Seatbelt clamping device and system

• US 9,102,301 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2014
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bker, Matthias, Boughner, Jonathon, Koprowicz, Chris, Heasman, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Upchurch, David
• Application Number:
  US14/298,147
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 245/921
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/25 with two or more separable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2523 acting parallel to the main plane of the buckle and in the same direction as the fastening action
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2538 with a pivoting bar retaining a loop of the strap itself
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1818 Belt guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat
• 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

Abstract

A seatbelt clamping device includes a U shaped housing configured for being mounted to vehicle structure and a shackle that is pivotally attached to the housing. The shackle can pivot between an open position for receiving a loop of seatbelt webbing and a closed position for retaining the seatbelt webbing. The housing includes a locking surface, and the shackle and locking surface define a gap therebetween through which the seatbelt webbing can slide. The shackle includes a shaft and a cam cover rotatable about the shaft. The cam cover includes an increased radius locking portion that can rotate toward the locking surface to clamp the seatbelt webbing in response to a load exerted thereon.

Claims

1. A clamping device for retaining a seatbelt for use in a passenger vehicle, the device comprising:

a housing adapted for mounting to a vehicle structure, the housing defining a locking surface on an external surface thereof;

a shackle attached to the housing and having an elongate shape defining a longitudinal axis;

wherein the shackle includes a cam cover having a cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis having a non-circular perimeter and the cam cover is rotatable about the longitudinal axis, wherein the shackle is pivotally attached to the housing at a first end, wherein the shackle is pivotable between an open position and a closed position and the shackle pivots about a pivot axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shackle;

wherein the cam cover has a nominal position and a rotated position that is rotated about the longitudinal axis relative to the nominal position;

wherein, when in the nominal position, the cam cover defines a gap between the locking surface and the cam cover, where the seatbelt can travel through the gap, and when in the rotated position, the cam cover reduces the gap to limit seatbelt travel therethrough due to clamping between the cam cover and the locking surface.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the cam cover rotates to the rotated position in response to a tension load exerted on the seatbelt.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the cam cover rotates to the rotated position via a motor to reduce the gap and limit the seatbelt travel therethrough.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the cam cover includes a locking portion on an inboard side, where the locking portion rotates toward the locking surface when the cam cover rotates from the nominal position to the rotated position.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the cam cover includes a belt gripping portion on an outboard side, where the belt gripping portion rotates away from the locking surface when the cam cover rotates from the nominal position to the rotated position.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the belt gripping portion has a triangular shape.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the belt gripping portion has a curved shape.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the belt gripping portion includes a plurality of longitudinal grooves.

9. The device of claim 5, wherein the belt gripping portion includes a roughened surface.

10. The device of claim 4, wherein the locking portion has an increasing radius from the bottom of the cam cover upward along the inboard side when the cam cover is in the nominal position.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the shackle is releasably attached to the housing at a second end.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the shackle includes an elongate shaft extending through the cam cover along the longitudinal axis, wherein the cam cover rotates about the elongate shaft and the elongate shaft remains rotatably fixed.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the elongate shaft has a non-circular cross-section and the cam cover has an internal surface corresponding to the cross-section of the elongate shaft.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein rotation of the cam cover about the longitudinal axis relative to the shaft causes the cam cover to lock relative to the shaft based on an interference of the internal surface of the cam cover and the non-circular cross-section of the shaft.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the cam cover is biased toward the nominal position.

16. A vehicle restraint assembly adapted for being attached to vehicle structure for retaining a seatbelt, the assembly including a clamping device comprising:

a housing having a U shape and defining an upwardly extending front arm, and an upwardly extending rear arm and a locking surface extending between the front arm and the rear arm;

a shackle including an elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis and a cam cover surrounding the elongate shaft and being rotatable about the shaft, the shackle being pivotally attached to the housing;

wherein the cam cover includes a locking portion protruding from a first lateral side and gripping portion disposed on the opposite lateral side;

wherein the shackle has an open position where the shackle is pivoted upward for receiving a seatbelt webbing therearound to be disposed against the gripping portion, and the shackle further has a closed position for retaining the seatbelt;

wherein the seatbelt is retained between the shackle, the locking surface of the housing, the front arm, and the rear arm when the shackle is in the closed position;

wherein the cam cover has a nominal position and a rotated position that is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft relative to the nominal position;

wherein the cam cover defines a gap between the locking surface and the cam cover when the cam cover is in the nominal position, where a seatbelt can slide through the gap, and where the cam cover clamps the seatbelt webbing between the cam cover and the locking surface of the housing when the cam cover is in the rotated position and also pivoted into the closed position.

17. The assembly of claim 16 further comprising a pivotal connection between the housing and a first end of the shackle about which the shackle can pivot open and closed, and a releasable retainer connection for receiving a second end of the shackle when the shackle is pivoted closed.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the retainer connection is disposed at the rear arm and the pivotal connection is disposed at the front arm.

19. A vehicle restraint system comprising:

a seatbelt having a first end attached to a vehicle structure and a second end attached to a seatbelt retractor;

a clamping device for clamping a portion of the seatbelt, the device comprising;

a housing having a U shape and defining an upwardly extending front arm, and an upwardly extending rear arm and a locking surface extending between the front arm and the rear arm;

a shackle including an elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis and a cam cover surrounding the elongate shaft and being rotatable about the shaft, the shackle being pivotally attached to the housing;

wherein the cam cover includes a locking portion protruding from a first lateral side and gripping portion disposed on the opposite lateral side;

wherein the shackle has an open position where the shackle is pivoted upward for receiving a seatbelt webbing therearound to be disposed against the gripping portion, and the shackle further has a closed position for retaining the seatbelt;

wherein the seatbelt is retained between the shackle, the locking surface of the housing, the front arm, and the rear arm when the shackle is in the closed position;

wherein the cam cover has a nominal position and a rotated position that is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft relative to the nominal position;

wherein the cam cover defines a gap between the locking surface and the cam cover when the cam cover is in the nominal position, where a seatbelt can slide through the gap, and where the cam cover clamps the seatbelt webbing between the cam cover and the locking surface of the housing when the cam cover is in the rotated position and also pivoted into the closed position;

wherein the seatbelt has a first point of attachment at the first end of the seatbelt, a second point of attachment at the second end of the seatbelt, and a third point of attachment at the clamping device when the shackle is in the closed position.