Sliding Part Or Wedge Patents (Class 24/171)
  • Patent number: 11844442
    Abstract: The invention relates to a baby carrier comprising shoulder straps, which are arranged to extend around both shoulder regions of a wearer, and a front piece mounted on the shoulder straps so as to form a baby carrying pouch, and a head support, said front piece having a strip-like part connected to a lower portion of the shoulder straps via a coupling element, said strip-like part being movable lengthwise in the coupling element so as to adjust the size of the baby carrying pouch. A width W1 of the strip-like part is 50 to 150%, preferably 70 to 130%, and most preferably 90 to 110%, larger than a width W2 of the coupling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: BABYBJÖRN AB
    Inventor: Lisen Elmberg
  • Patent number: 11712089
    Abstract: A harness system includes an upper buckle, an upper strap and a restraining assembly including an anti-sliding structure and a beam structure. A through slot is formed on the upper buckle. The upper strap passes through the through slot. The beam structure is slidably disposed on the upper buckle. The anti-sliding structure is disposed on at least one of the beam structure and a wall of the through slot. The upper strap is engaged by the anti-sliding structure for restraining a sliding movement of the upper buckle relative to the upper strap and toward a shoulder portion when the upper strap is forced to drive the beam structure to slide relative to the upper buckle and toward the wall of the through slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Yen-Lin Lee, Kai-Wen Cheng, Chih-Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 11648689
    Abstract: A gripping mechanism includes a frame and two or more spheres. The frame houses the two or more spheres. At least two spheres of the two or more spheres grip an object. Preferably, the frame includes two or more side plates. The number of the two or more side plates is the same as the number of the two or more spheres. Each of the two or more side plates is inclined toward a center axis of the frame. Each of the two or more spheres is in contact with at least one side plate of the two or more side plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Koji Izumi
  • Patent number: 11571047
    Abstract: A latching mechanism is applied to be mounted on a webbing of a seat belt system. The latching mechanism has a tongue assembly and a slider mounted on the tongue assembly. The slider has a bridge located at a side of the tongue assembly. The webbing passes through a bottom end of the bridge and is inserted through the slider and the tongue assembly. The webbing has a shoulder belt located at a side, which has the bridge, of the latching mechanism. When the slider is located in an unlocked position, the latching mechanism is capable of freely moving along the webbing. A tension of the shoulder belt acts on the bridge for driving the slider to move from the unlocked position to a locked position, such that the webbing is clamped and locked by the slider and the tongue assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Hornling Industrial Inc.
    Inventor: Avraham Ziv
  • Patent number: 11311431
    Abstract: A harness system includes one or more harness assemblies. Each harness assembly includes a flexible restraint formed of a coated fabric. An adjuster is provided to adjust an effective length of the flexible restraint. The adjuster includes a frame, a restraint guide, and a cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Levi Scheenstra, Michael J. Hernandez, Matthew Thomas Thielking, Andrew J. Vandermoren
  • Patent number: 11292425
    Abstract: A pretensioning lapbelt apparatus where the pretensioning of the lapbelt is performed by the rapid inflation of an airbag that is integral to the lapbelt itself. The design of the airbag, including the attachment locations of the ends of the webbing are chosen such that, upon inflation of the airbag, the free end of the webbing—the end of the webbing that is passed through the cinching latch—is pulled taught, thereby reducing the effective length of the lapbelt. The anchor is designed to be a cinching anchor such that once the airbag deploys and pulls the webbing through the anchor (thereby pretensioning the lapbelt) a sliding pin in the anchor “cinches” the webbing, effectively locking the webbing in the pretensioned state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SCHROTH SAFETY PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Akoma, Manuel Marroquin
  • Patent number: 11142160
    Abstract: A belt tongue (1) having a tongue body (3) extending in an insertion direction (2), forming a belt slot (4) for guiding a belt crosswise to an insertion direction (2), and a blocking element (5), movably arranged in the tongue body (3) The belt is movable through the belt slot (4) in an unloaded pass-through position of the blocking element (5) and its mobility is at least inhibited by the blocking element (5) in a loaded position, created by a tensile force introduced into the belt. The belt is deflected by the belt tongue (1) in the fastened state in a loop shape. A cover (6) is provided at least on one side of the tongue body (2) and is arranged having at least one partial section (7) under the belt slot (4), and the partial section (7) directly adjoins the belt slot (4) and covers at least one part of the blocking element (5) in the pass-through position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Michel Hermann, Robert Berg
