Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02450744 2007-04-30
61211-2032
-1-
WEB AD7USTER AND COUPLING
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to connections that secure a child's seat to the
passenger
seat of a vehicle and to web adjusters used to adjust the operative length of
a belt or
webbing.
BACKGROUND .AND SUMLv1ARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of web adjusters used to adjust a length
of a
web or belt. One known pertinent prior art is commonly owned U.S. Patent No.
4,876,770. It is desirable to provide a web adjuster configured to engage a
length of
web at some point along its length.
In one aspect, this invention is a web adjuster for use in a seat belt device.
This
web adjuster has a cylindrical bar with a generally oval to round cross-
section and a
pair of ears mounted near each of its ends that are crosswise to its
longitudinal axis; a
web extending at least partially around the bar, a frame with a pair of
cllannels in
which the ears of the bar may slide, and one or more mechanical springs to
normally
push the bar toward the web stop and against the web.
In another aspect, this invention is a web adjuster for use with a web. This
web
adjuster has -a frame including a web stop and a gripping assembly configured
to
provide a gripping portion having a gripping surface substantially parallel to
the web
stop. The web adjuster further include one or more biasing members acting
between
the frame and the gripping assembly to capture a web.
CA 02450744 2007-04-30
61211-2032
- la -
In a further aspect, the invention provides a web
adjuster for use with a web, the adjuster comprising: a
frame including a web stop; a gripping assembly defining a
gripping portion having a gripping surface substantially
parallel to the web stop and further defining a manipulation
portion separate from the gripping portion; and one or more
biasing members acting between said frame and said gripping
assembly; wherein said one or more biasing members urge the
gripping surface toward the web stop and wherein the
manipulation portion is operable to move apart the gripping
portion and the web stop upon a force being applied to the
manipulation portion.
In a still further aspect, the invention provides
a web adjuster comprising: a bar with a longitudinal axis
and a front face, said bar further including a pair of ears
mounted near the opposite ends of said bar and extending
transverse to the longitudinal axis of said bar; a web
extending at least partially around said bar; a frame with a
pair of channels with the ears of said bar slidably mounted
in said channels, said frame also including a web stop
extending parallel to said bar; means for urging the front
face of said bar against said web and toward said web stop;
and a button operatively attached to said bar, wherein
operation of said button separates said front face from said
web stop.
CA 02450744 2003-12-15
WO 03/010035 PCT/US02/23771
-2-
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a passenger seat and a rearwardly facing child
seat incorporating one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a passenger seat and a rearwardly facing
child
seat incorporating another embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a rotary coupling attached to a
fixedly mounted rigid member according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of a fixedly mountable rigid member.
Fig. 4 is an exploded view of a rotary coupling according to one embodiment
of the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a side view of the distal end of a rotary coupling according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is an end view of the distal end of a rotary coupling according to one
einbodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 7 is an end view of the distal end of a rotary coupling according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
Figs. 8, 9,10, and 11 are plan views alternative embodiments of a cylinder
that
may be used in a rotary coupling according to the present invention.
Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are respectively end, side, and top view of one
embodiment of the present invention.
Figs. 15, 16, and 17 are plan views of alternative embodiments of a piston
that
may be used in a rotary coupling according to the present invention.
Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a passenger seat and a rearwardly facing
child
seat incorporating one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 19 is a plan view of a rigid plate according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
Figs. 20-22 are respectively top, side, and cross-sectional views of a web
adjuster according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 23 is an exploded view of a web adjuster according to one embodiment of
the present invention.
Figs. 24-28 are respectively bottom, back, top, cross-sectional, and
perspective
views of a web gripping bar according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
CA 02450744 2003-12-15
WO 03/010035 PCT/US02/23771
-3-
Figs. 29-32 are respectively perspective, top, side, and end views of a
connector according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 33 is an exploded view of a connector according to one embodiment of
the present invention.
Fig. 34 is a side cross-sectional view of a connector in a closed position
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 35 is a side cross-sectional view of a connector in an open position
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 36 is a top cross-sectional view of a connector according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 37 is a top view of a rotary coupling incorporating a web adjuster
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 38 is an exploded view of an adjuster showing the unitary release and bar
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 39 is an end view of an adjuster according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig. 40 is a top view of an adjuster showing the gripping pattern according to
one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 41 is a side view of an adjuster according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig. 42 is a partial side sectional view of an adjuster with the release
button in
the relaxed position according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 43 is a partial side sectional view of an adjuster with the release
button in
the depressed position according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 44 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 45 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention
with a reduced profile.
Fig. 46 is a side view of a reduced-profile adjuster according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 47 is a top view of a reduced-profile adjuster showing the gripping
pattern
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
CA 02450744 2003-12-15
WO 03/010035 PCT/US02/23771
-4-
Fig. 48 is a partial side sectional view of a reduced-profile adjuster with
the
release button in the depressed position according to one embodiment of the
present
invention.
Fig. 49 is a perspective view of a combination snap hook and web adjuster
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 50 is a top view of a combination snap hook and web adjuster showing
the gripping pattern according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 51 is a side view of a combination snap hook and web adjuster according
to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 52 is a partial side sectional view of a combination snap-hook and
adjuster with the release button in the depressed position according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 53 is an end view of a combination snap hook and web adjuster according
to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 54 is a top view of a gripping assembly according to one embodiment of
the invention.
Fig. 55 is an end view of a gripping assembly according to one embodiment of
the invention.
Fig. 56 is a partial end view of an illustrative web adjuster housing assembly
and plate according to one embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 57 is a bottom view of the illustrative embodiment of Fig. 50.
Fig. 58 is a top view of an illustrative embodiment of a web adjuster coupled
to a snaphook and showing a web threaded through the adjuster.
