Height adjuster for seat belt webbing

• US 5,924,731 A
• Filed: 06/22/1998
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1998
• 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: Frank, Matthew C., Sayles, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): JASMIN, LYNDA C
• Application Number:
  US09/102,141
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801.2, 280/808, 280/806, 297/483
• US Class Current: 280/807
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/203 the locking means being movably mounted on the slider

Abstract

A seat belt height adjuster (30) includes a track (34), a slider (36) movable vertically along the track (34), and a latch (102) mounted on the slider (36). The track (34) has a plurality of latch openings (62) which are spaced apart along the track (34). The latch (102)is receivable in each latch opening (62) to block movement of the slider (36) downward along the track (34). The track (34) further has a plurality of spaced-apart directing portions (80) corresponding to the plurality of latch openings (62). Each directing portion (80) of the track (34) is configured to constrain the latch (102) to move into the next lower latch opening (62) upon movement of the latch (102) downward along the track (34) from a latch opening (62) to the next lower latch opening (62).

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a seat belt height adjuster including a track, a slider movable vertically along said track, and a latch mounted on said slider;

said track having a plurality of latch openings which are spaced apart along said track;

said latch being receivable in each of said latch openings to block movement of said slider downward along said track;

said track further having a plurality of spaced-apart directing portions corresponding to said plurality of latch openings, each of said directing portions of said track being configured to constrain said latch always to move into a next lower latch opening upon movement of said latch downward along said track from a latch opening to a next lower latch opening.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said track further has a plurality of apertures defining positions for said slider, said height adjuster further including a detent device which is mounted on said slider separately from said latch, said detent device including a detent member and a spring biasing said detent member into engagement with said track, said detent member being movable into each of said apertures upon movement of said slider to the corresponding one of said positions.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said directing portions of said track has a ramp surface inclined toward the corresponding latch opening in said track, said latch having a ramp-follower portion slidable along said ramp surfaces.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said latch openings in said track has a lower end, each of said directing portions of said track having a lower end spaced upward from the lower end of the corresponding latch opening.

5. Apparatus comprising:

a seat belt height adjuster including a track, a slider movable vertically along said track, and a latch mounted on said slider;

said track having a plurality of latch openings which are spaced apart along said track;

said latch being receivable in each of said latch openings to block movement of said slider downward along said track;

said track further having a plurality of spaced-apart directing portions corresponding to said plurality of latch openings, each of said directing portions of said track being configured to constrain said latch to move into a next lower latch opening upon movement of said latch downward along said track from a latch opening to a next lower latch opening;

said track further having a plurality of apertures defining positions for said slider, said height adjuster further including a detent device which is mounted on said slider separately from said latch, said detent device including a detent member and a spring biasing said detent member into engagement with said track, said detent member being movable into each of said apertures upon movement of said slider to the corresponding one of said positions.

6. Apparatus comprising:

a seat belt height adjuster including a track, a slider movable vertically along said track, and a latch mounted on said slider;

said track having a plurality of latch openings which are spaced apart along said track;

said latch being receivable in each of said latch openings to block movement of said slider downward along said track;

said track further having a plurality of spaced-apart directing portions corresponding to said plurality of latch openings, each of said directing portions of said track being configured to constrain said latch move into a next lower latch opening upon movement of said latch downward along said track from a latch opening to a next lower latch opening;

each of said directing portions of said track having a ramp surface inclined toward the corresponding latch opening in said track, said latch having a ramp-follower portion slidable along said ramp surfaces;

each of said latch openings in said track having a lower end, each of said directing portions of said track having a lower end spaced upward from the lower end of the corresponding latch opening.

7. Apparatus comprising:

a seat belt height adjuster including a track, a slider movable vertically along said track, and a latch mounted on said slider;

said track having a plurality of latch openings which are spaced apart along said track;

said latch being receivable in each of said latch openings to block movement of said slider downward along said track;

said track further having a plurality of spaced-apart directing portions corresponding to said plurality of latch openings, each of said directing portions of said track being configured to constrain said latch to move into a next lower latch opening upon movement of said latch downward along said track from a latch opening to a next lower latch opening;

each of said directing portions of said track having an inclined ramp surface located in the path of movement of said latch downward along said track, said ramp surfaces facing across said track toward said latch openings in said track so as to guide said latch to move toward and into said latch openings upon movement of said latch downward along said ramp surfaces.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein each of said latch openings in said track has a lower end and each of said ramp surfaces has a lower end spaced upward from the lower end of the corresponding latch opening.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said track is configured to constrain said latch always to move into a next lower latch opening upon said movement of said latch downward along said track from a latch opening to a next lower latch opening.