US3881745A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle occupant restraint device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-06-19
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1994-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A restraining safety belt arrangement including a first belt having one end fixed to an inboard portion of the roof of a vehicle and a second end, fixed relative to the floor of the vehicle, generally in vertical alignment with said first end; and a second belt having a first end, fixed relative to a slide buckle, slidably engaged along an intermediate portion of the first belt, and a second end fixed relative to a conventional inertia type of belt retractor reel, carried in a housing which travels horizontally along the inside of the vehicle door, adjacent the lower edge thereof, when the vehicle door is opened or closed. Suitable track means are provided to guide the housing, enclosing the retractor reel. When the vehicle door is opened, the first and second belts move to positions permitting unobstructed entry into or exit from the vehicle; when the door is closed, the first belt engages up and over the inboard shoulder of an occupant and the second belt engages over the lap area of the occupant, lock means prevents disengagement of the belts upon rapid deceleration and safety means are provided to prevent said disengagement in the event of door opening as the result of an accident. Emergency release means permits removal of the belts from the occupant''s shoulder and lap areas to permit rapid exit from the vehicle if necessary with the doors closed.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Evelio F Chavez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:12
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
344 words
A vehicle occupant restraInt device for use in combination with a vehicle body defining an occupant compartment providing a seat therein, accessible through a side opening and a side door having a forward, generally vertical edge, pivoted to the vehicle body to mount the door for movement between open and closed positions relative to the side opening, said restraint device comprising; A. a first belt having a first end, fixed relative to an inboard portion of the vehicle roof and a second end, fixed relative to an inboard portion of the vehicle floor; B. a second belt having a first end, fixed relative to a slide buckle, slidable engaged along an intermediate portion of said first belt, and a second end fixed to a belt retractor reel of the type which locks the belt against retraction upon rapid deceleration of the vehicle, said first belt being positioned to normally pass over the inboard shoulder of the occupant and said second belt being positioned to engage over the lap of the occupant; C. a main housing providing an interior chamber rotatably mounting said retractor reel; D. rail means, fixed longitudinally along the bottom portion of the door for engagement by follower means, carried by said housing, to cause said housing to move longitudinally to a position adjacent the lower front, pivoted edge of the door when said door is open to disengage said first and second belts, respectively, from the shoulder and lap areas of the occupant to provide unobstructed exit from the vehicle, and to cause said housing to move rearwardly to a position to reengage said first and second belts, respectively, with the shoulder and lap areas of an occupant when said door is closed; E. a first safety means to automatically prevent accidental disengagement of said first and second belts from the occupant in the event of an accident resulting in the door being opened; and F. a second safety means, controllable by the vehicle occupant to disengage said first and second belts to provide for an emergency exit from the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
344 words
A vehicle occupant restraInt device for use in combination with a vehicle body defining an occupant compartment providing a seat therein, accessible through a side opening and a side door having a forward, generally vertical edge, pivoted to the vehicle body to mount the door for movement between open and closed positions relative to the side opening, said restraint device comprising; A. a first belt having a first end, fixed relative to an inboard portion of the vehicle roof and a second end, fixed relative to an inboard portion of the vehicle floor; B. a second belt having a first end, fixed relative to a slide buckle, slidable engaged along an intermediate portion of said first belt, and a second end fixed to a belt retractor reel of the type which locks the belt against retraction upon rapid deceleration of the vehicle, said first belt being positioned to normally pass over the inboard shoulder of the occupant and said second belt being positioned to engage over the lap of the occupant; C. a main housing providing an interior chamber rotatably mounting said retractor reel; D. rail means, fixed longitudinally along the bottom portion of the door for engagement by follower means, carried by said housing, to cause said housing to move longitudinally to a position adjacent the lower front, pivoted edge of the door when said door is open to disengage said first and second belts, respectively, from the shoulder and lap areas of the occupant to provide unobstructed exit from the vehicle, and to cause said housing to move rearwardly to a position to reengage said first and second belts, respectively, with the shoulder and lap areas of an occupant when said door is closed; E. a first safety means to automatically prevent accidental disengagement of said first and second belts from the occupant in the event of an accident resulting in the door being opened; and F. a second safety means, controllable by the vehicle occupant to disengage said first and second belts to provide for an emergency exit from the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A vehicle occupant restraint device as defined in claim 1 wherein said main housing comprises front, back, top, bottom and inside walls, defining said interior chamber, and an outside wall, fixed in closing relation to said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vehicle occupant restraint device as defined in claim 2 including a mounting plate, pivotally connected to said main housing and carrying said follower means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A vehicle occupant restraint device as defined in claim 3 wherein said pivotal connection comprises a pin fixed to said mounting plate and extending inwardly through said outside wall with a headed inner end to normally maintain said main housing in pivotal engagement therewith.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle occupant restraint device as defined in claim 4 wherein said headed inner end is constructed to break away in the event of accidental opening of the vehicle door.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
A vehicle occupant restraint device as defined in claim 5 wherein said first safety means comprises an anchor means, fixed rigidly to the sill of the door opening and a hook, extending downwardly from said outside wall which lockingly engages said anchor means upon rapid deceleration of the vehicle to maintain said main housing in place in the event of the door opening as a result of an accident.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A vehicle occupant restraint device as defined in claim 6 wherein said anchor means includes a generally vertical post, fixed to the sill and a generally horizontal, outwardly extending arm providing an upwardly extending notch for locking engagement by said hook.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
A vehicle occupant restraint device as defined in claim 7 wherein said second safety means comprises a manually actuated spring loaded lever, pivotally connected interiorly of said chamber, between said outside wall and break away head, rearwardly of said pivotal connection, and including a forward ratchet connection to said pivotal connection to disengage said hook from said notch by proper manual actuation of an outwardly extending hanDle portion of said lever to cause a counterclockwise rotational movement of said main housing to disengage said hook from said notch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A vehicle occupant restraint device as defined in claim 8 including a key extending outwardly from the rearward portion of said pivot, engaged in a segmental, arcuate hole in said outside wall to limit the rotational movement of said main housing by actuation of said lever.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vehicle occupant restraint device as defined in claim 3 including an angle bracket, fixed to said mounting plate, providing a lower, outwardly extending flange.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A vehicle occupant restraint device as defined in claim 10 wherein said rail means includes a first rail positioned upwardly of the inner bottom edge of the door and a second rail, fixed along the bottom wall of the door.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A vehicle occupant restraint device as defined in claim 11 wherein said follower means comprises yoke shaped followers formed integral with the top edge of said mounting plate and outer end of said flange to respectively straddle said first and second rails with ball bearing interposed therebetween.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vehicle occupant restraint device as defined in claim 7 including a spring loaded detent means to maintain said anchor means in engagement with said hook.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
A vehicle occupant restraint device as defined in claim 10 including a spring loaded arm pivotally connected at a first end to the underside of said outwardly extending flange and carrying a roller at the second end thereof, engaged in a track fixed along the top of the door sill.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A vehicle occupant restraint device as defined in claim 14 including an inwardly turned rear end portion of said track to receive the roller at the extent of travel of said main housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle occupant restraint device as defined in claim 1 including a telescopic belt guide in a belt exit tube extending upwardly from the front end of the reel housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
A vehicle occupant restraint device as defined in claim 16 wherein said belt guide compirses a generally vertically extending, elongated plate with upper and lower belt guide loops, said second belt extending through said loops and including a thickened portion to move said guide partially upwardly, outwardly of said tube when said second belt is fully extended by the full opening of the vehicle door.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |