US2826796A - Safety seat belt buckle - Google Patents

Safety seat belt buckle Download PDF

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Publication number
US2826796A
US2826796A US568732A US56873256A US2826796A US 2826796 A US2826796 A US 2826796A US 568732 A US568732 A US 568732A US 56873256 A US56873256 A US 56873256A US 2826796 A US2826796 A US 2826796A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
buckle
webbing
cam
guard
lever
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US568732A
Inventor
Frank L Davis
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Davis Aircraft Products Co Inc
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Davis Aircraft Products Co Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Publication date
Application filed by Davis Aircraft Products Co Inc filed Critical Davis Aircraft Products Co Inc
Priority to US568732A priority Critical patent/US2826796A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2826796A publication Critical patent/US2826796A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
    • A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
    • A44B11/00—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts
    • A44B11/02—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts frictionally engaging surface of straps
    • A44B11/06—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts frictionally engaging surface of straps with clamping devices
    • A44B11/12—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts frictionally engaging surface of straps with clamping devices turnable clamp
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T24/00—Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
    • Y10T24/40—Buckles
    • Y10T24/4002—Harness
    • Y10T24/4012—Clamping
    • Y10T24/4016—Pivoted part or lever

Definitions

  • the free end of the strap or webbing normally extends out of the buckle beneath this releasing lever.
  • the present invention is based on the realization that under crash conditions this free length of webbing can act with powerful leverage effect to momentarily lift the cam lever sufficiently to release the webbing and thus nullify the whole effect of the seat belt. Under such conditions the seat belt actually becomes an element of danger, creating a sense of safety not to be relied on in the event of a crash.
  • the objects of the present invention are to guard against the possibility of accidental release of the belt buckle and to accomplish this with simple, practical structure applicable to buckles presently in use, such as disclosed in the identified patent application.
  • Fig. 1 in the drawing is a plan view of the buckle with the anti-release safety feature incorporated;
  • Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the buckle
  • Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the buckle as on substantially the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 1 but showing the webbing connected therewith and the cam in closed position;
  • Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the effect under crash conditions of the free end portion of the webbing snapping outward but confined by the overstanding guard against cam-freeing contact with the end of the lever.
  • the buckle shown is like that disclosed in copending patent application Serial No. 493,150, consisting of a sheet metal frame made up of a ing flanges 6, 7 carrying stud 8 on which the spring closed cam 9 is pivoted, said cam having a hand lever 10 extending toward or beyond the opposite end of the buckle and by which the cam may be lifted away from the companion pad portion 11 of the buckle to release it from holding engagement with the strap or webbing 12.
  • the latter may be considered the free or adjustable portion of the belt, the other section 13 of webbing being looped or otherwise non-adjustably secured to the buckle at 14 and being anchored to some fixed portion of the vehicle or other structure on which the belt is used.
  • Fig. 3 shows how under normal riding conditions the free end of the adjustable length of webbing, which is usually made heavier by a thickened or reinforced handle or terminal portion 15, will ordinarily extend practically straight out of the buckle and lie close over the fixed length of webbing 13.
  • base portion 5 having upstand- Fig. 4 shows how with a sudden stop resulting from crashor other extreme conditions, the free, weighted end of the webbing will fly outward or forward, operating as a lever powerful enough in many cases to momentarily lift the cam lever.
  • the present invention eliminates this danger by provision of a guard overstanding the free portion of the webbing within the buckle and forming a barrier preyenting such free portion from engaging the cam lever.
  • this guard is shown as a light sheet metal spring plate 16 interposed between the base of the buckle and the lever, in front of the earn 9 and companion pad 11, and shown as supported in that relation by side flanges 17 at the edges of the plate closely engaging the flanges 6, 7 and riveted thereto at 18.
  • one of the flanges 17, the lower one in Fig. l, is shown as having a forked extension 19 engaged over the pivot stud 8 between flange 17 and the adjoining end of cam 9.
  • the ends of the guard plate 16 and adjoining portions of the supporting flanges 17 are shown as cut away at 20, Figs. 1 and 3, to lighten the guard structure and to give these parts a yielding spring characteristic, enabling the guard to be yieldingly gripped between the side flanges of the buckle and permitting the plate itself to yield to a slight extent to cushion the snapping action of the webbing.
  • the guard In addition to preventing the webbing from releasing the earn, the guard, overstanding the free length of webbing, actually shortens the length of leverage that the webbing could apply to the cam lever. Without this guard the free portion of the webbing would have a tendency to pivot from a point A, Figs. 3 and 4, where it is to be held by the cam. The overlying guard shortens this possible leverage to the pivotal point B, thus reducing the inertia effect as Well as actually preventing any dangerous exercise of that effect.
  • the overstanding guard serves as a guide for directing the free end of the webbing through the buckle, enabling anyone unfamiliar with the buckle to readily enter and feed the webbing through the buckle.
  • the guard does not add in effect to the weight and does not encumber or add bulk to the buckle. The cost is low but all these advantages are much outweighed by the non-accidental release safety factor provided by the invention.
  • the guard is below and out of the range of action of the cam lever and so does not limit or restrict the operation of the web holding cam.
  • the guard further prevents accidental release of the cam by pulling outwardly on the free end of the webbing.
  • the guard plate assures that the webbing entered in the end of the buckle will pass properly beneath the cam and out the far end of the buckle.
  • This plate while normally beneath the range of web clamping movement of the lever so as not to limit or restrict the web clamping and holding action of the cam, by reason of its springy construction may yield inwardly 3 if the lever be hammered or forcibly pressed inwardly toward the back or base of the buckle.
  • the spring guard plate can be manufactured at low cost and can be inexpensively installed in seat buckles now in use, thus to convert them to anti-crash-rcleasing safety seat belt holding buckles.
  • Anti-crash-releasing safety seat belt buckle comprising the combination of buckle frame and cam pivoted in said frame in position to grip and hold a free length of webbing extended through the buckle, said cam having a releasing lever extending longitudinally of the frame over the webbing gripped by the cam and a guard mounted in the frame in position over the webbing gripped by the cam and disposed beneath the end of said releasing lever in position to prevent the free end portion of the webbing extending beyond the lever from lifting the lever in the cam releasing direction of movement, said guard being in the form of a thin substantially flat plate extending substantially from the cam to the far end of the buckle in substantial parallelism with the webbing held by the cam and held in such relation by engagement with the pivot mounting of the cam at one end and by engagement with the buckle frame of the opposite end.

Description

March 18, 1958 F. 1.. DAVIS SAFETY SEAT BELT BUCKLE Filed March '1, 1956 Fig. l
. INVENTOR.
FRANK L..,DAV1S ATTORNEY 2,826,796 SAFETY SEAT BELT BUCKLE Application March 1, 1956, Serial No. 568,732 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-170 The invention disclosed relates to belt buckles of the type covered in copending patent application Serial No. 493,150, filed March 9, 1955, in which the belt webbing is held by a spring closed cam which can be released by lifting a lever handle extension connected with the cam.
The free end of the strap or webbing normally extends out of the buckle beneath this releasing lever.
The present invention is based on the realization that under crash conditions this free length of webbing can act with powerful leverage effect to momentarily lift the cam lever sufficiently to release the webbing and thus nullify the whole effect of the seat belt. Under such conditions the seat belt actually becomes an element of danger, creating a sense of safety not to be relied on in the event of a crash.
The objects of the present invention are to guard against the possibility of accidental release of the belt buckle and to accomplish this with simple, practical structure applicable to buckles presently in use, such as disclosed in the identified patent application.
Further special objects of the invention are to provide this safety factor in a form which will not add to the bulk or weight of the buckle, which will not alter the regular and understood use of the buckle and which in fact will actually aid in the proper use of the buckle, particularly in insuring the proper reeving or engagement of the webbing with the buckle.
The foregoing and other desirable objects are attained by novel features of construction, combinations and relations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated by way of example in the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specification.
While the structure shown may be considered as exemplifying the presently preferred form of construction, it will be apparent from the description and claim following that structure may be modified and changed as regards the immediate illustration.
Fig. 1 in the drawing is a plan view of the buckle with the anti-release safety feature incorporated;
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the buckle;
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the buckle as on substantially the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 1 but showing the webbing connected therewith and the cam in closed position;
Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the effect under crash conditions of the free end portion of the webbing snapping outward but confined by the overstanding guard against cam-freeing contact with the end of the lever.
The buckle shown is like that disclosed in copending patent application Serial No. 493,150, consisting of a sheet metal frame made up of a ing flanges 6, 7 carrying stud 8 on which the spring closed cam 9 is pivoted, said cam having a hand lever 10 extending toward or beyond the opposite end of the buckle and by which the cam may be lifted away from the companion pad portion 11 of the buckle to release it from holding engagement with the strap or webbing 12.
nited States Patent The latter may be considered the free or adjustable portion of the belt, the other section 13 of webbing being looped or otherwise non-adjustably secured to the buckle at 14 and being anchored to some fixed portion of the vehicle or other structure on which the belt is used.
Fig. 3 shows how under normal riding conditions the free end of the adjustable length of webbing, which is usually made heavier by a thickened or reinforced handle or terminal portion 15, will ordinarily extend practically straight out of the buckle and lie close over the fixed length of webbing 13.
base portion 5 having upstand- Fig. 4 shows how with a sudden stop resulting from crashor other extreme conditions, the free, weighted end of the webbing will fly outward or forward, operating as a lever powerful enough in many cases to momentarily lift the cam lever.
The present invention eliminates this danger by provision of a guard overstanding the free portion of the webbing within the buckle and forming a barrier preyenting such free portion from engaging the cam lever.
Specifically this guard is shown as a light sheet metal spring plate 16 interposed between the base of the buckle and the lever, in front of the earn 9 and companion pad 11, and shown as supported in that relation by side flanges 17 at the edges of the plate closely engaging the flanges 6, 7 and riveted thereto at 18.
To overcome any rocking tendency and to positively secure the guard plate in position substantially parallel to the base wall 5, one of the flanges 17, the lower one in Fig. l, is shown as having a forked extension 19 engaged over the pivot stud 8 between flange 17 and the adjoining end of cam 9.