  • Patent number: 11129449
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a double-sided usable belt buckle, including a tail clamp, a frame, a buckling pin, first connectors, and a second connector. Both the frame and the buckling pin are connected with the tail clamp and rotate relative to the tail clamp, and a first end of the tail clamp is configured to connect with a belt body. The first connectors are configured to connect the tail clamp with the frame, the second connector is configured to connect the tail clamp with the buckling pin. A fixing base is disposed on a second end of the tail clamp, and the fixing base includes a left part fixing base and a right part fixing base. The left part fixing base and the right part fixing base are symmetrically disposed, a gap is formed between the left part fixing base and the right part fixing base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: QING CAN XING HARDWARE CRAFTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nianqing Wang, Jindang Wang
  • Patent number: 10939732
    Abstract: A belt buckle with long usage rate, which includes a buckle body and a mounting member, wherein the left side surface and the right side surface of a mounting rod body are both cutting planes, the left side surface of the mounting member is provided with a through concave cavity, the left end of an upper sheet body and the left end of a lower sheet body are both integrally formed with extension sheets extending downwards, a clamping interval is arranged between the free ends of the two extension sheets, the mounting rod body is clamped into the through concave cavity through the clamping interval and is rotatably arranged in the through concave cavity. The buckle body is detachably connected with the mounting member, so that the free combination of different buckle bodies and different mounting members is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventor: Xinrong Dong
  • Patent number: 10793102
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seat belt webbing guide including a slot having an upper surface and a lower surface. A rod is supported by the seat belt webbing guide. A roller is supported by the rod. A spring is between the seat belt webbing guide and the rod. The spring the rod toward the lower surface of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Ford global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 10772389
    Abstract: A tank cinch is configured to cooperate with a strap to secure a tank of compressed air to a buoyancy compensation device. The tank cinch includes an adjustable frame having a sliding member, a first cam receiver and a second cam receiver. A lever body including a first cam and a second cam is pivotably joined to the adjustable frame and is pivotable about a pivoting axis defined by the adjustable frame. The lever body is configured to fix a first end portion of the strap. The adjustable frame is configured to fix a second end portion of the strap with the sliding member when the lever is rotated about the pivoting axis towards the adjustable frame member. The cams are arranged to bear against an outermost surface of the tank and to be received in the cam receivers when the lever body is pivoted towards the adjustable frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Outdoors Inc.
    Inventors: Jacopo Rossi, Corrado Cominetti, Bradley E. Lally
  • Patent number: 10681947
    Abstract: A device for adjusting the fit of a garment may include a track having a plurality of track teeth; and a button including a shoe designed to removably engage with the track; a spring operatively engaged with the shoe; and a plurality of button teeth operatively attached to the spring. When the spring is not compressed, the plurality of button teeth may be designed to removably engage with the plurality of track teeth, and when the spring is compressed, the plurality of button teeth may be designed to disengage from the plurality of track teeth. The device may be attached to the waistband of a garment, resulting in a garment with an adjustable sized waist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Inventor: Eric Lee Martin
  • Patent number: 10654442
    Abstract: A webbing adjustment device has a cover, a frame, a slider, and a guiding ring member. The frame is up and down moveably disposed in the cover. The slider is located in the cover, is moveably disposed in a body of the frame, and has a through slot formed through the slider. Webbing inserted through the through slot is locked or unlocked by a relative motion between the frame and the slider. The guiding ring member is detachably disposed on the cover, and has a guiding ring and a positioning element connected to the guiding ring. The webbing is inserted through the guiding ring. The cover is detachably hung on the guiding ring. The webbing adjustment device can lock the webbing automatically by the tension of the webbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Inventor: Liang-Hsiung Wang
