Belt Or Harness Rides On Seat Connected Slide Patents (Class 297/473)
  • Patent number: 5441332
    Abstract: A vehicle safety apparatus (10) includes a seat (12) for an occupant of a vehicle. A length of belt webbing (42) is extensible about the occupant of the vehicle seat to restrain the occupant. The length of belt webbing has a portion (48) extending from an upper portion (24) of the seat back (20). A belt webbing engaging member (76) is mounted on the seat back (20) for guiding movement of the belt webbing (48) from the seat back. The safety apparatus includes means (120) for mounting the belt webbing engaging member (76) on the seat back (20) for movement relative to the seat back in a direction between the seat back inboard side (28) and the seat back outboard side (26). In a preferred embodiment, the belt webbing engaging member is a seat belt retractor spool (76). The retractor spool (76) is mounted in the frame (62) of a retractor (60) for rotation about an axis (82). Shoulder belt webbing (48) is wound on the spool (76).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Verellen
  • Patent number: 5439272
    Abstract: One end of the strap forming the safety belt is rigidly connected to a rear lower portion of the armature of the seating portion of the seat by a blockage mechanism. A shoulder keeper situated frontwardly with respect to the upper portion of the front face of the seat back provides for a sliding and guiding of a run of the safety belt passing above the passenger shoulder. An other end of the run of the safety belt is secured to an iron fitting fixed with one of the side flanges of the seating portion armature and forming a second fixation point. A keeper cooperating with a lock forms a third lower fixation point of the safety belt and is connected to the side flange opposite the second fixation point on the armature of the seating portion of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Automobile
    Inventors: Michel Hallet, Freederic Degrenne
  • Patent number: 5431448
    Abstract: A three-point safety belt system is provided which the upper deflection and fastening point for the belt strap cannot be arranged on the B-column of a vehicle body. So as not to interfere with the appearance of the vehicle body or with its lines but, yet obtain an optimal course of the belt strap in the event of a crash, the safety belt system has a displaceable belt point. This belt point is normally kept downward and will then be situated in the area of the window ledge or lower and can thus not be seen from the outside. In the event of a crash, the belt point displaces upward and thereby provides a belt strap course which ensures an optimal protection of the vehicle occupants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Ball, Josef Haberl, Hans-Joachim Kraft, Wolfgang Kleemann
  • Patent number: 5411319
    Abstract: Vehicle seat is movably mounted on a slide rail and having attachment points for a safety belt comprising a lap belt portion and a shoulder belt portion arranged in the seat so that the attachment points of the lap belt are on both sides of the seat and a retractor roll of the safety belt is attached to the frame of a horizontal seat part. The shoulder belt of the safety belt extends from the roll along a backrest upwards and continues via a guide at the upper end of the backrest to the front of the backrest. The retractor roll has a support piece projecting below a part of the slide rail so that it can move in the longitudinal direction of the slide rail as the seat moves back and forth, but it is prevented from being lifted upwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Hameen Autosisustamo Oy
    Inventor: Teijo Kuiri
  • Patent number: 5366269
    Abstract: An apparatus for restraining an object includes an anchor member movably coupled to a frame and a restraining member selectively coupleable about the object to maintain the object on an object support structure. The restraining member is coupled to the anchor member such that, upon a sudden acceleration of the frame, the anchor member moves from a rest position along at least a portion of a predetermined path so that the restraining member is gradually tightened about the object as the anchor member moves further from the rest position. The anchor member moves in response to an inertial force of the object which is transmitted to the anchor member via the restraining member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Life Force Associates, L.P.