Fig. 59 is a top view of an illustrative embodiment of a web adjuster coupled
to a snaphook by web and showing another web threaded through the adjuster.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
For the purpose of promoting an iniderstanding of the principles of this
invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the
drawings
and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless
be
understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby
intended, such
alterations and ituther modifications in the illustrated device, and such
further
applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein are
contemplated
CA 02450744 2007-04-30
61211-2032
-5-
as would normally 6ccur to one of average skill in the art to which the
invention
relates.
Referring to Fig. 1, child's infant seat 20 is shown placed on top of
automobile
seat 26. Seat 20 includes a plastic main body 21 that is molded to receive a
child in
the sitting position. the seat portion is generally concave in configuration
and is
integrally joined to back portion 25. For the cl7ild's comfort, a flexible and
washable
cushion preferably resides over both the seat and back portions.
Seat 20 is coupled by one, or alternatively at least two, rotary coupling(s)
27 to
passenger seat 26 with a separate web or belt 30 tying or securing each
coupling to
seat 20. For clarity, only one rotary coupling 27 is shown in Fig. 1. However,
a
second coupling, similar to the one that is shown, can be mounted on the other
side of
seat 20. the proximal end of web 30 includes a conventional web adjuster 31
that is
mounted, optionally with a pivot, to seat 20. An example of such a web
adjuster is
described in U.S. Patent No. 4,660,889 to Anthony et al., U.S. Patent No.
5,031,962 to
Lee, or U.S. Patent No. 4,876,770 to Bougher. The distal end of web or
belt 30 is then attached to the proximal end of rotary coupling 27 in any
conventional
manner, such as with pins, rivets, stitching 738, or another web adjuster 32.
If web
adjuster 32 is used, one may omit web adjuster 31 and mount the proximal end
of web
30 directly to seat 20. Upon attachment to seat 20. web adjuster 31 may then
be used
to adjust the tension or tightness of web 30 when seat 20 is attached to
passenger seat
26.
A closer view of rotary coupling 27 engaged to a fixedly mountable rigid
member 35 is shown in Fig. 2. Referring back to Fig. 1, fixedly mountable
rigid
member 35 (not shown) can be mounted in most any conventional manner to
passenger seat 26 in bite 38 between back support 36 and seat support 37. In
general,
at least one rigid member 35 is mounted in seat bite 38 for every rotary
coupling 27
that is used to attach infant seat 20 to passenger seat-26, generally one on
each side of
seat 20. And referring to Fig. 3, rigid member 35 is typically round in cross-
section of
which one example is an Anchorage World Universal 6-millimeter bar.
An exploded view of rotary coupling 27 is presented in Fig. 4. Rotary
coupling 27 generally includes rigid hollow cylinder 41, piston 42. spring 43,
end 44,
and pin 45. Rotary coupling 27 is assembled by sliding piston 42, external end
47
CA 02450744 2003-12-15
WO 03/010035 PCT/US02/23771
-6-
first, inside rigid hollow cylinder 41. Once inside, piston 42 has sufficient
clearance to
allow it to reciprocally slide inside rigid hollow cylinder 41, between distal
end 49
and proximal end 50. Piston 42 furtlier includes a finger groove 51, which is
aligned
with access opening 54 and which is adapted to receive a human finger. Finger
groove
51 is then maintained in alignment with access opening 54 by pin 45 that
extends
througll hole 55 and into guide groove 56. A spring 43 or other biasing means
is then
placed behind piston 42 to urge piston 42 toward the distal end 49.
Thereafter, end 44
is placed behind spring 43 to hold both spring 43 and piston 42 in position.
End 44
can be attached to rigid hollow cylinder 41 in most any conventional fashion,
for
example, as by welding end 44 to cylinder 41.
Optionally and once the rotary coupling is assembled, a raised button (not
shown) adapted to receive a human finger can be attached to piston 42 through
access
opening 54, over finger groove 51. The raised button can then be used to both
manually slide piston 42 inside cylinder 41 and maintain piston 42 in
alignment with
rigid cylinder 42 by sliding against the sides of access opening 54.
Accordingly if the
raised button is present, one may omit pin 45 and alignment groove 56 from the
rotary
coupling shown in Fig. 4.
A side view of distal end 49 on rigid hollow cylinder 41 is presented in Fig.
5
and an end view of distal end 49 is presented in Fig. 6. Simultaneously
viewing these
figures and Fig. 4, two fingers, 59 and 60, are laterally attached by their
opposite
proximal ends, 64 and 65, across the open end 61 of cylinder 41. Fingers 59
and 60
are attached slightly spaced from open end 61, which forms notches, 66 and 67,
between the proximal edge of each finger, 68 and 69, and open end 61. Notches
66
and 67 are mutually opposed and include respectively slots 100 and 101
extending in
the direction of the longitudinal axis of cylinder 41. Slots 100 and 101 open
respectively into slots 102 and 103 extending around the cylinder's
longitudinal axis.
As presented below, fingers 59 and 60 and notches 66 and 67, are generally
used to
attach the rotary coupling to fixedly mounted member 35. However, if fingers
59 and
60 are optionally mounted over open end 61 as shown, fingers 59 or 60 can also
serve
to hold piston 42 inside a the rotary coupling when the coupling is not
engaged to a
fixedly mounted member 35 since the wall thickness 104 of fingers 59 and 60 is
greater than the wall thickness of cylinder 41.
CA 02450744 2003-12-15
WO 03/010035 PCT/US02/23771
-7-
Fig. 7 presents an alternative embodiment of rigid hollow cylinder 41. Besides
the circular cross-section shown in Fig. 6, cylinder 41 and piston 42 may also
be
generally square, as shown, as well as have other non-circular cross-sections
such as
hexagonal, octagonal, or even oval. And should the practitioner choose a non-
circular
cross-section, the practitioner may again remove pin 45 and groove 56 from
coupling
27. Being non-circular, the mating sides of cylinder 41 and a complementarily
shaped
piston 42 may be used to maintain cylinder 41 and piston 42 in proper
alignment.
Fig. 8 presents a plan view of rigid hollow cylinder 41-as shown in previous
figures with notches 66 and 67 that are generally perpendicular to
longitudinal axis
72. However besides perpendicular, the notches may also take other forms. For
example and referring to Fig. 9, notches 66 and 67 may also include a seat 73
that is
adapted to receive rigid member 35, when rotary coupling 27 is engaged to
rigid
member 35. Or referring to Figs. 10 and 11, the proximal edges, 68 and 69, of
fingers
59 and 60 may also be oriented at an oblique angle to longitudinal axis 72,
which
similarly offers a seat 73 against which rigid member 35 may reside.
Referring now to Figs. 12, 13, and 14 there is shown an alternative
embodiment to attaching fingers 59 and 60 to rigid hollow cylinder 41. In
previous
figures, fingers 59 and 60 were presented contiguous to rigid hollow cylinder
41; that
is, fingers 59 and 60 were shown cut or molded into the same piece of material
as
cylinder 41. Alternatively, fingers 59 and 60 may start as separate pieces and
then be
attached to rigid hollow cylinder 41 in any conventional manner such as
welding legs
77 and 78, which are attached to fingers 59 and 60, to opposite sides of
cylinder 41.
A plan view of piston 42 is presented in Fig. 15. Piston 42 optionally
includes
an indicator to inform the user when the piston is either proximally or
distally
displaced within rigid hollow cylinder 41. The indicator is provided by
colored
portions 81 and 82 located on piston 42. When proximally displaced, colored
portion
81 is readily visible through access opening 54 and colored portion 82 is
hidden under
rigid hollow cylinder 41. Then when piston 42 is distally displaced, colored
portion
82 becomes readily visible, and colored portion 81 becomes hidden. In this
regard, it
is contemplated that colored portions 81 and 52 have different colors to allow
the user
to know at a glance what position piston 42 resides.
Still referring to Fig. 15, piston 42 optionally includes two pawl blocks, 55
and
86. Pawl blocks 85 and 86 are extensions of piston 42 forming a groove to
contact
CA 02450744 2003-12-15
WO 03/010035 PCT/US02/23771
-8-
rigid member 35. When coupling 27 is rotated, as described more fully below,
member 35 is positioned within slots 102 and 103, and the groove contacts
rigid
member 35. With rotary coupling 27 and rigid member 35 thusly engaged, pawl
blocks 55 and 86 reside on either side of member 35 and prevent member 35 from
sliding out of either notch 66 or 67. Fig. 16 shows an alternative embodiment
of the
piston 42 that omits the pawl blocks, and Fig. 17 presents yet another
alternative
embodiment where only one pawl block, 86, is present.
Rotary coupling 27 is engaged to rigid member 35 by first placing rigid
member 35 between fingers 59 and 60 and then pushing rotary coupling 27
against
rigid member 35 until rigid member 35 becomes aligned with slots 102 and 103
of
notches 66 and 67. This movement pushes piston 42 to a proximal position
inside
cylinder 41 and compresses spring 43. Once rigid member 35 is aligned with
slots 102
and 103 of notches 66 and 67, the rotary coupling is twisted about its axis to
place
fixedly mounted rigid member 35 within slots 102 and 103 and then the coupling
is
released. With the coupling released, spring 43 decompresses and presses
piston 42
against rigid member 35, which holds rigid member 35 within rotary coupling
27.
Rotary coupling 27 is then released from rigid member 35 by first accessing
piston 42 through access opening 54 with a human finger. Once the human finger
is
located at groove 51, piston 42 can be pulled back to a proximal position
within
cylinder 41. With piston 42 located in a proximal position, spring 43 is
recompressed
and the spring's force against rigid member 35 is released. With the force
released,
rotary coupling 27 is then twisted around its longitudinal axis in a direction
that is
opposite of that which was previously used to engage coupling 27 and member
35.
Rotary coupling 27 is then twisted until rigid member 35 exits slots 102 and
103 and
is aligned with slots 100 and 101. Rigid member 35 is then slid past fingers
59 and 60,
and out of out of rotary coupling 27.
Referring to Fig. 19, another embodiment of this invention is presented with
infant seat 20 mounted in most any conventional manner atop rigid platform 88.
The
platform, rather than the seat, is then attached to passenger seat 26 by
rotary couplings
27. Referring to Fig. 19, rigid platform 88 has two shafts, 89 and 90, which
are
rotatably attached through bearings 91 to platform 88. Shafts 89 and 90 each
include a
pulley or gear 92 that are mutually connected by a belt or chain 93. A rotary
coupling,
27, is then mounted to the distal end of each shaft. Arranged in this fashion,
both
CA 02450744 2003-12-15
WO 03/010035 PCT/US02/23771
-9-
couplings can then be simultaneously twisted around their longitudinal axis by
turning
knob 94.
This latter embodiment is operated by aligning each rotary coupling 27 with a
rigid member 35 that was previously mounted in the bite of a passenger seat.
Each
rigid member is then pushed between the fingers in each rotary coupling, which
simultaneously pushes each piston 42 to a proximal position inside the
coupling. The
rigid members are pushed past the fingers until each rigid member aligns with
the
notches in its rotary coupling. Then once aligned, both rotary couplings are
simultaneously twisted around each rigid member 35 by turning knob 94. Piston
42
and spring 43 in each rotary coupling then hold each rigid member 35 witllin
notches
66 and 67, which in turn, securely holds the infant seat in the passenger seat
of a
vehicle. Optionally, belt 93 and pulleys 92 can be omitted from this
embodiment and
each shaft can be operated by a separate knob.
In addition to the conventional web adjusters, 31 and 32, shown in Fig. 1, one
may also utilize web adjuster 101, shown in Figs. 20-22 in this invention.
Referring
now more particularly to Fig. 23, there is shown an exploded view of web
adjuster
101. Web adjuster 101 includes a bar 105, two springs 106 & 107, a button 108,
a
frame 102; which may be conceptually subdivided into housing 103 and plate
104;
and a web 141, previously depicted in Figs. 20-22.
Details of bar 105 are shown in Figs. 24-28. Bar 105 may be characterized as
having a generally cylindrical body 119 with a longitudinal axis 120, a front
face 121,
a back face 122, and a frontal plane 123 (Fig. 28). Frontal plane 123 is
important to
convey the preferred placement of serrated portions 124 and 125. Referring to
Fig. 28,
each of these serrated portions is formed by cutting or molding grooves 126 in
the top
127 or bottom 128 of cylindrical body 119. But notably, these grooves are
preferably
placed on top 127 or bottom 128 in planes 130 that are parallel with frontal
plane 123
(or perpendicular to median plane 129). instead of placing the grooves in
planes that
share longitudinal axis 120. Wear on the web is generally reduced when grooves
126
are placed parallel with frontal plane 123. The front face 121 of cylindrical
body 119
also preferably includes a longitudinal notch 131. Longitudinal notch 131 is
placed in
front face 121 so as to butt against web stop 109 on plate 104, and preferably
includes
bevel 132 to assist bar 105 in seating against web 141 and web stop 109. In
this most
preferred embodiment, web 141 is held between point 132a on bevel 132 and the
top
CA 02450744 2003-12-15
WO 03/010035 PCT/US02/23771
-10-
edge of web stop 109 on plate 104. Still further, front face 121 is preferably
slightly
tliiimer in cross-section than back face 122. For example, shortened radii 133
and 134
are preferably continued around front face 121 until they are parallel with
median
plane 129 to give central body 119 a generally elliptical cross-section. The
longitudinal axis 120 is contained in frontal plane 123, which contains the
max
uppermost point on the top 127 and the maximuin lowermost point on the bottom
128.
As viewed in Fig. 28, all radii defining the back face 122 intersect
longitudinal axis
120, and are greater than or equal to all radii defining front face 121.
Bar 105 also includes ears 116 & 117, which are mounted near each end of
cylindrical body 119. As shown, these projections are preferably rectangular
in shape,
and extend away from the longitudinal axis of bar 105, from back face 122.
Nonetheless, it is also contemplated that ears 116 & 117 may have other shapes
and
laterally extend from other sides of cylindrical body 119, such as from front
face 121.
Ears 116 & 117 provide torsional rigidity to bar 105 such that bar 105 will
neither
turn nor deform as force is applied to end 150 of web 141. Ears 116 & 117
preferably
include tabs 135 & 136, as well as slots 137 & 138. Tabs 135 & 136 are sized
to
accept an end of springs 106 & 107, and slots 137 & 138 are sized to accept
interlocking tabs 139 & 140 on button 108 (Fig. 23).
Housing 103 is generally concave in shape, the bottom/opening of which is
shown in Fig. 23. Housing 103 contains two channels 111 & 112, which are
largely
defined by walls 118a & 118b and ear guides 142, which are included along the
inside
of housing 103. A backstop 143 is then preferably included inside housing 103
between the ends 114 & 115 of channels 111 & 112. Backstop 143 is preferably-
supported by walls 149 a -e. Beyond the foregoing structures, housing 103
preferably
also includes access opening 144, which exposes the top of bar 105 and button
opening 145 to provide access to front face 121 of bar 105.
With housing 103 formed in this fashion, web adjuster 101 is initially
assembled by placing button 108 inside button opening 145. Bar 105 then rests
inside
housing 105 with ears 116 & 117 sliding in channels 111 & 112, between ear
guides
142 (one ear guide each side of bar 105). As shown, bar 105 is oriented in
these
channels such that a on tabs 135 & 136 face channel ends 114 & 115, such that
the
longitudinal notch 131 faces plate 104 (discussed below), and such that slots
137 &
138 engage interlocking tabs 139 & 140 on button 108. Helical springs 106 &
107 are
CA 02450744 2003-12-15
WO 03/010035 PCT/US02/23771
-11-
then inserted inside channels 111 & 112 between channel ends 114& 115 and tabs
135 & 136.
The assembly of web adjuster 101 may then be completed by wrapping web
141 around bar 105 as shown in Fig. 22 and by covering the bottom of housing
103
with plate 104. Plate 104 is preferably made of metal and shaped to fit inside
the
edges 113 of the walls 118 a& b of housing 103. Plate 104 has a web stop 109
(Figs.
22 & 23), which mates against web 141 and longitudinal notch 131 on bar 105.
Housing guide 110 then helps to insure that plate 104 remains in this position
by
receiving guide tabs 148 on walls 149 b-d. Web adjuster 101 is then operated
by
pressing button 108, which releases the grip of bar 105 on web 141. With the
grip
released, end 150 of web 141 can be extended by pulling end 150 away from
adjuster
101. End 151 can be extended whether button 108 is pushed or not by pulling
end 151
away from adjuster 101.
Referring to Fig. 1A, in yet another alternative embodiment of the present
invention, connector 160 shown in Fig. 29 may be substituted for rotary
coupling 27.
Top, side, and front views of this device are respectively shown in Figs. 3 1-
33.
Referring now more particularly to Fig. 33, there is shown an exploded view of
part
of connector 160. Connector 160 includes housing 161, a plate 162, a lever
163, a
plate 164, button 165, spring 186 (Fig. 34 & 35) and pins 166 & 167.
