Anti-cinch seat belt system

A seat belt assembly which comprises:

• a first belt connector;
• a retractor assembly;
• linking means between said first belt connector and said retractor assembly;
• a mounting bracket;
• a second belt connector lockable with said first belt connector to form a tongue-buckle combination;
• a first connecting member connectable with said bracket;
• first connecting means for connecting said first connecting member with said bracket;
• a second connecting member connectable with said second belt connector;
• second connecting means for connecting said second connecting member with said second belt connector;
• said first connecting member being coupled with said second connecting member and being movable relative said second connecting member between first and second positions, said second belt connector being retracted relative said bracket in the first position, said second belt connector being extended relative said bracket in the second position;
• and,
• maintaining means for normally maintaining said second belt connector and said bracket in the first position and for exerting a predetermined force to retain said first connecting member and said second connecting member in the first position, said maintaining means also being for permitting said second belt connector and said bracket to move under resistance from the first position to the second position in response to an external force exceeding the predetermined force, said maintaining means also being for returning said second belt connector and said bracket from the second position to the first position upon decrease of the external force below the predetermined force, and said maintaining means comprising at least one compression spring connected between said first connecting member and said second connecting member and exerting a predetermined force urging said first connecting member and said second connecting member into the first position.

A seat belt assembly which comprises:

• a first belt connector;
• a retractor assembly;
• linking means between said first belt connector and said retractor assembly;
• a mounting bracket;
• a second belt connector lockable with said first belt connector to form a tongue-buckle combination;
• a first connecting member connectable with said bracket;
• first connecting means for connecting said first connecting member with said bracket;
• a second connecting member connectable with said second belt connector;
• second connecting means for connecting said second connecting member with said second belt connector;
• said first connecting member being coupled with said second connecting member and being movable relative said second connecting member between first and second positions, said second belt connector being retracted relative said bracket in the first position, said second belt connector being extended relative said bracket in the second position, one of said first connecting member and said second connecting member including a center portion and two outer portions, the two outer portions defining a pair of oppositely-facing grooves, the other of said connecting members including a center portion and two outer portions, the outer portions of the said other connecting member defining a pair of oppositely-facing tongues slidably received within respective grooves of said one connecting member;
• and,
• maintaining means for normally maintaining said second belt connector and said bracket in the first position and for exerting a predetermined force to retain said first connecting member and said second connecting member in the first position, said maintaining means also being for permitting said second belt connector and said bracket to move under resistance from the first position to the second position in response to an external force exceeding the predetermined force, said maintaining means also being for returning said second belt connector and said bracket from the second position to the first position upon decrease of the external force below the predetermined force, and said maintaining means comprising a compression spring connected between said first connecting member and said second connecting member and exerting a predetermined force urging said first connecting member and said second connecting member in the first position.

A seat belt assembly which comprises:

• a tongue;
• a belt buckle;
• mounting brackets;
• linking means for linking said tongue to one mounting bracket and for linking said buckle to another mounting bracket;
• linking portions for joining said linking means with said belt buckle and said tongue;
• a retractor assembly;
• and,
• collecting means for collecting and paying out predetermined slack in said linking means in lieu of collection of such slack by said retractor assembly.

A seat belt assembly comprising:

• a tongue;
• a belt buckle;
• mounting brackets;
• linking means for linking said tongue to one mounting bracket and for linking said buckle to another mounting bracket;
• linking portions for joining said linking means with said belt buckle and said tongue;
• a retractor assembly;
• and,
• an elastic member movable from a first position to a second position in response to a predetermined external force and said elastic member returning to the first position as the external force diminishes.

A seat belt assembly comprising:

• a tongue;
• a belt buckle;
• mounting brackets;
• linking means for linking said tongue to one mounting bracket and for linking said buckle to another mounting bracket;
• linking portions for joining said linking means with said belt buckle and said tongue;
• a retractor assembly;
• a U-shaped member being coupled with one of said linking portions and being movalbe relative said one of said linking portions between first and second positions;
• and,
• maintaining means for normally maintaining said U-shaped member in the first position and for exerting a predetermined force to retain said U-shaped member in the first position relative said one of said linking portions, said maintaining means permitting said U-shaped member to move under resistance from the first position to the second position in response to an external force exceeding the predetermined force, said maintaining means also returning said U-shaped member from the second position to the first position upon decrease of the external force below the predetermined force.