    Inventor: Randall R. Beauvais
  • Patent number: 5358310
    Abstract: A seat belt device in an automotive seat, which comprises a seat belt extending from a part of the automobile to a floor of the same for restraining a passenger to the seat, and a seat belt guide provided at one upper corner portion of the seat back of the seat.The seat belt guide includes a guide anchor through which the seat belt slidably passes, and a drive mechanism for causing such through guide anchor to be moved in a vertical direction along the longitudinal direction of the seat back. Thus, the initial point at which the seat belt begins to approach a passenger may be set at a desired level via the guide anchor, thereby adapting the seat belt to better fit, and hence better restrain the passenger's trunk to the seat, irrespective of his or her individual physical differences and/or inclination of the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Tachi-S. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Nemoto
  • Patent number: 5332290
    Abstract: A vehicular bench seat is supported on two spaced adjustment tracks in a vehicle for fore and aft position adjustment. A seat belt buckle moves with the seat during position adjustment. The buckle is connected to a slider-body which, in turn, is slideably carried along a track attached to the underbody of the vehicle. When a load is applied to the seat belt buckle, the slider body is pivoted into engagement with a tooth bar adjacent the track to lock the slider body and the buckle relative to the underbody. A drag link pivotally extends from the slider body and connects to the seat bottom for moving the slider body and the attached buckle in unison with the seat during fore and aft position adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hans J. Borlinghaus, Joseph T. Galea, Thomas B. Blake
  • Patent number: 5322348
    Abstract: A manually-operable automotive seat adjustment mechanism equipped with a traveling seat belt buckle anchor arrangement is disclosed. The traveling seat belt buckle anchorage arrangement is adapted to transfer vertically directed separation loads imparted on the seat belt buckle through a sliding hook-type load bracket and into the vehicle floor pan via a specially configured stationary riser. The riser is configured to maintain an interlocked relationship with respect to the sliding load bracket throughout the entire range of longitudinal fore and aft seat adjustment. In addition, the seat belt buckle anchorage arrangement includes an elongated reinforcement bracket secured to the sliding load bracket for sliding longitudinal movement therewith and which is adapted to inhibit excessive pivotable excursions of the seat belt anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Douglas & Lomason Company
    Inventor: Richard F. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5314206
    Abstract: A seat adjustment latch, selectable at two different force levels, is attached to a slide adjustable seat in a motor vehicle equipped with a seat belt assembly, an inflatable air bag, and a knee restraint. The seat adjustment latch is interlocked with the seat belt assembly of the seat such that when the seat belt is unfastened, the seat adjustment latch is set to release the vehicle seat in the event of a rapid deceleration or impact to the vehicle above a predetermined level of severity. When the seat belt is fastened, the seat latch is set in its firmest possible retention setting and operates such that the inertia and kinetic energy forces of the seat and the occupant seated thereon will not move the seat forward in response to a severe frontal collision. In a preferred embodiment, the seat adjustment latch includes a shearing element configured as a tubular bolt for retaining the slide adjustable vehicle seat to the seat rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Elmar Vollmer
  • Patent number: 5303983
    Abstract: A track assembly for a vehicle includes an upper track slidably mounted in a lower track. A seat belt buckle mounting bracket is attached to the upper track and connects a fixed seat belt to the upper track. The seat belt buckle mounting bracket includes first and second angularly disposed legs, with the first leg attached to the upper track and the second leg attached to a fixed seat belt buckle. The seat belt buckle mounting bracket is stationarily mounted in a first, normal operating position in which the second leg of the bracket extends upward from a side wall of the upper track, but rotates from the first position under a force applied through the fixed seat belt to a second position in which the second leg of the bracket is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the upper track to place the first and second legs of the bracket in tension with the applied force. The second position provides a strong geometry position for the seat belt buckle mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: ITT Corporation
    Inventors: Derek K. Gauger, Stephen D. Crawford, Jeffrey D. Ineich
  • Patent number: 5294184
