Mandatory three point seat belt tongue system

Claim 2

In a safety belt system for a vehicle including a shoulder strap having one end fixed with respect to the vehicle and its other end fixed to a shoulder strap anchoring tongue, a pair of lap belt members each having one end fixed with respect to the vehicle, the first of said lap belt members having its other end fixed to a buckle operative to lockingly receive a three point tongue on the free end of the second lap belt in an adjustable manner to secure the lap belt members and shoulder strap together, said three point tongue comprising a flat tongue member having a forward end for insertion into the buckle receiving end and a rearward end attached to the second lap belt, said flat tongue member having a rectangular cutout section therein; a sliding member within said rectangular cutout section having a first inoperative position toward the forward end of said flat tongue member which forward position causes the sliding member to fill the rectangular cutout section to prevent entry of a buckle lock member through said rectangular cutout section, a second operative position wherein said sliding member is withdrawn toward the rearward end of said flat tongue member exposing a portion of said rectangular cutout section to permit entry of the buckle lock member; means to bias said sliding member to the first mentioned inoperative position within said rectangular cutout section; means in said three point tongue to secure the shoulder strap anchoring tongue thereon to anchor the shoulder strap to the lap belt system; means in said three point tongue to fix said sliding member in the second mentioned operative position only when said shoulder strap anchoring tongue is secured to said three point tongue; said sliding member comprises a unitary member having a thickness approximately equal to the thickness of said flat tongue member and a rectangular configuration conforming to said rectangular cutout section for approximately one-half the length of said sending member toward the forward end of said flat tongue member, and then continuing toward the rearward end of said flat tongue member in two parallel members having a space therebetween, said space being approximately equal to the thickness of said flat tongue member, said parallel members sliding over the rearward end of said flat tongue member when said sliding member is withdrawn to said second mentioned operaTive position.

Claim 3

The invention as described in claim 1 wherein the means to bias said sliding member to the first mentioned inoperative position within said rectangular cutout section comprises: a. an elongated cutout section on each side of said rectangular cutout section; b. a resilient spring member in each of said elongated cutout sections, said spring members having one end affixed to said sliding member and the other end affixed to said flat tongue member, said springs being adapted to bias said sliding member toward said first mentioned inoperative position.

Claim 4

The invention as described in claim 2 wherein the means to fix said sliding member in said second mentioned operative position only when said shoulder strap anchoring tongue is secured to said three point tongue comprises: a. a cylindrical pin supported on the shoulder strap anchoring tongue; b. a resilient bushing secured around the surface of said pin; c. a circular cutout through said sliding member to accept said cylindrical pin when it is inserted through said circular cutout; and d. a circular cutout section in said flat tongue member adjacent to the rearward side of said rectangular cutout section said side continuing into said circular cutout section to blend therewith, said circular cutout section having a diameter which facilitates retention of said resilient bushing when said cylindrical pin is inserted through said circular cutout in said sliding member and said pin is withdrawn with said sliding member until said resilient bushing around said pin is forced into clamping engagement within said circular cutout section in said flat tongue member thereby fixing said sliding member in said second mentioned operative position to facilitate passage of a buckle lock member through the exposed position of said rectangular cutout section in the forward end of said flat tongue member.

Claim 5

The invention as described in claim 3 wherein said sliding member is constructed of a molded synthetic resin.

Claim 6

The invention as described in claim 4 wherein said sliding member is constructed of nylon.

