Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Buckles – Looped strap
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-14
2001-12-04
Sandy, Robert J. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Buckles
Looped strap
C024S2650BC, C280S808000, C280S801100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324730
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT
The present invention relates to a webbing insertion member used for, such as deflection fitting or shoulder anchor, in a seat belt device.
Seat belt devices are used in high-speed vehicles, such as automobiles and aircraft, for protecting occupants by means of webbings thereof. For example, as for a seat belt device for a front seat of an automobile, the webbing is hooked by a deflection fitting or shoulder anchor disposed on a frame or B pillar of the automobile.
The deflection fitting is normally formed by insert molding so that a metal body as a metal insert is covered with a mold made of synthetic resin (normally, polyamide).
The deflection fitting or shoulder anchor is provided with a webbing through opening. Surfaces on which the webbing slides are made of the aforementioned synthetic resin, so that frictional resistance in sliding the webbing is large.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a webbing insertion member allowing smooth sliding of the webbing.
Another object of the invention is to provide a webbing insertion member as stated above, wherein the webbing can be easily handled by a user.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A webbing insertion member according to the present invention is formed of a body having a through opening for allowing a webbing to pass therethrough, a slide portion formed on at least one side of the through opening, and a friction reducing material formed on the slide portion. The slide portion has a rough portion at a sliding area substantially contacting the webbing to reduce a contact area with the webbing. The friction reducing material is formed on the rough portion for allowing the webbing to slide easily on the rough portion.
The rough portion includes a plurality of very small projections, and/or very small projections and grooves (dents) on the surface of the slide portion. Preferably, the projections have ten-point mean roughness between 7 and 17 &mgr;m, and an average distance between 150 and 350 &mgr;m. It is preferable that the low frictional material is a coating of solid lubricant and/or metal plating.
In the invention, since the rough portion is formed on the slide portion, the contact area with the webbing on the slide portion is reduced, on which the friction reducing material is applied. Since the friction reducing material is formed on the reduced contact area, the sliding ability of the webbing is increased. The webbing can slide smoothly through the through opening.
The slide portion may be formed of a metal slip piece to be fixed to the body adjacent the through opening. The slip piece has a curved portion having the rough portion, and legs for holding the body therebetween. On the other hand, the slide portion may be formed integrally with the body made of metal, and have an outwardly curved surface facing the through opening, on which the rough portion is formed. The solid lubricant and/or metal plating is formed on the slide portion.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4211432 (1980-07-01), Furukawa et al.
patent: 4369931 (1983-01-01), Föhl
patent: 4527313 (1985-07-01), Sylven et al.
patent: 4582340 (1986-04-01), Föhl
patent: 5513880 (1996-05-01), Ohira et al.
patent: 5601311 (1997-02-01), Pfeiffer et al.
patent: 5609367 (1997-03-01), Eusebi et al.
patent: 5768753 (1998-06-01), Möndel
patent: 5918903 (1999-07-01), Ito
patent: 6217070 (2001-04-01), Kopetzky et al.
Kanesaka & Takeuchi
Sandy Robert J.
Takata Corporation
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