Web adjuster for infant products

• US 6,273,505 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1999
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Carnahan, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US09/422,935
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 297/250.1, 297/467, 297/468, 297/473, 297/474, 297/483, 246/31, 246/41, 246/42, 246/56, 246/37, 242/30.AL, 242/30.A
• US Class Current: 297/250.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/265 Adaptations for seat belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2812 for securing the child to the child seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/286 forward facing B60N2/2866 takes precedence
• 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 24/45613 having common means actuating or releasing interlocking components or surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4567 for shifting slidably connected and guided, nonself-biasing, interlocking component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45743 Requiring manual force thereon to interlock or disengage

Abstract

A web adjuster for securing a web and a seat including the web adjuster. The web extends through the web adjuster including a mounting plate that is mounted to the seat. A sliding plate moves relative to the mounting plate for lockingly engaging the web. Resilient biasing elements bias the sliding plate into locking engagement, and a release handle displaces the sliding plate against the resilient biasing elements.

Claims

1. An adjuster for limiting longitudinal movement of an elongated web with respect to a base, the adjuster comprising:

a mounting plate adapted to be fixed to the base, the mounting plate including;

a first major face generally lying in a first plane;

a second major face generally lying in a second plane parallel to the first plane, the second plane being spaced from the first plane by a first distance equal to a thickness of the mounting plate;

a first bridge rising a second distance above the second major face; and

a first aperture penetrating through the mounting plate, the first aperture defining a first edge extending from the first major face to the second major face;

a sliding plate displaceable in shear with respect to the mounting plate, the sliding plate including;

a first major surface generally lying in a third plane that is parallel to the first place, the first major surface confronting and slidingly engaging the second major face;

a second major surface generally lying in a fourth plane that is parallel to and spaced from the third plane by a third distance equal to a thickness of the sliding plate;

a second aperture penetrating through the sliding plate from the first major surface to the second major surface; and

at least one finger retaining the sliding plate with respect to the mounting plate, each at least one finger confronting and slidingly engaging the first major face of the mounting plate; and

a plateau rising a fourth distance above the first major surface;

a neck extending transversely under the first bridge; and

at least one resilient element biasing the plateau toward the first edge in a first shear direction.

2. The adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the projection includes a grip for displacing the sliding plate with respect to the mounting plate in a second shear direction that is opposite to the first shear direction.

3. The adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the second distance is measured between the second plane and a portion of the first major face defining an underside of the first bridge, and wherein the second distance is minimally greater than the third distance.

4. The adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the fourth distance is generally equal to the first distance.

5. The adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the at least one finger extends through the first aperture.

6. The adjuster according to claim 5, wherein the at least one finger includes two fingers on opposite sides of the first aperture.

7. The adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the mounting plate further includes at least one third aperture and the sliding plate includes at least one fourth aperture, and a pair of the third and fourth apertures commonly receives one of the at least one resilient elements.

8. The adjuster according to claim 7, wherein each of two resilient elements is received in a respective one of two pairs of the third and fourth apertures.

9. The adjuster according to claim 8, wherein each of two pairs of third and fourth apertures penetrate through the respective mounting and sliding plates on opposite sides of the respective first and second apertures.

10. The adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the mounting and sliding plates are adapted to define a circuitous path for the belt, the circuitous path extending through the first and second apertures and between the plateau and the first edge.

11. The adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the sliding plate further includes a second bridge dividing the second aperture into a first sub-aperture proximate to the plateau and a second sub-aperture proximate to the projection.

12. A seat for holding a child, the seat comprising:

a seat portion and a back portion integrally connected to the seat portion;

a harness adapted for securing the child with respect to the seat, the harness including shoulder straps extending from a front side of the back portion to a rear side of the back portion, the shoulder straps being adapted to overlie shoulders of the child;

a web slidably connected to the harness on the rear side of the back portion; and

an adjuster engaging the web, the adjuster comprising;

a mounting plate adapted to be fixed to the base, the mounting plate including;

a first major face generally lying in a first plane;

a second major face generally lying in a second plane parallel to the first plane, the second plane being spaced from the first plane by a first distance equal to a thickness of the mounting plate;

a first bridge rising a second distance above the second major face; and

a first aperture penetrating through the mounting plate, the first aperture defining a first edge extending from the first major face to the second major face;

a sliding plate displaceable in shear with respect to the mounting plate, the sliding plate including;

a first major surface generally lying in a third plane that is parallel to the first place, the first major surface confronting and slidingly engaging the second major face;

a second major surface generally lying in a fourth plane that is parallel to and spaced from the third plane by a third distance equal to a thickness of the sliding plate;

a second aperture penetrating through the sliding plate from the first major surface to the second major surface; and

at least one finger retaining the sliding plate with respect to the mounting plate, each at least one finger confronting and slidingly engaging the first major face of the mounting plate; and

a plateau rising a fourth distance above the first major surface;

a neck extending transversely under the first bridge; and

at least one resilient element biasing the plateau toward the first edge.