Free running cinching latch plate

• US 5,023,980 A
• Filed: 08/31/1989
• Issued: 06/18/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alliedsignal Inc.
• Inventors: Thomas, Rudy V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brittain, James R.
• Application Number:
  US07/401,330
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 24/171, 24/307, 24/194, 24/323, 24/196, 297/468
• US Class Current: 24/196
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/10 sliding wedge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4019 Sliding part or wedge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4084 Looped strap

Abstract

A latch plate assembly (10) comprising: a plate (12) having formed at one end thereof a tongue (14) and at an opposite end a back portion (22), the back portion (22) comprising open ends (112a,b) and an open recess (50; 30), the back portion including radially extending opposing openings (52,54) through which may be received a substantially flat seat belt webbing (60); a lock bar (80) moveable between first and second positions releasing and compressing the webbing (60); a cap (90) for enclosing the open recess (50; 30) and open ends (112a,b) including a sloping surface for positioning the lock bar (80) into compressive engagement with the webbing (60) and for slideably securing the lock bar (80) therein.

Claims

1. A latch plate assembly comprising:

a plate having a tongue formed at one end thereof and at an opposite end a black portion, the back portion includes an end portion comprising open ends and defining an open recess;

the back portion including radially extending opposing openings through which may be received a substantially flat seat belt webbing;

lock bar means movable between first and second positions for releasing and compressing the webbing;

cap means for enclosing the open recess and open ends including guide means for positioning the lock bar means into compressive engagement with the webbing and for slidably securing the lock bar therein wherein the cap means includes first means for generating a frictional force of engagement with the webbing and a cap plate received in the open recess, opposingly situation inserts adapted to be received within the open ends of the back portion, each insert includes the guide means which compress a respective inwardly facing first recess into which respective ends of the lock bar means is received wherein each first recess includes a tapered surface such that as the lock bar means moves from the first position toward the second position, the lock bar means moves into compressive engagement with the webbing the wherein the webbing as same passes through the back portion is positioned between the cap means and the lock bar means.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the first means comprises a resilient wiper element.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein the wiper element is fabricated of rubber.

4. A latch plate assembly comprising;

a plate defining a plane having formed at one end a tongue, a transition surface extending below the plane of the tongue, a substantially flat portion extending rearward of the transition surface and an end portion, opposite the one end, rolled over and a portion of which terminates in an angle relative to the plane of the tongue,

the transition surface, flat portion and end portion extending substantially rearward of the tongue and cooperating to form an open recess,

the transition surface and end portion including radially extending first and second openings to receive a webbing therethrough in a substantially flat orientation during a non-cinching mode;

a portion of the end portion, includes a rearward slope proximate the second opening to reduce the cross-sectional area thereof;

a bar loosely received into the open recess and entrained in part by the webbing when such webbing is looped about the bar and rearwardly tensioned;

cap means adapted to be received in respective side openings of the open recess for preventing the bar from moving therefrom, the cap means including a cap plate such that when in position such cap plate substantially encloses the top of the recess, the cap means including inserts each having a recess into which is received a respective end of the bar, each cap recess including a transition surface upwardly ramped relative to the flat portion of the plate and to the sloped portion such that when the webbing is in its tensioned condition the bar is urged along each transition surface to compressively clamp a portion of the webbing against a sloped portion of the end portion.

5. A latch plate assembly comprising:

a plate having a tongue formed at one end thereof and at an opposite end a back portion, the back portion includes an end portion comprising open ends and defining an open recess;

the back portion including radially extending opposing openings through which may be received a substantially flat seat belt webbing;

a lock bar means movable between first and second positions for releasing and compressing the webbing;

cap means for enclosing the open recess and open ends including guide mean for positioning the lock bar means into compressive engagement with the webbing and for slidably securing the lock bar therein and wherein the cap means includes first means for generating a frictional force of engagement with the webbing.

6. The device as defined in claim 5 wherein the first means comprises a resilient wiper element.

7. The device as defined in claim 6 wherein the wiper element is fabricated of rubber.