  • Patent number: 10632015
    Abstract: Goggles include a goggle frame, a goggle strap, and a goggle strap connector. The goggle strap has a direction of strap tension when the goggles are worn by a user. The goggle strap connector includes a female bracket and a male bracket. The female bracket is directly coupled to the goggle frame or the goggle strap, including first and second bracket walls, a channel defined between the bracket walls, projections, and recesses. The male bracket is configured to mateably couple to the female bracket, including a sliding bar and an enlarged bar end. First movement of the goggle strap in the strap tension direction may move at least one of the bar bumps of the enlarged bar end past at least one of the projections to position the at least one of the bar bumps within at least one of the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Ximena Prugue, David M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10525929
    Abstract: A seatbelt assembly and method of operating a seatbelt includes allowing webbing to slide between a lap portion and a torso portion through an unlocked weblock of a tongue assembly; and upon forces exerted by an occupant on the webbing, the weblock locking the webbing from movement between the lap and torso portions while increasing tension in the lap portion via the tongue assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Edward Ruthinowski, Kevin M. Pline
  • Patent number: 10518740
    Abstract: A seatbelt assembly and method of operating that includes a tongue assembly having a weblock and a secondary weblock mounted to a tongue selectively securable to a buckle; a webbing extending adjacent to the weblock and secondary weblock between a torso portion and a lap portion; and the weblock and secondary weblock allowing for the webbing to slide between the torso and lap portions when in unlocked positions and pivoting relative to the tongue such that the weblock and secondary weblock prevent the webbing from sliding between lap and torso portions in locked positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Edward Ruthinowski, Kevin M. Pline
  • Patent number: 10377339
    Abstract: A seatbelt tensioning assembly having a seatbelt, a buckle tongue and a tensioning device. The buckle tongue is configured for releasable attachment to a seatbelt buckle within the passenger compartment. The tensioning device is rigidly connected to the buckle tongue with a mid-section of the seatbelt extending through a hollow interior of the tensioning device. The hollow interior of the tensioning device has a first tensioning member disposed therein at least partially defining a seatbelt path having a serpentine shape such that in the absence of tension being applied to the seatbelt the mid-portion of the seatbelt moves through the seatbelt path with the seatbelt path defining a first overall length. With a pre-determined level of tension being applied to the seatbelt, the tensioning device is configured to shorten the seatbelt path to a second overall length smaller than the first overall length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery Dix
  • Patent number: 10182622
    Abstract: A plug-in tongue (10) for a seat belt includes an inserting portion (12) adapted to be inserted in a belt buckle and a deflecting portion (14) for a webbing (16). The deflecting portion (14) includes a webbing passage (20) as well as a clamping element (22) for the webbing (16). The clamping element (22) can be displaced between a home position in which the webbing (16) is freely movable and a locking position in which the clamping element (22) is displaced against a wall (30) of the webbing passage (20) such that the webbing (16) is clamped between the clamping element (22) and the wall (30) of the webbing passage (20). The webbing passage (20) extends substantially in the longitudinal direction (L) or at an acute angle with the longitudinal direction (L) of the plug-in tongue (10). The clamping element (22) is displaceable at an acute angle with the webbing passage (20) and/or with the longitudinal direction (L) of the plug-in tongue (10) from the deflecting position into the locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Knoedl
  • Patent number: 10104943
    Abstract: A pull and release latch including a releasable lock featuring stress preventers and a limit stop. The limit stop prevents the releasable lock from cantilevering too much to the point of breaking or stressing the releasable lock. A unique design allows a male component and a female component to be easily engaged while at the same time the pulling force to release the lock gives the same motion to separate the two components in a direction perpendicular to a cantilever axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Inventors: Abbas Haider, Robert Imre Davis, Robert Michael Romano, Daniel Isaac Armstrong, Daniel Edgar Nelson
  • Patent number: 10045594
