wavy surface, a locking member provided adjacent the rotatable locking base and which is movable such that it engages with the locking base, a seatbelt portion which extends between the rotatable locking base and the locking member having an arm member with a wavy surface which senses the tension on such seatbelt portion and which engages with the locking member such that the locking member is caused to move when the arm member senses a tension on said seatbelt portion which is greater than a predetermined tension and such that the locking member presses the seatbelt portion against the rotatable base across its entire width when the locking member is caused to move by the arm member.

Claims

1. A locking device for a seatbelt system comprising:

a frame;

a rotatable base having a wavy surface supported on said frame;

a locking part supported on said frame and having an arm provided with a wavy surface adjacent to said rotatable base which under ordinary conditions is separated from the rotatable base so that a passenger-restraining seatbelt is allowed to pass freely between the locking part and the rotatable base, said wavy surfaces of said rotatable base and of said arm cooperating such that when said wavy surfaces approach each other, the seatbelt passing between said wavy surfaces is formed into a wavy shape to thereby clamp the seatbelt between said locking part and the rotatable base, said arm contacting the seatbelt to cause the locking part to approach the rotatable base when the tension on the seatbelt exceeds a given value;

means for resiliently securing the rotatable base at a predetermined position where the passenger restraining seatbelt is allowed to pass freely between the locking part and the rotatable base; and

a coupling device which will allow the arm to rotate about a minor axis which is transverse to the length of the seatbelt whereby the locking part is caused to press the seatbelt against the rotatable base across the entire width of said seatbelt.

2. A locking device for a seatbelt system according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable base is a longitudinal member having a semi-circular cross-section installed in a sector-shaped pivotal support hole.

3. A locking device for a seatbelt system according to claim 2, wherein said sector-shaped pivotal support hole has a central angle of about 200°

.

4. A locking device for a seatbelt system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said means is a substantially letter "C" shaped torsion spring interposed between one end of the base and said frame.

5. A locking device for a seatbelt system according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable base is provided in a concave member formed on a block fixed to said frame such that said base rotates along the surface of said concave member.

6. A locking device for a seatbelt system according to claim 5, wherein said means is a tension coil spring stretched between the base and said frame.