Tongue assembly
First Claim
1. A tongue assembly for use in a vehicle safety apparatus in which a first length of belt webbing restrains movement of a vehicle occupant or a child seat when said tongue assembly is engaged with a seat belt buckle, said tongue assembly comprising:
- a latching portion for engagement with the seat belt buckle;
means for defining a first path along which the first length of belt webbing is selectively extensible through said tongue assembly, said means for defining a first path including means for defining first and second webbing openings in said tongue assembly through which the first length of belt webbing is extensible and slidable when the safety apparatus is used to restrain movement of a vehicle occupant, said first path including said first and second webbing openings; and
means for defining a second path different from said first path along which the first length of belt webbing is selectively extensible through said tongue assembly, said means for defining a second path including said means for defining said first and second webbing openings in said tongue assembly, said second path including said first and second webbing openings, said means for defining a second path further including means for blocking sliding movement of the first length of belt webbing through said tongue assembly when the safety apparatus is used to restrain movement of a child seat.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle safety apparatus for restraining movement of a vehicle occupant or a child seat includes a tongue assembly and belt webbing which is selectively extensible through the tongue assembly along either a first path or a second path. The first path includes first and second webbing openings in the tongue assembly through which the belt webbing is extensible and slidable when the safety apparatus is used to restrain movement of a vehicle occupant. The second path includes the first and second webbing openings and further includes a third webbing opening in the tongue assembly. The belt webbing may selectively be extended through the third webbing opening to block movement of the belt webbing through the tongue assembly when the safety apparatus is used to restrain movement of a child seat.
23 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A tongue assembly for use in a vehicle safety apparatus in which a first length of belt webbing restrains movement of a vehicle occupant or a child seat when said tongue assembly is engaged with a seat belt buckle, said tongue assembly comprising:
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a latching portion for engagement with the seat belt buckle; means for defining a first path along which the first length of belt webbing is selectively extensible through said tongue assembly, said means for defining a first path including means for defining first and second webbing openings in said tongue assembly through which the first length of belt webbing is extensible and slidable when the safety apparatus is used to restrain movement of a vehicle occupant, said first path including said first and second webbing openings; and means for defining a second path different from said first path along which the first length of belt webbing is selectively extensible through said tongue assembly, said means for defining a second path including said means for defining said first and second webbing openings in said tongue assembly, said second path including said first and second webbing openings, said means for defining a second path further including means for blocking sliding movement of the first length of belt webbing through said tongue assembly when the safety apparatus is used to restrain movement of a child seat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A safety apparatus for use in restraining a child seat or an occupant of a vehicle against movement relative to a vehicle seat, said safety apparatus comprising:
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a belt webbing having a first portion extensible across the lap of the vehicle occupant and a second portion extensible across the torso of the vehicle occupant; and a tongue assembly slidably mounted on said belt webbing and connectable with a buckle fixed to the vehicle adjacent the vehicle seat, said tongue assembly comprising; a first generally planar portion including a latching portion for engagement with the buckle, said first planar portion including means for defining a first webbing opening through which a single thickness of said belt webbing extends; a connector portion extending at an angle from said first planar portion, said connector portion including means for defining a second webbing opening through which a single thickness of said belt webbing extends; and a second generally planar portion extending from said angled connector portion generally parallel to and offset from said first planar portion, said second planar portion including means for defining a third webbing opening through which said belt webbing is selectively extensible; said second webbing opening being offset from the plane of said first webbing opening to permit said first and second portions of said belt webbing to remain spaced from each other and thereby permit sliding movement of said belt webbing through said tongue assembly when said belt webbing extends through said first and second webbing openings but not through said third webbing opening; said third webbing opening being formed to receive both said first portion and said second portion of said belt webbing, said third webbing opening being offset from the planes of said first and second webbing openings whereby said first and second portion of said belt webbing cinch against each other to block sliding movement of said belt webbing through said tongue assembly when said belt webbing extends through said first and second and third webbing openings. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification