Belt clamping guide loop

• US 4,549,770 A
• Filed: 08/06/1984
• Issued: 10/29/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Kurtti, Gary R.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCall, James T.
• Application Number:
  US06/637,871
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 297/483, 297/479, 280/801, 280/808, 24/136 K, 24/170
• US Class Current: 297/479
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1855 the means being sensitive to belt tension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3971 Rope looped about movable member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4016 Pivoted part or lever

Abstract

A restraint belt guide loop assembly for deflecting a belt from a retractor to a diagonal position across the occupant upper torso includes a mounting bracket pivotally mounted on the vehicle body and first and second belt clamping bars independently pivotally mounted on the mounting bracket and being eccentrically shaped to define belt clamping faces which are movable toward and away from each other upon rotation of the belt clamping bars. The first belt clamping bar has an associated reaction arm which is traversed by the belt so that imposition of an occupant restraint load on the belt induces forced rotation of the first belt clamping bar. A linkage interconnects the first and second belt clamping bars to simultaneously force rotation of the second clamping bar in a direction toward the first belt clamping bar to thereby move the respective eccentric belt clamping faces of the first and second belt clamping bars into belt clamping proximity with each other to clamp the belt therebetween against further movement through the guide loop assembly. A spring is preferably provided to establish the belt clamping bars in their respective normal positions in which the eccentric belt clamping faces are spaced apart to permit free sliding movement of the belt through the guide loop assembly.

Claims

1. A restraint belt guide loop assembly adapted to be mounted on a vehicle body and slidably receive the belt from a locking retractor and deflect the belt diagonally across the occupant shoulder comprising:

a mounting bracket mounted on the vehicle body;

first and second belt eccentric clamping bars independently pivotally mounted on the mounting bracket, and having clamping faces which are movable upon rotation of the belt clamping bars between positions allowing free passage of the belt therebetween and clamping positions in which the belt is clamped therebetween;

said first belt clamping bar having an associated reaction arm traversed by the belt and effective to induce forced rotation of the first belt clamping bar upon imposition of occupant restraint load upon the belt; and

means interconnecting the first and second belt clamping bars to coordinate the rotational movement thereof whereby the forced rotation of the first belt clamping bar by the occupant restraint load induces coordinated rotation of the second belt clamping bar to move the respective eccentric belt clamping faces of the first and second belt clamping bars into belt clamping proximity with each other to clamp the belt therebetween against further movement through the guide loop assembly.

3. A guide loop assembly of claim 1 and further characterized by spring means acting to urge at least one of the first and second belt clamping bars to the position allowing free passage of the belt between the first and second belt clamping bars.

4. The guide loop assembly of claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the eccentric belt clamping faces of the first and second belt clamping bars have interdigitating teeth thereon for clamping the belt upon movement of the belt clamping bars to the respective belt clamping positions in response to the imposition of an occupant restraint load on the belt.

2. A restaint belt guide loop assembly adapted to be mounted on a vehicle body and slidably receive the belt from a locking retractor and deflect the belt diagonally across the occupant shoulder comprising:

a mounting bracket mounted on the vehicle body;

a first belt clamping bar pivotally mounted on the mounting bracket and having an eccentrically shaped belt clamping face at one end thereof and a belt reaction portion at the other end traversed by the belt during winding and unwinding of belt from the retractor;

a second belt clamping bar pivotally mounted on the mounting bracket and having an eccentrically arranged clamping face disposed on the opposite side of the belt from the first belt clamping bar; and

a link having one end pivotally mounted to the first clamping bar and the second end pivotally connected to the second clamping bar whereby pivotal rotation of the first clamping bar in one direction of rotation induced by the onset of an occupant restraint load on the belt poses a rotary movement of the second clamping bar in the opposite direction of rotation whereby the eccentrically disposed belt clamping faces of the first and second belt clamping members are moved toward one another to forcibly clamp the belt therebetween to prevent movement of the belt through the guide loop assembly.