Safety apparatus

• US 4,871,190 A
• Filed: 10/08/1987
• Issued: 10/03/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Willey, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US07/106,146
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801, 280/808, 297/468, 24/196, 24/69 SB, 24/309
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/10 sliding wedge
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2557 with strap length adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2561 Tongue elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1812 Connections between seat belt and buckle tongue
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/30 Coupling devices other than buckles, including length-adjusting fittings or anti-slip devices adaptations of manual three-point seat belt systems for use by small passengers using other means than belt anti-slip devices B60R22/024; buckles A44B11/00; releasable fastenings in general F16B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4084 Looped strap

Abstract

The present invention is a safety apparatus having a belt which restrains an occupant of a vehicle against movement relative to the vehicle. A tongue assembly is mounted on the belt and is connectable with a buckle to secure the belt across the lap and torso of the occupant of the vehicle. The tongue assembly includes a lock bar which is movable relative to a base of the tongue assembly between an engaged position in which the belt is clamped between the base and the lock bar and a release position in which the belt is freely movable relative to the tongue assembly. To facilitate movement of the belt relative to the tongue assembly, when the tongue assembly is disconnected from the buckle, the belt extends along a substantially linear path through the tongue assembly. This is accomplished in part by having the belt enter the tongue assembly through an opening adjacent to the base of the tongue assembly and in a direction generally parallel to the base.

Claims

1. A safety apparatus for use in restraining an occupant of a vehicle in a vehicle seat against movement relative to the vehicle seat, said safety apparatus comprising:

a belt for restraining the occupant of the vehicle in the vehicle seat, said belt having a first portion extendable across the lap of the occupant of the vehicle and a second portion extendable across the torso of the occupant of the vehicle, said belt being located on one side of the vehicle seat when not restraining the occupant of the vehicle;

a buckle to be secured adjacent to the other side of the vehicle seat; and

a tongue assembly slidably mounted on said belt and connectable with said buckle to secure the first portion of the belt across the lap of the occupant of the vehicle and to secure the second portion of the belt across the torso of the occupant of the vehicle, said tongue assembly including;

a base comprising a base plate, spaced facing flanges extending from said base plate, and a belt clamp portion located between said flanges;

said spaced flanges defining a first opening through which said belt enters said tongue assembly in a direction generally parallel to said base plate and a second opening through which said belt extends when not restraining the occupant of the vehicle; and

a lock bar having a belt locking portion located between said spaced flanges and slidable relative to said base plate between a first belt clamping position in which said belt is clamped between said belt clamp portion and said belt locking portion of said lock bar and a second non-clamping position in which said belt extends through said tongue assembly and said first and second openings along a substantially linear path to allow said tongue assembly to freely slide along said belt;

each of said spaced flanges having a longitudinally extending slot for receiving an end of said lock bar and for supporting said lock bar for sliding movement along said longitudinally extending slots between said first belt clamping and second non-clamping positions.

2. A safety apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said belt clamp portion comprises a retainer connected to said flanges, extending between said flanges and spaced from said base plate, said retainer further defining said first opening.

3. A safety apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said base plate has a third opening therein through which one portion of said belt extends when said tongue assembly is connected with said buckle.

4. A safety apparatus for use in restraining an occupant of a vehicle in a vehicle seat against movement relative to the vehicle seat, said safety apparatus comprising:

a belt for restraining the occupant of the vehicle in the vehicle seat, said belt having a first portion extendable across the lap of the occupant of the vehicle and a second portion extendable across the torso of the occupant of the vehicle, said belt being located on one side of the vehicle seat when not restraining the occupant of the vehicle;

a buckle to be secured adjacent to the other side of the vehicle seat; and

a tongue assembly slidably mounted on said belt and connectable with said buckle to secure the first portion of the belt across the lap of the occupant of the vehicle and to secure the second portion of the belt across the torso of the occupant of the vehicle, said tongue assembly including;

a base comprising a base plate having an inner surface, spaced facing flanges extending from said inner surface of said base plate, and a belt clamp portion projecting from said inner surface of said base into the area between said spaced flanges;

said spaced flanges defining a first opening through which said belt enters said tongue assembly in a direction substantially parallel to said base plate and adjacent thereto, and a second opening through which said belt extends when not restraining the occupant of the vehicle; and

