×

Free running cinching seat belt latchplate

  • US 4,935,994 A
  • Filed: 12/11/1989
  • Issued: 06/26/1990
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. In a three-point safety belt harness for retaining a vehicle passenger in his seat, said harness including a seat belt having one end wound upon a spring bias storage retractor and an opposite end connected to an anchor adjacent the passenger seat, a belt guide generally adjacent the shoulder of said passenger with said belt being entrained therethrough, a releasable connector anchored on an opposite side of said passenger and a mating latchplate assembly slidably mounted upon said belt for releasable connection to said connector, the improvement of said latchplate assembly comprising the provision of:

  • a generally planar latchplate in the form of a tongue plate extending longitudinally from a generally rectangular open frame, said tongue plate adapted to be received and locked in the connector, said frame defined by a pair of co-planar longitudinally spaced transverse frame portions and a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal frame portions;

    each said longitudinal frame portion being of generally U-shaped configuration defined by a pair of sloped sides and a bight portion extending therebetween, each said bight portion lying in a plane parallel to and spaced below the plane of said transverse frame portions such that each pair of sides diverge upwardly away from each said bight portion in a mirror image manner;

    a transverse planar cross bar interconnecting each said bight so as to define with said latchplate frame a pair of transverse elongated first and second belt slots coextensive with said cross bar;

    an elongated lock bar having a J-shaped cross section defining a planar leg portion and an arcuate hook portion, said lock bar supported in a coextensive manner on said cross bar such that said hook portion extends through said first belt slot with said leg portion overlying said cross bar such that the free edge of said leg portion extends through said second belt slot, said leg portion formed with a transversely extending rib-like cam on its undersurface in rocking contact with the opposed upper face of said cross bar such that said lock bar is adapted to rock about a transverse axis;

    a seat belt entering said first slot from below so as to pass around said lock bar hook portion and over said lock bar leg portion free edge for exiting through said second slot;

    said latchplate assembly having a free running mode wherein said belt is substantially straight allowing said lock bar to float for sliding adjustment of said latchplate assembly on said belt; and

    said latchplate assembly having a cinching mode by the passenger changing the path of said belt by passing it around said lock bar hook portion and pulling thereon causing said lock bar to rock about said transverse axis and pinching said belt between said lock bar free edge and the opposed inner edge of its associated transverse frame portion.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×