Seatbelt clamping device and system

A vehicle restraint assembly adapted for being attached to vehicle structure for retaining a seatbelt, the assembly including a clamping device comprising:

• a housing having a U shape and defining an upwardly extending front arm, and an upwardly extending rear arm and a locking surface extending between the front arm and the rear arm;
• a shackle including an elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis and a cam cover surrounding the elongate shaft and being rotatable about the shaft, the shackle being pivotally attached to the housing;
• wherein the cam cover includes a locking portion protruding from a first lateral side and gripping portion disposed on the opposite lateral side;
• wherein the shackle has an open position where the shackle is pivoted upward for receiving a seatbelt webbing therearound to be disposed against the gripping portion, and the shackle further has a closed position for retaining the seatbelt;
• wherein the seatbelt is retained between the shackle, the locking surface of the housing, the front arm, and the rear arm when the shackle is in the closed position;
• wherein the cam cover has a nominal position and a rotated position that is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft relative to the nominal position;
• wherein the cam cover defines a gap between the locking surface and the cam cover when the cam cover is in the nominal position, where a seatbelt can slide through the gap, and where the cam cover clamps the seatbelt webbing between the cam cover and the locking surface of the housing when the cam cover is in the rotated position and also pivoted into the closed position.

A vehicle restraint system comprising:

• a seatbelt having a first end attached to a vehicle structure and a second end attached to a seatbelt retractor;
• a clamping device for clamping a portion of the seatbelt, the device comprising:
• a housing having a U shape and defining an upwardly extending front arm, and an upwardly extending rear arm and a locking surface extending between the front arm and the rear arm;
• a shackle including an elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis and a cam cover surrounding the elongate shaft and being rotatable about the shaft, the shackle being pivotally attached to the housing;
• wherein the cam cover includes a locking portion protruding from a first lateral side and gripping portion disposed on the opposite lateral side;
• wherein the shackle has an open position where the shackle is pivoted upward for receiving a seatbelt webbing therearound to be disposed against the gripping portion, and the shackle further has a closed position for retaining the seatbelt;
• wherein the seatbelt is retained between the shackle, the locking surface of the housing, the front arm, and the rear arm when the shackle is in the closed position;
• wherein the cam cover has a nominal position and a rotated position that is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft relative to the nominal position;
• wherein the cam cover defines a gap between the locking surface and the cam cover when the cam cover is in the nominal position, where a seatbelt can slide through the gap, and where the cam cover clamps the seatbelt webbing between the cam cover and the locking surface of the housing when the cam cover is in the rotated position and also pivoted into the closed position;
• wherein the seatbelt has a first point of attachment at the first end of the seatbelt, a second point of attachment at the second end of the seatbelt, and a third point of attachment at the clamping device when the shackle is in the closed position.