Method of assembling a tongue assembly for use with a seat belt system

• US 5,870,816 A
• Filed: 05/19/1997
• Issued: 02/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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: McFalls, Bob L., Steffens, Charles E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOHANDESI, JILA M
• Application Number:
  US08/858,229
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 29/434, 29/464, 24/170, 24/193, 24/197
• US Class Current: 29/434
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2553 Attachment of buckle to strap
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2561 Tongue elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1812 Connections between seat belt and buckle tongue
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/30 Coupling devices other than buckles, including length-adjusting fittings or anti-slip devices adaptations of manual three-point seat belt systems for use by small passengers using other means than belt anti-slip devices B60R22/024; buckles A44B11/00; releasable fastenings in general F16B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4016 Pivoted part or lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49895 Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]

Abstract

A tongue assembly (10) is movable along seat belt webbing (16) and includes a latch plate sub-assembly (74) for engaging a buckle (26). A cinch bar (130) is carried by the latch plate sub-assembly (74) for pivotal movement relative to the latch plate sub-assembly between a disengaged position enabling the seat belt webbing and the latch plate sub-assembly to move relative to one another and an engaged position clamping the seat belt webbing against the latch plate sub-assembly. A method of assembling the tongue assembly (10) comprises the step of inserting a first end (138) of the cinch bar (130) into a first opening (128) in the latch plate sub-assembly (74) by movement of the cinch bar in a first direction (C). A second end (139) of the cinch bar (130) is inserted into a second opening (129) spaced away from the first opening (128) in the latch plate sub-assembly (74) by movement of the cinch bar in a second direction (E) opposite the first direction (C). The first end (138) of the cinch bar (130) is maintained in the first opening (128) while the second end (139) of the cinch bar is inserted in the second opening (129).

Claims

1. A method of assembling a tongue which is movable along seat belt webbing and includes a latch plate sub-assembly for engaging a buckle and a cinch bar carried by the latch plate sub-assembly for pivotal movement relative to the latch plate sub-assembly between a first position enabling the seat belt webbing and the latch plate sub-assembly to move relative to one another and a second position clamping the seat belt webbing against the latch plate sub-assembly, wherein the first end of the cinch bar includes an axially extending first pivot pin and the second end of the cinch bar includes an axially extending second pivot pin, the first pivot pin having an axial length equal to a first distance, and the second pivot pin having an axial length to a second distance, less than the first distance;

and

wherein the first end of the cinch bar includes an axially extending key portion adjacent to the first pivot pin and having an axial length equal to a third distance, less than the first distance, the key portion being inserted into a notch portion in the latch plate sub-assembly while inserting the first end of the cinch bar into the first opening, the cinch bar being incapable of pivotal movement while the key portion is inserted in the notch portion, the method comprising the steps of;

inserting a first end of the cinch bar into a first opening in the latch plate sub-assembly by movement of the cinch bar in a first direction;

inserting a second end of the cinch bar into a second opening spaced away from the first opening in the latch plate sub-assembly by movement of the cinch bar in a second direction generally opposite the first direction; and

maintaining the first end of the cinch bar in the first opening while inserting the second end of the cinch bar in the second opening.

2. A method of assembling a tongue which is movable along seat belt webbing and includes a latch plate sub-assembly for engaging a buckle and a cinch bar carried by the latch plate sub-assembly for pivotal movement relative to the latch plate sub-assembly between a first position enabling the seat belt webbing and the latch plate sub-assembly to move relative to one another and a second position clamping the seat belt webbing against the latch plate sub-assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a first end of the cinch bar into a first opening in the latch plate sub-assembly by movement of the cinch bar in a first direction;

inserting a second end of the cinch bar into a second opening spaced away from the first opening in the latch plate sub-assembly by movement of the cinch bar in a second direction generally opposite the first direction;

maintaining the first end of the cinch bar in the first opening while inserting the second end of the cinch bar in the second opening; and

pivoting the cinch bar counterclockwise in a fourth direction after inserting the second end of the cinch bar in the second opening.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, further comprising inserting the seat belt webbing between the cinch bar and a first portion of the latch plate subassembly after the step of pivoting the cinch bar in the fourth direction.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the cinch bar cinches the seat belt webbing against the first portion of the latch plate sub-assembly when the cinch bar is in the second position;

and

the cinch bar pivots in a first direction, opposite to the fourth direction, when moving from the first position to the second position.

5. A method of assembling a tongue assembly for a seat belt system comprising the following steps in the sequence set forth:

providing a latch plate sub-assembly, the latch plate sub-assembly having a webbing opening partially defined by a first side wall and a second side wall facing the first side wall, the first side wall having a first cylindrical opening centered on a first longitudinal axis and the second side wall having a second cylindrical opening centered on the first longitudinal axis, the first side wall having a notch portion extending axially away from the second wall portion;

providing a cinch bar including a body portion with a first end portion having a first end wall and a second end portion having a second end wall, the body portion extending axially between the first end wall and the second end wall along a second longitudinal axis, the first end wall having a first cylindrical extension pin extending axially away from the second end wall along the second axis, the second end wall having a second cylindrical extension pin extending axially away from the first end wall along the second axis, the first end wall having a projection key portion extending axially away from the second end wall;

moving the cinch bar to a first position wherein the first end portion is located in the webbing opening and the second end portion is spaced apart from the webbing opening;

moving the cinch bar to a second position wherein a portion of the first cylindrical extension pin is in the first cylindrical opening and a portion of the projection key portion is in the notch portion with the second end portion of the cinch bar being spaced apart from the webbing opening;

moving the cinch bar to a third position wherein the first and second end portions of the cinch bar are in the webbing opening such that the second axis is coincident with the first axis, while the cinch bar is in the third position, a portion of the first cylindrical extension pin is in the first cylindrical opening and a portion of the projection key portion is in the notch portion with the second cylindrical extension pin being spaced apart from the second cylindrical opening;

moving the cinch bar to a fourth position wherein a portion of the first cylindrical extension pin is in the first cylindrical opening and a portion of the second cylindrical extension pin is in the second cylindrical opening with the projection key portion being spaced apart from the notch portion; and

rotating the cinch bar away from the notch portion to a fifth position.

6. A method of assembling a tongue assembly for a seat belt system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a latch plate sub-assembly having spaced apart first and second side walls partially defining a webbing opening, the first side wall having a notch extending axially away from the second side wall;

providing a cinch bar having first and second end portions and a key portion at the first end portion extending axially away from the second end portion;

moving the cinch bar into a first position relative to the latch plate sub-assembly in which the first end portion of the cinch bar is in the webbing opening and the key portion is in the notch;

moving the cinch bar from the first position to a second position relative to the latch plate sub-assembly in which the second end portion of the cinch bar is in the webbing opening and the cinch bar is supported for rotation on the latch plate sub-assembly and the key portion is spaced axially from the notch;

rotating the cinch bar from the second position relative to the latch plate sub-assembly to a third position relative to the latch plate sub-assembly in which the key portion is spaced axially and angularly from the notch; and

inserting a length of seat belt webbing between the cinch bar and the latch plate sub-assembly, the seat belt webbing when disposed between the cinch bar and the latch plate sub-assembly preventing the cinch bar from rotating from the third position to the second position to prevent the cinch bar from moving out of the webbing opening.

7. A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the key portion comprises a first planar surface and a curved surface, the curved surface extends between and connects opposite ends of the first planar surface.

8. A method as defined in claim 7 wherein the notch comprises a second planar surface, the second planar surface facing and engaging the first planar surface when the cinch bar is in the first position.

9. A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the first side wall includes a first cylindrical opening and the second side wall includes a second cylindrical opening, the first end of the cinch bar including a first cylindrical pin and the second end of the cinch bar including a second cylindrical pin, the first and second pins being disposed within the first and second cylindrical openings, respectively, when the cinch bar is in the second and third positions, the webbing when disposed between the cinch bar and the latch plate sub-assembly preventing either of the pins from moving out of their respective cylindrical openings.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a tongue assembly latchable in a buckle and including a latch plate sub-assembly;

seat belt webbing extensible through said tongue assembly; and

a cinch bar mounted on said latch plate subassembly and pivotable between a first position in which said webbing and tongue assembly can move relatively and a second position in which said cinch bar and latch plate sub-assembly clamp said webbing to block said relative movement;

said latch plate sub-assembly and cinch bar having cooperating notch and key features, said key having a first position receivable in said notch to permit assembly of said cinch bar on said latch plate sub-assembly and a second position out of said notch;

said webbing blocking said cinch bar from moving into the first position in which said key is in the notch.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said cinch bar has a first end and a second end, said key being located on said first end and extending axially away from said second end.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said key comprises a first planar surface and a curved surface, said curved surface extending between and connecting opposite ends of said first planar surface.

13. An apparatus for use with a seat belt webbing comprising:

a tongue assembly latchable in a buckle and including a latch plate sub-assembly, the seat belt webbing being extensible through said tongue assembly; and

a cinch bar mounted on said latch plate sub-assembly and pivotable between a first position in which the webbing and said tongue assembly can move relatively and a second position in which said cinch bar and said latch plate sub-assembly clamp the webbing to block said relative movement;

said latch plate sub-assembly and cinch bar having cooperating notch and key features, said key having a first position receivable in said notch to permit assembly of said cinch bar on said latch plate sub-assembly and a second position out of said notch;

the webbing blocking said cinch bar from moving into the first position in which said key is in the notch.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said cinch bar has a first end and a second end with said key being located on said first end and extending axially away from said second end.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a latch plate sub-assembly having axially spaced first and second side walls, the first side wall having a notch extending axially away from the second side wall;

a cinch bar having axially spaced first and second end portions and a key portion at the first end portion extending axially away from the second end portion;

said cinch bar being supportable for rotation on said latch plate sub-assembly between a first position and a second position, said key portion being axially and angularly spaced from said notch when said cinch bar is in said first position and said cinch bar being unremovably supported on said latch plate sub-assembly when said cinch bar is in said first position, said key portion being axially aligned with said notch when said cinch bar is in said second position and said cinch bar being axially slidable between a third position and a fourth position when said cinch bar is in said second position, said key portion being axially spaced from said notch and said cinch bar being supported for rotation on said latch plate sub-assembly when said cinch bar is in said third position, said key portion being disposed within said notch and said cinch bar being unsupported for rotation on said latch plate sub-assembly when said cinch bar is in said fourth position; and

a length of seat belt webbing being disposed between said cinch bar and said latch plate sub-assembly when said cinch bar is supported on said latch plate sub-assembly, said cinch bar being prevented from rotating to said second position when said seat belt webbing is disposed between said cinch bar and said latch plate sub-assembly.