Safety belt web adjuster

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to safety belts for motor vehicles and, more particularly, to a safety belt web adjuster.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known in the art, safety belts are commonly used in vehicle interiors in order to limit movement of the belted occupant in the event of sudden vehicle movements, particularly accidents in which the car experiences a violent collision with another stationary or moving object. Because of the generally higher speeds and the competitive nature of the driving, safety belts for racing cars are generally designed for greater protection of the belted occupant than are safety belts for general vehicular use.

Safety belts of the type generally used in vehicles include a webbing material (such as woven nylon, for example) anchored to the vehicle and formed into a protective harness for the vehicle occupant using various pieces of safety belt hardware. One such common piece of safety belt hardware is the web adjuster, which is used to allow slack in the safety belt to be taken up or added in order to ensure that the safety belt snugly conforms to the size of the current vehicle occupant. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a typical prior art safety belt web adjuster, indicated generally at 10.

The prior art web adjuster 10 generally comprises a relatively flat member having three horizontal members 12, 14 and 16 coupled by two vertical members 18 and 20, such that the horizontal member 14 is positioned between the horizontal members 12 and 16. As used herein, the terms “horizontal” and “vertical” are merely indicators of relative positioning between various objects, and are not intended to signify any position with respect to the ground. The web adjuster 10 may be made of any suitably strong material, and is generally formed from metal.

FIG. 2 illustrates the prior art web adjuster 10 of FIG. 1 in use with a safety belt. FIG. 2 assigns the labels “upper,” “lower,” posterior” and “anterior” to four relative directions for ease of discussing the positioning of various portions of FIG. 2, but again these directions are not intended to signify any position with respect to the ground. The web adjuster 10 is used to adjustably couple two sections of safety belt webbing, namely a first section 22 and a second section 24, such that the combined length of the two sections 22 and 24 can be changed in order to fit the safety belt snugly against vehicle occupants of differing sizes. The first section 22 of webbing is looped around the horizontal member 12 and secured thereto by threads 26 sewing the two sections of webbing 22 together, as is known in the art. The other end of webbing section 22 is coupled to a suitable anchor point 27, typically to the chassis of the vehicle.

The lower section of webbing 24 is looped around the horizontal member 14; however, the two portions 28 and 30 of webbing section 24 are not coupled by any sewn threads, and remain free to move with respect to one another in certain situations, as explained in greater detail hereinbelow. As can be seen from the drawing, both portions 28 and 30 of the webbing section 24 lie on the posterior side of horizontal member 16. The portion 28 is coupled to a suitable anchor point 31, typically to the chassis of the vehicle, while the portion 30 remains unattached.

In use, the safety belt web adjuster 10 allows the section of safety belt webbing into which it is installed to be adjusted to fit vehicle occupants of various sizes. For example, if the vehicle occupant installs the safety belt and determines that it does not fit snugly enough, then slack may be removed therefrom by grasping the portion 30 of the webbing section 24 and pulling the portion 30 towards the lower direction. This will have the effect of lengthening the portion 30 and shortening the portion 28, thereby removing slack from the combined length of the webbing sections 22 and 24.

One drawback of the prior art web adjuster 10 is that the webbing can bunch to the side within the adjuster 10 when the safety belt is not under proper tension. Furthermore, relatively large pulling forces are required in order to adjust the slack of the safety belt using the prior art web adjuster 10. There therefore remains a need for improvement in the field of safety belt web adjusters. The present invention is directed toward meeting this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a safety belt web adjuster that incorporates a sliding middle horizontal member around which the lower section of webbing is looped. This allows the webbing section to be trapped between two bars, one sliding and one fixed. The web adjuster of the present invention also allows for relatively easy adjustment of safety belt tension by moving the web adjuster through approximately 90 degrees of motion, thereby removing the bearing force on the webbing previously supplied by the fixed member, allowing the slack in the safety belt to be easily adjusted.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a safety belt web adjuster is disclosed, comprising a first horizontal member having first and second ends; a second horizontal member having third and fourth ends; a first vertical member extending between the first and third ends; a second vertical member extending between the second and fourth ends; a first ear extending away from the junction between the second horizontal member and the first vertical member; and a second ear extending away from the junction between the second horizontal member and the second vertical member; and a third horizontal member having a first substantially c-shaped end and a second substantially c-shaped end; wherein the first substantially c-shaped end engages the first vertical member; wherein the second substantially c-shaped end engages the second vertical member; and wherein the third horizontal member is free to slide between the first and second horizontal members while engaging the first and second vertical members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a prior art web adjuster.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the prior art web adjuster of FIG. 1 installed on two sections of safety belt webbing.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment web adjuster of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the web adjuster of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the web adjuster of FIG. 3 installed on two sections of safety belt webbing.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the web adjuster of FIG. 3 installed on two sections of safety belt webbing, illustrating a preferred adjustment position of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, and alterations and modifications in the illustrated device, and further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein are herein contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment web adjuster of the present invention, indicated generally at 100. The web adjuster 100 generally comprises a relatively flat member having two horizontal members 102 and 104 coupled by two vertical members 106 and 108. A first ear 110 is formed at the junction between horizontal member 104 and vertical member 106, while a second ear 112 is formed at the junction between horizontal member 104 and vertical member 108. The purpose of ears 110 and 112 will be illustrated hereinbelow. An opening 114 is preferably formed in the central portion of horizontal member 104. The purpose of the opening 114 will also be illustrated hereinbelow.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a third horizontal member 116 is provided. The horizontal member 116 comprises a relatively flat section 118 joining two relatively c-shaped ends 120 and 122. The c-shaped ends 120 and 122 allow the horizontal member 116 to slide freely over the vertical members 106 and 108, as shown in the drawings. When installed in a safety belt as described hereinbelow, the horizontal member 116 is positioned between the horizontal members 102 and 104. As used herein, the terms “horizontal” and “vertical” are merely indicators of relative positioning between various objects, and are not intended to signify any position with respect to the ground. The web adjuster 100 may be made of any suitably strong material, and is preferably formed from an appropriately high strength material, such as steel or forged aluminum, for example.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the web adjuster 100 of the present invention in use with a safety belt. FIGS. 4 and 5 assign the labels “upper,” “lower,” posterior” and “anterior” to four relative directions for ease of discussing the positioning of various portions of FIGS. 4 and 5, but again these directions are not intended to signify any position with respect to the ground. The web adjuster 100 is used to adjustably couple two sections of safety belt webbing, namely a first section 124 and a second section 126, such that the combined length of the two sections 124 and 126 can be changed in order to fit the safety belt snugly against vehicle occupants of differing sizes. The first section 124 of webbing is looped around the horizontal member 102 and secured thereto by threads 128 sewing the two sections of webbing 124 together, as is known in the art. The webbing section 124 is coupled to a suitable anchor point 130, typically to the chassis of the vehicle.