Claim 7

In a safely belt system for a vehicle including a shoulder strap having one end fixed with respect to the vehicle and its other end fixed to a shoulder strap anchoring tongue, a pair of lap belt members each having one end fixed with respect to the vehicle, the first of said lap belt members having its other end fixed to a buckle operative to lockingly receive a three point tongue on the free end of the second lap belt in an adjustable manner to secure the lap belt members and shoulder strap manner said three point tongue comprising: a. a flat tongue member having a forward end for insertion into the buckle receiving end and a rearward end attached to the second lap belt, said flat tongue member having a rectangular cutout section therein; b. a nylon sliding member within said rectangular cutout section, said sliding member having a unitary construction wherein a forward end is rectangular and has a thickness approximately equal to the thickness of the flat tongue member and conforms to said rectangular cutout section in said flat tongue member, and a rearward end which continues in two parallel members toward the rearward end of said flat tongue member said parallel members having a space therebetween approximately equal to the thickness of said flat tongue member said sliding member having a first inoperative position wherein it is biased toward the forward end of said flat tongue member and fills the rectangular cutout section in said flat tongue member to prevent entry of a buckle lock member therethrough, a second operative position wherein said sliding member is withdrawn toward the rearward end of said flat tongue member exposing a portion of said rectangular cutout section, said parallel members of said sliding member sliding over the rearward end of said flat tongue member; c. an elongated cutout section on each side of said rectangular cutout section paRallel to the longer sides of said rectangular cutout sections and extending in a forward to rearward direction in said flat tongue member; d. a resilient coil spring in each of said elongated cutout sections, said springs having one end affixed to said sliding member and the other end affixed to said flat tongue member, said springs being adapted to bias said sliding member toward said first mentioned inoperative position; e. a cylindrical pin supported on the shoulder strap anchoring tongue; f. a resilient bushing secured around the surface of said pin; g. a circular cutout through said sliding member to accept said cylindrical pin when it is inserted therethrough; h. a circular cutout section in said flat tongue member adjacent the rearward side of said rectangular cutout section said side continuing and blending with said circular cutout section, said circular cutout section having a diameter which facilitates retention of said resilient bushing when said cylindrical pin is inserted through said circular cutout in said sliding member and said pin is withdrawn with said sliding member until it is forced into clamping engagement within said circular cutout section in said flat tongue member thereby fixing said sliding member in said second mentioned operative position to facilitate passage of a buckle lock member through the exposed portion of said rectangular cutout section in the forward end of said flat tongue member.

Claim 8

In a safely belt system for a vehicle including a shoulder strap having one end fixed with respect to the vehicle and its other end fixed to a shoulder strap anchoring tongue, a pair of lap belt members each having one end fixed with respect to the vehicle, the first of said lap belt members having its other end fixed to a buckle operative to lockingly receive a three point tongue on the free end of the second lap belt in an adjustable manner to secure the lap belt members and shoulder strap manner said three point tongue comprising: a. a flat tongue member having a forward end for insertion into the buckle receiving end and a rearward end attached to the second lap belt, said flat tongue member having a rectangular cutout section therein; b. a nylon sliding member within said rectangular cutout section, said sliding member having a unitary construction wherein a forward end is rectangular and has a thickness approximately equal to the thickness of the flat tongue member and conforms to said rectangular cutout section in said flat tongue member, and a rearward end which continues in two parallel members toward the rearward end of said flat tongue member said parallel members having a space therebetween approximately equal to the thickness of said flat tongue member said sliding member having a first inoperative position wherein it is biased toward the forward end of said flat tongue member and fills the rectangular cutout section in said flat tongue member to prevent entry of a buckle lock member therethrough, a second operative position wherein said sliding member is withdrawn toward the rearward end of said flat tongue member exposing a portion of said rectangular cutout section, said parallel members of said sliding member sliding over the rearward end of said flat tongue member; c. an elongated cutout section on each side of said rectangular cutout section paRallel to the longer sides of said rectangular cutout sections and extending in a forward to rearward direction in said flat tongue member; d. a resilient coil spring in each of said elongated cutout sections, said springs having one end affixed to said sliding member and the other end affixed to said flat tongue member, said springs being adapted to bias said sliding member toward said first mentioned inoperative position; e. a cylindrical pin supported on the shoulder strap anchoring tongue; f. a resilient bushing secured around the surface of said pin; g. a circular cutout through said sliding member to accept said cylindrical pin when it is inserted therethrough; h. a circular cutout section in said flat tongue member adjacent the rearward side of said rectangular cutout section said side continuing and blending with said circular cutout section, said circular cutout section having a diameter which facilitates retention of said resilient bushing when said cylindrical pin is inserted through said circular cutout in said sliding member and said pin is withdrawn with said sliding member until it is forced into clamping engagement within said circular cutout section in said flat tongue member thereby fixing said sliding member in said second mentioned operative position to facilitate passage of a buckle lock member through the exposed portion of said rectangular cutout section in the forward end of said flat tongue member.