Device for the incremental height adjustment of an attachment or deflection point for a safety belt

• US 5,044,666 A
• Filed: 10/25/1989
• Issued: 09/03/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Albert Griesemer
• Original Assignee: Albert Griesemer
• Inventors: Griesemer, Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tyson, Karin
• Application Number:
  US07/426,214
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801, 280/808, 248/297.3, 297/468, 297/483
• US Class Current: 280/801.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/202 the slider comprising spring-actuated locking means B60R22/205 takes precedence

Abstract

A device for the incremental positioning or height adjustment of an attachment or deflection point for a safety belt includes a guide bar, an adjustment element and a spring element. In accordance with the invention, it is intended to employ a leaf spring as the spring element, which extends over the length and width of the adjustment element and which is, together with the adjustment element, combined into a module clamped to the guide bar. The leaf spring assists in locking, supporting and guiding of the adjustment element.

Claims

1. A device for the incremental adjustment of a safety belt, comprising;

a guide track with a slot extending along a portion of the guide track length and recesses formed at increments along said track;

an adjustment element slidably disposed on one side of said guide track;

retaining means provided on a side of said adjustment element facing said guide track positioned so as to engage with said recesses when said adjustment element is brought into contact with said guide track, thus locking said adjustment element from sliding along said guide track; and

a separate leaf spring element extending essentially over the length and width of said adjustment element and connected with said adjustment element to form a clamping module on said guide track, positioned so as to hold said adjustment element in contact with said guide track;

wherein said adjustment element comprises at least one protruding portion extending through said slot to secure said adjustment element to said leaf spring element;

and at least one slit is provided on said leaf spring element for engaging said protruding portion.

2. A device for the incremental adjustment of a safety belt, comprising;

a guide track with a slot extending along a portion of the guide track length and recesses formed at increments along said guide track;

an adjustment element slidably disposed on one said of said guide track;

retaining means provided on a side of said adjustment element facing said guide track positioned so as to engage with said recesses when said adjustment element is brought into contact with said guide track, thus locking said adjustment element from sliding along said guide track; and

a leaf spring element extending essentially over the length and width of said adjustment element and connected with said adjustment element to form a clamping module on said guide track, positioned so as to hold said adjustment element in contact with said guide track, said adjustment element including at least one protruding portion extending through said slot to secure said adjustment element to said leaf spring element, said protruding portion being provided with a slit for receiving a strip-like end section of said leaf spring element.

3. A device for the incremental adjustment of a safety belt, comprising;

a guide track with a slot extending along a portion of the guide track length and recesses formed at increments along said track;

an adjustment element slidably disposed on one side of said guide track;

retaining means provided on a side of said adjustment element facing said guide track positioned so as to engage with said recesses when said adjustment element is brought into contact with said guide track, thus locking said adjustment element from sliding along said guide track; and

a separate leaf spring element extending essentially over the length and width of said adjustment element and connected with said adjustment element to form a clamping module on said guide track, positioned so as to hold said adjustment element in contact with said guide track, said adjustment element including at least one protruding portion extending through said slot to secure said adjustment element to said leaf spring element, at least one of a slit being formed on said protruding portion for receiving a strip-like end section of said leaf spring element, and a retaining lip being formed on said protruding portion for securing said leaf spring element to said adjustment element, and a plurality of lateral extensions being formed on said protruding portion so as to extend along the width of said guide track beyond the width of said slot.

4. A device for the incremental adjustment of a safety belt, comprising;

a guide track with a slot extending along a portion of the guide track length and recesses formed at increments along said track;

an adjustment element slidably disposed on one side of said guide track;

retaining means provided on a side of said adjustment element facing said guide track positioned so as to engage with said recesses when said adjustment element is brought into contact with said guide track, thus locking said adjustment element from sliding along said guide track; and

a separate leaf spring element extending essentially over the length and width of said adjustment element and connected with said adjustment element to form a clamping module on said guide track, positioned so as to hold said adjustment element in contact with said guide track;

wherein said adjustment element comprises;

at least one protruding portion extending through said slot to secure said adjustment element t said leaf spring element; and

a retaining lip formed on said protruding portion for securing said leaf spring element to said adjustment element by engaging an outer surface of said leaf spring element.

5. A device for the incremental adjustment of a safety belt, comprising;

a guide track with a slot extending along a portion of the guide track length and recesses formed at increments along said track;

an adjustment element slidably disposed on one side of said guide track;

retaining means provided on a side of said adjustment element facing said guide track positioned so as to engage with said recesses when said adjustment element is brought into contact with said guide track, thus locking said adjustment element form sliding along said guide track; and

a separate leaf spring element extending essentially over the length and width of said adjustment element and connected with said adjustment element to form a clamping module on said guide track, positioned so as to hold said adjustment element in contact with said guide track;

wherein guide surface elements separate from said retaining means are provided on a surface of said adjustment element facing said guide track which are engageable with said recesses so as to allow smooth disengaging of said retaining means from said recesses when said adjustment element is moved away from said guide track during adjustment.