AU4602701A - Seat belt retainer - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant: 0..0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .0..0 V.0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 STEPHEN ANDREW PATTERSON Invention Title: SEAT BELT RETAINER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 SEAT BELT RETAINER The present invention relates to a seat belt retainer that has application with retractable vehicle seat belts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Retractable seat belts have long since superseded non-retractable, loose seat belts in commercial and private vehicles. A spring activated retracting mechanism mounted behind or above a vehicle seat keeps a fastened seat belt taut against a seat belt wearer. The taut seat belt allows the seat belt wearer a degree of movement but in the case of sudden forward motion, such as that caused on vehicle impact or sudden deceleration, the retracting o mechanism will activate to restrain the wearer against the seat.

In normal conditions the constantly taut nature of the seat belt can impart an uncomfortable pressure to the wearer's chest or cause the seat belt to rub against the wearer's neck. Furthermore, the pressure imparted by a tight fitting seat belt can crease or interfere with the wearer's clothing, which is particularly pertinent when formal attire is worn.

.o.o The present invention seeks to alleviate the discomfort associated with retractable seat belts without interfering with the safety operation of the seat belt.

According to the present invention there is provided a seat belt retainer comprising: a main body having a mounting portion for mounting the retainer in a vehicle in proximity to a retractable seat belt; seat belt guide means provided on the main body H:\Shonal\Keep\Speci\P42218 SEAT BELT RETAINER 17/05/01 3 and adapted, in use, to guide sliding movement of the seat belt relative to the retainer as the seat belt extends and retracts; and locking means on the main body whereby, in use, the locking means is locked to prevent relative movement between the seat belt and the retainer, but wherein the locking means is capable of being automatically unlocked upon a sufficient force on the seat belt thereby allowing the seat belt to move relative to the retainer.

According to the present invention there is further provided a seat belt retainer comprising: a main body having a mounting portion for mounting the retainer in a vehicle in proximity to retractable seat belt, wherein, in use, the seat belt is S. :i adapted to slide relative to the retainer; and locking means on the main body whereby, in use, *the locking means is locked to prevent relative movement between the seat belt and the retainer, but wherein the locking means is capable of being automatically unlocked upon a sufficient force on the seat belt thereby allowing the seat belt to move relative to the retainer.

The locking means preferably locks the seat belt 25 to the retainer at a point on the belt between the wearer of the belt and the belt's retracting mechanism. The locking means is preferably a wedge-shaped lock pivotally *mounted between side brackets. The side brackets are provided on the main body and raised from the main body such that the seat belt slides between the pivoting lock and main body and whereby rotation of the pivoting lock clamps the seat belt against the main body. Specifically in use, a leading edge of the pivoting lock preferably wedges the seat belt between two parallel ridges provided on the main body. At least one of the side brackets is preferably flexible or designed to be detached from the pivoting lock to allow a seat belt to be threaded between H:\Shonal\Keep\Speci\P42218 SEAT BELT RETAINER 17/05/01 4 the lock and main body. The pivoting lock preferably has a lever for manually rotating the lock. The mounting means of the retainer is preferably a hook.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seat belt retainer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a first operating position; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the seat belt retainer in a second operating position; ***Figure 3 is a side sectional view of the retainer mounted on an upper seat belt bracket; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of Area A in figure 3; 000.

Figure 5 illustrates the seat belt retainer mounted on a seat belt in the rear seat of a vehicle; and o* oo Figure 6 is an enlarged view of Area B in figure DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF INVENTION A seat belt retainer 10, as illustrated in the drawings, is designed to be mounted inside a vehicle in proximity to a retractable seat belt 32. The retainer comprises a main body 11 having a mounting portion 12 for mounting the retainer inside the vehicle. Provided on the main body 11 are seat belt guide means 13 that enable the seat belt to slide relative to the retainer. Locking H:\Shonal\Keep\Speci\P42218 SEAT BELT RETAINER 17/05/01 5 means 14 on the retainer 10 clamp the seat belt to the retainer to prevent relative movement between the belt and retainer. When the seat belt is fastened around a person as illustrated in figure 5, the locking means is manually activated to clamp the seat belt at a point on the seat belt between the person restraining portion 15 of the belt and the spring loaded return 16 that effects retraction of the seat belt. Locking the seat belt at this point causes the person restraining portion 15 to become slack thereby giving the seat belt wearer freedom of movement. This free play between the retainer 10 and seat belt buckle (not shown) can be adjusted according to the size and preference of the seat belt wearer.

As illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the main body *i 11 of the seat belt retainer 10 is a flat rectangular piece having a mid-section step 20. The mounting portion is located to one side of the mid-section step 20 and in the preferred embodiment constitutes a hook 21. Hook 21 is designed to be hooked over an upper seat belt bracket 22 inside a vehicle.

