Retraction locking device for restraining belt

• US 5,350,196 A
• Filed: 07/06/1992
• Issued: 09/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George Atkins
• Original Assignee: George Atkins
• Inventors: Atkins, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Focarino, Margaret A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US07/909,242
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 280/808, 297/483, 24/170, 24/191
• US Class Current: 280/808
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/19 with means for reducing belt tension during use under normal conditions included in the retractor B60R22/44
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4016 Pivoted part or lever

Abstract

A device (1) for attachment to a restraining belt is disclosed comprising a casing (3) for enveloping widthwise the restraining belt; a cam (5) rotatably mounted in the casing (3) along an axis extending substantially parallel to the length of the belt, and an element (7) for rotating the cam (5) from a neutral position in which the cam (5) does not make contact with the belt, to a clamping position in which the cam (5) grips the belt. A restraining belt system incorporating the device (1) is also disclosed. The device (1) obviates the problem of tension exerted on wearers of restraining belts, is both safe and cheap to manufacture and can be fitted easily to existing vehicle seat belts.

Claims

1. A removable clamping device for use with a restraining belt system, said system having a belt, an inertial reel for storing part of the belt, and an anchor for the belt positioned to allow the belt to slide therethrough, the removable clamping device comprising:

a C-shaped casing, said casing having a laterally extending lower plate and cantilevered flanges extending from said lower plate a distance over the lower plate and leaving a gap between the flanges for belt insertion and removal to and from a position within said casing intermediate belt ends, said belt extending laterally between said lower plate and flanges, for releasably enveloping widthwise said restraining belt;

a cam having a progressive curvilinear surface, rotatably mounted in the casing by a roll-pin which extends along an axis extending substantially parallel to the length of the belt;

lever means for manually rotating the cam from a neutral position with the lever means facing away from the casing in which the cam does not make contact with the belt, to a clamping position with the lever means lying along the casing and covering the gap between the casing flanges in which the cam grips the belt along a length of said belt tangent to the curvilinear surface of the cam in a confined width portion of the belt; and

stop means disposed on said lever means to prevent the cam from rotating away from the clamping position beyond the neutral position when the lever means is rotated from the clamping position.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein edges of the C-shaped casing are smooth to prevent snagging and wear of the belt.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the C-shaped casing opposite the cam is roughened to aid gripping of the belt by the cam and to prevent the belt from slipping through the C-shaped casing.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the lever means and cam are integrally formed from a plastic.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the C-shaped casing is formed from a plastic.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the roll-pin is formed from a metal material.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the lever means, cam and C-shaped casing are formed from a non-ferrous metal.