Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.

Indiana Mills & Mfg. Co., Inc.

Antfamco, Inc.

Indiana Mills & Mfg., Inc.

James R Anthony

Allan R Lortz

Michael A Wiseman

David D Merrick

Guy R Dingman

Ronald F Homeier

Hermann E Happel

Harold G Wallen

Jerry D Bougher

James R Chinni

Gerald W Thompson

Thomas P Woellert

Peter E Miller

James W Crooks

Gregory L Woodard

Vance P Voorhis

Jeffrey L Williams

Robert B Heath

Steven T Berenyl

Steven H Wallen

James C Esler

David M Rush

Suzanne J Mueller

Nick A Campbell

A coupling device for engagement with an anchor member is provided. The coupling device includes a lever that moves between a closed position that substantially covers the mouth of the device and an open position in which the mouth is substantially uncovered by the lever. The lever may be moved to the open position by camming forces or by direct manipulation of a portion of the lever by a user. The coupling device may include a cover with a recognizable shape such as a pet or fictional character. The protruding ears and/or head of the recognizable shape aid in the gripping and operation of the device and the mouth receives the anchor member.

Coupling device

A load control device comprises a frame defining a first anchor slot configured to receive a first restraint member, and a second anchor slot configured to receive a second restraint member. At least a portion of the frame yields under a load between the first and second anchor slots that is in excess of a predetermined load.

Load control device

A web adjuster device includes a frame defining a first web engaging surface. A web clamping member is movably mounted to the frame and defines second and third web engaging surfaces. A web is received between the first and second web engaging surfaces, and in one direction of web travel the web engages the third web engaging surface to force the second web engaging surface toward the first web engaging surface to trap the web therebetween. In an opposite direction, the web engages the third web engaging surface to force the second web engaging surface away from the first web engaging surface to allow web travel in this direction. The third web engaging surface may be omitted in favor of a web engaging protrusion extending from the web engaging surface of the frame, wherein the second web engaging surface facilitates trapping of the web against the web engaging protrusion.

Web adjuster device

A buckle tongue combination having a dual release for unlocking the tongue from the buckle. In the preferred embodiment, a spring bias slide cover mounted to the housing extends over a push button depressible to force a locking pawl apart from the tongue unlocking the tongue from the buckle. In an alternate embodiment, a button lock extends partially over and beneath the push button and between the pawl and housing bottom wall. A spring normally urges the button lock against the push button limiting movement of the button but is yieldable to allow the button lock to be moved apart from the button.

Buckle dual release

Buckle with web adjuster

A mounting arrangement for securing a child seat to a vehicle passenger seat. A web has opposite ends with buckles mounted thereto lockingly engageable with tongues extending from the vehicle passenger seat. The web extends into a tube rotatably mounted to the child seat preventing twisting of the web. The child seat may face forward or rearward with the webs attached to the child seat being pivotable to accommodate same. Alternate embodiments include the mounting of the web to the child seat by a plate, by pivoting brackets and by extending the web through holes provided in the child seat side walls.

Child seat mount with anti-twist web mechanism

An emergency locking seatbelt retractor. The retractor includes a pivoting lock plate which can pivot through a limited arc during activation of a webbing sensor or a vehicle sensor. When the lock plate is in its quiescent position, a pin thereon operates to hold a lock bar out of engagement with ratchet teeth on the webbing spool, thereby allowing free rotation of the spool. If either or both of the webbing sensor and vehicle sensor are activated, the lock plate is caused to pivot, drawing the pin away from the lock bar and allowing the lock bar to engage the ratchet teeth, thereby locking the retractor. Additionally, the locking initiation mechanism (the lock plate) and the sensors are isolated from webbing withdrawal forces and may therefore be constructed of lightweight, inexpensive materials. The retractor includes a vehicle sensor which is effective in substantially eliminating any vertical motion of the sensor ball. This prevents the retractor from locking when it is subjected to a downward acceleration.

Emergency locking seat belt retractor

Seat belt buckle tongue for multiple belts

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. The spring biased reel is slidably mounted to move toward the cam member when all of the web is fully withdrawn therefrom with the reel then contacting the cam member forcing the locking pad against the web and limiting further web pressure against the reel.

Automatic locking tether for vehicle seat

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.

A seat belt buckle with ejector module and tongue stop. The buckle includes a ejector module assembly including a pair of ejector members or a single ejector member spring biased outwardly atop a pawl preventing the pawl from engaging the tongue. The buckle includes an opening through which the tongue is inserted contacting the ejector member or ejector members moving the members apart from the pawl allowing the pawl to latch to the tongue. The ejector module assembly includes a housing containing the ejector members and further includes a pair of helical springs urging the members outwardly. The ejector module assembly is mounted as a unit atop pegs extending upwardly from the buckle main body cavity. A pair of legs extend downwardly from a reinforcement plate located between the buckle main body and cover forming a pair of guides and stop surfaces for limiting movement of the tongue relative to the buckle.

Belt buckle with ejector module and tongue stop

A seat belt buckle with a pair of buckle tongues. The buckle includes a spring mechanism movable within the buckle housing from a position blocking engagement of a latch when a single tongue is inserted to a position away from the latch when both tongues are inserted allowing the latch to engage the tongues. In one embodiment, a latch indicator is slidably mounted to the buckle push button in the buckle cover and includes a lower end contacting the latch. The indicator is movable from a position flush with the buckle push button when the latch is not engaged with the tongues to an upraised position over the button when the latch moves up and engages the tongues. The tongues have mating portions, but are separable.

Belt buckle with interlocking dual tongue and floating peg

A seat belt buckle with a pair of buckle tongues. The buckle includes a spring mechanism slidably movable within the buckle housing from a position blocking engagement of a latch when a single tongue is inserted to a position away from the latch when both tongues are inserted allowing the latch to engage the tongues. In one embodiment, a latch indicator is slidably mounted to the buckle push button in the buckle cover and includes a lower end contacting the latch. The indicator is movable from a position flush with the buckle push button when the latch is not engaged with the tongues to an upraised position over the button when the latch moves up and engages the tongues. The tongues have mating portions, but are separable.

Belt buckle with interlocking dual tongue

A seat belt buckle with a pair of buckle tongues. The buckle includes a spring mechanism slidably movable within the buckle housing from a position blocking engagement of a latch when a single tongue is inserted to a position away from the latch when both tongues are inserted allowing the latch to engage the tongues. An indicator is slidably mounted to the buckle push button in the buckle cover and includes a lower end contacting the latch. The indicator is movable from a position flush with the buckle push button when the latch is not engaged with the tongues to an upraised position over the button when the latch moves up and engages the tongues. The tongues have mating portions, but are separable.

A seat belt buckle has a plastic outer body of a color and style suitable for the intended environment, with a formed steel inner frame having horizontally-spaced upturned sides having two parallel pairs of in-turned flanges serving as crush inhibitors, release slide guides, and tongue receiver guides. An upturned frame front flange cooperates with the sides and flanges as a wrack resistor and tongue retainer. The body front has a trough-shaped entrance to admit a latchable tongue, one margin of the entrance being provided by the sloped front of an end-release operating slide. A removable slide front button is curved to assist finding for release. A pivoting latching member with a latching pawl thereon is spring-urged into position latching the pawl with the tongue, and released by a cam on the slide, with a shallow ramp for ease of intentional release. A tongue ejector holds the pawl in unlatched position when the tongue is out of the buckle. Ribs on sides of the release slide and on the latching member inhibit dirt fouling.

Growing community of inventors

Carmel, IN, United States of America

James R Anthony