    Abstract: A seatbelt tongue protector is provided comprising a stretchable polymer flat tubing, a first hole at a top end of the tubing configured to promote placement of the tubing over a tongue of a seatbelt, and a second hole at a bottom end of the tubing configured to allow the tongue to protrude when engaging with a locking mechanism. The tongue protector is configured to prevent the tongue from becoming one of excessively hot and cold. Flexibility of the polymer allows the tongue protector to fold when the tongue has been engaged with the locking mechanism. The tongue protector folds to avoid interference with the locking mechanism. The tongue protector contains a third hole on a back surface of the protector to accommodate oddly shaped seatbelt tongues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Inventor: Evelyn March
  • Patent number: 10039349
    Abstract: A strap adjustor can comprise a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a third surface that extends between the first surface and the second surface. A first opening in the first surface can extend completely through the strap adjustor between the first surface and the second surface. A second opening in the first surface can extend partially but not completely through the strap adjustor. A bar can be disposed at the first surface between the first opening and the second opening. A third opening in the third surface can extends partially but not completely through the strap adjustor and join with the second opening. At least one strap can be disposed partially through the third opening, and the at least one strap can comprise an uncompressed thickness that is greater than a height of the third opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Hilgard N. Muller
  • Patent number: 9743718
    Abstract: [Object] To effectively reduce a noise generated during engaging operation of a tongue. [Solution] A slider 13 held in a non-locking position, at which the slider 13 does not lock a latch 9, turns together with the latch 9 and moves so as to enter a space between the latch 9 and the locking pin 10 during operation of the latch 9. A front end 13a of the slider 13 comes in contact with a front end 25a4 of a damper 24 before coming in contact with a stop 11f of an operation button 11, and the slider 13 moves while compressing a damper spring 26. As a result, the movement of the slider 13 is slowed down. When the front end 13a is in contact with the stop 11f, the slider 13 is positioned in a locking position, at which the slider 13 locks the latch 9 positioned in the latching position. The slider 13 that has been slowed down comes in contact with the stop 11f, reducing the noise generated when the tongue engages with the buckle 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kawai, Den Uehara
  • Patent number: 9731951
    Abstract: A device for threading a seat belt through a child's car seat to secure the car seat on a vehicle seat may include a carriage assembly moveably supported in the device. The device may be installed in a channel extending across the child's car seat. A drive mechanism housed within the device may be coupled to the carriage assembly. Actuation of the drive mechanism moves the carriage assembly along the longitudinal length of the device the opposite ends of the channel. The latch end of the vehicle seat belt may be removably connected to the carriage assembly and the seat belt threaded through the channel to the opposite side of the child's car seat. The latch end of the seat belt may be disconnected from the carriage assembly and latched to the seat belt buckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Inventor: Jeremy Trent Tolbert
  • Patent number: 9623837
    Abstract: A belt fitting for a safety belt device in a motor vehicle, the fitting having a base portion and an adjoining insertion tongue, in which base portion a belt eye is provided, through which a belt strap is guided and which subdivides the belt strap into a shoulder belt portion and a lap belt portion when the belt is fastened, and additionally having a clamping element that is freely movable between a release position, in which the belt strap is run freely movably through the belt eye, and a clamping position in which the belt strap is clamped tightly with a clamping force between the clamping element and a clamping stop. According to the invention, the clamping element and/or the clamping stop has a clamping contour, with which the belt strap can be clamped tightly in the clamping position over a belt strap width in a non-linear and/or uneven clamping force distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Carsten Möker
  • Patent number: 9596907
    Abstract: A fastening unit includes a base, a fixing seat, two shaft seats, a main body, an engaging member, and an abutting member. The fixing seat and the two shaft seats are disposed on the base. The main body is detachably disposed on the two shaft seats. The engaging member is connected to the side of the main body that is away from the two shaft seats. The abutting member protrudes from the bottom surface of the main body. When the fastening unit is in a closed state, the engaging member engages with the fixing seat. As a result, the bottom surface faces the base, and the abutting member is adjacent to the base. When the fastening unit is transferred from the closed state to an opened state, the engaging member disengages from the fixing seat, and the main body pivots relative to the two shaft seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Wistron NeWeb Corp.
    Inventors: Chung-Yuan Yang, Jen-Yung Chang
  • Patent number: 9585440
    Abstract: A buckle device includes a securing member, a frame, and at least one resilient member. The securing member is adapted to be fixedly mounted on a base. The frame includes a pivoting portion pivotally connected to the securing member to enable the frame to rotate relative to the securing member, a pair of side arms respectively connected to two opposite ends of the pivoting portion, and a forearm disposed oppositely to the pivoting portion and having opposite ends that are respectively connected to the side arms. The resilient member has a secured end portion that is secured at the securing member, and an abutting end portion in abutment with the frame for biasing the frame to rotate toward the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: WONDERLAND NURSERYGOODS COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Xiao-Hong Xiao
  • Patent number: 9241543
    Abstract: An adjustable belt buckle is convenient to assembly and makes a binding belt easy to be adjusted. It uses the axial section of the top wall of the main body to further press and limit the pressing member and enhance the engagement between the first teeth portion and the second teeth portion to prevent the second teeth portion from being damaged and increase its life time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Inventor: I-Sin Peng
  • Patent number: 9238448
    Abstract: A belt retractor for safety belts of motor vehicles comprises a housing frame made of plastic for receiving a belt reel. The housing frame 10 is designed an open, U-shaped frame, on the open front face of which a reinforcing plate 59 made of plastic is fastened. In addition, a belt retractor for safety belts of motor vehicles comprises a housing frame of plastics material for receiving a belt reel. A pawl co-operating with the belt reel is mounted in the housing frame. The pivoting path of the pawl is limited by a bearing surface formed in the housing frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: ADOLF FOEHL GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Isabel Wier, Franz Wier
  • Patent number: 9179942
    Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention relates to a maintaining device suitable for maintaining a predetermined intervertebral spacing, comprising a) a slender component, which is preferably substantially flat, of predetermined main width having a first end and a second end capable of being placed around the spinous processes, b) a rigid support comprising two side parts mounted between front and rear parts, and c) a blocking component mounted so as to slide on the side parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: COUSIN BIOTECH
    Inventors: Giancarlo Guizzardi, Guy Deneuvillers
  • Patent number: 9101202
    Abstract: A strap lifter for use with a harness is shown and described. The harness may have two shoulder straps that support a central, front buckle for use at about the lower, central belly of a user. A generally horizontal buckle strap has a fixed, rigid lower loop beneath a movable, flexible upper loop secured to the front of the buckle strap. The lower and upper loops are generally parallel, and close, to each other. Typically, the distance between the two loops is slightly more than the thickness of a lifter strap which is threaded between the two loops. Preferably, a set of two harnesses is used by two persons standing face-to-face with a single lifter strap between them threaded through both of the buckles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Inventor: Corey David Nielsen
  • Patent number: 9017330
    Abstract: A tensioning device comprises an elongate member, preferably a band, and a frame having first and second sides. The band has a first end that is attachable to the first side of the frame and a second end that is releasably securable to the second side of the frame. A movable clamping member on the frame secures the second end of the band to the second side of the frame by cinching the second end of the band between an engagement surface on the band and a mating engagement surface on the second side of the frame. A restraining member is provided for restraining the clamping member to a first position spaced from the mating locking surface on the second side of the frame, when the restraining member is in a restraining orientation. The restraining member is movable out of the restraining orientation after the band is tensioned to a predetermined level using the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Dallen Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Arnold Foerster, David Trottingwolf Aldridge
  • Patent number: 8955200
    Abstract: A secure adjustable orthotic device having multiple brace portions and one or more locking mechanisms. One locking mechanism is a level moving buckle including a top member, a locking member and a base member. The locking member is adapted to engage and disengage an inserted strap in response to the longitudinal movement of the top member relative to the base member. The level moving buckle inhibits accidental longitudinal movement of the inserted strap when the top member is in a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Bio Cybernetics International, Inc.
    Inventor: Kwok Tim Ng
  • Patent number: 8840145
    Abstract: A tongue member comprising a structural member including a latch plate configured to detachably engage the buckle mechanism and a side wall including an opening; a lock bar configured to move along the opening between a first position and a second position relative to the structural member; and a lock member configured to secure the lock bar in the second position; wherein when the lock bar is in the first position, the tongue member is allowed to move freely along the seat belt, and wherein when the lock bar is in the second position, a clamping surface of the lock bar secures a section of the seat belt to a clamping surface of the structural member to fix the relative position of the tongue member along the seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathon Michael Bougher, Darren Wade Goudeau
  • Patent number: 8813316
