초록 ▼

The present invention is a safety apparatus having a belt which restrains an occupant of a vehicle against movement relative to the vehicle. A tongue assembly is mounted on the belt and is connectable with a buckle to secure the belt across the lap and torso of the occupant of the vehicle. The tongu

The present invention is a safety apparatus having a belt which restrains an occupant of a vehicle against movement relative to the vehicle. A tongue assembly is mounted on the belt and is connectable with a buckle to secure the belt across the lap and torso of the occupant of the vehicle. The tongue assembly includes a lock bar which is movable relative to a base of the tongue assembly between an engaged position in which the belt is clamped between the base and the lock bar and a release position in which the belt is freely movable relative to the tongue assembly. To facilitate movement of the belt relative to the tongue assembly, when the tongue assembly is disconnected from the buckle, the belt extends along a substantially linear path through the tongue assembly. This is accomplished in part by having the belt enter the tongue assembly through an opening adjacent to the base of the tongue assembly and in a direction generally parallel to the base.

대표청구항 ▼

A safety apparatus for use in restraining an occupant of a vehicle in a vehicle seat against movement relative to the vehicle seat, said safety apparatus comprising: a belt for restraining the occupant of the vehicle in the vehicle seat, said belt having a first portion extendable across the lap of

A safety apparatus for use in restraining an occupant of a vehicle in a vehicle seat against movement relative to the vehicle seat, said safety apparatus comprising: a belt for restraining the occupant of the vehicle in the vehicle seat, said belt having a first portion extendable across the lap of the occupant of the vehicle and a second portion extendable across the torso of the occupant of the vehicle, said belt being located on one side of the vehicle seat when not restraining the occupant of the vehicle; a buckle to be secured adjacent to the other side of the vehicle seat; and a tongue assembly slidably mounted on said belt and connectable with said buckle to secure the first portion of the belt across the lap of the occupant of the vehicle and to secure the second portion of the belt across the torso of the occupant of the vehicle, said tongue assembly including: a base comprising a base plate, spaced facing flanges extending from said base plate, and a belt clamp portion located between said flanges; said spaced flanges defining a first opening through which said belt enters said tongue assembly in a direction generally parallel to said base plate and a second opening through which said belt extends when not restraining the occupant of the vehicle; and a lock bar having a belt locking portion located between said spaced flanges and slidable relative to said base plate between a first belt clamping position in which said belt is clamped between said belt clamp portion and said belt locking portion of said lock bar and a second non-clamping position in which said belt extends through said tongue assembly and said first and second openings along a substantially linear path to allow said tongue assembly to freely slide along said belt; each of said spaced flanges having a longitudinally extending slot for receiving an end of said lock bar and for supporting said lock bar for sliding movement along said longitudinally extending slots between said first belt clamping and second non-clamping positions.