WO1988007948A1

WO1988007948A1 - Emergency seatbelt safety shear

Info

Publication number: WO1988007948A1
Application number: PCT/US1988/000988
Authority: WO
Inventors: Darri W. GOCHÁ
Original assignee: Gocha Darri W
Priority date: 1987-04-06
Filing date: 1988-03-22
Publication date: 1988-10-20

Abstract

An emergency seatbelt cutting device consists of two plates (2 and 4) which are connected by hinges (3) with Allen bolts at the corners (7 and 9). The bolts are removed to open the device at the hinges (3) at one end which is the only time the blade (15) is exposed. The belt strap (19) is placed lengthwise across the thinner side of the rectangular shaped encasement (Figure 14) on top of the bottom half of the encasement (Figure 4), or on top of the ridged grip area (5) designed to secure the strap (19). The device is then bolted over the strap (19) and remains inactive until needed in emergency, at which time the pull ring (21) and pin (20) are pulled out completely, and the lever button (12) which is connected to the blade (15) is pushed to sever the strap into two pieces which are then pulled apart to free the trapped person.

Description

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DESCRIPTION

EMERGENCY SEATBELT SAFETY SHEAR

Technical Field

This invention relates to emergency strap-severing devices particularly in connection with seatbelts and other restraining straps which employ a release bracket which may fail during an emergency. The device is made of material that will not burn or melt easily and cannot be crushed under most circumstances as may be anticipated in certain emergencies.

Background Art The prior art, U.S. Patent No. 4680861, German Patent

Nos. 3204063 (Netto), 3222551 (Netto), 3443205 (Schulte) and French Patent No. 2581944 for emergency strap severing devices are distinguishable for the following reasons:

1. Meurer U.S. Patent No. 4680861 is significantly different in that it is not attached to the strap or belt, but rather is set in the vehicle. The mechanism has no encased blade or operational levers, rings, or other mechan¬ ism which employ the blade. The device does not sit on the strap where needed in the emergency situation. 2. Both German Patent Nos. 3204063 and 3222551 attach to the turnover fitting stirrup of the seatbelt, thus limit¬ ing its use. While these devices employ a pull ring, the ring operates the blade itself rather than acting as a blocking device, thereby rendering accidental operation less likely.

3. German Patent No. 3443205 utilizes no pull ring, is far narrower in design and does not contain the three- step operation requirement . Indicated also is inadvertent wear on the strap or belt while inactive not present in this applicant's invention.

SHEET 4. French Patent No. 2581944 employs three (3) spikes which grip the belt which may weaken the strap in its inactive state. In addition, the pull ring again is employed as the operational mechanism rather than a further safety device as cited in the Netto descriptions above.

The purpose of the three-step operation is to prevent accidental employment by an individual, particularly a child The pull ring acts as a block to prevent the blade from inadvertent severance and requires pulling out before the lever which operates the blade may be utilized. This is unique and distinguished from all prior ar .

Disclosure of Invention In accordance with the present invention, I provide a compact unit operating to release safety seatbelts or any restraining belt or strap under emergency conditions by attaching this emergency safety shear to the belt or strap and, when needed, employs a pull ring which pulls out a pull pin connection that allows the passing of an encased blade connected to a button-type lever which is pushed across the belt or strap, causing the belt or strap to be severed into two pieces that are then pulled apart and away from the device which will then release a person from his or her restrained position.

This improved safety mechanism possesses the advantage that it is attached manually to the strap or belt where it remains in an inactive state, without affecting the strap or belt, until such time as is needed, at which time three (3) simple steps are employed to operate the severing device; the pull of the ring and pin, the pushing of the button/ lever which operates the blade, and the pulling apart of the straps to release the trapped person. The latter features are of particular advantage in that they assure minimal chance of inadvertent operation and yet are simple enough for almost any individual to remember, even a child.

SUBSTITUTESHEET Brief Description of .Drawings

The details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show the top, side and top views respectively of the encasement with the hinges prior to attachment to the belt; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are a top view of the bottom half of the invention, a side view, and a view of the bottom half of the invention respectively; Figs. 7 and 8 are side and top views of the panic button lever and blade respectively; Figs. 9 and 10 are the bottom half of the pull pin area and blade track, and a side view of the razor-like blade connected to the panic button respectively; Figs. 11 and 12 are views of the pull pin and pull ring respectively; Fig. 13 is a perspective top view of the device after the pull ring and lever have been placed into position and the encasement attached over the strap; and Fig. 14 is a perspective top view of the device constructed by using four Allen Bolts, tw on each end, as a second way of obtaining the same results as reflected in Figs. 1 - 13.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Referring to the drawing, the device according to the invention is comprised of a small rectangular encasement that opens up into two halves and is connected by hinges on one end and two Allen bolts on the opposite end. After the Allen bolts are removed, the device will open, which is the only time the inside blade is exposed, at which time it is placed over a belt or strap which may need to be severed in case of an emergency or simply to cut belt or strap for other reasons. The belt or strap should be placed length¬ wise across the thinner side of the encasement over the bottom half or ridged grip area to secure the strap in place.

Once the belt or strap has been placed in the proper place across the ridged area, the blade should be held in position as far to the end with the Allen bolt holes as the lever will go. The device's top half should then be shut,

SUBSTITUTESHEET <-_ screwed together tightly to secure the belt or strap tightly in place inside the encasement. The pull pin and attached ring should be pushed in either side hole designed for it at the end closest to the lever, which acts to block the blade from contact with the strap or belt until ready for use.

Once in place, proper operation is simple. The person restrained by the strap who wishes to sever the same employs three steps; First the pull ring is pulled out completely as shown in Fig. 13; Secondly, the individual employs his or her thumb to push the lever or panic button from one side of the device to the other side, at which time the blade connected to the lever will completely sever the belt or strap into two pieces; Third, the two pieces of the belt are pulled apart from the device completely to free the restrained person from the belt. As shown in Fig. 14, the device according to the present invention is constructed a second way by using four Allen bolts, two on each end, which are screwed together enveloping the belt, instead of the hinges on one end; the operation of the device is then identical.

The device associated with the present invention is manually operated and designed so as not to accidently operate when not needed. Construction and utility of the system and components are designed to be operational by both adults and children while minimizing the risk of accidental employment.

The foregoing and other advantages are obvious to those skilled in professional vehicle operation and the need for back-up release systems when the initial intended system fails .

SUBSTITUTESHEET

Claims

1. A device for immediate manual separation of any belt o strap, particularly for use in emergency situations, which can be attached manually to any belt or strap, and which ca be removed from the belt or strap without affecting or pene trating the belt or strap in any way while in the non-use position and has not been used, and consisting of a box encasement which houses a blade used for severing the belt or strap which is blocked by a pull pin and attached ring i its non-use or inactive position.

2. A device according to Claim 1 which operates manually and independently of the release buckle or mechanism con- tained or any seat or other restraining belt, and consistin of two (2) flat parts that are attached together by bolts o hinges which sandwich the belt or strap and encase a blade which operates by pulling a safety pin attached to a ring a then pushing a button attached to the blade from side to side along a blade trail which severs the belt or strap and enables the occupant to break free.

3. A device according to Claim 1 and 2 which may be attached to any belt or strap regardless of the existence o stirrups or brackets on the strap, which does not disturb t strap in its non-use position and is activated by a pull-ri and push-button used to sever the strap with a blade contained inside the casing and is attached to the push¬ button designed to use thumb pressure to push the blade along a trail to cut the belt or strap after the ring has first been pulled to release the blocking action created by the pull-ring in its non-use or inactive position.

SUBSTITUTESHEET