D-ring height adjuster

• US 6,186,548 B1
• Filed: 02/04/1999
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1999
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/244,942
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801.2, 280/808, 297/483
• US Class Current: 280/801.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/203 the locking means being movably mounted on the slider
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/46 Reels with means to tension the belt in an emergency by forced winding upelectrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01 ; tensioners using reels only guiding the belt during normal use, e.g. splitted reels B60R22/195

Abstract

A seat belt webbing guide height adjuster (10) includes a base (50) having a column (80) of openings (84, 86, 88) spaced along an axis (61). A carriage (120) is supported on the base (50) for movement along the axis (61) relative to the base. A seat belt webbing guide (24) is supported on the carriage (120). First and second latch parts (160, 180) on the carriage (120) are independently movable between a first condition not located in any one of the openings (84-88) and a second condition located in one of the openings to block axial movement of the carriage relative to the base (50). The first and second latch parts (160, 180) are configured and disposed on the carriage (120) so as to be capable of locating in the same opening (84-88) simultaneously. The height adjuster (10) also includes biasing means (210) for biasing the first and second latch parts (160, 180) into the second condition, and actuatable release means (200) for moving the first and second latch parts to the first condition. The first and second latch parts (160, 180) are movable from the second condition into the first condition in response to upward movement of the carriage (120) relative to the base (50) when the release means (200) is unactuated.

Claims

1. A seat belt webbing height adjuster comprising:

a base having a column of openings spaced along an axis;

a carriage supported on said base for movement along said axis relative to said base, and a seat belt webbing guide on said carriage;

a first latch part on said carriage, said first latch part being movable between a first condition in which said first latch part is not located in any one of said openings and a second condition in which said first latch part is located in one of said openings to block axial movement of said first latch part and said carriage relative to said base;

a second latch part on said carriage, said second latch part being movable between a first condition in which said second latch part is not located in any one of said openings and a second condition in which said second latch part is located in one of said openings to block axial movement of said second latch part and said carriage relative to said base;

said first and second latch parts being configured and disposed on said carriage so as to be capable of locating in the same opening simultaneously;

biasing means for biasing said first and second latch parts into the second condition; and

actuatable release means for moving said first and second latch parts to the first condition;

said first and second latch parts being movable from the second condition into the first condition in response to upward movement of said carriage relative to said base when said release means is unactuated;

said second latch part being substantially longer than said first latch part.

2. A seat belt webbing height adjuster comprising:

a base having a column of openings spaced apart along an axis;

a carriage supported on said base for movement along said axis relative to said base;

a seat belt webbing guide on said carriage;

a first latch part on said carriage, said first latch part being pivotally movable between a first condition in which said first latch part is not located in any one of said openings and a second condition in which said first latch part is located in one of said openings to block axial movement of said first latch part and said carriage relative to said base;

a second latch part on said carriage, said second latch part being pivotally movable between a first condition in which said second latch part is not located in any one of said openings and a second condition in which said second latch part is located in one of said openings to block axial movement of said second latch part and said carriage relative to said base;

said first and second latch parts being disposed next to each other on said carriage so as to be capable of locating in the same openings simultaneously;

biasing means for biasing said first and second latch parts into the second condition; and

actuatable release means for moving said first and second latch parts to the first condition;

at least one of said first and second latch parts being located in one of said openings in said base when said release means is unactuated, said second latch part being substantially longer than said first latch part.

3. A height adjuster as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first and second latch parts are pivotable about a common pivot axis.

4. A seat belt webbing height adjuster comprising:

a base having a column of openings spaced apart along an axis;

a carriage supported on said base for movement along said axis relative to said base;

a seat belt webbing guide on said carriage;

a first latch part on said carriage, said first latch part being pivotally movable between a first condition in which said first latch part is not located in any one of said openings and a second condition in which said first latch part is located in one of said openings to block axial movement of said first latch part and said carriage relative to said base;

a second latch part on said carriage, said second latch part being pivotally movable between a first condition in which said second latch part is not located in any one of said openings and a second condition in which said second latch part is located in one of said openings to block axial movement of said second latch part and said carriage relative to said base;

said first and second latch parts being disposed next to each other on said carriage so as to be capable of locating in the same openings simultaneously;

biasing means for biasing said first and second latch parts into the second condition; and

actuatable release means for moving said first and second latch parts to the first condition;

at least one of said first and second latch parts being located in one of said openings in said base when said release means is unactuated,

said first latch part having a nose which is engageable with said base to block downward movement of said first latch part along said base, said second latch part having a nose which is engageable with said base to block downward movement of said second latch part along said base, and said nose of said second latch part being disposed below said nose of said first latch part.

5. A seat belt webbing height adjuster comprising:

a base having a column of openings spaced along an axis;

a carriage supported on said base for movement along said axis relative to said base, and a seat belt webbing guide on said carriage;

a first latch part on said carriage, said first latch part being movable between a first condition in which said first latch part is not located in any one of said openings and a second condition in which said first latch part is located in one of said openings to block axial movement of said first latch part and said carriage relative to said base;

a second latch part on said carriage, said second latch part being movable between a first condition in which said second latch part is not located in any one of said openings and a second condition in which said second latch part is located in one of said openings to block axial movement of said second latch part and said carriage relative to said base;

said first and second latch parts being configured and disposed on said carriage so as to be capable of locating in the same opening simultaneously;

biasing means for biasing said first and second latch parts into the second condition; and

actuatable release means for moving said first and second latch parts to the first condition;

said actuatable release means having an unactuated condition in response to being pressed in a direction upward, parallel to the longitudinal extent of said base and parallel to said axis,

said actuatable release means having an actuated condition in response to being pressed downward, parallel to the longitudinal extent of said base and parallel to said axis,

said first and second latch parts being movable from the second condition into the first condition in response to upward movement of said carriage relative to said base when said release means is unactuated.

6. A height adjuster as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first and second latch parts are located side by side.

7. A height adjuster as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first latch and second latch parts have axially extending side surfaces in which said first latch part side surface faces said second latch part side surface in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extent of said base and parallel to said axis.

8. A height adjuster as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second latch part is substantially longer than said first latch part.

9. A height adjuster as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first latch part has a nose which is engageable with said base to block downward movement of said first latch part along said base, said second latch part has a nose which is engageable with said base to block downward movement of said second latch part along said base, and said nose of said second latch part is disposed below said nose of said first latch part.

10. A height adjuster as set forth in claim 8 wherein the axial position of said openings in said base is selected so that at least one of said first and second latch parts is located in one of said openings in said base when said release means is unactuated.

11. A height adjuster as set forth in claim 5 wherein each one of said openings is defined by a respective edge surface on said base, each one of said edge surfaces having a respective lower end portion, each one of said latch parts being engageable with a selected one of said lower end portions of said edge surfaces to block downward movement of said carriage relative to said base.

12. A height adjuster as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first and second latch parts are independently movable first and second latches.

13. A height adjuster as set forth in claim 12 wherein said biasing means comprises a first spring member in engagement with said first latch for biasing said first latch into the second condition and a second spring member in engagement with said second latch for biasing said second latch into the second condition independently of said first latch.

14. A seat belt webbing height adjuster comprising:

a base having a column of openings spaced apart along an axis;

a carriage supported on said base for movement along said axis relative to said base;

a seat belt webbing guide on said carriage;

a first latch part on said carriage, said first latch part being pivotally movable between a first condition in which said first latch part is not located in any one of said openings and a second condition in which said first latch part is located in one of said openings to block axial movement of said first latch part and said carriage relative to said base;

a second latch part on said carriage, said second latch part being pivotally movable between a first condition in which said second latch part is not located in any one of said openings and a second condition in which said second latch part is located in one of said openings to block axial movement of said second latch part and said carriage relative to said base;

said first and second latch parts being disposed next to each other on said carriage so as to be capable of locating in the same openings simultaneously;

biasing means for biasing said first and second latch parts into the second condition; and

actuatable release means for moving said first and second latch parts to the first condition;

at least one of said first and second latch parts being located in one of said openings in said base when said release means is unactuated,

said first and second latch parts being pivotally moveable about a common pivot axis in opposite directions and independent of each other.

15. A height adjuster as set forth in claim 14 wherein said second latch part is substantially longer than said first latch part.

16. A height adjuster as set forth in claim 14 wherein said first latch part has a nose which is engageable with said base to block downward movement of said first latch part along said base, said second latch part has a nose which is engageable with said base to block downward movement of said second patch part along said base, said nose of said second latch part is disposed below said nose of said first latch part.

17. A height adjuster as set forth in claim 14 wherein first and second latch parts have respective cam surfaces which are engageable with said base upon upward movement of said carriage relative to said base to move said first and second latch parts into the first condition.

18. A height adjuster as set forth in claim 14 wherein said first and second latch parts have axially extending side surfaces in which said first latch part side surface faces said second latch part side surface in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extent of said base and parallel to said axis.