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US 5,176,402 AGranted
Detachable vehicle belt guide
AssigneeIndiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorJames P. Coulon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A three-point belt assembly is mounted to the seat frame removably mounted to a vehicle. The upper portion of the belt extends through a guide having a tongue thereon releasably lockable with a buckle mounted to the vehicle frame above the seat. In one embodiment, the guide tongue is pivotally constructed to facilitate swinging movement of the belt whereas in an alternate embodiment, the buckle is pivotally mounted to the vehicle frame above the seat facilitating pivotal web movement.
Claims11
An assembly of a belt, guide, seat and seat frame with said frame removably mounted in a vehicle comprising:
- a three-point belt sub-assembly to secure a person in the seat including a retractor mounted to the frame and a belt extendable from said retractor, said belt having a first end secured to said retractor and a second end secured to said frame, said sub-assembly including first connector means movably mounted to said belt between said first end and said second end, said sub-assembly further including second connector means mounted to said frame with said second connector means releasably lockable with said first connector means when said first connector means with belt is moved across said seat and engaged with said second connector means;
- a guide slidably mounted to said belt between said retractor and said first connector means with said guide including a slot with said belt extending slidably therethrough;
- and,
- combination means including a buckle and tongue with said combination means further including a pair of ends with said buckle located at one of said ends and said tongue located at another of said ends, said buckle and tongue being releasably lockable together but separable to move one of said ends away from the other of said ends by operation of said buckle, one of said ends being mounted to said vehicle which extends above the seat and the other of said ends having said guide mounted thereto with said means operable by unlocking said buckle from said tongue to allow said guide to be removed together with said three-point belt sub-assembly and said frame when said frame is removed from said vehicle.
1 more element
A vehicle seat belt system with detachable guide comprising:
- a three-point belt assembly to secure a person in a vehicle seat including a retractor mountable to the vehicle and a belt extendable from said retractor, said belt having a first end secured to said retractor and a second end securable to the vehicle, said assembly including first connector means movably mounted to said belt between said first end and said second end, said assembly further including second connector means mountable to said vehicle with said second connector means releasably lockable with said first connector means when said first connector means with belt is moved across said seat and engaged with said second connector means;
- a guide through which said belt is slidable between said retractor and said first connector means with said guide including third connector means;
- fourth connector means mountable to said vehicle releasably lockable with said third connector means to hold said guide;
- a seat frame removably mounted to the vehicle with said retractor, said second end of said belt and said second connector means mounted to said seat frame;
- and wherein:
- said third connector means and said fourth connector means are operable when unlocked to separate said guide from said vehicle allowing the seat belt system with said guide to be removed from the vehicle;
- said guide includes a main body with a slot through which said belt slides, said fourth connector is pivotally mounted to said vehicle allowing said fourth connector and said guide with belt extending therethrough to pivot relative to said vehicle.
4 more elements
A detachable guide for use with a belt in a vehicle occupant restraint system comprising:
- first connector means mountable to the vehicle;
- second connector means releasably lockable with said first connector means;
- and,
- a main body with a slot to slidably receive and guide a belt in a vehicle occupant restraint system, said main body includes a first end portion and a second end portion integrally joined together, said first end portion includes a slot through which said belt slides, said second end portion is pivotally mountable to said second connector means allowing said main body with belt extending therethrough to pivot relative to said first connector means and said second connector means while said first connector means and said second connector means remain stationary;
- and wherein:
- said first end portion and said second end portion are positioned together at an included angle of less than one hundred and eighty degrees allowing said belt to pivot without interference from said first connector means and said second connector means,
- said second connector means includes a tongue pivotally connected to said second end portion allowing said main body with belt extending therethrough to pivot.
4 more elements
A detachable guide for use with a belt in a vehicle occupant restraint system comprising:
- first connector means mountable to the vehicle;
- second connector means releasably lockable with said first connector means;
- and,
- a main body with a slot to slidably receive and guide a belt in a vehicle occupant restraint system, said main body includes a first end portion and a second end portion integrally joined together, said first end portion includes a slot through which said belt slides, said second end portion is pivotally mountable to said second connector means allowing said main body with belt extending therethrough to pivot relative to said first connector means and said second connector means while said first connector means and said second connector means remain stationary;
- and wherein:
- said first end portion and said second end portion are positioned together at an included angle of less than one hundred and eighty degrees allowing said belt to pivot without interference from said first connector means and said second connector means.
- said first connector means includes a buckle fixed to the vehicle above the seat.
4 more elements
A vehicle occupant restraint system with a detachable guide comprising:
- a multi-point belt assembly to secure a person in a vehicle seat including a retractor mountable to the vehicle and a belt extendable from said retractor, said belt having a first end secured to said retractor and a second end securable to the vehicle, said assembly including first connector means movably mounted to said belt between said first end and said second end, said assembly further including second connector means mountable to said vehicle with said second connector means releasably lockable with said first connector means when said first connector means with belt is moved across said seat and engageed with said second connector means;
- third connector means mountable to the vehicle;
- fourth connector means releasably lockable with said third connector means;
- and,
- a main body with a slot to slidably receive and guide said belt, said main body includes a first end portion and a second end portion integrally joined together, said first end portion includes a slot through which said belt slides, said second end portion is pivotally mountable to said fourth connector means allowing said main body with belt extending therethrough to pivot relative to said third connector means and said fourth connector means while said third connector means and said fourth connector means remain stationary;
- and wherein;
- said first end portion and said second end portion are positioned together at an included angle of less than one hundred and eighty degrees allowing said belt to pivot without interference from said third connector means and said fourth connector means,
- said fourth connector means includes a tongue pivotally connected to said second end portion allowing said main body with belt extending therethrough to pivot.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.