Seat belt junction ring

• US 4,452,469 A
• Filed: 02/16/1982
• Issued: 06/05/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Rogers, Lloyd W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US06/348,915
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801, 280/802, 280/803, 280/804, 280/805, 280/806, 280/807, 280/808, 297/468, 297/476, 297/479, 297/483
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/10 sliding wedge
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2557 with strap length adjustment

Abstract

A junction ring adapted for use in a seat belt system wherein a continuous-loop belt is slidable through the junction ring to define shoulder belt and lap belt portions includes a housing having slots mounting a pin for movement toward and away from the buckle. The belt passes around the pin. A buckle is selectively engageable with the junction ring to establish the lap belt and shoulder belt in occupant restraining positions across the seat. The shoulder belt is wound by a seat belt retractor having a tension reliever permitting introduction of slack into the shoulder belt. A spring urges the pin in the direction toward the buckle so that the belt is carried into frictional engagement with a friction member to provide a one-way friction detent which prevents transference of the shoulder belt slack into the lap belt so that the lap belt remains taut about the occupant. The spring acting on the pin yields upon the onset of an occupant restraint load to permit movement of the pin away from the buckle and the friction member so that the continuous-loop belt is permitted to pass through the junction ring to adjust the relative restraint lengths of the lap and shoulder belt portions. The frictional engagement of the friction member with the belt is terminated upon disengagement of the junction ring from the buckle so that the belt may pass freely therethrough.

Claims

1. A junction ring adapted for use in a seat belt system wherein a continuous loop belt is slidable through the junction ring to define shoulder belt and lap belt portions, a buckle is selectively engageable with the junction ring to establish the lap and shoulder belt portions in restraining positions across the seat occupant, and the shoulder belt portion is wound by a seat belt retractor having a tension reliever permitting introduction of slack into the shoulder belt, said junction ring comprising:

a frame, a pin having the continuous loop belt passing therearound, means mounting the pin on the housing for movement toward and away from the buckle, spring means urging the pin in the direction toward the buckle, a friction member adapted to frictionally engage with the belt on the opposite side thereof from the pin when the junction ring is engaged with the buckle to provide a one way friction detent which enables the introduction of slack into the shoulder belt portion by the tension reliever of the seat belt retractor and yet prevents transference of the slack into the lap belt portion so that the lap belt portion remains taut about the occupant, said friction engagement of the friction member with the belt being terminated upon disengagement of the junction ring from the buckle so that the belt may pass freely therethrough, said spring means acting on the pin yielding upon the onset of an occupant restraint load to permit movement of the pin in the direction away from the buckle and the friction member so that the continuous loop belt is permitted to pass freely around the pin and through the junction ring to adjust the relative restraint lengths of the lap and shoulder belt portions.

2. A junction ring adapted for use in a seat belt system wherein a continuous loop belt is slidable through the junction ring to define shoulder belt and lap belt portions, a buckle is selectively engageable with the junction ring to establish the lap and shoulder belt portions in restraining positions across the seat occupant, and the shoulder belt portion is wound by a seat belt retractor having a tension reliever permitting introduction of slack into the shoulder belt, said junction ring comprising:

a frame having spaced apart upturned flanges defining slots and having a tongue portion adapted for latching engagement by the buckle, a pin mounted by the slots for movement toward and away from the buckle and having the continuous-loop belt passing therearound, spring means urging the pin in the direction toward the buckle, a friction member mounted on the buckle and having a toothed friction arm overlying the pin and the belt when the junction ring is engaged with the buckle, spring means urging the pin in the direction toward the buckle so that the belt is engaged between the pin and the toothed friction arm to provide a one-way friction detent which prevents transference of the tension relieving slack from the shoulder belt portion into the lap belt portion so that the lap belt portion remains taut about the occupant, said spring means yielding upon the onset of an occupant restraint load to permit movement of the pin away from the buckle and the friction member so that the continuous-loop belt is carried away from engagement with the toothed friction arm and permitted to pass freely around the pin and through the junction ring to adjust the relative restraint lengths of the lap and shoulder belt portions, said friction engagement of friction member with the belt being also terminated upon disengagement of the junction ring from the buckle so that the belt may pass freely through the junction ring.

3. A junction ring adapted for use in a seat belt system wherein a continuous loop belt is slidable through the junction ring to define shoulder belt and lap belt portions, a buckle is selectively engageable with the junction ring to establish the lap and shoulder belt portions in restraining positions across the seat occupant, and the shoulder belt portion is wound by a seat belt retractor having a tension reliever permitting introduction of slack into the shoulder belt, said junction ring comprising:

a frame having spaced apart upstanding flanges defining slots and a tongue portion adapted for engagement by the buckle, a pin movably mounted on the frame by the slots for movement toward and away from the buckle and having the continuous-loop belt passing therearound, a friction member movably mounted on the frame and having a friction face engageable with the continuous-loop belt and an abutment portion engageable by the buckle upon engagement of the junction ring with the buckle, spring means urging extension of the friction member from the junction ring frame to extend the abutment portion to an extended position projecting from the junction ring for subsequent engagement by the buckle and retraction into the junction ring upon engagement of the junction ring with the buckle, spring means urging the pin in the direction toward the buckle and the friction member so that the continuous-loop belt is frictionally clamped between the pin and the friction member when the friction member is retracted upon engagement of the junction ring with the buckle to provide a one-way friction detent which prevents transference of tension relieving slack from the shoulder belt portion into the lap belt portion so that the lap belt portion remains taut about the occupant, said spring means yielding upon the onset of an occupant restraint load on the lap and shoulder belt portions to permit movement of the pin away from the buckle and away from the friction member so that the continuous-loop belt is permitted to pass freely around the pin and through the junction ring to adjust the relative restraint lengths of the lap and shoulder belt portions during restraint of the seated occupant.