Belt clamping guide loop

• US 4,762,338 A
• Filed: 10/07/1987
• Issued: 08/09/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Hayden, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US07/105,669
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801, 280/807, 280/808, 297/478, 297/479, 297/483, 242/107.12, 242/107.2, 24/136 R
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1855 the means being sensitive to belt tension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4084 Looped strap

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 frame pivotally mounted on the vehicle body with the belt passing between upper and lower belt clamping shoes movably mounted on the frame so that downward acting tension on the belt urges the lower shoe downwardly. A pair of C-shaped levers are mounted on the bracket adjacent the ends of the shoes. Each lever includes an upper arm bearing on the upper shoe and a lower arm supporting the lower shoe so that downward movement of the lower shoe by the tension on the belt pivots the lever and forces the upper shoe downwardly toward the lower shoe. The upper arm is longer than the lower arm so that the pivoting movement of the lever causes the downward movement on the upper shoe to be greater than the downward movement of the lower shoe so that the upper shoe overtakes the lower shoe and clamps the belt between the shoes against sliding movement through the frame.

Claims

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

a frame mounted on the pillar;

first and second belt clamping shoes movably mounted on the frame, the lower shoe underlying the belt so that downward acting tension on the belt urges the lower shoe downwardly, and the upper shoe overlying the belt;

means acting between the upper shoe and the lower shoe and forcing the upper shoe downwardly toward the lower shoe at a rate of downward movement greater than the downward movement of the lower shoe in response to the belt tension so that the belt becomes clamped between the shoes and against sliding movement through the frame.

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

a frame mounted on the pillar;

first and second belt clamping shoes slidably mounted on the frame, the lower shoe underlying the belt so that downward acting tension on the belt urges the shoe downwardly, and the upper shoe overlying the belt;

spring means urging the shoes apart to permit belt passage therethrough; and

lever means pivoted on the frame and acting between the upper shoe and the lower shoe, said lever being forcibly pivoted downwardly by the lower shoe and forcing the upper shoe downwardly toward the lower shoe at a rate of downward movement greater than the downward movement of the lower shoe so that the belt becomes clamped between the shoes and against sliding movement through the frame.

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

a frame mounted on the pillar and having a belt passage therethrough;

first and second belt clamping shoes slidably mounted within the belt passage of the frame, the lower shoe underlying the belt so that downward acting tension on the belt urges the shoe downwardly, and the upper shoe overlying the belt;

lever means pivoted on the frame and acting between the upper shoe and the lower shoe, said lever being C-shaped and including an upper arm bearing on the upper shoe and a lower arm supporting the lower shoe so that downward movement of the lower shoe by the tension on the belt pivots the lever and forces the upper shoe downwardly toward the lower shoe at a rate of downward movement greater than the downward movement of the lower shoe so that the belt becomes clamped between the shoes and against sliding movement through the frame.

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

a frame mounted on the pillar and having a belt passage therethrough;

first and second belt clamping shoes slidably mounted within the belt passage of the frame, the lower shoe underlying the belt so that downward acting tension on the belt urges the shoe downwardly, and the upper shoe overlying the belt in spaced relation from the lower shoe permitting the belt to slide therethrough;

and lever means pivoted on the frame and acting between the upper shoe and the lower shoe, said lever being C-shaped and including an upper arm bearing on the upper shoe and a lower arm supporting the lower shoe so that downward movement of the lower shoe by the tension on the belt pivots the lever and forces the upper shoe downwardly toward the lower shoe, said upper arm being longer than the lower arm so that the pivoting movement of the lever causes the rate of downward movement of the upper shoe to be greater than the downward rate of movement of the lower shoe so that the upper shoe overtakes the lower shoe and clamps the belt between the shoes and against sliding movement through the frame.

5. The device of claim 4 further characterized by spring means acting on at least one of the levers, the upper shoe, or the lower shoe, to normally establish the upper and lower shoes in spaced apart relation permitting the belt to slide therethrough and yielding to permit the upper shoe to overtake the lower shoe and clamp the belt.