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is mounted on the vehicle floor by a seat adjusting mechanism permitting fore and aft adjusting movement of the seat. A grooved rod is mounted on the vehicle floor. A locking device connected to the seat belt buckle houses a jaw sleeve which surrounds and is normally freely slidable along the grooved rod during seat adjustment. The jaw sleeve is slotted at one end to form a plurality of tooth members having a ramped outer surface. A collar formed integral with the jaw sleeve is threaded to receive a bolt attach to the seat adjuster and provides the connection of the locking device with the seat adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas B. Blake, Reginald L. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5286090
    Abstract: A web adjuster and lock assembly for a child restraint seat has a buckle lock assembly which is operably coupled to a web adjuster. The child restraint seat includes a harness which includes a buckle tongue on one end which engages with a buckle lock of the buckle lock assembly, and includes adjacent its other end a tightening web which is received through the web adjuster. The buckle lock of the buckle lock assembly is movable between a rest position, a locked position, and a release position. The web adjuster includes a friction surface which engages the tightening web when the web adjuster is in its web engageable position but is movable to a free position wherein the friction surface is disengaged from the tightening web allowing the web to move in both directions with respect to the web adjuster assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry W. Templin, David J. Lee
  • Patent number: 5282672
    Abstract: An adjustable vehicular seat assembly includes a fixed rail attached to the vehicle underbody and a sliding rail movably carried on the fixed rail. A six-way power seat adjustment mechanism is supported on the sliding rail and connects a seat frame thereto. A buckle for a seat belt harness is pivotally attached to the rearward end of the sliding rail and extends upwardly to a pivotal connection on the seat frame. The buckle includes a piston and hydraulic cylinder arrangement extendable and collapsible between the respective pivotal connections on the seat frame and the sliding rail for adjusting the distance between the two pivotal connections while the seat frame is articulated vertically by the power seat adjustment mechanism. The piston is carried on a piston rod integral with the buckle and includes a plurality of axially extending flow control orifices for restrictively conducting fluid flow while reciprocating within the hydraulic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hans J. Borlinghaus
  • Patent number: 5226697
    Abstract: A seat adjuster has upper and lower tracks slidably inter-engaged with the seat carried by the upper track. A bar extends along side the upper track and has a rearward end pivotally mounted on the vehicle floor. A lock member which carries the seat belt is attached to the upper track and slides freely along the bar during normal fore and aft adjusting movement of the seat. The lower track is mounted on the vehicle floor by yieldable legs. Upon rapid vehicle deceleration, the forward momentum of the seat mass induces yielding of the yieldable legs and forward canting of the seat causing the lock member to be canted relative the bar and lock therewith so that the occupant restraint loads imposed on the seat belt are transmitted through the lock member and bar to the vehicle floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hans J. Borlinghaus, Gary R. Kurtti, Thomas B. Blake
  • Patent number: 5219206
    Abstract: A passenger restraint with an automatic locking tether. A three point belt assembly includes a retractor mounted to the vehicle with the belt extendable therefrom having an outer end attached to a bracket movably mounted to a first automatic locking tether. A buckle mounted to the opposite side of the seat is movably mounted to a second automatic locking tether secured to the seat. Both tethers include a cam member pivotally mounted thereto having a locking pad movable against a web extending into the tether. One end of the web is fastened to the vehicle floor whereas the opposite end of the web is attached to a spring biased reel. A spring urges the pad apart from the web allowing for vertical and horizontal adjustment of the seat. Passenger loading during a crash moves the cam member with pad against the web anchoring the tether and seat to the vehicle floor via the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Anthony, Harold G. Wallen, David D. Merrick
  • Patent number: 5219207
    Abstract: A passenger restraint with an automatic locking tether. A three point belt assembly includes a retractor mounted to the vehicle with the belt extendable therefrom having an outer end attached to a bracket movably mounted to a first automatic locking tether. A buckle mounted to the opposite side of the seat is movably mounted to a second automatic locking tether secured to the seat. Both tethers include a cam member pivotally mounted thereto having a locking pad movable against a web extending into the tether. One end of the web is fastened to the vehicle whereas the opposite end of the web is attached to a spring biased reel. A spring urges the pad apart from the web allowing for vertical and horizontal adjustment of the seat. Passenger loading during a crash moves the cam member with pad against the web anchoring the tether and seat to the vehicle floor via the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Anthony, Harold G. Wallen, David D. Merrick
  • Patent number: 5188425
    Abstract: A pretensioner latching mechanism having a main anchorage member (45) to be fixed to a frame (60) of a slideably adjustable vehicle seat, a further member (52) slideable along the first member under the action of a remote vehicle body mounted pretensioner through a bowden cable (49; 50) to shorten and latch an anchorage assembly (41, 42, 43, 45) by virtue of abutment of a spring loaded latch member (56) with one of a succession of abutments provided by apertures (46) of the main anchorage member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: B.S.R.D. Limited
    Inventors: Howard J. Foster, Ian A. Gordon, Martin Palliser
  • Patent number: 5172882
    Abstract: An improved manual seat adjuster for selectively positioning a seat which requires as little space as possible to operate and that includes a primary and secondary locking arrangement for resisting greater than normal loading which may be experienced by the seat adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: James P. Nini
  • Patent number: 5141287
    Abstract: A guide is provided for a vehicle shoulder belt so the latter, when in an operative mode, will safely engage the person while sitting in a vehicle seat. The guide includes a first attaching member which removably encompasses a first portion of the back section of the vehicle seat, and a second attaching member which is angularly disposed relative to and intersects the first attaching member. The second attaching member removably encompasses a second portion of the seat back section. Carried by the first attaching member and disposed to the side of the seat back section, which is proximate the shoulder belt, is a guide piece. The guide piece is in sliding engagement with a portion of the shoulder belt. The second attaching member has a portion thereof affixed to an intersecting portion of the first attaching member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Inventor: Ethel Grene
  • Patent number: 5125611
    Abstract: The track assembly of a seat adjuster is formed by upper and lower tracks of inverted U-shaped cross-section with the lower track being nested in the upper track and with the rear end portion of the upper track serving as an anchor for a seat belt. A tubular sheath of anti-friction material is located between the tracks to promote gliding of the upper track on the lower track. Crash bars with longitudinally spaced teeth on their lower edges are housed within and anchored to the lower track. If the vehicle is involved in a frontal crash, load exerted by the seat belt on the upper track causes the rear end portion of the upper track to buckle upwardly and bring a latch on the lower side of the upper track into latching relation with the teeth of the crash bars for purposes of locking the upper track against upward and forward movement relative to the lower track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Atwood Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Cox
  • Patent number: 5120103
    Abstract: A safety chair apparatus includes a seat and support back, with the seat and support back mounting a respective pair of securement straps securable to a central buckle member. The seat includes a plurality of pairs of downwardly extending legs, with each leg mounting a guide follower plate integrally to a lower terminal end thereof, with each follower plate mounted within a groove of an associated right and left track. The right and left track is mounted to a floor of an ambulance vehicle positioned between support tables on the floor for receiving gurneys and the like. A modification of the invention includes a compartmentalized seat for accommodating various medical components therewithin, and further the forward right and left legs each including a selectively applicable brake member to permit selective positioning of the seat between the support tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Inventor: Gilda M. Kave
  • Patent number: 5102165
    Abstract: An automatic seat belt system, having; a guide rail disposed in a room of a vehicle, a slider engaged with one end of a webbing for restraining an occupant of the vehicle and guide by the guide rail in a manner capable of moving therealong between a webbing-application canceling position and a webbing applying position, and a slider retaining member which engages with the slider and retains thereof at the webbing applying position and which enables to alter the retaining position while retaining the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toka-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hidemoto Araki, Kenji Matsui
  • Patent number: 5102197
    Abstract: A seat slide device including upper and lower rails, with a pair of leg brackets provided under the lower rail. Of such two leg brackets, the one is fixed to a rearward lateral surface of the lower rail, in order that a force is escaped down to a floor from a seat belt anchor which is provided on a rearward part of the upper rail, to thereby effectively protect the lower rail against deformation or damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Tacki-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noriyasu Itsuki
  • Patent number: 5082228
    Abstract: A seat adjuster for use in automotive seat employing a pair of slide rails for fore-and-aft adjustment of the seat with a locking mechanism, wherein, at one of the two slide rails disposed adjacent to a center of the automobile, there are arranged first and second shafts, such that the second shaft, which is provided with an operation handle, is disposed lower than the second one which is connected with the locking mechanism, with a link mechanism interposed between the two shafts for their mutual simultaneous rotations. Hence, the operation handle is positioned lower close to the automobile floor and disposed adjacent to the inner or center side of the automobile, so that occupant's foot or clothes is not contacted with the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Shimazaki
  • Patent number: 5044665
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system is constructed of a guide rail longitudinally defining a first channel and a second channel, a slider movable along the second channel of the guide rail, a webbing fastened to the slider and movable between an occupant-restraining position and an occupant-releasing position, a drive member for driving the slider, said drive member being received in the first channel of the guide rail, and a spacer provided between the slider and the drive member to prevent the slider from directly contacting an inner wall portion of the second channel, said inner wall portion being on a side closer to the first channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshito Hashimoto, Kazuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5042879
    Abstract: A seat for a vehicle which includes a seat belt, said seat including a seat cushion mounted on a longitudinal slide mechanism, a hinge arm pivotally mounted on a hinge bracket secured to a side of the seat cushion, and a seat back attached to the hinge arm, a pad material and a skin material for a side of the seat back being disposed outside an upper portion of the hinge arm, adjacent a tongue portion of the seat belt, and a seat belt tongue entrance-preventing member being provided outside an exposed portion of the hinge arm and extending downwardly from lower ends of the pad and skin materials at the side of the seat back having an entrance-preventing surface which projects outwardly from a surface of the skin material at the side of the seat back and which is curved toward a rear end of the hinge arm to deflect the seat belt tongue portion away from the seat as the seat cushion is moved rearwardly along the slide mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Ikeda Bussan Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoyuki Takada
  • Patent number: 5037132
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is mounted on the vehicle body by a seat adjuster which enables movement of the seat relative to the vehicle body to a position chosen by the occupant. A seat belt is anchored on the seat so that the seat belt moves with the seat to the adjusted position. An extensible cylinder extends from the vehicle floor to the seat belt anchor on the seat and extends and retract as necessary to accommodate the adjusting movement of the seat. The extensible cylinder includes a piston movable within a fluid filled chamber and having a flow rate responsive valve associated therewith which permits low flow rate fluid flow through the piston during adjusting movement of the seat so that the cylinder extends and retracts to follow the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hans J. Borlinghaus, Paul D. Roper, Manfred A. Plechaty
  • Patent number: 5031961
    Abstract: An automotive seat assembly has a mounting arrangement for seat belt componentry which allows the fore and aft movement of the componentry with the seat and effects load transfer from the seat belt to the automotive vehicle body in a manner suitable for mounting a seat belt retractor in the longitudinally movable environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Karl H. Isern
  • Patent number: 5022677
    Abstract: A seat comprising a first eyelet secured to the top of the seatback, on one side of the same, and inside which a first belt slides; a winding device for the first belt, secured to the rear surface of the seat; a carriage traveling substantially longitudinally and to which is secured one end of the first belt; a second eyelet secured to the seat portion of the seat and inside which a second belt slides; a second winding device secured underneath the seat for winding the second belt; and means for retaining one end of the second belt, which means are secured to the seat for enabling the connection of connecting means to which the end of the second belt is secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Ferrari S.p.A. Esercizio Fabbriche Automobile e
    Inventor: Roberto Barbiero
  • Patent number: 4940285
    Abstract: A seat sliding apparatus for attachment to a vehicle comprises at least one lower rail fixedly secured to the vehicle; a corresponding upper rail slidably mounted on the lower rail, the upper rail being subject to a shock force in a direction separating the upper rail and the lower rail during operation of the vehicle; bearing device between the upper and lower rails for supporting the upper rail on the lower rail; and interlocking safety device on the upper and lower rails for maintaining substantial contact between the upper and lower rails and the bearing device when the shock force occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Saburo Suzuki, Hiroshi Nawa, Sadao Ito
  • Patent number: 4923214
    Abstract: A seat belt anchorage mechanism, particularly adapted for motor vehicles, which allows a seat belt anchorage to move with the seat during fore-and-aft adjustment of the seat for improved occupant comfort and convenience. The mechanism has a toothed track fixed to the vehicle structure with a rail attached to the seat cushion slidable along the track. The belt anchorage assembly has a pair of separated plates having an engaging shaft positioned in close proximity to the toothed track. The anchorage assembly is fastened to a slide rail by frangible fasteners. When a load above a predetermined level is applied to the anchorage, the fasteners fail and enable the engaging shaft to mesh with a toothed track, thus locking the track and rail together and restraining forward excursion of the anchorage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald R. Siegrist, Tod A. Shivak
  • Patent number: 4906023
    Abstract: A seat belt support assembly providing for shifting of the load on the seat belt from an anchor link connected to the vehicle seat to a tether belt connected to the vehicle frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Seats, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Kreger, James W. Hofrichter
  • Patent number: 4902040
    Abstract: A mounting assembly comprises a rigid bracket having an essentially U-shaped portion and an elastic plate, the tip of which is fixed to the tip of the bracket. A guide rail of a passive seat belt system is inserted into a space between the inner surface of the shaped portion and the elastic plate to be secured to a vehicle body by a bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Company, Limited, NSK-Warnar Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazumi Hira, Kenro Otsuka, Shunichi Kiyono
  • Patent number: 4898402
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a structure for fixing an anchor base on a stationary base of a vehicle. The structure is suited for use in an automatic seat belt system of the type that a movable anchor travels along a guide member. The anchor base surrounds transversely the guide member on the side of an occupant-restraining position and extends in the direction of the length of the guide member. The anchor base is provided with a support portion to support the movable anchor on the anchor base. An engaging portion is formed at one side of the anchor base, said side facing the stationary base, and is hooked with an engaged portion provided on the side of the stationary base, whereby the anchor base is fixed on the stationary base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoharu Igarashi, Yoshiniro Yokote, Kazuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4884825
    Abstract: In a means for adjusting a belt deflection fitting 11 for a safety belt 12, in particular the upper belt end or deflection fitting of a three-point automatic belt, comprising a holding profile 16 on which the belt deflection fitting 11 is displaceably guided in remotely controlled manner 36 and is blockable in various shift positions, with regard to a simple lightweight and reliable design of the means on the holding profile 16 a control member 28 is displaceably guided, on the control member 28 a gear 24 is rotatably mounted which continuously meshes with an immovable complementary engagement profile 22 in the region of the holding profile and the belt deflection fitting 11 is connected to a detent element 31 blocking the gear 24 under belt tensile load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: Autoliv GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Grunewald, Klaus-Peter Mennerich
  • Patent number: 4881781
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method of utilization thereof of a powered vehicle seat adjuster slide which can be connected with an occupant restraint belt. With use of the present invention, relative motion between the vehicle seat and vehicle is presented during periods of sudden decelerations of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hans J. Borlinghaus, Michael G. Orlowsky
  • Patent number: 4880254
    Abstract: A rear window frame member of a passenger vehicle has a slit for a slider allowing vertical displacement of the upper guide for a shoulder belt. The slider has rearwardly projecting noses engaging in holes in a rear wall of the rectangular tube and the slider can be tilted in its plane, utilizing an arm projecting through the slit has a handle for indexing the slider at different heights along the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: R. Schmidt GmbH
    Inventor: Olaf Muller
  • Patent number: 4872703
    Abstract: A passive seat belt system includes a guide rail, a webbing-carrying movable member and a bracket for mounting the guide rail on a stationary base. The guide rail has an elongated top wall, an elongated bottom wall and two elongated side walls. The movable member extends through a slot formed in the guide rail and is driven along the guide rail. The bracket includes a rail-holding portion enclosing externally one end portion of the guide rail and an extension extending out longitudinally from the one end portion of the guide rail and defining a mounting portion for mounting the bracket on the stationary base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 4832409
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method of utilization thereof of a powered vehicle seat adjuster slide which can be connected with an occupant restraint belt. With use of the present apparatus, relative motion between the vehicle seat and vehicle is prevented during periods of sudden decelerations of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a connection for mounting the seat belt anchor to the slide rail, which, upon a predetermined force being applied to the seat belt, will engage a notched portion of the floor channel thereby preventing movement of the seat with respect to the floor channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hans J. Borlinghaus, Michael G. Orlowsky
  • Patent number: 4824175
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an anchorage for a webbing of a vehicle seat belt system. The anchorage is of the type that when an abrupt tensile force is applied to the webbing, a bracket fixed on a seat slide rail is deformed to bring a pin of a base plate secured on the bracket into engagement with a recess of an anchor stay fixed on a stationary base of a vehicle thereby to distribute the abrupt tensile force to the stationary base. The bracket comprises two parts consisting of a first bracket fixed on the seat slide rail and a second bracket which is secured on the base plate and is deformed upon application of a force of at least a predetermined value to the webbing. An engaged portion is provided with one of the first bracket and second bracket while an engaging portion is provided with the other bracket. The engaged portion and engaging portion are normally maintained in mutual engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Tokugawa
  • Patent number: 4818022
    Abstract: A toughly constructed channel member is interposed between a frame of a seat cushion and a movable rail of a seat slide device. A first member is secured to a stationary rail of the seat slide device and having a first lock member, and a second member is secured to the channel member. An anchor holding bracket is secured to the second member and having a second lock member, and a belt anchor device is pivotally connected to the anchor holding bracket. The first and second lock members interlock with each other in such a manner that the first lock member is slidable with respect to the second lock member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 4807937
    Abstract: A jumpsuit style support and restraint garment designed to safely and comfortably confine a person to a chair or wheelchair while providing proper body alignment and allowing full range of motion of arms and legs. A human body fitting cloth panel with front and shoulder covering has a rib-knit V-neck in the top. A bottom fold having rib-knit lined leg holes frontwardly horizontally aligned is a seat portion and a continuation of the panel which can be passed under the back rest of a wheelchair. The panel continues as a back member which extends up the outside backrest of the wheelchair and is zipper-fastened to the shoulder covering behind the patient's neck. A special locking ring prevents the patient from easily unzipping the fasteners. Movement of the support materials is restricted by handle apertures which fit the wheelchair handles. Full pants and shorts styles are available in the jumpsuit design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Inventor: Linda M. Harrigan
  • Patent number: 4804229
    Abstract: A seat slide device for adjusting the forward and backward positions of the seat which comprises an upper rail and a lower rail, the upper rail being slidably fitted to the lower rail. In the upper rail, there is provided an anchor plate adapted to be connected with a seat belt, the anchor plate having a plurality of hook members arranged in correspondence with a plurality of engagement holes formed in the lower rail. When an upward pulling force is exerted on the anchor plate, the hook members are brought to engagement into the engagement holes, to thereby prevent removal of the upper rail from the lower rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takaichi Nishino
  • Patent number: 4790597
    Abstract: A seatbelt lock is mounted to be movable as little as possible relative to the seat surface when the seat surface is adjusted in height or inclination. The seat has a longitudinal guide 20, 22, a device 24 for adjustment of height or inclination and a belt lock attachment 32. The lower end of the belt lock attachment 32 is affixed to the seat rail 22 of the longitudinal guide and carries a belt lock 34 at its upper end. The belt lock attachment has a lower part 38 linked to the seat rail and an upper part 40 linked to the seat carrier 26, the upper part being connected with the belt lock. One of these parts 38, 40 can move freely in a longitudinal guide formed by the other part. One part has at least one locking projection 60; and the other part has locking devices 46 interacting with the projection. By means of a safety piece 50, the two parts are held in a normal position permitting movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignees: Firma C. Rob Hammerstein GmbH, Daimler-Benz AG
