Alliedsignal Inc.

Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.

Trevor Ashline

David Prentkowski

Jon E Burrow

Alice Dunmire

James W Burrum

William Fox

Brian Walter

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 the slide means is maintained in the release position.

Latchplate or tongue assembly with dual mode of operation

A manually activated seat belt device comprising: a latch plate (20) and cooperating buckle (100). The latch plate comprises: a tongue (22) lockingly engaging a cooperating part of a seat belt buckle (100) and a second part (26) having a seat belt clamping surface (30) adjacent a belt receiving opening (28) within the second part, walls (32) extending about opposite sides of the opening (28), a yoke (40) slidably received upon the latch plate (20) above the opening and slidably positioned against the walls of the second part, a clamping bar (48), wherein the seat belt (90) is inserted through the first opening (28) between the belt clamping surface and the clamping bar; a clamp initiating mechanism (60) manually movable from a cinching position to a clamping or locking position, including a cam surface (63) which when moved to the cinching position urges the clamping bar toward the clamping surface to thereby clamp the seat belt therebetween, wherein the buckle includes a recess to receive a locking tab to maintain the mechanism (60) in its locking position and for releasing same.

Cinch latch plate and buckle

Growing community of inventors

Waterford, MI, United States of America

Trevor Ashline