Guide fitting for inflatable vehicular safety belt
AssigneeAutoliv ASP, Inc.
InventorsDavid W. Schneider, Pontus Soderstrom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Vehicular restraint systems and associated fittings adapted for pivotal mounting onto a vehicle and for the guiding of an inflatable torso safety belt therethrough are provided. The fitting includes a clearance opening of selectively changeable thickness wherethrough the inflatable torso safety belt is passed to permit slidable movement thereof even when the inflatable safety belt is in an at least partially expanded or inflated state.
Claims15
A fitting adapted for pivotal mounting onto a vehicle and for the guiding of an inflatable torso safety belt therethrough, the fitting comprising:
- a plate member having a first generally planar portion defining a clearance opening of selected thickness for the inflatable torso safety belt to pass through and permit slidable movement thereof, the plate member including a base portion to contact with the inflatable torso safety belt and a compressible clearance opening edge portion spaced apart from the base portion by the clearance opening, the compressible clearance opening edge portion compressible in the plane of the plate member first portion for permitting inflation of the inflatable torso safety belt thereagainst to selectively change the thickness of the clearance opening, the compressible clearance hole edge portion comprising a contact element having opposed first and second sides with the first side for disposition adjacent to the inflatable torso safety belt, the compressible clearance hole edge portion also including a compressible element disposed adjacent the second side of the contact element.
A fitting adapted for pivotal mounting onto a vehicle and for the guiding of an inflatable torso safety belt therethrough, the fitting comprising:
- a plate member having a first generally planar portion defining a clearance opening of selected thickness for the inflatable torso safety belt to pass through and permit slidable movement thereof, the plate member including a compressible clearance opening edge portion compressible in the plane of the plate member first portion for permitting inflation of the inflatable torso safety belt thereagainst to selectively change the thickness of the clearance opening wherein:
- the compressible clearance hole edge portion comprises a contact element for disposition adjacent the inflatable torso safety belt and a compressible element for disposition opposite the inflatable torso safety belt relative to the contact element, the compressible element comprising a compressible foam material.
A fitting adapted for pivotal mounting onto a vehicle and for the guiding of an inflatable torso safety belt therethrough, the fitting comprising:
- a plate member defining first and second opposed plate faces with an attachment through-hole opening adapted for mounting of the fitting onto a vehicle, the plate member including a first generally planar portion defining a clearance hole having a preselected thickness for passage of the inflatable safety belt therethrough;
- and
- a cover element secured to the plate member in covering relationship relative to the attachment through-hole opening and at least a portion of the first plate face, including a portion of the clearance hole to define a clearance opening having a thickness no greater than the preselected thickness of the clearance hole and for passage of the inflatable safety belt therethrough to permit slidable movement thereof, wherein at least a portion of the cover element in covering relationship relative to a portion of the clearance hole is deformable for permitting inflation of the inflatable torso safety belt thereagainst to selectively change the thickness of the clearance opening wherein the cover element comprises a first section fixed relative to the plate member and a second section hingedly extending from the first section and at least partially overlying the clearance hole for permitting inflation of the inflatable torso safety belt with the cover element second section hingedly rotating to form a clearance opening of increased thickness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.