Patent · US Expired

Latchplate or tongue assembly with dual mode of operation

US5983463A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
5References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 17, 1998
Grant dateNov 16, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 17, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T24/45581
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A tongue (30) having multiple modes of operation comprising: a frame (60), a slide, or clamp (15) and manually adjustable knob (200). The tongue frame includes a locking feature (74) for locking engagement with a seat belt buckle (24), a seat belt receiving first aperture (66) positioned apart from the locking feature; the first aperture including a first belt clamping surface (72). The slide or clamp includes a second belt clamping surface (174) generally opposite the first belt engaging surface, the slide being arranged to slide upon the frame in the vicinity of the first aperture from a belt release position in which the seat belt is freely sliding to a belt clamping or cinching position in which the seat belt (32) is clamped or cinched between the first and second belt clamping surfaces, the slide further includes a first belt engaging surface (160) arranged to urge the slide toward its clamped position. The knob (200) is mounted upon the frame and operable to block the motion of the slide, and rotatable from an unlocked position to a locked position, wherein when in the unlocked position the slide is permitted to slide to its cinching position and when in the locked position t…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.