Patent · US Expired

Breakaway web stop for seat belts

US6568709B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
9References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 1, 2001
Grant dateMay 27, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 17, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T24/50
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Breakaway web stops are provided which are employed in seat belt systems for restraining an occupant. In one such seat belt system, the seat belt webbing passes diagonally across the torso of the occupant, through a latch plate, and then across the lap of the occupant. To ensure that the latch plate stays in the correct position, web stops are placed on the seat belt webbing both above and below the correct position of the latch plate, allowing the latch plate to freely move between the two web stops, but not permitting it to move outside this range. In an accident, the breakaway web stop below the latch plate is configured to separate from the seat belt webbing, permitting the tension from the torso portion of the seat belt webbing to transfer to the lap portion of the seat belt webbing, providing additional and safety-enhancing restraint to the occupant, and, in particular, to the occupant's legs and lower body.

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