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

• Current Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corp (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Daris, Fred, Inch, Douglas J., Boone, Marion C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US07/448,383
• Time in Patent Office: 197 Days
• Field of Search: 24/196, 24/171, 24/68 CD, 24/685 B, 24/638, 24/637, 280/801, 280/807, 297/483
• US Class Current: 24/196
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2557 with strap length adjustment
• 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 24/4019 Sliding part or wedge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4084 Looped strap

Abstract

A seat belt latchplate is disclosed for use in association with a three-point seat belt harness wherein the latchplate is mounted at an intermediate point on the belt formed with a tongue portion adapted to be releasably anchored to an associated releasable buckle positioned inboard of the vehicle passenger seat. The latchplate has a trough-shaped depression providing a cross bar defined by a pair of symmetrically disposed belt slots located in each sloped side of the depression. A J-shaped lock bar is supported on the cross bar enabling the belt to be weaved through one slot and over the lock bar for passage through the other slot. With the latchplate in its free running stowed mode the belt is straight allowing the lock bar to float for free sliding travel of the belt through the latchplate slots. In its latched mode the belt is pulled around a hook-shaped portion of the lock bar causing the bar to rock and pinch the belt in its cinching mode releasably locking the passenger in the vehicle seat.

Claims

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.