Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Brian T Haddlesey

Bernard J Finn

Kenneth H Reid

A buckle assembly for a continuous loop lap and shoulder restraint belt system includes a latch plate assembly carried by the belt and a buckle mounted on the body. The latch plate includes a housing having a cinching member pivotally mounted thereon. The continuous loop belt passes around the cinching member. The buckle has a lip member on the buckle housing which projects into proximity with the restraint belt generally along one side of the cinching member to provide an abutment surface against which the cinching member may clamp the restraint belt. When a load is imposed on the lap belt portion of the continuous loop belt, the cinching member is rotated in the direction to clamp the belt against the abutment surface of the buckle housing to prevent sliding movement of the continuous loop belt in the direction to increase the length of the lap belt. When a load is imposed on the shoulder belt portion of the continuous loop belt, the cinching member is pivoted in the opposite direction to unclamp the continuous loop belt and permit sliding movement of the belt in the direction to shorten the lap belt portion and lengthen the shoulder belt portion. When the latch plate is disengaged from the buckle the belt may pass freely in either direction around the cinching member so that the latch plate is free falling to a desired position along the belt.

Buckle assembly for continuous loop occupant restraint belt system

A belt for restraint of a seat occupant has an upper end mounted on the vehicle body generally above and rearward a door opening and a lower end mounted on the body generally adjacent the occupant hip. A retractor mounts one of the belt ends and winds the belt to a stowed position extending partially across the door opening and partially obstructing access to a vehicle compartment located behind the occupant seat. A track extends along the roof rail forwardly from the upper end of the belt. A carriage is slidably movable along the track and has a belt loop slidably encircling the belt. A hand grip is provided on the carriage by which the carriage may be manually gripped for forward sliding movement along the track to unwind the belt from the retractor and stow a belt portion along the roof rail and thereby substantially lessen the belt obstruction of access to the compartment behind the seat. A latch is provided to latch the carriage at the forward position and is releasable to permit rearward movement of the carriage by the retractor to reestablish the shoulder belt in the normal stowed position in readiness for donning by the occupant.

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Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

Brian T Haddlesey