Housing 161 is preferably injection molded from plastic into a generally
concave shape that is largely defined on each side by walls 168. Housing 161
has
plugs 169 & 170 and guides 192, which mate with complementary structures on
the
other half of housing 161, which has been omitted from Fig. 33 for clarity.
Both
halves of housing 161 have retaining walls 172 to hold plates 162 or 164
inside
housing 161, against the top of plugs 169 & 170. Finally, housing 161 has a
notch
171, which is sized to allow a fixedly mounted rigid member (not shown) to be
placed
inside the mouth 173 of plates 162 & 163.
The plate 162 is preferably made of metal and is sized to fit inside the walls
168 and beneath retaining walls 172 of housing 161. As shown, first plate 162
is also
preferably formed at 190 to fit around plugs 169 & 170. The intermediate
portion 193
of first plate 162 has two holes 174 & 175, which upon assembly, receive the
tapered
ends 176 & 177 of preferably metal pins 166 & 167. The distal end 191 of first
plate
162 has a mouth 173 that is sized to receive a fixedly mountable rigid member
(not
CA 02450744 2003-12-15
WO 03/010035 PCT/US02/23771
-12-
shown). But in this regard, mouth 173 is preferably formed wider toward its
distal end
than its proximal end to allow the user to more easily place a fixedly mounted
rigid
member into the bottom of mouth 173.
Lever 163 is preferably made of metal and is sized to move inside the housing
of connector 160, between plates 162 & 164. Lever 163 contains a hole 178 to
pivot
on pin 167. In contrast, pin 166 only supports the body 179 of lever 163 when
connector 160 is left in the normally closed position. The distal end 180 of
lever 163
has a downward projecting finger or tooth 181. Tooth 181 is preferably of a
length to
cover the distal opening of mouth 173 when connector 160 is resting in a
normally
closed position. The proximal end 182 of lever 163 has a button engagement
surface
183 to ride against the bottom of button 165, button 165 being located in
opening 184
of housing 161, directly above button engagement surface 183. Finally, lever
163 also
has a projection 185, which upon assembly is sized to accept the end of spring
186
(Figs. 34 and 35) to hold spring 186 in position against lever 163.
Plate 164 is also preferably made of metal and resides next to lever 163.
Complementary to the profile of plate 162, plate 164 also contains holes 187 &
188
that are sized to receive the opposite tapered ends (omitted for clarity) of
pin 166 and
167, and a mouth 173 that is sized to receive a fixedly mountable rigid
member. Plate
164 is sized to fit inside housing 161, and again similar to plate 162 is also
formed at
195 to fit around the plugs that attach to 169 & 170. The proximal end 194 of
plate
164 is discussed below.
Assembled in this fashion, connector 160 has a normally closed position
shown in Fig. 34 and an open position shown in Fig. 35. In the closed
position, spring
186 pushes against housing 161 and lever 163 at projection 185. at a location
that is
proximal to pivot point 189. Thusly extended, spring 186 urges button 165 up
against
housing 161 and simultaneously holds finger 181 on lever 163 in mouth 172
between
plates 162 & 164 to cover mouth 172 and close connector 160. Connector 160 is
opened by pushing downward on button 165 and compressing spring 186, which in
turn, lifts distal end 180 and pulls finger 181 out of mouth 172. With lever
163
relocated in this manner, mouth 172 is ready to receive a fixedly mountable
rigid
member.
Like previously discussed rotary coupling 27, the distal end of web 196 (Fig.
31) can be attached to the proximal end of connector 160 in any conventional
manner,
CA 02450744 2007-04-30
61211-2032
-13-
such as with pins, rivets, stitching 73 8, or a conventional web adjuster. But
in this
regard, it is also contemplated that both rotary coupling 27 and connector 160
may
incorporate web adjuster 101 as an integral part of the connector. Similarly,
couphng
3 60 and 460 disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Patent No. 6,962,394 of Anthony,
et al.
fi'ied 26 July 2002, could incorporate adjuster 101 as an integral part of the
connector.
Likewise, couphngs 27 and connector 160, 360, 460 could incorporate as an
integral
part, or using a web connection, any of the web adjusters 501, 601, 701
described
below and, conversely, web adjusters 101, 501, 601, and 701 could be used with
any
sort of connector, whether integral thereto, or used with an intervening web,
examples
of both of which are shown in Figs. 58 and 59 below. These web adjusters are
generally employed in a mid-belt configuration, wherein they attach at one end
to
some type of connector or coupling, or directly to some other devise, such as
a seat, as
noted, and then they operatively receive a lengeh of web at the other end and
thereafter allow a user to size and maintain the length of the web as desired
by paying
web in or out of the adjuster in a conventional manner. The method to attach
web
adjusters 101, 501, 601, 701, 801 to either coupling 27 or connector 160, is
well
within the average skill of this art. Be that as it may, Figs. 29-36
illustratively depict
such an integration and the following description is provided for the
convenience of
the reader.
Referring again to Figs. 33-35, there is shown an exploded view of web
adjuster 201 that is integrated or attached to connector 160. Like web
adjuster. 101,
web adjuster 201 includes a bar 205, two springs 206 & 207 (Fig. 35), a button
208, a
frame 202; which may be conceptually subdivided into housing 203 and plate
204;
and a web 196 (Fig. 36). Bar 205, and springs 206 & 207 are preferably
identical to
the previously described bar 105 and springs 106 & 107, and web 196 is wound
around bar 205 similarly as web 141 is wound around bar 105. Housing 203 is
largely
identical to previously described housing 103 except that it is now an
integral part or a
continuation of housing 161 and includes a cover 197 to cover access opening
144.