    Abstract: A seat belt system includes a belt having an upper end mounted adjacent the occupant shoulder and a lower end mounted adjacent the occupant lap. A latch plate assembly is carried by the belt for engagement with a buckle and includes a housing having a base wall with a tongue for latching engagement by the buckle and a pair of flanges extending at a lateral spacing greater than the width of the belt. A lock bar is pivotally mounted on the flanges. The lock bar has a clamping surface moving toward and away from the base wall upon pivoting of the lock bar to clamp and unclamp the belt against the base wall to prevent transference of the belt through the latch plate assembly. A detent mechanism between the lock bar and the housing locks the lock bar at a pivotal position clamping the belt against the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Steven J. Richter, George J. Strnad
  • Patent number: 8807403
    Abstract: A strap lifter for use with a harness is shown and described. The harness may have two shoulder straps that support a central, front buckle for use at about the lower, central belly of a user. A generally horizontal buckle strap has a fixed, rigid lower loop beneath a movable, flexible upper loop secured to the front of the buckle strap. The lower and upper loops are generally parallel, and close, to each other. Typically, the distance between the two loops is slightly more than the thickness of a lifter strap which is threaded between the two loops. Preferably, a set of two harnesses is used by two persons standing face-to-face with a single lifter strap between them threaded through both of the buckles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Corey David Nielsen
  • Patent number: 8776324
    Abstract: An attaching structure for use in an attachable arrangement including at least one elongate strap and configured to be removably attached to at least a portion of a body of a user. The attaching structure includes: a frame having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured for attachment of at least one strap of the attachable arrangement; and an adjustment mechanism is operational engagement with the frame, wherein at least a portion of the adjustment mechanism is configured to contact at least one strap of the attachable arrangement and permit adjustable movement thereof; and wherein the second end of the frame is elongated and configured to permit the user to grasp the second end of the frame and move it relative to the body of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: MSA Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy A. Steck, Grant M. Myers, Justin J. Adleff
  • Patent number: 8668696
    Abstract: A tensioning device comprises an elongate member, preferably a band, and a frame having first and second sides. The band has a first end that is attachable to the first side of the frame and a second end that is releasably securable to the second side of the frame. A movable clamping member on the frame secures the second end of the band to the second side of the frame by cinching the second end of the band between an engagement surface on the band and a mating engagement surface on the second side of the frame. A restraining member is provided for restraining the clamping member to a first position spaced from the mating locking surface on the second side of the frame, when the restraining member is in a restraining orientation. The restraining member is movable out of the restraining orientation after the band is tensioned to a predetermined level using the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Dallen Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Arnold Foerster, David Trottingwolf Aldridge
  • Patent number: 8474106
    Abstract: A seat belt has an upper end mounted at the occupant shoulder and a lower end mounted adjacent the occupant lap. A latch plate assembly carried by the belt engages a buckle. The latch plate assembly includes a housing having a pair of flanges and a depression extending laterally between the flanges. A lock bar pivotally mounted on the flanges has a clamping surface moving toward and away from the depression upon pivoting movement of the lock bar. The belt wraps around the lock bar so that a force applied to the belt pivots the lock bar and the clamping surface of the lock bar clamps the belt into the depression to lock the belt against movement through the latch plate assembly. The lock bar pivot axis is closer to the clamping surface than the opposite side edge around which the belt wraps to increase the clamping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Steven J. Richter, George J. Strnad
  • Patent number: 8393645
    Abstract: Devices that can be releasably attached to seat belts and other restraint system webs to adjust the operational tension in the webs are described herein. In one embodiment, a seat belt web passes through a clamping device that includes a button movably coupled to a housing. In this embodiment, manual operation of the button in a first direction causes the device to clamp onto the adjacent portion of the seat belt web, thereby preventing the portion of web from being pulled through a web guide by a retractor. Manual operation of the button in a second direction causes the device to release the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: AmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Wiseman, Robert Desmarais
  • Patent number: 8382160
    Abstract: A belt latch including a connection plate, for connecting it to a buckle, and a latch main body rigidly connected thereto. The latch main body may have a cut-open hollow cylindrical portion housing a bending and clamping element arranged to rotate in relation thereto from a deflecting position to a clamping position if the force in an associated belt exceeds a defined force. A lid may be arranged to cover the cut-open hollow cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Disley, Ingmar Skarin, Andreas Nilsson
  • Patent number: 8381366
    Abstract: An attachment buckle for fitting and adjusting a strap, composed of a pair of superposed rings of different dimensions and a transverse slot for the strap to pass through. The second ring is articulated on the first ring by means of a connecting spring designed to press the second ring against the first ring and to urge said second ring slidingly to the blocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Zedel
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Hede, Paul Petzl
