Mechanism for adjusting the position of shoulder anchor

• US 5,016,916 A
• Filed: 12/18/1989
• Issued: 05/21/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Yoshito, Yokote, Yoshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US07/452,231
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801, 280/802, 280/804, 280/806, 280/808, 297/464, 297/468, 297/483, 297/484
• US Class Current: 280/801.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/20 adjustable in position, e.g. in height

Abstract

A mechanism for adjusting the position of a shoulder anchor in a passive seat belt system for a vehicle includes a base plate for transmitting a load to the vehicle body and an anchor plate to which a webbing for restraining an occupant is connected. An adjusting-type connection is used between the base plate and the anchor plate so that the anchor plate is adjustable with respect to the base plate both vertically and angularly when the occupant is restrained by the webbing.

Claims

1. A mechanism for adjusting the position of a shoulder anchor in a seat belt system of a vehicle, comprising:

a base plate for transmitting a load to a body of the vehicle;

an anchor plate having a webbing-connecting portion to which a webbing for restraining an occupant is connected; and

connecting means disposed between said base plate and said anchor plate for connecting said base plate and said anchor plate in such a way that said anchor plate can be selectively held at a first position or at a second position, said connecting means comprising a first connection point for said first position and a second connection point for said second position disposed in a vehicle downward direction with respect to said first connection point;

wherein at said first position the webbing-connecting portion is situated in a vehicle forward direction with respect to the connecting means; and

wherein at said second position said anchor plate has been rotated a predetermined angle about said connecting means.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises a pin having a non-circular cross-section mounted on one of said base plate and said anchor plate and an engagement hole formed in the other one of said base plate and said anchor plate and having an engagement portion engageable with said pin.

3. A mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said engagement hole has a substantially V-shaped opening which opens toward the webbing-connecting portion of said anchor plate.

4. A mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said pin has a substantially egg-like transverse cross-sectional shape.

5. A mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said pin has a substantially rectangular transverse cross-sectional shape.

6. A mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising a bias means for biasing said pin toward said engagement portion.

7. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said base plate is fixed to a door sash of the vehicle.

8. A mechanism, according to claim 1, wherein said base plate is a slide plate of a slider movable along a guide rail attached to the body of the vehicle.