Static belt loop snubber system

• US 4,359,237 A
• Filed: 04/07/1980
• Issued: 11/16/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Irvin Aerospace, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Irvin Aerospace, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brennan, William E., Petersen, Carl M. III, Gulette, Ronald S., Gavagan, James A., West, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US06/137,838
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 280/804, 280/802, 280/803, 280/808, 280/806, 242/107.2, 297/478, 24/136 K, 24/196, 116/200, 116/32, 116/203, 116/491
• US Class Current: 280/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/08 having the belt retractor mounted on or in a vehicle closure, e.g. the door
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1855 the means being sensitive to belt tension
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/41 with additional means for preventing locking during unwinding under predetermined conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/44 with means for reducing belt tension during use under normal conditions not included in the retractor B60R22/19; B60R22/3405 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4084 Looped strap

Abstract

A vehicle safety belt system including a retractor with a static loop snubber operative to normally freely pass webbing and to lock under predetermined belt load thereby eliminating occupant excursion incident to belt tension on the retractor side of the static loop snubber.

Claims

1. Static loop snubber means for use in a vehicle safety belt system having retracting means for storing belt webbing, including attachment means for mounting on said vehicle at a position adjacent an occupant seat involving a change in the direction of belt webbing between the retracting means and occupant restraining portion of the belt, means for maintaining free webbing loop passage throughout normal positioning and retracting tension applied to the belt, means responsive to initial occupant imposed belt loading above a predetermined value for locking belt webbing against loop passage from the retracting side, said means for locking including a snubbing bar and an arcuate smooth surface loop passing bar movable into snubbing relation with said snubbing bar to effect said locking action, and means for establishing a non-destructive minimum clearance between said bars relative to webbing thickness.