Adjuster for adjustable restraint strap

• US 7,404,239 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shield Restraint Systems, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Amsafe Commercial Products, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Holmberg, Erin Edward, Swann, Timothy Andrew, Walton, Michael James, The, Agus Suryana
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder; Jack W.
• Application Number:
  US10/832,193
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 24/69.R, 24/69.ST, 24/69.CT, 24/69.SB, 24/69.WT, 24/71.SB, 247/15.T, 24/71.TD, 246/85.B, 24/68.CD, 241/91, 241/93, 241/97, 241/70
• US Class Current: 24/193
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/12 turnable clamp
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2147 Strap tightener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2157 Tie downs [covers, articles]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2175 Cargo tie down
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4016 Pivoted part or lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4077 Looped strap
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4086 Looped strap

Abstract

An adjuster is provided for a restraint system having a belt which extends through the adjuster and includes a free end and another end or fastening end which is adapted to be secured to an object. The adjuster allows adjustment of the length of the belt between the adjuster and the fastening end. The adjuster includes a frame having a base member with an opening. The opening defines a first or edge plate and a second or securement plate. The first plate and the opening define a belt engaging edge. A clamping member is pivotally mounted between upright side flanges, the clamping member includes a pivoting lever and a load bar having a clamping edge, and a resilient spring member which urges the clamping member to rotate the clamping edge toward the belt engaging edge of the frame.

Claims

1. A restraint system, comprising:

a belt having a first or free end and a second or fastening end;

an adjuster having a frame with a base member and upright side flanges, the base member includes an upper side, a lower side, and an opening, the opening defines a first or edge plate and a second or securement plate, the first and second plates extending between the upright side flanges, the first plate and the opening define a belt engaging edge;

a clamping member pivotally mounted between the upright side flanges, the clamping member includes a pivoting release lever and a load bar having a clamping edge; and

a resilient spring member which urges the clamping member to rotate the clamping edge toward the belt engaging edge of the frame;

wherein the upright side flanges include opposed facing openings, the pivotal release lever includes a pair of pivot flanges having openings aligned with the upright side flange openings, and the load bar includes pins extending outwardly along a longitudinal axis, the pins are received by the upright side flange openings, respectively, for rotational movement about the longitudinal axis;

wherein the load bar includes a longitudinally extending bore which receives a pin, the pin having ends which extend out of the load bar and are received by the upright flange openings; and

wherein the pin is a flat bar, and the openings of the upright flanges have the shape of a slot with stops, the slots allowing rotational movement of the bar between the stops.

2. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein the upright side flanges include opposed facing openings, and the clamping member includes pins extending outwardly along a longitudinal axis, the pins are received by the upright side flange openings, respectively, for rotational movement about the longitudinal axis.

3. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein the clamping member is made of a single piece component.

4. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a belt guide.

5. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein the pivoting release lever includes a recessed and textured surface.

6. A restraint system, comprising:

a belt having a first or free end and a second or fastening end; and

an adjuster having a frame with a base member and upright side flanges, the base member includes an upper side, a lower side, and an opening, the opening defines a first or edge plate and a second or securement plate, the first and second plates extending between the upright side flanges, the first plate and the opening define a belt engaging edge;

a clamping member pivotally mounted between the upright side flanges, the clamping member includes a pivoting release lever and a load bar having a clamping edge; and

a resilient spring member which urges the clamping member to rotate the clamping edge toward the belt engaging edge of the frame;

wherein the base member of the frame includes a belt flange extending below the base member and having a first slot near a proximal end of the flange and a second slot at a distal end of the flange, the first or proximal slot receives the free end and the second or distal slot receives the fastening end.

7. The restraint system of claim 6, wherein the belt flange is curved.

8. An adjuster for a restraint system, the restraint system having a belt which extends through the adjuster and includes a free end and another end or fastening end which is adapted to be secured to an object, wherein the adjuster allows adjustment of the length of the belt between the adjuster and the fastening end, the adjuster comprising:

a frame having a base member and upright side flanges, the base member includes an upper side, lower side, and an opening, the opening defines a first or edge plate and a second or securement plate, the first and second plates extending between the upright side flanges, the first plate and the opening define a belt engaging edge;

a clamping member pivotally mounted between the upright side flanges, the clamping member includes a pivoting lever and a load bar having a clamping edge; and

a resilient spring member which urges the clamping member to rotate the clamping edge toward the belt engaging edge of the frame, whereby a belt may extend around the load bar, with the free end extending between the belt engaging edge and the clamping edge and through the base member opening and along the lower side of the first edge plate and away from the opening, and the fastening end of the belt extending through the opening and parallel and adjacent to the free end wherein tension introduced in the fastening end imposes a corresponding rotational force about the load bar which translates into a clamping force upon the free end between the clamping edge and the belt engaging edge, wherein a user may pull on the free end and decrease the length of the belt extending between the adjuster and the fastening end, and wherein a user may press the pivoting lever to rotate the clamping edge away from the belt engaging edge so as to free the belt to allow the belt length to be increased between the adjuster and the fastening end;

wherein the load bar rotates about a longitudinal axis, the load bar having rotational coupling pins extending outwardly from the longitudinal axis, the clamping member includes a load portion depending away from the longitudinal axis and in a direction toward the base member.

