Abstract A comfort clip for the shoulder belt of a vehicle occupant restraint belt system is of an integral plastic construction and has a generally S-shaped configuration that defines elongated slots opening outwardly in opposite directions so that opposite edges of the shoulder belt may be inserted to within the slots to position the clip along the shoulder belt. A central web of the clip between these slots and a pair of legs extending from the web in opposite directions define the slots and also give the belt an abruptly curved configuration as it passes through the clip. This configuration positions the clip on the belt so engagement of the clip with a shoulder belt guide prevents an associated shoulder belt retractor from tensioning the shoulder belt across the user. The open end of each slot has a bifurcated configuration that defines two tine portions, one of which is in alignment with the rest of the slot and closed at its outer end, and the other of which is laterally displaced from the rest of the slot and open at its outer end to receive the belt. The clip includes an integral projection associated with each slot and extending inwardly to define the bifurcated configuration thereof, and the trailing edges of the shoulder belt are passed over the inward ends of the projections after insertion into the open tine portions so as to be received within the closed tine portions and the rest of the slots in a manner that retains the clip on the belt. The ends of the clip legs opposite to where they are connected to the web support the integral projections that define the bifurcated ends of the slots.
In a vehicle occupant restraint belt system including lap and shoulder belts having a predetermined width between side edges thereof, a buckle assembly for securing the lap and shoulder belts across a seatEd vehicle occupant, a shoulder belt guide slidably receiving and thereby guiding the shoulder belt over the shoulder of the seated occupant, and a shoulder belt retractor receiving the shoulder belt so as to normally pull the shoulder belt back through the guide for storage but permitting withdrawal thereof for use, a comfort clip for the shoulder belt comprising: an integral plastic clip of a generally S-shaped configuration that defines elongated slots opening outwardly in opposite directions, the clip including a central belt web between the slots and a pair of legs extending from the belt web in opposite directions to cooperate therewith in defining the slots, the clip web and legs being located in the same plane so that the shoulder belt takes an abruptly curved configuration upon being passed through the slots and over the web, this abruptly curved configuration of the belt generating a frictional force that positions the clip along the shoulder belt during use so that the clip engages the guide to prevent the retractor from tensioning the shoulder belt across the occupant, the slots each having a bifurcated configuration adjacent the open end thereof so as to define two tine portions, one tine portion of each slot being in alignment with the rest of the slot and being closed at its outer end, the other tine portion of each slot being laterally displaced from the rest of the slot and opening outwardly to permit the shoulder belt to be received by the clip intermediate ends of this belt by inserting opposite edges thereof into the slots, the clip leg adjacent each slot including an integral projection that extends inwardly at the open end of the associated slot between the tine portions thereof so as to terminate at an inward end in a manner that defines the bifurcated configuration of the open end of the slot, and the opposite edges of the belt being passed over the inward ends of the respective projections after insertion into the laterally displaced open tine portions of the slots so as to be received within the closed tine portions and the rest of the slots in a manner that retains the clip on the belt, the clip web and the integral projections thereof being recessed from at least one outer side of the comfort clip to recess the abruptly curved configuration portion of the belt within the confines of the comfort clip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
435 words
In a vehicle occupant restraint belt system including lap and shoulder belts having a predetermined width between side edges thereof, a buckle assembly for securing the lap and shoulder belts across a seatEd vehicle occupant, a shoulder belt guide slidably receiving and thereby guiding the shoulder belt over the shoulder of the seated occupant, and a shoulder belt retractor receiving the shoulder belt so as to normally pull the shoulder belt back through the guide for storage but permitting withdrawal thereof for use, a comfort clip for the shoulder belt comprising: an integral plastic clip of a generally S-shaped configuration that defines elongated slots opening outwardly in opposite directions, the clip including a central belt web between the slots and a pair of legs extending from the belt web in opposite directions to cooperate therewith in defining the slots, the clip web and legs being located in the same plane so that the shoulder belt takes an abruptly curved configuration upon being passed through the slots and over the web, this abruptly curved configuration of the belt generating a frictional force that positions the clip along the shoulder belt during use so that the clip engages the guide to prevent the retractor from tensioning the shoulder belt across the occupant, the slots each having a bifurcated configuration adjacent the open end thereof so as to define two tine portions, one tine portion of each slot being in alignment with the rest of the slot and being closed at its outer end, the other tine portion of each slot being laterally displaced from the rest of the slot and opening outwardly to permit the shoulder belt to be received by the clip intermediate ends of this belt by inserting opposite edges thereof into the slots, the clip leg adjacent each slot including an integral projection that extends inwardly at the open end of the associated slot between the tine portions thereof so as to terminate at an inward end in a manner that defines the bifurcated configuration of the open end of the slot, and the opposite edges of the belt being passed over the inward ends of the respective projections after insertion into the laterally displaced open tine portions of the slots so as to be received within the closed tine portions and the rest of the slots in a manner that retains the clip on the belt, the clip web and the integral projections thereof being recessed from at least one outer side of the comfort clip to recess the abruptly curved configuration portion of the belt within the confines of the comfort clip.