Clamp for retractor belt with actuator
AssigneeIndiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsDavid D. Merrick, Guy R. Dingman, Aaron Acton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamp for relieving the tension in a seatbelt. An air operated actuator is activated by the passenger at a location remote from the clamp to lock the clamp to the seatbelt. The clamp is slidable on a track with a first endstop and an opposite second endstop. The clamp can be initially secured to the seatbelt at the first endstop. Subsequent movement by the passenger results in the clamp moving along the track. Upon reseating by the passenger, the clamp will be supported at a support position intermediate of the first and second endstops, resulting in increased slack in the shoulder portion of the seatbelt, reduced tension in the shoulder portion, and increased comfort for the passenger.
Claims13
A clamp for releasably holding an occupant-restraining belt provided on an occupant seat in a vehicle comprising:
- an elongated slide mountable in a vehicle;
- a housing slideably mounted on said slide and movable from a belt-clamping position to an unclamped position, said housing having a passage through which an occupant restraining belt on an occupant seat in a vehicle slidably extends therethrough, said housing including a tab movable against said slide;
- and
- an actuator having a member movably mounted on said housing and having a first position whereat said member when moved to said first position moves said belt against said tab which is moved against said slide, said actuator having a actuating control located remotely from said housing.
A restraint system for an occupant in a vehicle, comprising:
- a source of pressurized air;
- an occupant seat;
- a seatbelt for securing an occupant on said seat;
- a retractor for retracting said seatbelt and capable of holding said seatbelt during deceleration of the vehicle;
- a slide;
- and
- a clamp movable on said slide and having a tab movably mounted thereon, said clamp further having an actuator connectable to said source of pressurized air to move said seatbelt against said tab to limit relative motion between said seatbelt and said clamp.
A restraint system for a passenger in a vehicle, comprising:
- a passenger seat;
- a seatbelt for securing a passenger within said seat;
- a retractor for retracting said seatbelt and capable of holding said seatbelt during deceleration of the vehicle;
- a track with first and second endstops;
- a clamp movable on said track between said first and second endstops, said clamp including a deflectable lock;
- and,
- an actuator with a control located remotely from said clamp to move said deflectable lock to secure said seatbelt.
A method for releasably clamping a seatbelt, comprising:
- providing a retractor, a clamp with a movable lock, a source of pressurized air, and a track, said track having a first stop, a second stop, and a support position, the clamp being slidable along the track between the first stop and the second stop;
- applying tension in the seatbelt by the retractor;
- locking the seatbelt to the clamp by directing air from said source of pressurized air to move said lock;
- moving the clamp and seatbelt to a support position along the track;
- and
- supporting the clamp and seatbelt such that the tension in the belt from the retractor is applied at the support position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.