Tension stop for safety belt of the inertia reel type

• US 4,371,192 A
• Filed: 01/06/1981
• Issued: 02/01/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthur Cape
• Original Assignee: Maurice A.J. Alix
• Inventors: Alix, Maurice A. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US06/223,012
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801, 280/808, 280/803, 24/171, 24/170, 24/168, 24/194
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/19 with means for reducing belt tension during use under normal conditions included in the retractor B60R22/44
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4019 Sliding part or wedge

Abstract

The present invention relates to accessories for safety belts in the form of a tension stop which comprises a support piece defining a passage for a belt, as well as a blocking piece mobile with respect to the support piece and adapted to occupy two positions in which, respectively, it frees the passage or it projects locally therein to tighten the belt. The invention is applicable to safety belts for automobile vehicles.

Claims

1. In a tension stop for safety belts of the inertia reel type, comprising, on the one hand, a support piece defining a passage for a belt and, on the other hand, a mobile blocking piece adapted to free the passage completely or to project herein to clamp and tighten the belt against the support piece,

the support piece is in the form of a "U" comprising a base with two transverse edges and two raised edges defining the passage with the base, said raised edges being provied with means for retaining the blocking piece and guiding said piece towards a position disengaged with respect to the passage or towards a position projecting inside said passage, and wherein at least one transverse edge is inclined with respect to the axis of slide of the belt in the passage to provide support against the perimeter of a slit through which the safety belt passes,

the blocking piece is constituted by a plate comprising:

means for cooperation with the retaining and guiding means;

an inner clamping face opposite and at a shallow angle to the inner face of the base of the support piece for tightening and clamping the belt between the inner face of the base and the clamping face; and

an outer face provided with an actuating member.

2. The tension stop of claim 1, wherein the support piece defines a passage comprising, at least at base level, a surface state introducing a coefficient of friction with respect to the material constituting the belt.

3. The tension stop of claim 1, wherein the support piece cooperates with the blocking piece constituted by a slide block movably mounted in the direction of slide of the belt in the passage and comprising, opposite the inner face of the base of the support piece, a support face inclined convergently towards said face in one of the directions of slide.

4. The tension stop of claim 3, wherein the support piece defines in its parallel edges two grooves parallel to the direction of slide of the belt and cooperating with complementary projections made on the blocking piece.

5. A tension stop for safety belts of the inertia reel type, which comprises:

a support pice in the form of a "U" comprising a base and two raised edges with inwardly turned flanges defining a passage for the belt; and

a blocking piece constituted by a circular plate mounted in the support piece so as to rotate on its axis which is perpendicular to the bottom of the passage, said plate comprising, on its upper face, inclined ramps adapted to cooperate with the inwardly turned flanges on the edges of the support piece and provoking the displacement of said plate on its axis either to engage in or be disengaged from the passage, and having an actuating member on its upper face for rotating the blocking piece on its axis.

6. The tension stop of claim 5, wherein the support piece comprises at least one transverse edge which is inclined with respect to the axis of slide of the belt in the passage to provide support against the perimeter of a slit through which the safety belt passes.