Finally, plate 204 is largely similar to previously described plate 104 with a
web stop
209 to grip web 196 just as web stop 109 gripped web 141. But by also being a
confiinuous part of plate 164, plate 204/plate 164 provides a mechanical
connection
between a fixedly mountable rigid member (not shown) and web 196. Connector
160
CA 02450744 2003-12-15
WO 03/010035 PCT/US02/23771
-14-
or the rotary coupling of Fig. 37 may be integrally connected to a web
adjuster such
as web adjuster 101.
Referring to Figs. 38-44 and 54-56, another illustrative web adjuster 501 is
depicted. The web adjuster 501 comprises a gripping assembly 502, a housing or
frame 503, a plate 504 and first and second biasing members or springs 506 and
507.
As best seen in Figs. 38 and 54, gripping assembly 502 comprises a gripping
portion
or bar 505, a manipulation portion or button 508, and a pair of spaced apart
ears 535,
536. Gripping assembly is illustratively of monolithic construction and may be
made
for example from injection molded plastic or die cast from zinc. Gripping
assembly
illustratively has a generally rectangular profile and includes generally at
its core the
longitudinally extending gripping portion 505 which has a generally elliptical
to
rectangular cross section having a longitudinal axis 520, a front face or
gripping
surface 521, a back face 522, a top face 527, and a bottom face 528.
As with bar 105, bar 505 may have alternative cross-sections known to those
skilled in the art. For example, it may have any one of a generally,
cylindrical, ovate,
or rectangular shape. Referring to Figs. 38 and 40, top face 527 includes a
first pair of
generally parallel protrusions or ridges 510 and a second pair of generally
parallel
ridges 511. The first pair of ridges 510 extends generally obliquely and
longitudinally
away from ear 517 and back face 522 toward front face 521 and generally toward
the
center of bar 505. Similarly, the second pair of ridges 511 extends generally
obliquely and longitudinally away from ear 516 and back face 522 toward front
face
521 and generally toward the center of bar 505. Therefore, first and second
pair of
ridges 510 and 511 angle toward each other as they extend generally toward the
center
of front face 521. Referring to Fig. 54, bottom face 528 illustratively
includes a
longitudinal notch 531 adjacent to front face 521. Notch 531 is substantially
similar
to notch 131 depicted in Fig. 28 and includes beve1532 to assist bar 505 in
seating
against a web, such as 141, and the web stop 509. Illustratively, web 141 is
held
between point 532a on beve1532 and the top edge of web stop 509 on plate 504.
Referring to Figs. 54 and 55, bottom face 528 and back face 522 illustratively
include
portions of a generally V-shaped protrusion or ridge 512 having a vertex 513
oriented
towards and positioned on back face 522 with opposite sides of V-shaped ridge
512
extending obliquely and laterally away from the vertex 513 in opposing fashion
toward notch 531.
CA 02450744 2003-12-15
WO 03/010035 PCT/US02/23771
-15-
The protrusions 510, 511, 512 facilitate the gripping of a web by the gripping
portion 505 and further cooperate with notch 531 and stop 509 to grip a web,
as for
example, web 141 depicted in Figs. 20-22, and allow the gripping to take place
in
almost any linear orientation. One skilled in the art will appreciate that a
fewer or
greater number of ridges on the top or bottom faces, or even on the front or
back face,
fall within the scope of the invention. Similarly, alternative patterns and
locations of
ridges or protrusions may be used. For example, the a W-shaped ridge, an S-
shaped
ridge, a zigzag patterned ridge, a series of three or more parallel ridges,
and the like
could be used. Such ridges could be at the periphery of the bar, in the center
of the
bar, or span the length of the bar, for example.
The manipulation portion or button 508 is generally parallel to bar 505 and is
spaced apart therefrom. Button 508 illustratively is generally rectangular in
cross
section and has a curvate front face 523, a back face 524, a curvate top face
525, and a
bottom face 526. It will be appreciated that front and top faces 523, 525 need
not be
curvate. Bottom face 526 may be of solid construction as shown in Fig. 54, or
may be
hollowed out as shown in Figs. 42 and 43. Parallel and elongated ears 516 and
517
are perpendicular to button 508 and extend away therefrom, toward and beyond
gripping bar 505 ending respectively at spring mounting tabs 535 and 536. The
gripping bar 505 is generally parallel to button 508 and is perpendicular to,
and
extends transversely between the ears 516 and 517. Ears 516, 517, button 508
and bar
505 define aperture 529. Ears 516 and 517 illustratively have generally
rectangular
cross sections, although they may have any suitable shape, such as for
example,
elliptical or cylindrical. Illustratively, the mounting tabs 535, 536 have a
generally
cylindrical cross section and are configured to receive an end of springs 507
and 506,
respectively, as best seen in Fig. 38.
As noted, the gripping assembly 508 is plastic and is of monolithic
construction, formed by injection molding. It will be appreciated, however,
that it
may be made of any suitable metallic, non-metallic, or composite material. For
example, gripping assembly 508 may be made of molded plastic, as noted, or
graphite; although, other materials and methods of manufacture, such as die-
cast zinc
or titanium and the like, may be used. Moreover, the gripping assembly need
not be
of monolithic construction, but may be a unitary construction comprising
discrete
CA 02450744 2003-12-15
WO 03/010035 PCT/US02/23771
-16-
button, bar, and ear components coupled together similar to the corresponding
components of web adjuster 101.
Referring to Fig. 38, plate 504 illustratively is of generally monolithic
construction and of generally metallic composition, as, for example, stamped
or die-
cast steel, zinc or the like. It will be appreciated that alternative
materials and
methods of manufacture, such as non-metallic materials, including injection
molded
plastic or graphite, or composite materials may be used as well. Plate 504 has
a
generally rectangular portion 518 and a generally triangular tab portion 537.
Tab
portion 537 includes coupling aperture 538 and anchor or mounting aperture
539.
Coupling aperture 538 is configured to receive a coupler, such as for example
rivet
514, as will be explained. The rectangular portion 518 includes a web gripping
aperture 540. Gripping aperture 540 includes a web stop 509. Plate 504 further
includes, illustratively, an indentation 541. Indentation 541 may be, for
example,
embossed or stamped into plate 504, and may add rigidity to the plate 504.
Plate 504
is sized to fit inside housing 503. The apertures 538, 539, 540 and stop 509
will be
fiirther explained below. It will be appreciated that plate 504 could be
modified or
even eliminated by those skilled in the art. For example, the plate could
comprise
merely the web stop portion 509. Moreover, such web stop portion 509 could be
integral to the frame 503, thereby eliminating the need for a separate plate
504.
Illustratively, housing 503 is injection molded from plastic and is of
monolithic construction; although it will be appreciated that alternative
metallic, non-
metallic, or composite materials, such as, for example, zinc, aluminum,
titanium,
graphite, kevlar and the like may be used. Similarly, alternative methods of
manufacture suitable to the chosen material, such as die-casting, extruding,
stamping,
and the like may be used. Housing 503 comprises a generally rectangular
portion 546
(Figs. 39, 40) and a generally triangular tab portion 545 (Figs. 38, 40).
Rectangular
portion 546 includes a top surface 547 defining an aperture 544, as shown best
in Fig.
38, a bottom surface 548 defining an aperture 542, as shown best in Fig. 38,
opposite
side surfaces 550 and 551, and front surface or backstop 543, which together
define
open-ended cavity 552 best seen in Fig. 56. Bottom surface 548 includes
appendage
553 defining a web guide aperture 554. Tab portion 545 includes a top surface
555
defining web anchor or mounting aperture 557, and bottom surface 556 defining
web
anchor aperture 558. Top and bottom surfaces 555 and 556 also define
respective
CA 02450744 2003-12-15
WO 03/010035 PCT/US02/23771
-17-
coupling apertures 559 and 560. Top and bottom surfaces may also define plate
aperture 561. Apertures 544, 540 and 542 provide access to the bar 505, and
any web
passing through the adjuster.
Cavity 552 also includes channels 533 and 534 formed along the periphery of
the housing 503 and terminating at channel ends 563 and 564. Channel ends 563
and
564 generally proceed past the backstop 543 in the vicinity of spaced apart
walls 549a
and 549b. The springs 506 and 507 and their respective ears 517, 516 are
disposed
within the channels 533, 534, with the springs ends adjacent to the channel
ends 563,
564 and the mounting tabs 536 and 535. The gripping assembly translates in a
generally linear manner as the ears move in the channels 533, 534 and the
springs
506, 507 compress and decompress.
Cavity 552 is configured to receive plate 504 as seen in Figs. 38 and 56 as
follows. Plate 504 rests on bottom surface 548 and nestles under front surface
543
and generally within plate aperture 561. It will be appreciated, however, that
the plate
504 could nestle between top and bottom surfaces 555, 556 without the need of
aperture 561. When plate 504 is received within cavity 552, the coupling
apertures
538, 559 and 560, the anchor apertures 539, 557, and 558, and the access
apertures
540, 544 and 542 are in respective alignment with each other. Rivet 514 is
received
in sequence through coupling apertures 559, 538 and 560 to couple together the
plate
504 and the housing 503. It will be appreciated that other couplers, such as a
press fit,
a screw, a nail, a weld and the like, may be used. It will also be appreciated
that more
than one coupler, for example two rivets and corresponding coupling apertures,
may
be used. Cavity 552 is further configured to receive gripping assembly 502,
which
lies on top of plate 504 as shown in Figs. 38 and 39.
Illustratively, the web adjuster 501 is initially assembled by mounting the
springs 506, 507 to their respective mounting tabs 536, 535; placing the
gripping
assembly 502 on top of the plate 504, and sliding the assembly 502 and plate
504 into
housing 503. Coupler 514 secures the components inside housing 503 by passing
through apertures 559, 538, 560.
The gripping assembly 502 moves within the channels 533, 534 of cavity 552
as described with springs 506 and 507 biasing the assembly 502 in its normal
position
such that notch 531 abuts web stop 509. Substantially as shown in Fig. 22,
with the
exception that bar 505 differs from bar 105, a web 141 is threaded through
aperture
CA 02450744 2007-04-30
61211-2032
-18-
545, around bar 505, back through aperture 545 and out through aperture 554 as
is
known by those skilled in the art. In the normal position, then, bar 505 is
urged
against stop 509, thereby gripping web 141 therebetween as shown in Figs. 42
and 52.
Adjuster 505 is operated by apply pressure to button 508, as by pressing,
which
compresses spr:uags 506 and 507 and releases the grip of bar 505, as shown in
Figs. 43
and 48. With the grip released, end 150 of web 141 in Figs. 22, 58 and 59 can
be
extended by pulling end 150 away frorn adjuster 501. End 151 can be extended
whether button 508 is pushed or not by pulling end 151 away from adjuster 501.
Anchor apertures 539, 557, 558 are configured to receive web belts coupled as
by stitching 738, snaps, or hook and piles and the like. Apertures 539, 557,
558 may also
receive a belt attached to a snap hook, a mini-connector, or other
conventional connectors
for attachment to some type of anchor member. Such connectors or anchor
members
may be integrated directly into the adjuster 501 at the location of the
apertures 539,
557, 558 as well. It will be appreciated, therefore, that adjuster 501 is not
only
configured to be a mid-belt adjuster, but may also be used as an adjuster
connected
directly to, or integrated with a coupling device, a connector or an anchor
member,
the metliod of connecting or integrating falling well within the scope of one
skilled in
this art as seen in, for example, Figs. 49 and 58-59.