    Inventors: Heinz Bauer, Burckhard Becker, Ernst-Reiner Frohnhaus, Alfred Gedig, Josef Klink, Antonin Koucky
  • Patent number: 4790601
    Abstract: A child's seat for a motor vehicle comprises a back portion and a harness including two shoulder straps each of which projects through a respective opening in the back portion. Each opening is formed by the interaction of an elongate slot formed in the back portion and extending over the range of desired positions for the opening, with a horizontal slot in a carriage mounted on the rear side of the back portion for vertical sliding movement relative thereto. Manually operable control means is arranged to vary the position of the carriage relative to the back portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignees: Britax-Excelsior Limited, Romer-Britax Autogurte GmbH
    Inventors: David W. Burleigh, Waldemar Czernakowski, Hermann Wetter
  • Patent number: 4775126
    Abstract: A seat slide device for use in an automotive seat which is mounted on the right and left sides of a seat frame to adjust the position of the automotive seat forwardly and backwardly. The seat slide device comprises a first slide rail and a second slide rail to which an anchor of a seat belt is to be attached. A second upper rail included in the second slide rail has in its lower portion a first slide portion identical with that of a first upper rail in the first slide rail as well as a second slide portion fixed on the opposite side of the first slide portion. That is, the second slide rail is constructed such that its upper rail is engageable with its lower rail at the two positions thereof, with the result that the second upper rail of the second slide rail is able to share a removing load by the seat belt anchor at the first and second slide portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shoh Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 4756503
    Abstract: A slide device for use in an automotive seat which is capable of adjusting the positions of the seat forwardly and backwardly. In the slide device, an upper rail provided on the side of the seat is slidably mounted via a slider to a lower rail provided on the side of floor of the automobile. The slider comprises a plate spring which is provided with a plurality of projected portions in the portions thereof where the slider is brought into contact with the upper rail. That is, the projected portions of the plate spring prevents the generation of play of the upper rail in the vertical direction as well as in the right and left direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Fujita
  • Patent number: 4729602
    Abstract: A seat belt anchor mechanism includes an anchor stay defining interlocking teeth, a base plate displaceable together with an associated vehicle seat along the anchor stay, an interlocking means fixed on the base plate for engagement with any one of the interlocking teeth in the event of an emergency, means for mounting the base plate on the seat in such a way that the interlocking means is displaceable in a direction which crosses the sliding direction of the seat, and a cover member displaceable between a normal position and an emergency position. In the normal position, at least a part of the cover member is interposed between the anchor stay and the interlocking means so as prevent the interlocking means from engaging any one of the interlocking teeth. In the emergency position, said at least a part of the cover member is retreated from the space between the anchor stay and the interlocking means so as to allow the interlocking means to engage any one of the interlocking teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: NSK Warner K.K.
    Inventor: Osamu Tokugawa
  • Patent number: 4726617
    Abstract: A lower slide member has an upright side wall formed with a plurality of holes for engagement with an end of a latch member. The latch member is movably installed not only on a pair of depending wall portions of a stay but on a reinforcement member attached to a side wall of an upper slide member such that an impact applied to a buckle of a seat belt fastener in a vehicle collision is transmitted from the upper slide member to which the stay is secured to a vehicle body via the reinforcement member, latch member and lower slide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 4720072
    Abstract: A belt anchor incorporating seat track structure is employed in an occupant restraining seatbelt system for a vehicle and incorporates a seatbelt anchor for retaining a belt in the seatbelt system. The structure includes a lower rail which is rigidly secured to the vehicle and an upper rail which is movable along the lower rail in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A seat of the vehicle is rigidly secured to the upper rail through a lower arm. The structure further includes a lock pin which extends through the lower arm and the lower rail. The load which acts on the belt anchor is transmitted to the lower rail through the pin. In addition, one end portion of the upper rail extends so as to overlap one end portion of the lower rail, so that the load acting on the belt anchor is further transmitted to the lower rail through the overlapping portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tateo Kitano, Masakazu Hashimoto, Yuji Nishiyama