Figure 3 illustrates the retainer hooked on the upper bracket 22. Seat belt guide means 13 is located to the other side of mid-section step 20, the function of mid-section step 20 being to bring the guide means 13 and locking means 14 in line with the return portion 33 of the seat belt, that is the portion between upper bracket 22 and spring loaded return 16. Seat belt guide means 13 includes side brackets 23 provided on the main body and, supported between them, a pin 24, which is raised from the main body. At least one of the side brackets 23 is able to be disengaged in some flexible or pivotable manner from pin 24 to enable a seat belt to be threaded between pin 24 and main body 11. Once threaded, the seat belt slides relative to the retainer between pin 24 and main body 11 and confined by side brackets 23. Figure 2 illustrates H:\Shonal\Keep\Speci\P42218 SEAT BELT RETAINER 17/05/01 6 one of the side brackets 23 disengaged from pin 24 to allow the seat belt to be threaded through the guiding means.

A wedge-shaped lock 25 is pivotally mounted on pin 24 such that in a locked configuration a leading edge 26 of the lock 25 is brought adjacent the main body. When the retainer is threaded with a seat belt, leading edge 26 firmly clamps the seat belt against the main body thereby preventing relative sliding movement between the seat belt and retainer. As illustrated best in figure 4, lock clamps the seat belt by wedging it between parallel ridges provided on main body 11. A curved lever 31 on wedgeshaped lock 25 allows the lock to be manually pivoted from an open configuration, as illustrated in figure 2, to a closed configuration, as illustrated in figures 1, 3 and 4.

Whilst the present seat belt retainer frees a seat belt wearer from unnecessary seat belt constriction, it does not prohibit the safety operation of the seat belt coming into play when necessary. If the seat belt is subjected to a sudden jerk or strong force from the wearer, the retainer's locking function will be S 25 automatically overridden and lock 25 released to allow normal retractive movement of the seat belt to restrain the wearer from forward movement. Specifically, the wedge achieved by the wedge-shaped lock is designed to be automatically released by a substantial force on the belt.

It is important that the retainer locks the seat belt at a point that does not allow excessive free play of the restraining portion 15. The seat belt retainer is not intended to defeat the purpose of a retractable seat belt, but rather to alleviate discomfort and other disadvantages experienced by constantly taut belts. In situations where the safety of a person is compromised, such as with rapid vehicle deceleration or impact, the sudden forward force H:\Shonal\Keep\Speci\P42218 SEAT BELT RETAINER 17/05/01 7 on the seat belt causes the belt to act against lock resulting in the lock disengaging from its locked configuration and releasing its clamp on the seat belt.

The seat belt is then able to safely retract in a normal and unrestricted manner.

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For the purpose of this specification the words "comprising", "comprise" or "comprises" are understood to mean the inclusion of a feature but not exclusion of any 15 other feature.

oo H:\Shonal\Keep\Speci\P42218 SEAT BELT RETAINER 17/05/01

Claims (8)

1. 2. The seat belt retainer according to claim 1 :i wherein the seat belt guide means include side brackets mounted on one side of the main body and a pin supported by the side brackets and raised from the main body, wherein the seat belt is adapted to slide between the side brackets, and between the main body and pin. 25 3. The seat belt retainer according to claim 2 wherein the locking means is a wedge-shaped member °o pivotally mounted on the pin and whereby rotation of the •o pivoting member clamps the seat belt against the main body.
2. 4. The seat belt retainer according to claim 3 wherein the wedge-shaped member has a leading edge that, when the member is pivoted, clamps the seat belt against the main body. The seat belt retainer claimed in claim 4 wherein two parallel ridges are provided on the main body H:\Shonal\Keep\Speci\P42218 SEAT BELT RETAINER 17/05/01 9 such that the leading edge wedges the seat belt between the two parallel ridges.
3. 6. The seat belt retainer claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein at least one of the side brackets is flexibly or pivotably attachable to the pin so as to enable a seat belt to be threaded between the guiding means.
4. 7. The seat belt retainer according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the pin is removably mounted on the side brackets such that the pin can be removed to allow the seat belt to be threaded between the guiding means.
5. 8. The seat belt retainer according to claim 3 wherein the wedge-shaped member has a lever for manual rotation. eeee
6. 9. The seat belt retainer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mounting means is a hook defining one end of the main body and is adapted for mounting the retainer on an upper bracket of a seat belt assembly. S.o. 25 10. The seat belt retainer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the main body has a stepped portion between the mounting means and the locking means so as to bring the locking means into close proximity with the seat belt.
7. 11. A seat belt retainer comprising: a main body having a mounting portion for mounting the retainer in a vehicle in proximity to a retractable seat belt, wherein, in use, the seat belt is adapted to slide relative to the retainer; and locking means on the main body whereby, in use, the locking means is locked to prevent relative movement H:\Shonal\Keep\Speci\P42218 SEAT BELT RETAINER 17/05/01 10 between the seat belt and the retainer, but wherein the locking means is capable of being automatically unlocked upon a sufficient force on the seat belt thereby allowing the seat belt to move relative to the retainer.
8. 12. A seat belt retainer substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. Dated this 17 t h day of May 2001 STEPHEN ANDREW PATTERSON By their Patent Attorneys 15 GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia 0 H:\Shonal\Keep\Speci\P42218 SEAT BELT RETAINER 17/05/01