Caterpillar Tractor Co.

John Molnar

William J Brown

John M Parks

James E Schimpf

Max E Butterfield

Robert B Porter, Jr

Barry L Ahrens

Many seat belt configurations have incorporated a belt retraction device into the design of the seat belt apparatus. When the retraction device includes a recoil spool that is housed within the buckle member the function of the buckle member becomes compounded. In order to release the seat belt buckle the operator is often required to move the release handle in a manner that necessitates the use of both his hands. The seat belt apparatus of the present invention provides a buckle member that is moved toward a tongue member to achieve a latching engagement between the two. A latch release member is provided within the buckle housing and is movable in a direction away from the tongue member to release the connection therebetween. This direction of movement is the same as the direction of separation between the buckle member and the tongue. Both operations may be accomplished in one motion and require the use of only one hand.

Seat belt apparatus

A self-locking cushion assembly (14) is connectable to and releasable from a seat shell (12) having a plurality of fingers (52,54) and a plurality of openings (56) without the use of tools or loose parts. The cushion assembly (14) includes a cushion (60) defining a plurality of recesses (62) and a peripheral frame (64) connected to the cushion (60) and having a plurality of projections (68), so that in use the fingers (52,54) extend upwardly within the recesses (62) and overlap the frame (64) and the projections (68) depend within the openings (56) in order to lockingly secure the cushion assembly (14) to the seat shell (12).

Seat and self-locking cushion assembly therefor

A vehicle safety belt system with a retractor lock device which includes a retractor (40), a belt (50) terminating in a male buckle member (52), a female buckle member (60), and a retractor lock device (20). The retractor lock device (20) includes a lock member (30), a base member (21) having an anchor bolt (22) attached thereto, a spring (23) and a guide bolt (24). The lock member (30) is movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, the spring (23) normally urging the lock member (30) into the disengaged position. When the male buckle member is inserted into the female buckle member, it moves the lock member (30) into engagement with the retractor (40), thereby preventing rotation of the retractor.

Vehicle safety belt with retractor lock device

A seat cover apparatus includes a seat back cover portion, and a seat bottom cover portion, each defining in free form a plurality of elongated ribs positioned to seat generally within respective depressions of the seat back portion and seat bottom portion.

Seat cover

Cab for earthmoving vehicle or the like

A basic cab unit, mounted on the frame of a construction vehicle such as a wheel loader, comprises a substantially flat rear panel having a generally rectangular opening formed therethrough. The opening is defined by a plurality of mounting flanges adapted to have the mounting flanges of a window unit secured thereto. In a first embodiment of this invention the window unit, having mounting flanges extending outwardly therefrom, is secured to the mounting flanges of the basic cab unit along with flanges formed on a roll-over protection structure (ROPS). The latter structure further comprises a reinforced canopy which extends over a top panel of the basic cab unit. In a second embodiment of this invention a window unit constitutes the sole component secured to the basic cab unit by flanges formed thereon to extend inwardly towards each other.

Multi-purpose cab for construction vehicles

A steering arrangement for construction vehicles and the like comprises a steering column assembly pivotally mounted on a stationary support for selective adjustment about a pivot axis disposed transversely relative to such assembly. A steering handle, rotatably mounted on the assembly, is operatively connected to a steering valve by linkage means for selectively steering a vehicle in response to rotation of the steering handle. The linkage means includes a push-pull cable having its upper end pivotally mounted about a pivot axis coincident with the pivot axis about which the steering column assembly is pivotally mounted on the stationary support to prevent actuation of the steering valve upon adjustment of the steering column assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Aurora, IL, United States of America

John Molnar