a lock bar having a belt clamping portion located between said spaced flanges and slidable relative to said inner surface of said base plate between a first belt clamping position in which said belt is clamped between said belt clamp portion and said belt clamping portion of said lock bar, and a second non-clamping position in which said belt extends through said tongue assembly and said first and second openings along a substantially linear path to allow said tongue assembly to freely slide along said belt;

each of said spaced flanges having a longitudinally extending slot for receiving an end of said lock bar and for supporting said lock bar for sliding movement along said longitudinally extending slots between said first belt clamping and second non-clamping positions;

said first and second portions of said belt extending through said first opening when said tongue assembly is connected to said buckle.

5. A safety apparatus for use in restraining an occupant of a vehicle in a vehicle seat against movement relative to the vehicle seat, said safety apparatus comprising:

a belt for restraining the occupant of the vehicle in the vehicle seat, said belt having a first portion extendable across the lap of the occupant of the vehicle and a second portion extendable across the torso of the occupant of the vehicle, said belt being located on one side of the vehicle seat when not restraining the occupant of the vehicle;

a buckle to be secured adjacent to the other side of the vehicle seat; and

a tongue assembly slidably mounted on said belt and connectable with said buckle to secure the first portion of the belt across the lap of the occupant of the vehicle and to secure the second portion of the belt across the torso of the occupant of the vehicle, said tongue assembly including;

a base comprising a base plate, spaced facing flanges extending from said base plate, and a retainer connected to said spaced flanges and extending between said spaced flanges in spaced relationship to said base plate;

said spaced flanges and said retainer defining a first opening through which said belt enters said tongue assembly in a direction generally parallel to said base plate and adjacent to said retainer, and said spaced flanges defining a second opening through which said belt extends when not restraining the occupant of the vehicle; and

a lock bar having a belt clamping portion located between said spaced flanges and slidable relative to said base plate between a first belt locking position in which said belt is clamped between said retainer and said belt locking portion of said lock bar, and a second non-locking position in which said belt extends through said tongue assembly and said first and second openings along a substantially linear path to allow said tongue assembly to freely slide along said belt;

each of said spaced flanges having a longitudinally extending slot for receiving an end of said lock bar and for supporting said lock bar for sliding movement along said longitudinally extending slots between said first belt clamping and second non-clamping positions.

6. A safety apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said base plate has a third opening through which one portion of said belt extends when said tongue assembly is connected to said buckle.

7. A safety apparatus for use in restraining an occupant of a vehicle in a vehicle seat against movement relative to the vehicle seat, said safety apparatus comprising:

a belt for restraining the occupant of the vehicle in the vehicle seat, said belt having a first portion extendable across the lap of the occupant of the vehicle and a second portion extendable across the torso of the occupant of the vehicle, said belt having a restraining position in which said first and second portions of said belt extend across the lap and torso of the occupant of the vehicle, respectively, and a nonrestraining position, in which said belt is located on one side of the vehicle seat;

a buckle to be secured adjacent to the other side of the vehicle seat; and

a tongue assembly connectable with said buckle to secure the first portion of the belt across the lap of the occupant of the vehicle and to secure the second portion of the belt across the torso of the occupant of the vehicle, said tongue assembly including;

a base comprising a base plate, spaced facing flanges extending from said base plate, and a belt clamp portion extending from said base plate transverse to said flanges and in the same direction as said spaced facing flanges extend from the base plate;

said spaced flanges defining an opening through which said belt extends in the nonrestraining position thereof; and

a lock bar having a belt locking portion located between said spaced flanges, said lock bar being slidable relative to said base plate between a first belt clamping position in which said belt is clamped between said belt clamp portion and said belt locking portion of said lock bar and a second non-clamping position in which said tongue assembly is freely slidable along said belt and said belt extends through said tongue assembly and said opening;

each of said spaced flanges having a longitudinal slot extending at an acute angle to said base plate for receiving an end of said lock bar and for supporting said lock bar for sliding movement along said longitudinal slots between said first belt clamping and second non-clamping positions;

said belt engaging a portion of said lock bar being longitudinally spaced from said belt locking portion upon being moved from the nonrestraining position of said belt to the restraining position of said belt to move said lock bar along said longitudinal slots from the nonclamping position of said lock bar to the clamping position of said lock bar.

