Devices for adjusting tension in seat belts and other restraint system webs, and associated methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A web clip for adjusting the tension in a seat belt web, the web clip comprising:
- a housing having a base with a clamping surface, wherein the housing includes first and second sidewalls extending upwardly from opposite sides of the base, wherein the first sidewall includes a first curved slot and the second sidewall includes a second curved slot; and
an actuator movably coupled to the housing, the actuator having a cam surface opposing the clamping surface to define a gap therebetween configured to accommodate a seat belt web extending therethrough, wherein movement of the actuator in a first direction reduces the gap causing the web clip to grip the seat belt web between the cam surface and the clamping surface, and wherein movement of the actuator in a second direction opposite to the first direction increases the gap and allows the seat belt web to slide between the cam surface and the clamping surface, wherein the actuator includes first and second protrusions extending outwardly therefrom, wherein the first and second curved slots have a first radius of curvature and the first and second protrusions have a complementary second radius of curvature, and wherein the first protrusion is slidably received in the first curved slot and the second protrusion is slidably received in the second curved slot to constrain the actuator to back and forth movement along an arc relative to the housing; and
wherein the cam surface includes a crown that defines the gap between the cam surface and the clamping surface.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices that can be releasably attached to seat belts and other restraint system webs to adjust the operational tension in the webs are described herein. In one embodiment, a seat belt web passes through a clamping device that includes a button movably coupled to a housing. In this embodiment, manual operation of the button in a first direction causes the device to clamp onto the adjacent portion of the seat belt web, thereby preventing the portion of web from being pulled through a web guide by a retractor. Manual operation of the button in a second direction causes the device to release the web.
433 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A web clip for adjusting the tension in a seat belt web, the web clip comprising:
-
a housing having a base with a clamping surface, wherein the housing includes first and second sidewalls extending upwardly from opposite sides of the base, wherein the first sidewall includes a first curved slot and the second sidewall includes a second curved slot; and an actuator movably coupled to the housing, the actuator having a cam surface opposing the clamping surface to define a gap therebetween configured to accommodate a seat belt web extending therethrough, wherein movement of the actuator in a first direction reduces the gap causing the web clip to grip the seat belt web between the cam surface and the clamping surface, and wherein movement of the actuator in a second direction opposite to the first direction increases the gap and allows the seat belt web to slide between the cam surface and the clamping surface, wherein the actuator includes first and second protrusions extending outwardly therefrom, wherein the first and second curved slots have a first radius of curvature and the first and second protrusions have a complementary second radius of curvature, and wherein the first protrusion is slidably received in the first curved slot and the second protrusion is slidably received in the second curved slot to constrain the actuator to back and forth movement along an arc relative to the housing; and wherein the cam surface includes a crown that defines the gap between the cam surface and the clamping surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A personal restraint system for use with an occupant seat in a vehicle, the personal restraint system comprising:
-
an anchor fixedly attached to a first portion of the vehicle adjacent a base of the occupant seat; a web retractor fixedly attached to a second portion of the vehicle adjacent a back of the occupant seat; an elongate web having a first end portion fixedly attached to the anchor and a second end portion wound onto the web retractor; a belt connector slidably coupled to the web and dividing the web into a lap web portion and a shoulder web portion; a web guide fixedly attached to a third portion of the vehicle adjacent an upper back of the occupant seat, wherein the shoulder web portion extends through the web guide before entering the web retractor; and a web clip operably coupled to the shoulder web portion, the web clip including; a housing having a base with a clamping surface, wherein the housing includes first and second sidewalls extending upwardly from opposite sides of the base, wherein the first sidewall includes a first curved slot and the second sidewall includes a second curved slot; and an actuator movably coupled to the housing, the actuator having a cam surface opposing the clamping surface to define an opening therebetween that accommodates the shoulder web portion, wherein the actuator includes first and second protrusions extending outwardly therefrom, wherein the first and second curved slots have a first radius of curvature and the first and second protrusions have a complementary second radius of curvature, and wherein the first protrusion is slidably received in the first curved slot and the second protrusion is slidably received in the second curved slot to constrain the actuator to back and forth movement along an arc relative to the housing, wherein movement of the actuator in a first direction clamps the shoulder web portion between the cam surface and the clamping surface, and wherein movement of the actuator in a second direction opposite to the first direction releases the shoulder web portion and allows the shoulder web portion to slide between the cam surface and the clamping surface, and wherein the web clip can be selectively clamped to the shoulder web portion to prevent the shoulder web portion from further retraction into the web retractor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of assembling a personal restraint system for use with an occupant seat in a vehicle, the method comprising:
-
fixedly attaching a first end portion of an elongate seat belt web to a first portion of the vehicle adjacent a base of the occupant seat; extending the web through a web guide fixedly attached to a second portion of the vehicle adjacent an upper back of the occupant seat; winding a second end portion of the web around a web retractor fixedly attached to a third portion of the vehicle below the web guide; and operably coupling a web clip to the web adjacent the web guide, the web clip including; a housing having a base with a clamping surface positioned adjacent a first side surface of the web, wherein the housing includes first and second sidewalls extending upwardly from opposite sides of the base, wherein the first sidewall includes a first curved slot and the second sidewall includes a second curved slot; and an actuator movably coupled to the housing, the actuator having a cam surface positioned adjacent a second side surface of the web, wherein the actuator includes first and second protrusions extending outwardly therefrom, wherein the first and second curved slots have a first radius of curvature and the first and second protrusions have a complementary second radius of curvature, and wherein the first protrusion is slidably received in the first curved slot and the second protrusion is slidably received in the second curved slot to constrain the actuator to back and forth movement along an arc relative to the housing; and wherein movement of the actuator in a first direction moves the cam surface generally toward the clamping surface and squeezes the web between the cam surface and the clamping surface, and wherein movement of the actuator in a second direction opposite to the first direction moves the cam surface generally away from the clamping surface and allows the web to move between the cam surface and the clamping surface. - View Dependent Claims (12)
-
Specification