Crash locking tongue
AssigneeAutoliv ASP, Inc.
InventorsDan Murphy, Jon Burrow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A crash locking tongue for use as part of a seat belt restraining system that includes a buckle that is reversibly coupled with the crash locking tongue and a belt webbing that restrains the movement of a passenger in a vehicle. The crash locking tongue includes a base plate configured to reversibly couple with the buckle; a lockbar having a clamping surface that is in contact with the belt webbing; an elastomeric spring; and a cover material overmolded on the base plate. The crash locking tongue is configured such that the lockbar undergoes a vertical translation upon the occurrence of a vehicle accident. This vertical translation applies an inward pressure on the belt webbing, thereby, reducing or eliminating movement of the belt webbing.
Claims13
A crash locking tongue for use as part of a seat belt restraining system that includes a buckle that is reversibly coupled with the crash locking tongue and a belt webbing that restrains the movement of a passenger in a vehicle, the crash locking tongue comprising:
- a base plate configured to reversibly couple with the buckle;
- a lockbar having a clamping surface that is in contact with the belt webbing;
- an elastomeric spring;
- and
- a cover material overmolded on the base plate;
- wherein the crash locking tongue is configured such that the lockbar undergoes a vertical translation upon the occurrence of a vehicle accident, the vertical translation applies an inward pressure on the belt webbing, thereby, reducing or eliminating movement of the belt webbing;
- wherein the vertical translation of the lockbar compresses the elastomeric spring with at least a portion of the compressed elastomeric spring being forced through one or more openings in the lockbar thereby enhancing engagement between the lockbar and the belt webbing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.