Safety belt tension relieving apparatus

Claim 2

In a vehicle safety belt system adapted to restrain an occupant in a vehicle seat, the safety belt system including a shoulder belt and a retractor having a rewind mechanism biased to rewind the shoulder belt on a reel of the retractor, the improvement of a shoulder belt, tension-relieving apparatus adapted for relieving tension on the shoulder belt by the rewind mechanism of the retractor, said shoulder belt tension-relieving apparatus comprising: a pressure sensing means disposed in the back portion of the seat adjacent to the back of the seated occupant, said pressure sensing means adapted to sense a condition when the seated occupant is leaning against the back portion of his seat; a locking member disposed adjacent to a portion of the safety belt, having a locking position and an unlocking position and being adapted to be actuated from its unlocking position to its locking position, said locking member in its locking position preventing further rewinding of the shoulder belt into the retractor; an electric actuating means mounted adjacent to said locking member, mechanically connected to said locking member and electrically connected to said pressure sensing means, said electric actuating means actuating said locking member to its locking position to thereby relieve the tension on said shoulder belt produced by the rewind mechanism of the retractor in response to said pressure sensing means sensing said occupant leaning against said back; and a biasing means biasing said locking member in its unlocking position.

Claim 3

The shoulder belt tension-relieving apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said electric actuating means is a solenoid having a plunger connected to said locking member.

Claim 4

The shoulder belt tension-relieving apparatus of claim 2 and further comprising: a backing surface disposed on the opposite side of said shoulder belt from said locking member.

Claim 5

The shoulder belt tension relieving apparatus of claim 3 wherein: said locking member is a clamp bar adapted to press a portion of said shoulder belt against said backing surface to prevent further rewinding of said shoulder belt.

Claim 6

The shoulder belt tension relieving apparatus of claim 4 wherein: said clamp bar has a clamping portion and an actuated portion, said clamping having a knurled surface adapted to clamp against said shoulder belt, said actuated portion being engaged by said plunger of said solenoid.

Claim 7

The shoulder belt tensions-relieving apparatus of claim 5 wherein: said actuated position of said clamping bar has an elongated slot; and said plunger of said solenoid has a pin extending from said plunger into said slot of said clamp bar, said pin thereby mechanically connecting said plunger to said clamping bar.

Claim 8

The shoulder belt tension-relieving apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said locking member is a locking pawl.

Claim 9

The shoulder belt tension-relieving apparatus of claim 7 and further comprising: a ratchet wheel connected to the reel of the retractor and adapted to be locked by said locking pawl.

Claim 10

In a vehicle safety belt system adapted to restrain an occupant in a vehicle seat, the safety belt system including a shoulder belt and a retractor having a rewind mechanism biased to rewind the shoulder belt on a reel of the retractor, the improvement of a shoulder belt, tension-relieving apparatus adapted for relieving tension on the shoulder belt by the rewind mechanism of the retractor, said shoulder belt tension-relieving apparatus comprising: a pressure sensing means disposed in the back portion of the seat adjacent to the back of the seated occupant, said pressure sensing means adapted to sense a condition when the seated occupant is leaning against the back portion of his seat; a locking member disposed adjacent to a portion of the safety belt having a locking position and an unlocking position and being adapted to be actuated from its unlocking position to its locking position, said locking member in its locking position preventing further rewinding of the shoulder belt into the retractor; an electric actuating means mounted adjacent to said locking member, mechanically connected to said locking member and electrically connected to said pressure sensing means, said electric actuating means actuating said locking member to its locking position to thereby relieve the tension on said shoulder belt produced by the rewind mechanism of the retractor; in response to said pressure sensing means sensing said occupant leaning against said back; a biasing means biasing said locking member in its unlocking position; and a backing surface disposed on the opposite side of said shoulder belt from said locking member; wherein: said electric actuating means is a solenoid having a plunger connected to said locking member; said locking member is a clamp bar adapted to press a portion of said shoulder belt against said backing surface to prevent further rewinding of said shoulder belt, said clamp bar having a clamping portion and an actuated portion, said clamping portion having a knurled surface adapted to clamp against said shoulder belt, said actuated portion being engaged by said plunger of said solenoid; said actuated portion of said clamping bar has an elongated slot; and said plunger of said solenoid has a pin extending from said plunger into said slot of said clamp bar, said pin thereby mechanically connecting said plunger to said clamping bar.

Claim 11

In a vehicle safety belt system adapted to restrain an occupant in a vehicle seat, the safety belt system including a shoulder belt and a retractor having a rewind mechanism biased to rewind the shoulder belt on a reel of the retractor, the improvement of a shoulder belt, tension-relieving apparatus adapted for relieving tension on the shoulder belt by the rewind mechanism of the retractor, said shoulder belt tension-relieving apparatus comprising: a pressure sensing means disposed in the back portion of the seat adjacent to the back of the seated occupant, said pressure sensing means adapted to sense a condition when the seated occupant is leaning against the back portion of his seat; a locking member disposed adjacent to a portion of the safety belt having a locking position and an unlocking position and being adapted to be actuated from its unlocking position to its locking position, said locking member in its locking position preventing further rewinding of the shoulder belt into the retractor; an electric actuating means mounted adjacent to said locking member, mechanically connected to said locking member and electrically connected to said pressure sensing means, said electric actuating means actuating said locking member to its locking position to thereby relieve the tension on said shoulder belt produced by the rewind mechanism of the retractor; in response to said pressure sensing means sensing said occupant leaning against said back; a biasing means biasing said locking member in its unlocking position; and a backing surface disposed on the opposite side of said shoulder belt from said locking member; wherein: said electric actuating means is a solenoid having a plunger connected to said locking member; said locking member is a clamp bar adapted to press a portion of said shoulder belt against said backing surface to prevent further rewinding of said shoulder belt, said clamp bar having a clamping portion and an actuated portion, said clamping portion having a knurled surface adapted to clamp against said shoulder belt, said actuated portion being engaged by said plunger of said solenoid; said actuated portion of said clamping bar has an elongated slot; and said plunger of said solenoid has a pin extending from said plunger into said slot of said clamp bar, said pin thereby mechanically connecting said plunger to said clamping bar.

Claim 12

In a vehicle safety belt system adapted to restrain an occupant in a vehicle seat, the safety belt system including a shoulder belt and a retractor having a rewind mechanism biased to rewind the shoulder belt on a reel of the retractor, the improvement of a shoulder belt, tension-relieving apparatus adapted for relieving tension on the shoulder belt by the rewind mechanism of the retractor, said shoulder belt tension-relieving apparatus comprising: a pressure sensing means disposed in the back portion of the seat adjacent to the back of the seated occupant, said pressure sensing means adapted to sense a condition when the seated occupant is leaning against the back portion of his seat; a locking pawl disposed adjacent to a portion of the safety belt, having a locking position and an unlocking position and being adapted to be actuated from its unlocking position to its locking position, said locking member in its locking position preventing further rewinding of the shoulder belt into the retractor, said locking pawl having an engaging portion near one end thereof and an actuated portion near the opposite end thereof; an electric actuating means mounted adjacent to said locking member, mechanically connected to said locking member and electrically connected to said pressure sensing means, said electric actuating means actuating said locking member to its locking position to thereby relieve the tension on said shoulder belt produced by the rewind mechanism of the retractor; in response to said pressure sensing means sensing said occupant leaning against said back; a biasing means biasing said locking member in its unlocking position; and a ratchet wheel connected to the reel of the retractor and adapted to be engaged by said engaging portion of said locking pawl; and wherein: said electric actuating means is a solenoid having a plunger connected to said actuated portion of said locking pawl.

Claim 13

In a vehicle safety belt system adapted to restrain an occupant in a vehicle seat, the safety belt system including a shoulder belt and a retractor having a rewind mechanism biased to rewind the shoulder belt on a reel of the retractor, the improvement of a shoulder belt, tension-relieving apparatus adapted for relieving tension on the shoulder belt by the rewind mechanism of the retractor, said shoulder belt tension-relieving apparatus comprising: a pressure sensing means disposed in the back portion of the seat adjacent to the back of the seated occupant, said pressure sensing means adapted to sense a condition when the seated occupant is leaning against the back portion of his seat; a locking pawl disposed adjacent to a portion of the safety belt, having a locking position and an unlocking position and being adapted to be actuated from its unlocking position to its locking position, said locking member in its locking position preventing further rewinding of the shoulder belt into the retractor, said locking pawl having an engaging portion near one end thereof and an actuated portion near the opposite end thereof; an electric actuating means mounted adjacent to said locking member, mechanically connected to said locking member and electrically connected to said pressure sensing means, said electric actuating means actuating said locking member to its locking position to thereby relieve the tension on said shoulder belt produced by the rewind mechanism of the retractor; in response to said pressure sensing means sensing said occupant leaning against said back; a biasing means biasing said locking member in its unlocking position; and a ratchet wheel connected to the reel of the retractor and adapted to be engaged by said engaging portion of said locking pawl; and wherein: said electric actuating means is a solenoid having a plunger connected to said actuated portion of said locking pawl.