Seatbelt buckle tongue assembly
AssigneeAmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.
InventorDavid D. Merrick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Self adjusting and/or locking buckle tongue assemblies for use with occupant restraint systems in vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, a buckle tongue assembly includes a plate having a tongue portion configured to cooperatively engage a corresponding buckle assembly. The buckle tongue assembly of this embodiment can further include first and second web gripping portions carried by the plate. The second web gripping portion is configured to move relative to the first web gripping portion between a first position in which the web gripping portions are spaced apart to permit movement of a web therebetween, and a second position in which the web gripping portions are engaged or interlocked to clamp the web therebetween.
Claims20
A buckle tongue assembly comprising:
- a plate having a tongue portion configured to cooperatively engage a corresponding buckle assembly;
- a first web gripping portion carried by the plate;
- and
- a second web gripping portion movably carried by the plate—
- wherein the second web gripping portion translates relative to the first web gripping portion between a first position and a second position,
- wherein when the second web gripping portion is in the first position, the second web gripping portion is spaced apart from the first web gripping portion to permit movement of a web therebetween, and
- wherein when the second web gripping portion is in the second position, the second web gripping portion interlocks with the first web gripping portion to clamp the web therebetween.
A buckle tongue assembly for use with a personal restraint system in a vehicle, the tongue assembly comprising:
- a plate having a web aperture and a tongue portion, wherein the tongue portion is configured to cooperatively engage a corresponding buckle assembly;
- a first web gripping surface attached to the plate proximate the web aperture;
- a slider movably coupled to the plate, the slider having a cross-bar spaced apart from a draw-bar to define a web passage therebetween, wherein the cross-bar includes a second web gripping surface and the draw-bar includes a web guide surface, and wherein tension in a web passing through the web passage and around the guide surface pulls the second web gripping surface into an overlapping relationship with the first web gripping surface to clamp the web therebetween.
A personal restraint system for use in a vehicle, the personal restraint system comprising:
- a buckle assembly fixedly attached to the vehicle adjacent a seat;
- a buckle tongue assembly including—
- a tongue portion configured to cooperatively engage the buckle assembly;
- a first web gripping portion operably coupled to the tongue portion;
- and
- a second web gripping portion operably coupled to the tongue portion and spaced apart from the first web gripping portion to define a web passage therebetween;
- a web passing through the web passage to define a shoulder web portion and a lap web portion;
- and
- means for moving the second web gripping portion between a first position spaced apart from the first web gripping portion and a second position interlocking the first web gripping portion to clamp the web therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.