Web adjuster and coupling

• US 7,862,124 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Dingman, Guy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US10/427,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20030197415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,806 Days
• Field of Search: 241/71, 246/29, 241/68, 297/253, 297/474, 297/476
• US Class Current: 297/476
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/10 sliding wedge
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/265 Adaptations for seat belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2821 having a seat and a base part
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2887 Fixation to a transversal anchorage bar, e.g. isofix
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2893 coupled to the seat sub-frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/005 for restraining luggages
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/024 Adaptations for use by small passengers, e.g. children B60R22/20 takes precedence; using belt anti-slip devices B60R22/30
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/105 for children adaptation of children's seats for seat belts B60N2/265, B60N2/2803
• 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 24/4019 Sliding part or wedge

Abstract

A web adjuster device for securing and varying a length of a web. The web adjuster device comprising a connector portion and an adjuster portion. The adjuster portion comprising a gripping bar having a pair of ears mounted near each of its ends, a housing including a web stop, and one or more springs to normally urge the bar toward the web stop and against the web. The connector portion comprises a hook portion integrally attached to the web adjuster portion, the hook portion rising generally upwardly and away from the bottom surface of the web adjuster portion.

Claims

1. A web adjuster device comprising:

a web adjuster portion configured to size a flexible member wherein the adjuster portion comprises spaced apart top and bottom surfaces, and

a connector portion that curves generally upwardly away from the spaced apart bottom surface comprising a snap hook portion,

wherein the snap hook portion is configured to releasably engage an anchor member apart from the web adjuster device while allowing accessibility to the web adjuster portion to facilitate sizing of the flexible member and the web adjuster portion and the connector portion comprise a monolithic structure.

2. The web adjuster device of claim 1 wherein the web adjuster portion further comprises:

a bar with a longitudinal axis and a front face, said bar further including a pair of ears mounted near the opposite ends of said bar and extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of said bar;

a web extending at least partially around said bar;

a housing with a pair of channels with the ears of said bar slidably mounted in said channels, said housing also including a web stop extending parallel to said bar; and

means for urging the front face of said bar against said web and toward said web stop.

3. The web adjuster device of claim 2, wherein the bar has a frontal plane and a serrated surface, said serrated surface comprising a plurality of longitudinal grooves that reside in planes that are substantially parallel to the frontal plane of said bar.

4. The web adjuster device of claim 3, wherein said bar further includes a longitudinal notch to confront and hold the web against said web stop.

5. The web adjuster device of claim 4, wherein said bar further includes a longitudinal notch and the notch is beveled to confront and hold the web against said web stop.

6. The web adjuster device of claim 5, wherein said urging means includes a helical spring positioned in each channel of said housing, and acting between the housing and the ear received in the channel.

7. The web adjuster device of claim 6, further including a manipulation portion operatively attached to said bar, whereby operation of said manipulation portion moves said bar away from its normal position to allow said web to move around said bar.

8. The web adjuster device of claim 7, wherein the cross-section of said bar is substantially elliptical.

9. The web adjuster device of claim 7, wherein the cross-section of said bar is substantially round.

10. The web adjuster device of claim 7, wherein the cross-section of said bar is substantially rectangular.

11. The web adjuster device of claim 2, wherein the bar further comprises one or more protrusions configured to facilitate gripping of the web.

12. The web adjuster device of claim 11, wherein said one or more protrusions comprises a substantially V-shaped protrusion.

13. The web adjuster device of claim 12, wherein said one or more protrusions comprises a plurality of substantially parallel protrusions.

14. The web adjuster device of claim 2, wherein the bar further comprises a top face and a bottom face, said top and bottom faces each provided with one or more protrusions, wherein the protrusions on said bottom face are substantially V-shaped, and wherein said protrusions on said top face include a plurality of substantially parallel protrusions.

15. The web adjuster device of claim 1 wherein the connector portion further comprises a pair of spaced apart rises defining a seat configured to engage the anchor member.

16. A web adjuster device for use with a flexible member such as a web belt, the adjuster comprising:

a housing comprising

a connector portion, and

a web adjuster portion,

the connector portion configured to releasably couple to an anchor member apart from the flexible member while allowing access to the web adjuster portion, and

the web adjuster portion comprising

a web stop,

a gripping assembly configured to provide a gripping portion having a longitudinal axis and a gripping surface substantially parallel to the web stop, and

one or more biasing members acting between said housing and said gripping assembly,

wherein said one or more biasing members urge the gripping surface toward the web stop.