  • Patent number: 8322000
    Abstract: A locking tongue seat belt assembly includes a tongue plate with a pair of side portions, an end flange that extends along the rear of the tongue plate, a pair of spaced apart side flanges that extend from the tongue plate along respective side portions of the tongue plate, and a lock bar that extends between the two side flanges. The ends of the lock bar are guided in respective slots of the side flanges such that the lock bar is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The lock bar and the end flange are configured to receive seat belt webbing between the lock bar and the end flange. The seat belt webbing is cinched between the lock bar and the end flange when the lock bar is in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Dziengowski, Jeff Russell, Timothy Cahill
  • Patent number: 8181319
    Abstract: A buckle and catch used to couple webbing together is provided. The buckle includes a connecting portion, a slide and locking member. The connecting portion is configured to selectively engage an engaging portion of a first webbing. The slide of the buckle is configured to engage a second webbing and the locking member is configured to selectively press the second webbing on the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: D B Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew P. Johnson, Matthew J. Blackford
  • Patent number: 8132300
    Abstract: A gasket for fastening the automotive safety belt is disclosed. A plastic material is applied to form a one-piece body comprising a fixing part, a flexible part and a plug part. The plug part of the gasket is inlet into the hole of the suspension sheet of the safety belt for fastening the safety belt so as to avoid the safety belt rolling automatically to bind the human body so close that the chest are oppressed uncomfortably. In addition, the gasket mounted on the outer surface of the buckle of safety belt is made of plastic materials. Even the gasket is touched with human body in use, to adjust and to fasten the safety belt will not result in the human body being hurt from impact. It is much safer for utility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Inventor: Yu Jen Hsin
  • Patent number: 8056190
    Abstract: A buckle device includes a female member having a chamber for receiving a strap, a male member having two tabs for engaging into the chamber of the female member and for detachably coupling the female member and the male member together, and a pressing device engaged into the chamber of the female member and having one end pivotally coupled to the female member with a pivot axle, and having the other end for engaging with the strap and for limiting the strap to move relative to the female member, and the tabs of the male member are engageable with the pressing device for forcing the pressing device to engage with the strap when the tabs of the male member are engaged into the chamber of the female member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventor: Chun-Teng Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7871132
    Abstract: A seat belt system comprises a seat belt, a tongue, and a buckle. The seat belt includes webbing with a lap portion and a shoulder portion. The buckle receives and latches the tongue. The tongue includes a slot to receive the webbing. The webbing slides within the slot to connect the webbing to the tongue. The tongue further includes a cinching mechanism to cinch the webbing in the slot. The system also includes a cinching control module that initiates the cinching mechanism to cinch the webbing in the slot when a load of about 3.0 kN or more is exerted on the seat belt. The cinching mechanism prevents translation of the seat belt from the lap portion to the shoulder portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. Rogers
  • Patent number: 7862124
    Abstract: A web adjuster device for securing and varying a length of a web. The web adjuster device comprising a connector portion and an adjuster portion. The adjuster portion comprising a gripping bar having a pair of ears mounted near each of its ends, a housing including a web stop, and one or more springs to normally urge the bar toward the web stop and against the web. The connector portion comprises a hook portion integrally attached to the web adjuster portion, the hook portion rising generally upwardly and away from the bottom surface of the web adjuster portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Indiana Mills and Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy R. Dingman
  • Publication number: 20100243373
    Abstract: A buckle and catch used to couple webbing together is provided. The buckle includes a connecting portion, a slide and locking member. The connecting portion is configured to selectively engage an engaging portion of a first webbing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Andrew P. Johnson, Matthew J. Blackford
  • Patent number: 7770267
    Abstract: Two wedges extended from the first arm and the second arm of the waist-strap fastener respectively are utilized to engage with the waist-strap button. With inclined surfaces that face with each other on the first arm and the second arm, the mounting section of the waist-strap button is capable of squeezing through the gap between the first arm and the second arm. With the surfaces on the other side of the wedges respectively, the mounting section of the waist-strap button is securely held by the surfaces such that the waist-strap button is secured in the waist-strap fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shun-Min Chen, Jian-Qun Li
  • Patent number: 7712194
    Abstract: A belt tongue for a safety belt having a connecting plate for connecting the belt tongue with a buckle, a tongue main body being rigidly connected to the belt tongue and a clamping element with a bending edge. The clamping element is mounted in the tongue main body in such a way that it rotates in relation to the tongue main body if the force in the belt exceeds a defined force. The clamping element forms a concave outer surface. In order to be able to achieve a low weight of the belt tongue and in particular of the bending element, the clamping element is supported on the tongue main body by means of its outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Fredrik Fyhr