Safety enhancement for a safety belt

• US 8,708,370 B1
• Filed: 07/23/2012
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Barker
• Original Assignee: John Barker
• Inventors: Barker, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Beck, Karen
• Application Number:
  US13/555,501
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 280/805, 280/802, 280/807, 242/379.1, 297/470, 297/474, 297/475, 297/469, 188/318, 188/286, 188/290, 188/294, 267/34, 267/272, 267/113
• US Class Current: 280/805
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1806 for buckles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/281 for buckles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/282 using fluids or vico-elastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/12 Construction of belts or harnesses B60R21/18 takes precedence ; woven fabrics for safety belts D03D1/0005
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/28 incorporating energy-absorbing devices belt anchors provided with energy-absorbing means for protecting the occupants in case of physical contact therewith B60R21/055; belt retractors comprising energy-absorbing means B60R22/341, B60R22/4676

Abstract

A safety enhancement for a safety belt comprises an actuator housing mechanically coupled to a first end plate, a rotor blade, an orifice plate, a second end plate, a coil, and a spring cover by an actuator axel. The orifice plate comprises an orifice that allows hydraulic fluid to pass from a first side of the rotor blade to a second side of the rotor blade in order to increase or decrease tension on a safety belt to reduce user movement.

Claims

1. A safety enhancement for a safety belt, the safety enhancement comprising,

an actuator housing mechanically coupled to an actuator axel;

the actuator axel is immediately adjacent to a first end plate, a rotor blade, an orifice plate a coil and a spring cover;

wherein the actuator housing has the shape of a partial cylinder comprising a side defined by a point on the outside of the cylinder continuing partway to the center of the circle and a second side normal to the first side adjacent to the portion of the first side nearest the center of the cylinder and continuing to the outside of the cylinder;

the orifice plate comprises an orifice that allows hydraulic fluid to pass from a first side of the rotor blade to a second side of the rotor blade in order to increase or decrease tension on the safety belt allowing user movement.

2. The safety enhancement of claim 1,

the actuator housing is mechanically coupled to a belt in an actuator bracket,

where the actuator bracket further comprises an actuator buckle which can fit into a buckle receiver.

3. The safety enhancement of claim 1,

the orifice is effectively shaped as a small line, slightly curved or straight but inclined from the vertical, or with an appearance of a small, filled-in number 9 in order to move the hydraulic fluid more efficiently.

4. The safety enhancement of claim 1,

the actuator housing is mechanically coupled to a belt in an actuator bracket;

the actuator bracket further comprises an actuator buckle; and

a bolt secures the buckle receiver to a car seat.