9. The adjuster of claim 8, wherein the clamping member is made of a single piece cast component.

10. An adjuster for a restraint system, the restraint system having a belt which extends through the adjuster and includes a free end and another end or fastening end which is adapted to be secured to an object, wherein the adjuster allows adjustment of the length of the belt between the adjuster and the fastening end, the adjuster comprising:

a frame having one end which extends towards an adjustable belt length direction, and a second end which extends towards an attachment point direction, the frame having a base member which presents a belt engaging edge facing the attachment point direction, the base member having a lower side extending from the belt engaging edge and toward the adjustable belt length direction, the frame having a pivot attachment point having a longitudinal axis which is spaced apart and substantially parallel to the belt engaging edge, the frame having an attachment point;

a load bar pivotally coupled to the frame at the pivot attachment point, the load bar pivotal about the longitudinal axis of the pivot attachment point, the load bar having a clamping edge at a distal end of the load bar and a belt receiving load surface which faces away from the adjustable belt length direction; and

resilient member which urges the load bar to rotate about the longitudinal axis and urge the clamping edge toward the belt engaging edge, whereby the adjuster forms a belt path extending around the load bar, with a free end of the belt extending between the belt engaging edge and the clamping edge and along the lower side of the frame toward the adjustable belt length direction, and the fastening end of the belt extends below the frame and extends parallel and below the free end toward the adjustable belt length direction;

wherein the frame includes a belt flange extending below the base member and having a first slot near a proximal end of the flange and a second slot at a distal end of the flange, the first or proximal slot receives the free end and the second or distal slot receives the fastening end.

11. The adjuster of claim 10, wherein the attachment point is a securement plate, whereby the securement plate is used to anchor the adjuster to a mounting location.

12. The adjuster of claim 10, wherein the load bar includes a rough surface for engagement with the belt.

13. An adjuster for a restraint system, the restraint system having a belt which extends through the adjuster and includes a free end and another end or fastening end which is adapted to be secured to an object, wherein the adjuster allows adjustment of the length of the belt between the adjuster and the fastening end, the adjuster comprising:

a frame having one end which extends towards an adjustable belt length direction, and a second end which extends towards an attachment point direction, the frame having a base member which presents a belt engaging edge facing the attachment point direction, the base member having a lower side extending from the belt engaging edge and toward the adjustable belt length direction, the frame having a pivot attachment point having a longitudinal axis which is spaced apart and substantially parallel to the belt engaging edge, the frame having an attachment point;

a load bar pivotally coupled to the frame at the pivot attachment point, the load bar pivotal about the longitudinal axis of the pivot attachment point, the load bar having a clamping edge at a distal end of the load bar and a belt receiving load surface which faces away from the adjustable belt length direction;

resilient member which urges the load bar to rotate about the longitudinal axis and urge the clamping edge toward the belt engaging edge, whereby the adjuster forms a belt path extending around the load bar, with a free end of the belt extending between the belt engaging edge and the clamping edge and along the lower side of the frame toward the adjustable belt length direction, and the fastening end of the belt extends below the frame and extends parallel and below the free end toward the adjustable belt length direction; and

further comprising a coiled spring having spring ends, one of the spring ends having two bends to form an L-shaped end, the other end having an outwardly curved end, the adjuster having a pivoting lever extending from the load bar and the longitudinal axis and in a direction over the belt engaging edge, the pivoting lever having a side wall with a spring receiving slot, the coiled spring is received by one of the attachment points and is located between the wall and the frame, with the L-shaped end received in the slot and the curved end engaged with the frame.

14. An adjuster for a restraint system, the restraint system having a belt which extends through the adjuster and includes a free end and another end or fastening end which is adapted to be secured to an object, wherein the adjuster allows adjustment of the length of the belt between the adjuster and the fastening end, the adjuster comprising:

a frame having one end which extends towards an adjustable belt length direction, and a second end which extends towards an attachment point direction, the frame having a base member which presents a belt engaging edge facing the attachment point direction, the base member having a lower side extending from the belt engaging edge and toward the adjustable belt length direction, the frame having a pivot attachment point having a longitudinal axis which is spaced apart and substantially parallel to the belt engaging edge, the frame having an attachment point;

a load bar pivotally coupled to the frame at the pivot attachment point, the load bar pivotal about the longitudinal axis of the pivot attachment point, the load bar having a clamping edge at a distal end of the load bar and a belt receiving load surface which faces away from the adjustable belt length direction;

resilient member which urges the load bar to rotate about the longitudinal axis and urge the clamping edge toward the belt engaging edge, whereby the adjuster forms a belt path extending around the load bar, with a free end of the belt extending between the belt engaging edge and the clamping edge and along the lower side of the frame toward the adjustable belt length direction, and the fastening end of the belt extends below the frame and extends parallel and below the free end toward the adjustable belt length direction; and

further comprising a coiled helical spring, the adjuster having a pivoting lever extending from the load bar and the longitudinal axis and in a direction over the belt engaging edge, the pivoting lever having a first spring retainer facing downwardly, the base member having a second spring retainer facing upwardly and toward the first spring retainer, the coiled helical spring retained between the first and second spring retainers and urging the clamping edge toward the belt engaging edge.