The lower section of webbing 126 is looped around the horizontal member 116; however, the two portions 132 and 134 of webbing section 126 are not coupled by any sewn threads, and remain free to move with respect to one another in certain situations, as explained in greater detail hereinbelow. As can be seen from the drawing, both portions 132 and 134 of the webbing section 126 lie on the posterior side of horizontal member 104. The portion 132 is coupled to a suitable anchor point 136, typically to the chassis of the vehicle, while the portion 134 remains unattached. Preferably, a material tab 138 is looped through the opening 114 and its two ends are sewn together with thread 140. The provision of the tab 138 facilitates grasping of the web adjuster 100 during safety belt ajustment procedures, as described in greater detail hereinbelow.

In use, the safety belt web adjuster 100 allows the section of safety belt webbing into which it is installed to be adjusted to fit vehicle occupants of various sizes. For example, if the vehicle occupant installs the safety belt and determines that it does not fit snugly enough, then slack may be removed therefrom by grasping the portion 134 of the webbing section 126 and pulling the portion 134 towards the lower direction. This will have the effect of lengthening the portion 134 and shortening the portion 132, thereby removing slack from the combined length of the webbing sections 124 and 126. The adjustment of the safety belt using the web adjuster 100 of the present invention is described in greater detail hereinbelow with respect to FIG. 6.

Once this slack has been removed in sufficient quantity to force the safety belt to lie snugly against the vehicle occupant, the safety belt will be placed in tension, with the safety belt sections 124 and 126 being pulled away from one another. This will cause the safety belt section 124 to bear against the lower side of horizontal member 102, while the safety belt section 126 bears against the upper side of horizontal member 116. Furthermore, because the horizontal member 116 is free to slide over the length of the vertical members 106 and 108, placing the safety belt in tension causes the horizontal member 116 to slide toward the lower direction, entrapping the portion 134 of the webbing section 126 between the horizontal member 116 and the horizontal member 104. Therefore, the portion 134 is sandwiched under tension between the horizontal members 116 and 104, and also bears against the upper posterior edge of horizontal member 104 as it passes thereby. The looping of safety belt section 126 through the horizontal members 116 and 104 under tension, and the sliding of the horizontal member 116 toward horizontal member 104, prevents any further relative motion between the portions 132 and 134, and therefore prevents any further relative motion between the webbing sections 124 and 126, thereby maintaining the level of safety belt snugness set by the vehicle occupant. It will be appreciated that the ears 110 and 112 facilitate retention of the sliding horizontal member 116 while the web adjuster 100 is first being installed upon the safety belt (i.e. before the webbing section 126 has been looped therethough.

Adding slack to the safety belt may be done by moving the webbing portion 134 toward the lower direction; however, this may be difficult to do when the safety belt is under tension, as the sliding horizontal member 116 is exerting a force toward the horizontal member 104, thereby sandwiching the webbing portion 134 therebetween. As illustrated in FIG. 6, adjustment of the web adjuster 100 is facilitated by rotating the web adjuster 100 through approximately 45° to 135°, and preferably through 90°, from the upper/lower plane to lie in the posterior/anterior plane. Provision of the tab 138 facilitates grasping of the web adjuster 100 by the vehicle occupant, particularly when the vehicle occupant is wearing gloves as would normally be the case in a racing application.

As shown in FIG. 6, the user has grasped the tab 138 and pulled the web adjuster 100 toward the upper direction, thereby rotating the web adjuster 100 through approximately 90° and into the posterior/anterior plane. In this position, there is no longer a tension force acting on the sliding horizontal member 116 tending to force it toward the horizontal member 104. Without this force acting on horizontal member 116, horizontal member 116 is free to slide in the posterior direction away from horizontal member 104. Now that the webbing section 126 is no longer sandwiched between horizontal members 116 and 104, it is much easier to adjust the slack of the safety belt by moving the webbing portion 134 with respect to the webbing portion 132. It will be appreciated that the ability of horizontal member 116 to slide freely along vertical members 106 and 108 is critical to the ability of web adjuster 100 to be easily adjusted when in the position illustrated in FIG. 6. Once the slack has been adjusted as desired, the vehicle occupant simply releases his grip on the tab 138 and the web adjuster will automatically return to the position illustrated in FIG. 5.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

Safety belt web adjuster

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