8. A safety apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said slots has a longitudinal axis intersecting said belt clamp portion of said base.

9. A safety apparatus for use in restraining an occupant of a vehicle in a vehicle seat against movement relative to the vehicle seat, said safety apparatus comprising:

a belt for restraining the occupant of the vehicle in the vehicle seat, said belt having a first portion extendable across the lap of the occupant of the vehicle and a second portion extendable across the torso of the occupant of the vehicle, said belt being located on one side of the vehicle seat when not restraining the occupant of the vehicle;

a buckle to be secured adjacent to the other side of the vehicle seat; and

a tongue assembly slidably mounted on said belt and connectable with said buckle to secure the first portion of the belt across the lap of the occupant of the vehicle and to secure the second portion of the belt across the torso of the occupant of the vehicle, said tongue assembly including;

a base comprising a base plate, spaced facing flanges extending from said base plate, and a belt clamp portion located between said flanges;

said spaced flanges defining a first opening through which said belt enters said tongue assembly in a direction generally parallel to said base plate and a second opening through which said belt extends when not restraining the occupant of the vehicle; and

a lock bar having a belt locking portion located between said spaced flanges and slidable relative to said base plate between a first belt clamping position in which said belt is clamped between said belt clamp portion and said belt locking portion of said lock bar and a second non-clamping position in which said belt extends through said tongue assembly and said first and second openings along a substantially linear path to allow said tongue assembly to freely slide along said belt;

each of said spaced flanges having a longitudinally extending slot for receiving an end of said lock bar and for supporting said lock bar for sliding movement along said longitudinally extending slots between said first belt clamping and second non-clamping positions;

said tongue assembly comprising a tongue connected to said base plate and projecting therefrom for connection with said buckle, said tongue extending at an acute angle from said base plate and having a tip portion spaced from said second opening and said tip portion engaging said belt and riding thereon when said tongue assembly slides along said belt.

10. A safety apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said belt clamp portion comprises a projection extending from said base plate into the area between said spaced flanges.

11. A safety apparatus for use in restraining an occupant of a vehicle in a vehicle seat against movement relative to the vehicle seat, said safety apparatus comprising:

a belt for restraining the occupant of the vehicle in the vehicle seat, said belt having a first portion extendable across the lap of the occupant of the vehicle and a second portion extendable across the torso of the occupant of the vehicle, said belt being located on one side of the vehicle seat when not restraining the occupant of the vehicle;

a buckle to be secured adjacent to the other side of the vehicle seat; and

a tongue assembly slidably mounted on said belt and connectable with said buckle to secure the first portion of the belt across the lap of the occupant of the vehicle and to secure the second portion of the belt across the torso of the occupant of the vehicle, said tongue assembly including;

a base comprising a base plate, spaced facing flanges extending from said base plate, and a retainer connected to said spaced flanges and extending between said spaced flanges in spaced relationship to said base plate;

said spaced flanges and said retainer defining a first opening through which said belt enters said tongue assembly in a direction generally parallel to said base plate and adjacent to said retainer, and said spaced flanges defining a second opening through which said belt extends when not restraining the occupant of the vehicle; and

a lock bar having a belt clamping portion located between said spaced flanges and slidable relative to said base plate between a first belt locking position in which said belt is clamped between said retainer and said belt locking portion of said lock bar, and a second non-locking position in which said belt extends through said tongue assembly and said first and second openings along a substantially linear path to allow said tongue assembly to freely slide along said belt;

each of said spaced flanges having a longitudinally extending slot for receiving an end of said lock bar and for supporting said lock bar for sliding movement along said longitudinally extending slots between said first belt clamping and second non-clamping positions;

said base plate having a third opening through which one portion of said belt extends when said tongue assembly is connected to said buckle; and

said base plate having a first portion from which said spaced flanges extend, and a second portion extending at an acute angle to said first portion, said third opening being formed in said first and second portions, and said tongue assembly comprising a tongue connected to said second portion of said base plate and projecting therefrom substantially parallel to said first portion for connection with said buckle, said belt extending through said third opening and substantially parallel to said tongue when not restraining the occupant of the vehicle.