Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
In a latching device for a vehicular seat belt for retaining the end portion of the seat belt during a sudden change in the motion of the vehicle, said latching device including a tongue portion held to the end portion of said seat belt, and a latch portion mountable within said vehicle and adapted to receive said tongue portion and retain it in response to a sudden change in the motion of the vehicle, the improvement wherein said tongue portion includes a retaining tooth and an auxiliary tooth spaced from said retaining tooth, said latch portion including inertia-sensitive means engaging said auxiliary tooth upon initially sensing a sudden change in the motion of the vehicle and retaining means thereafter actuated to engage said retaining tooth for securely holding said tongue portion whereby said inertia-sensitive means need not be capable of sustaining the full forces tending to separate said tongue portion from said latch portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a latching device for a vehicular seat belt for retaining the end portion of the seat belt during a sudden change in the motion of the vehicle, said latching device including a tongue portion held to the end portion of said seat belt, and a latch portion mountable within said vehicle and adapted to receive said tongue portion and retain it in response to a sudden change in the motion of the vehicle, the improvement wherein said tongue portion includes a retaining tooth and an auxiliary tooth spaced from said retaining tooth, said latch portion including inertia-sensitive means engaging said auxiliary tooth upon initially sensing a sudden change in the motion of the vehicle and retaining means thereafter actuated to engage said retaining tooth for securely holding said tongue portion whereby said inertia-sensitive means need not be capable of sustaining the full forces tending to separate said tongue portion from said latch portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
In the improved latching device of claim 1, said tongue portion being formed of a base portion formed of metal and having said retaining tooth formed therein, and an auxiliary portion formed of a synthetic plastics material and having said auxiliary tooth formed therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
In the improved latching device of claim 1 or claim 8, said inertia-sensitive means including a rod adapted to be pivoted into engagement with said auxiliary tooth upon a sudden change of motion of the vehicle, and said retaining means including a slider held to said rod and movable upon movement of said auxiliary tooth to pivot a pallet into engagement with said retaining tooth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
In the improved latching device of claim 3, said rod being formed of a synthetic plastics material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
In the improved latching device of claim 1 or 2, said inertia-sensitive means including a lever adapted to be pivoted into engagement with said auxiliary tooth upon a sudden change of motion of the vehicle, and said retaining means including a plate held to said lever and rotatable upon movement of said auxiliary tooth to position a pallet into engagement with said retaining tooth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
In the improved latching device of claim 5, said lever being formed of a synthetic plastics material.