Tongue assembly

• US 5,806,148 A
• Filed: 05/19/1997
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Giampalmi, John A. III, McFalls, Bob
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US08/858,317
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 24/168, 24/170, 24/194, 24/196, 24/171
• US Class Current: 24/168
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2561 Tongue elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4012 Clamping
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4019 Sliding part or wedge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4084 Looped strap

Abstract

A tongue assembly (10) includes a metal plate member (34) having a first portion (36) with a buckle latch receiving first opening (42) and a second portion (46) offset from the first portion. The metal plate member (34) has a second opening (60) between the first and second portions (36 and 46) through which seat belt webbing (16) extends. The first portion (36) of the metal plate member (34) is positionable on one side of the belt webbing (16). The second portion (46) of the metal plate member (34) is positionable on the other side of the belt webbing (16). A seat belt webbing cinch bar (130) is attached to the metal plate member (34) and located on the other side of the belt webbing (16). The cinch bar (130) has a first position in which the belt webbing (16) is located between the first portion (36) of the metal plate member (34) and the cinch bar (130). The cinch bar (130) is pivotable to a second position in which the belt webbing (16) partially encircles the cinch bar (130) and is clamped by the cinch bar to block relative movement of the cinch bar and the belt webbing. The cinch bar (130) has a first surface portion (144) which engages the belt webbing (16) and effects pivotal movement of the cinch bar to the second position in response to force applied to the first surface portion by the belt webbing.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a metal plate member having a first portion having a buckle latch receiving first opening and a second portion offset from said first portion, said metal plate member having a second opening between said first and second portions through which seat belt webbing extends, the first portion of said metal plate member being positionable on one side of the seat belt webbing and the second portion of said metal plate member being positionable on the other side of the seat belt webbing;

a seat belt webbing cinch bar attached to said metal plate member and located on said other side of the seat belt webbing, said cinch bar being pivotable between a first position in which the seat belt webbing is located between said first portion of said metal plate member and said cinch bar and a second position in which said seat belt webbing partially encircles said cinch bar and is clamped by said cinch bar to block relative movement of the cinch bar and the seat belt webbing; and

said seat belt webbing cinch bar having a first surface portion which engages the seat belt webbing and effects pivotal movement of said seat belt webbing cinch bar to said second position in response to force applied to said first surface portion by the seat belt webbing;

said cinch bar having a second surface portion for engaging and clamping said seat belt webbing;

said second surface portion travels in an arcuate path upon movement of said cinch bar between said first position and said second position; and

further comprising a third surface portion, said seat belt webbing being clamped between and engaged by said second surface portion and said third surface portion when said cinch bar is in said second position.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second surface portion on said cinch bar is spaced apart from said third surface portion by a first distance when said cinch bar is in said first position and by a second distance, smaller than said first distance, when said cinch bar is in said second position.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said cinch bar is supported for pivotal movement by a body of material secured to said metal plate member.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said body of material is plastic.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said body of material includes spaced apart cylindrical openings and said cinch bar comprises an axially extending body portion having a pair of pins, each one of said pins extending axially from an opposite end of said body portion and being supported in a respective one of said cylindrical openings to support said cinch bar for pivotal movement between said first and second positions.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said cinch bar has a pair of spaced apart arcuate surface portions extending between and connecting said first surface portion and said second surface portion.

7. Apparatus comprising:

a metal plate member having a buckle latch receiving first opening, said metal plate member having a second opening through which seat belt webbing extends;

a body of plastic material fixedly secured to said metal plate member and partially located in said second opening, said body of plastic material having a third opening through which the seat belt webbing extends;

a pivotal seat belt webbing cinch bar having a first position in which the seat belt webbing is not clamped by said cinch bar to said body of plastic material and a second position in which said seat belt webbing is clamped by said cinch bar against said body of plastic material to block relative movement of the body of plastic material and the seat belt webbing; and

said cinch bar having a first surface portion which engages the seat belt webbing and effects pivotal movement of said cinch bar to said second position in response to force applied to said first surface portion by the seat belt webbing;

said metal plate has a first portion lying in a first plate and defining said first opening, a second portion lying in a second plane spaced apart from said first plate and an intermediate portion interconnecting said first and second portions and having said second opening;

said cinch bar has a second surface portion for engaging and clamping said seat belt webbing;

said second surface portion travels in an arcuate path upon movement of said cinch bar between said first position and said second position; and

said body of plastic material includes a third surface portion, said seat belt webbing being clamped between and engaged by said second surface portion and said third surface portion when said cinch bar is in said second position.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said second surface portion on said cinch bar is spaced apart from said third surface portion on said body of plastic material by a first distance when said cinch bar is in said first position and by a second distance, smaller than said first distance, when said cinch bar is in said second position.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said cinch bar has a pair of spaced apart arcuate surface portions extending between and connecting said first surface portion and said second surface portion.

10. Apparatus comprising:

a metal plate member having a first portion lying in a first plane and having a buckle latch receiving first opening and a second portion lying in a second plane offset from said first portion, said metal plate member having a second opening between said first and second portions through which seat belt webbing extends, the first portion of said metal plate member being positionable on one side of the seat belt webbing and the second portion of said metal plate member being positionable on the other side of the seat belt webbing;

a seat belt webbing cinch bar attached to said metal plate member and located on said other side of the seat belt webbing, said cinch bar being pivotable between a first position in which the seat belt webbing is located between said first portion of said metal plate member and said cinch bar and a second position in which said seat belt webbing partially encircles said cinch bar and is clamped by said cinch bar to block relative movement of the cinch bar and the seat belt webbing; and

said seat belt webbing cinch bar having a first surface portion, said first surface portion being engaged by the seat belt webbing and said first surface portion receiving force from said seat belt webbing to effect pivotal movement of said seat belt webbing cinch bar to said second position.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said cinch bar has a second surface portion for engaging and clamping said seat belt webbing.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said second surface portion travels in an arcuate path upon movement of said cinch bar between said first position and said second position.

13. Apparatus comprising:

a metal plate member having a buckle latch receiving first opening, said metal plate member having a second opening through which seat belt webbing extends;

a body of plastic material fixedly secured to said metal plate member and partially located in said second opening, said body of plastic material having a third opening through which the seat belt webbing extends;

a pivotal seat belt webbing cinch bar having a first position in which the seat belt webbing is not clamped by said cinch bar to said body of plastic material and a second position in which said seat belt webbing is clamped by said cinch bar against said body of plastic material to block relative movement of the body of plastic material and the seat belt webbing; and

said seat belt webbing cinch bar having a first surface portion, said first surface portion being engaged by the seat belt webbing and said first surface portion receiving force from said seat belt webbing to effect pivotal movement of said seat belt webbing cinch bar to said second position.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said metal plate has a first portion lying in a first plane and defining said first opening, a second portion lying in a second plane spaced apart from said first plane and an intermediate portion interconnecting said first and second portions and having said second opening.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said cinch bar has a second surface portion for engaging and clamping said seat belt webbing.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said second surface portion travels in an arcuate path upon movement of said cinch bar between said first position and said second position.