The ends of the guard plate 16 and adjoining portions of the supporting flanges 17 are shown as cut away at 20, Figs. 1 and 3, to lighten the guard structure and to give these parts a yielding spring characteristic, enabling the guard to be yieldingly gripped between the side flanges of the buckle and permitting the plate itself to yield to a slight extent to cushion the snapping action of the webbing.
In addition to preventing the webbing from releasing the earn, the guard, overstanding the free length of webbing, actually shortens the length of leverage that the webbing could apply to the cam lever. Without this guard the free portion of the webbing would have a tendency to pivot from a point A, Figs. 3 and 4, where it is to be held by the cam. The overlying guard shortens this possible leverage to the pivotal point B, thus reducing the inertia effect as Well as actually preventing any dangerous exercise of that effect.
Additionally, also, the overstanding guard serves as a guide for directing the free end of the webbing through the buckle, enabling anyone unfamiliar with the buckle to readily enter and feed the webbing through the buckle. The guard does not add in effect to the weight and does not encumber or add bulk to the buckle. The cost is low but all these advantages are much outweighed by the non-accidental release safety factor provided by the invention. Also, the guard is below and out of the range of action of the cam lever and so does not limit or restrict the operation of the web holding cam.
The guard further prevents accidental release of the cam by pulling outwardly on the free end of the webbing.
Extending as it does practically from the cam out to the end of the buckle, the guard plate assures that the webbing entered in the end of the buckle will pass properly beneath the cam and out the far end of the buckle. This plate, while normally beneath the range of web clamping movement of the lever so as not to limit or restrict the web clamping and holding action of the cam, by reason of its springy construction may yield inwardly 3 if the lever be hammered or forcibly pressed inwardly toward the back or base of the buckle.
The spring guard plate can be manufactured at low cost and can be inexpensively installed in seat buckles now in use, thus to convert them to anti-crash-rcleasing safety seat belt holding buckles.
What is claimed is:
Anti-crash-releasing safety seat belt buckle comprising the combination of buckle frame and cam pivoted in said frame in position to grip and hold a free length of webbing extended through the buckle, said cam having a releasing lever extending longitudinally of the frame over the webbing gripped by the cam and a guard mounted in the frame in position over the webbing gripped by the cam and disposed beneath the end of said releasing lever in position to prevent the free end portion of the webbing extending beyond the lever from lifting the lever in the cam releasing direction of movement, said guard being in the form of a thin substantially flat plate extending substantially from the cam to the far end of the buckle in substantial parallelism with the webbing held by the cam and held in such relation by engagement with the pivot mounting of the cam at one end and by engagement with the buckle frame of the opposite end.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS
US568732A 1956-03-01 1956-03-01 Safety seat belt buckle Expired - Lifetime US2826796A (en)

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Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3063447A (en) * 1961-03-08 1962-11-13 Hugo R Kirsten Restraining straps for operating tables
DE1142501B (en) * 1959-09-17 1963-01-17 Draegerwerk Ag Closure for protective housings provided with a cover for breathing apparatus
US5669253A (en) * 1996-06-21 1997-09-23 Higgins; Scott W. Locking strap
US6049950A (en) * 1999-05-07 2000-04-18 Cavallo; Louis Method and apparatus for providing an adjustable cord
US6543097B2 (en) * 2000-04-03 2003-04-08 Salomon S.A. Slide fastening device for sports article, and sports article equipped with such device
US20110192857A1 (en) * 2008-12-18 2011-08-11 Wayne Philip Rothbaum Magnetically Attached Accessories (For A Case) for a Portable Electronics Device
US20110252605A1 (en) * 2010-04-14 2011-10-20 Wayne Rothbaum Cord Management System
US8261416B2 (en) 2010-04-14 2012-09-11 Cjd Llc Cord management system
US8615849B2 (en) 2010-04-14 2013-12-31 Cjd Llc Cord management system
USD706118S1 (en) * 2011-09-11 2014-06-03 Cjd Llc Strap with cord attachment mechanism for a cord management system
USD708505S1 (en) 2010-08-27 2014-07-08 Cjd Llc Strap for cord management
USD708930S1 (en) 2011-09-13 2014-07-15 Cjd Llc Strap with hook and loop closure for a cord management system
USD718118S1 (en) 2011-09-16 2014-11-25 Cjd Llc Strap with cord attachment mechanism and hook and loop closure for a cord management system
USD730160S1 (en) 2011-09-11 2015-05-26 Cjd Llc Clip for a cord management system

