Vehicle occupant restraint having an adjustable web tether
DCFirst Claim
1. An occupant restraint for a vehicle, the restraint comprising:
- a first web strap fixedly mounted between a first location and a second location;
a retractor fixedly mounted at a third location;
a turning point fixedly mounted at a fourth location;
a tongue;
a second web strap extending from the retractor, through the turning point and engaging the tongue, wherein the second web forms a shoulder belt of the occupant restraint; and
a web tether coupling the first and second webs together, wherein the web tether creates a pivot point for the shoulder belt and thereby establishes a trajectory of the shoulder belt across the occupant.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle occupant restraint having an adjustable web tether utilizes a first section of webbing that is tautly positioned between the vehicle floor and an upper mounting location. A second section of webbing extends from a floor-mounted (or wall- or seat-mounted) emergency locking retractor (ELR) and through a turning point at the upper mounting location, after which the second webbing section transitions to a shoulder belt for the occupant. In order to provide a pivot point for the shoulder belt, an adjustable web tether is mounted to the first webbing section and captures the second webbing section in sliding engagement by means of a ring. The ring of the web tether therefore provides a pivot point for the shoulder strap. The vertical position of the web tether upon the first webbing section is adjustable, so that the height of the shoulder strap pivot point, and therefore the trajectory of the shoulder strap across the occupant, is adjustable.
25 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An occupant restraint for a vehicle, the restraint comprising:
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a first web strap fixedly mounted between a first location and a second location; a retractor fixedly mounted at a third location; a turning point fixedly mounted at a fourth location; a tongue; a second web strap extending from the retractor, through the turning point and engaging the tongue, wherein the second web forms a shoulder belt of the occupant restraint; and a web tether coupling the first and second webs together, wherein the web tether creates a pivot point for the shoulder belt and thereby establishes a trajectory of the shoulder belt across the occupant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An occupant restraint for a vehicle, the restraint comprising:
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an adjustable web tether having a plurality of openings therethrough; a first web strap fixedly mounted between a first location below the web tether and a second location above the web tether, wherein the web tether is mounted to the first web in sliding engagement; a retractor fixedly mounted at the first location; a turning point fixedly mounted at the second location; a tongue; and a second web strap extending from the retractor, through a first one of the openings, through the turning point, through a second one of the openings and engaging the tongue, wherein the second web forms a shoulder belt of the occupant restraint. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification