Belt retraction cam lock

A belt retraction cam lock, comprising:

• a three-point seat and shoulder belt restraining system;
• an emergency locking belt retractor mounted within said system operable to normally urging said belt into a retracted condition within said belt retractor;
• a base member attachable within said system;
• a top member pivotally mounted to said base member, and between which said belt is disposed and is slidably passable;
• belt retraction locking means disposed between said base member and said top member to lockingly but releasably engage said belt, counterbalancing the normal urging of said belt into a retracted condition within said belt retractor;
• and
• unlocking means for automatically releasing said belt from the locking engagement of said belt retraction locking means when said belt is forcibly tensioned between said base and top members.

A passenger safety restraint device for installation in a vehicle comprising:

• safety belt means having first end means securable to a vehicle and also having second end means;
• retractor means mountable to said vehicle having said second end means mounted thereto being operable to normally urge said belt means into a retracted condition within said retractor means but yieldable to allow withdrawal of said belt means therefrom;
• buckle and tongue means mountable to said vehicle and attached to said belt means at an intermediate location between said first end means and said second end means and operable to removably secure said belt means at said intermediate location to said vehicle;
• locking means mountable to said vehicle and having said belt means slidably extend therethrough, said locking means having a locking position whereat said belt means is secured thereto, limiting motion therebetween and overcoming the normal urging of said belt means within said retractor means and having an unlocking position whereat said belt means is retractable into said retractor means;
• and
• unlocking means for automatically releasing said belt means from the locking engagement of said locking means when said belt means is forcibly tensioned within said locking means.

A passenger safety restraint device for installation in a vehicle comprising:

• safety belt means having first end means securable to a vehicle and also having second end means;
• retractor means mountable to said vehicle having said second end means mounted thereto being operable to normally urge said belt means into a retracted condition within said retractor means but yieldable to allow withdrawal of said belt means therefrom;
• buckle and tongue means mountable to said vehicle and attached to said belt means at an intermediate location between said first end means and said second end means and operable to removably secure said belt means at said intermediate location to said vehicle;
• locking means mountable to said vehicle and having said belt means slidably extend therethrough, said locking means having a locking position whereat said belt means is secured thereto, limiting motion therebetween and overcoming the normal urging of said belt means within said retractor means and having an unlocking position whereat said belt means is retractable into said retractor means, and including a base member having a pair of spaced apart symmetrical base member side walls, having symmetrical first side wall ends and symmetrical second side wall ends, said base member side walls being joined therebetween by a first support member and a second support member, said first and second support members defining a slot through which said belt means is disposed and is slidably passable, a top member pivotally mounted to said base member, and between which said belt means is disposed, including a third support surface with a first top-member end and a second top-member end, said top member being pivotally attached to said base member side walls at said second top-member end about a pivotal axis disposed at said second side wall ends and intersecting said base member sidewalls, a first locking surface on said base member including a ridge running latitudinally across said first support member between said base member side walls, said ridge being disposed directly below and parallel to said pivotal axis, and a second locking surface on said top member, said base member and said top member defining said belt locking position when said second locking surface is pivotally aligned with said first locking surface, the belt means being arrested therebetween, and defining said belt unlocking position when said second locking surface is pivotally disaligned with said first locking surface, the belt means being slidably passable therebetween;
• and
• unlocking means for releasing said belt means from the locking engagement of said locking means when said belt means is forcibly tensioned within said locking means;
• including a first release surface on said base member having at least one rib extending latitudinally across said first support member between said base member side walls;
• and over which said belt means is slidably passable, disposed to elevate said belt means above the elevation of said first locking surface, and a second release surface on said top member, over which said belt means is slidably passable, disposed to depress said belt means below the elevation of said first locking surface at a point between said first locking surface and said first release surface.