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2442266A (en) * 1945-04-09 1948-05-25 Frank L Davis Cargo tie-down
US2517424A (en) * 1947-04-18 1950-08-01 Air Associates Inc Safety belt buckle
US2537307A (en) * 1946-04-06 1951-01-09 Air Associates Inc Clamping buckle

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2442266A (en) * 1945-04-09 1948-05-25 Frank L Davis Cargo tie-down
US2537307A (en) * 1946-04-06 1951-01-09 Air Associates Inc Clamping buckle
US2517424A (en) * 1947-04-18 1950-08-01 Air Associates Inc Safety belt buckle

Cited By (32)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1142501B (en) * 1959-09-17 1963-01-17 Draegerwerk Ag Closure for protective housings provided with a cover for breathing apparatus
US3063447A (en) * 1961-03-08 1962-11-13 Hugo R Kirsten Restraining straps for operating tables
US5669253A (en) * 1996-06-21 1997-09-23 Higgins; Scott W. Locking strap
US6049950A (en) * 1999-05-07 2000-04-18 Cavallo; Louis Method and apparatus for providing an adjustable cord
US6543097B2 (en) * 2000-04-03 2003-04-08 Salomon S.A. Slide fastening device for sports article, and sports article equipped with such device
US20110192857A1 (en) * 2008-12-18 2011-08-11 Wayne Philip Rothbaum Magnetically Attached Accessories (For A Case) for a Portable Electronics Device
US8590823B2 (en) 2010-04-14 2013-11-26 Cjd Llc Cord management system
US8261416B2 (en) 2010-04-14 2012-09-11 Cjd Llc Cord management system
US8615849B2 (en) 2010-04-14 2013-12-31 Cjd Llc Cord management system
US20110252605A1 (en) * 2010-04-14 2011-10-20 Wayne Rothbaum Cord Management System
US9445178B2 (en) 2010-04-14 2016-09-13 Cjd Llc Cord management system
USD747178S1 (en) 2010-08-27 2016-01-12 Cjd Llc Strap for cord management
USD824244S1 (en) 2010-08-27 2018-07-31 Cjd Llc Strap for cord management
USD708505S1 (en) 2010-08-27 2014-07-08 Cjd Llc Strap for cord management
USD809903S1 (en) 2010-08-27 2018-02-13 Cjd Llc Strap for cord management
USD781686S1 (en) 2010-08-27 2017-03-21 Cjd Llc Strap for cord management
USD729616S1 (en) 2010-08-27 2015-05-19 Cjd Llc Strap for cord management
USD781685S1 (en) 2011-09-11 2017-03-21 Cjd Llc Strap with cord attachment mechanism for a cord management system
USD808772S1 (en) 2011-09-11 2018-01-30 Cjd Llc Strap with cord attachment mechanism for a cord management system
USD746663S1 (en) 2011-09-11 2016-01-05 Cjd Llc Strap with cord attachment mechanism for a cord management system
USD730160S1 (en) 2011-09-11 2015-05-26 Cjd Llc Clip for a cord management system
USD706118S1 (en) * 2011-09-11 2014-06-03 Cjd Llc Strap with cord attachment mechanism for a cord management system
USD729615S1 (en) 2011-09-11 2015-05-19 Cjd Llc Strap with a cord attachment mechanism for a cord management system
USD729617S1 (en) 2011-09-13 2015-05-19 Cjd Llc Strap with hook and loop closure for a cord management system
USD782286S1 (en) 2011-09-13 2017-03-28 Cjd Llc Strap with hook and loop closure for a cord management system
USD808773S1 (en) 2011-09-13 2018-01-30 Cjd Llc Strap with hook and loop closure for a cord management system
USD708930S1 (en) 2011-09-13 2014-07-15 Cjd Llc Strap with hook and loop closure for a cord management system
USD750956S1 (en) 2011-09-13 2016-03-08 Cjd Llc Strap with hook and loop closure for a cord management system
USD759468S1 (en) 2011-09-16 2016-06-21 Cjd Llc Strap with hook and loop closure for a cord management system
USD718118S1 (en) 2011-09-16 2014-11-25 Cjd Llc Strap with cord attachment mechanism and hook and loop closure for a cord management system
USD736602S1 (en) 2011-09-16 2015-08-18 Cjd Llc Strap with hook and loop closure for a cord management system
USD823671S1 (en) 2011-09-16 2018-07-24 Cjd Llc Strap with hook and loop closure for a cord management system

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