The illustrative embodiments depicted in Figs. 45 through 53, and 57 through
59 are structurally similar and functionally identical to the illustrative
embodiments
described and depicted in Figs. 38-44 and 54-56. Accordingly, like reference _
numerals are used for like features and similar numerals, increased by 100 for
each
subsequent embodiment, 601, 701, 801 are used for similar features and the
foregoing
description of the function of such features is equally applicable for these
features and
reference should be made to said foregoing description. Similarly, as already
noted
with adjuster 501, each of the components of each of these illustrative
embodiments
may be of any suitable metallic, nonmetallic, or composite material, or
combination
thereof, and fashioned in any method suitable to such chosen material, such
as, for
example, injection molded plastic, or die cast zinc. Illustratively, then, the
entire web
adjuster 501, 601, 701, 801 may be injection molded from plastic, or,
alternatively,
for example, the housing 503, 603, 703, may be of injection molded plastic,
the
CA 02450744 2003-12-15
WO 03/010035 PCT/US02/23771
-19-
gripping assembly 502, 602, 702 maybe of die-cast zinc, and the plate 503,
603, 703
may be of stamped or die-cast steel.
Illustrative web adjuster 601, depicted in Figs. 45-48 is functionally
identical
to adjuster 501, and is substantially similar structurally with slight
differences in
profile. More specifically, web adjuster 601 has a reduced profile in that tab
portion
645 is shorter than tab portion 545. Similarly, then, plate 604 has a somewhat
smaller
tab portion 637 and anchor aperture 657. Illustratively, plate tab portion 637
overlays
housing tab portion 645 rather than being disposed between the housing tab
portion
645, which also has a smaller anchor aperture 658. Of course, tab portion 637
could
also lie underneath housing tab portion 645, as in adjuster 101 (Fig. 22 and
23), or, as
in adjuster 501 (Fig. 42), tab portion 637 could be sandwiched inside the tab
portion
645. Indeed, any of these configurations are adaptable by one skilled in the
art to any
of the illustrative embodiments 101, 201, 501, 601, 701, 801 described herein.
Illustrative web adjuster 701, depicted in Figs. 49-53 and 57, is functionally
identical to adjuster 501, and is substantially similar structurally. Web
adjuster 701
includes gripping assembly 502, housing 703, springs 506 and 507 and connector
770.
Gripping assembly 502 and springs 506 and 507 are made and function
substantially
as described above in all respects, including, as noted, alternative
materials,
manufacture and size. Referring to Figs. 52 and 57, housing 703 is generally
concave
in shape, with its bottom surface 748 defining a bottom opening or aperture
742,
which is generally coextensive with aperture 740 defined by frame 704.
Illustratively,
then, the web stop 509, would be= carried directly on the frame 704 as would
be
apparent to those skilled in the art, not only with respect to this
embodiment, but to
the other illustrative web adjusters 501, 601, 801 just as is the case with
adjuster 101.
It will be appreciated, too, that bottom surface 748 and frame 704 could also
be
generally closed as in bottom surface 548 and plate 504.
Adjuster 701 includes a connector or snap hook portion 770 having a hook
portion 771 and a spring or keeper 772 attached by coupling 714, which may,
for
example, be a rivet, a screw, a bolt, or other conventional coupling. Hook
portion 771
and keeper 772 are configured to cooperatively and releasably engage an anchor
member, such as a round bar or D-ring, in a conventional manner well known to
those
skilled in the art. For example, such a web adjuster 701 might be used in
conjunction
with a child seat to attach an upper tether to a car mounting member.
CA 02450744 2003-12-15
WO 03/010035 PCT/US02/23771
-20-
The connector portion 770 illustratively has a frame 704 integrated into the
housing 703. Alternatively, the connector 770 could be coupled to housing 703
using
anchor apertures 539, 557, 558 as has been described and as is depicted in
Figs. 58
and 59. Referring to Fig. 58, the connector 770 of adjuster 801 is attached to
the
anchor apertures 539, 557, 558 using coupling 714, which may be any suitable
conventional coupling such as a bolt, or screw, or rivet, and the like. In
addition, a
plurality of couplings 714 could be used. Referring to Fig. 59, the connector
770 is
attached to the anchor apertures 539, 557, 558 using a length of web 741,
which is
threaded through the anchor apertures 539, 557, 558 in a conventional manner,
then
wrapped back upon itself and through the mounting aperture on connector 770
and
secured, illustratively, by stitching 738, although the web 741 could be
secured using
other suitable methods such as heat press, glue, hook and pile, snaps, tape
and the
like.
Those skilled in the art will know that other forms of connectors and
couplings
could similarly be attached to each of the web adjusters 101, 501, 601, 701,
801 using
the anchor apertures 539, 557, 558, as just described, or through direct
integration as
described with respect to adjuster 201 and 701.
It will be appreciated that each of the web adjusters are configurable for use
with different size belts, for example one inch (25mm) or one-and-a-half inch
(38mm)
belts depending on the desired use of the adjuster. For example, a 25mm
adjuster
might be desirable for use in infant or backpack situations, whereas a 38mm
adjuster
might be desirable for use in child or marine tie-down situations. Those
skilled in the
are will recognize how to change the dimensions of the devices 101, 501, 601,
701,
801 accordingly. Those skilled in the art will also comprehend, as has been
noted
throughout, that each of components may be made from any suitable metallic,
non-
metallic, or composite material, alone or in combination, such as plastic,
steel, zinc,
aluminum, titanium, graphite, and the like, depending on the desired weight
and
strength characteristics, and according to any suitable manufacturing process
to
include die casting, pressing, molding, and the like.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the
drawings
and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and
not
restrictive in character, it being understood that one skilled in the art will
recognize,
CA 02450744 2003-12-15
WO 03/010035 PCT/US02/23771
-21-
and that it is desired to protect, all aspects, changes and modifications that
come
within the spirit of the invention.
