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US4091508A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Tongue plate device for use in seat belt system

Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
•
Filing: 1975-12-03
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Granted: 1978-05-30
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Expires: 1995-12-03
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Abstract

Abstract A tongue plate device for use in a seat belt system of the kind using a continuous webbing consisting of a lap portion and a shoulder portion for restraining an occupant onto a seat of a vehicle. The tongue plate device can be easily slipped on the webbing when the occupant fasten the seat belt and locked in any desired position on the webbing by simple manipulation by the occupant so as to restrain the occupant onto the seat without giving a sense of oppression while ensuring improved restraining effect for the occupant in an emergency.

Inventors

  • 👤 Makoto Yamada
  • 👤 Eiichi Kinaga

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 10:36
CPC Classifications
A; A44; A44B; A44B11/00; A44B11/25; A44B11/2503; A44B11/2546; A44B11/2553; A44B11/2557; A44B11/02; A44B11/06; A44B11/10; B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/30; B60R22/18; B60R2022/1812; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/34; Y10T24/3401; Y10T24/3423; Y10T24/40; Y10T24/4002; Y10T24/4012; Y10T24/4019

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 210 words
A tongue plate device for use in a three-point seat belt system of the kind using a continuous webbing consisting of a lap belt and a shoulder belt for restraining an occupant onto a seat of a vehicle, comprising a tongue plate having a buckle engaging portion at one end thereof and a webbing passage portion at the other end thereof, a locking plate engaging said webbing at said webbing passage portion of said tongue plate for locking said webbing against passing movement, resilient means for normally urging said locking plate in the locking direction, and releasing means for urging said locking plate in the releasing direction so as to unlock said webbing from said locking plate, said releasing means being operatively connected to said locking plate by cam means and having an edge protector provided in said webbing passage and coupled to said tongue plate, wherein said releasing means comprises a push rod which acts to move said locking plate in a direction normal to the moving direction thereof through said cam means, and said resilient means comprises a torsion coil spring which is mounted on a pin fixed to said tongue plate and is anchored to said locking plate and said push rod at the respective ends thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 210 words
A tongue plate device for use in a three-point seat belt system of the kind using a continuous webbing consisting of a lap belt and a shoulder belt for restraining an occupant onto a seat of a vehicle, comprising a tongue plate having a buckle engaging portion at one end thereof and a webbing passage portion at the other end thereof, a locking plate engaging said webbing at said webbing passage portion of said tongue plate for locking said webbing against passing movement, resilient means for normally urging said locking plate in the locking direction, and releasing means for urging said locking plate in the releasing direction so as to unlock said webbing from said locking plate, said releasing means being operatively connected to said locking plate by cam means and having an edge protector provided in said webbing passage and coupled to said tongue plate, wherein said releasing means comprises a push rod which acts to move said locking plate in a direction normal to the moving direction thereof through said cam means, and said resilient means comprises a torsion coil spring which is mounted on a pin fixed to said tongue plate and is anchored to said locking plate and said push rod at the respective ends thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 46 words
A tongue plate device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tongue plate is a thin plate of metal formed at one end thereof with an opening engaged by said buckle and at the other end thereof with another opening permitting passage of said webbing therethrough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 152 words
A tongue plate device for use in a three-point seat belt system of the kind using a continuous webbing consisting of a lap belt and a shoulder belt for restraining an occupant onto a seat of a vehicle, comprising a tongue plate having a buckle engaging portion at one end thereof and a webbing passage portion at the other end thereof, a locking plate engaging said webbing at said webbing passage portion of said tongue plate for locking said webbing against passing movement, resilient means for normally urging said locking plate in the locking direction, and a push rod for urging said locking plate in the releasing direction thereby unlocking said webbing from the state engaged and locked by said locking plate, said push rod being coupled to said locking plate by a pin member such that moving said push rod causes said locking plate to move in a direction normal thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 152 words
A tongue plate device for use in a three-point seat belt system of the kind using a continuous webbing consisting of a lap belt and a shoulder belt for restraining an occupant onto a seat of a vehicle, comprising a tongue plate having a buckle engaging portion at one end thereof and a webbing passage portion at the other end thereof, a locking plate engaging said webbing at said webbing passage portion of said tongue plate for locking said webbing against passing movement, resilient means for normally urging said locking plate in the locking direction, and a push rod for urging said locking plate in the releasing direction thereby unlocking said webbing from the state engaged and locked by said locking plate, said push rod being coupled to said locking plate by a pin member such that moving said push rod causes said locking plate to move in a direction normal thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 46 words
A tongue plate device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tongue plate is a thin plate of metal formed at one end thereof with an opening engaged by said buckle and at the other end thereof with another opening permitting passage of said webbing therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 45 words
A tongue plate device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said resilient means comprises a torsion coil spring which is mounted on a pin fixed to said tongue plate and is anchored to said locking plate and said push rod at the respective ends thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
A tongue plate device according to claim 3 wherein said locking plate has a generally T-shaped configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
A tongue plate device according to claim 3 wherein a cover member is coupled to said tongue plate, said push rod being slidably disposed in a groove in said cover member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
A tongue plate device according to claim 3 wherein said cover member includes pin members for engaging and aligning said locking plate and said tongue plate.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-05-29 1981-11-28 1982-05-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-05-29 1985-11-28 1986-05-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-05-29 1989-11-28 1990-05-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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