Safety belt web adjuster

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward a safety belt web adjuster that incorporates a sliding middle horizontal member around which the lower section of webbing is looped. This allows the webbing section to be trapped between two bars, one sliding and one fixed. The web adjuster of the present invention also allows for relatively easy adjustment of safety belt tension by moving the web adjuster through approximately 90 degrees of motion, thereby removing the bearing force on the webbing previously supplied by the fixed member, allowing the slack in the safety belt to be easily adjusted.

1 . A safety belt web adjuster for use with a safety belt web, said safety belt web adjuster comprising: 
 a first horizontal member having first and second ends;    a second horizontal member having third and fourth ends;    a first vertical member having a top surface and a bottom surface extending between the first and third ends;    a second vertical member having a top surface and bottom surface extending between the second and fourth ends;    a first ear extending away from the junction between the second horizontal member and first vertical member;    a second ear extending away from the junction between the second horizontal member and the second vertical member; and    a third horizontal member having a first substantially c-shaped end and a second substantially c-shaped end, the third horizontal member having no teeth or knurling, wherein the first substantially c-shaped end engages the first vertical member around the top and bottom surfaces and wherein the second substantially c-shaped end engages the second vertical member around the top and bottom surfaces;    wherein the third horizontal member is free to slide between the first and second horizontal members;    wherein the first ear and the second ear prevent the third horizontal member from sliding past the second horizontal member; and    wherein the third horizontal member can slide over the first horizontal member while engaging the first and second vertical members.    
   
   
       2 . A safety belt apparatus comprising: 
 a web adjuster comprising: 
 a first horizontal member having first and second ends;  
 a second horizontal member having third and forth ends;  
 a first vertical member having a top surface and a bottom surface extending between the first and third ends;  
 a second vertical member having a top surface and bottom surface extending between the second and fourth ends;  
 a third horizontal member having a first substantially c-shaped end and a second substantially c-shaped end;  
 wherein the first substantially c-shaped end engages the first vertical member around both the top and bottom surfaces;  
 wherein the second substantially c-shaped end engages the second vertical member around both the top and bottom surfaces; and  
 wherein the third horizontal member is free to slide between the first and second horizontal members;  
   a first web affixed to the first horizontal member; and    a second web looped around the third horizontal member;    wherein tension on the second web generates a clamping force between the third horizontal member and the second horizontal member that substantially prevents loosening the web adjuster relative to the second web unless the clamping force is reduced by rotating the web adjuster at least 45 degrees from an upper/lower plane orientation.    
   
   
       3 . The safety belt apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the clamping force between the third horizontal member and the second horizontal member substantially prevents loosening the web adjuster relative to the second web unless the clamping force is reduced by rotating the web adjuster at least 90 degrees from the upper/lower plane orientation.  
   
   
       4 . A safety belt apparatus comprising: 
 a web adjuster comprising: 
 a first horizontal member having first and second ends;  
 a second horizontal member having third and forth ends, the second horizontal member having a configuration;  
 a first vertical member having a top surface and a bottom surface extending between the first and third ends;  
 a second vertical member having a top surface and bottom surface extending between the second and fourth ends;  
 a third horizontal member having a first substantially c-shaped end and a second substantially c-shaped end;  
 wherein the first substantially c-shaped end engages the first vertical member around both the top and bottom surfaces;  
 wherein the second substantially c-shaped end engages the second vertical member around both the top and bottom surfaces;  
 wherein the third horizontal member is free to slide between the first and second horizontal member;  
 wherein the configuration of the second horizontal member prevents said third horizontal member from sliding past the second horizontal member; and  
 wherein the first horizontal member fits through the first and second substantially c-shaped ends of the third horizontal member;  
   a first strap affixed to the first horizontal member; and    a second strap girded around the third horizontal member.    
   
   
       5 . The safety belt apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the third horizontal member has a substantially rectangular cross section that is substantially uniform between the first and second substantially c-shaped ends.  
   
   
       6 . The safety belt apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the web adjuster is substantially flat.  
   
   
       7 . The safety belt apparatus of claims  4 , wherein the first and second vertical members and the first and second horizontal members are coplanar and the third horizontal member is not coplanar with the first and second vertical members and the first and second horizontal members.  
   
   
       8 . The safety belt apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein tension on the second strap generates a clamping force on the second strap between the third horizontal member and the second horizontal member that substantially restrains the web adjuster in position relative to the second strap unless the clamping force is reduced by rotating the web adjuster at least 45 degrees from a relative upper/lower plane orientation.  
   
   
       9 . The safety belt apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the web adjuster is restrained in position relative to the second strap unless the clamping force is reduced by rotating the web adjuster at least 90 degrees from the relative upper/lower plane orientation.  
   
   
       10 . The safety belt apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein one end of the second strap is coupled to a chassis of a racing vehicle.  
   
   
       11 . The safety belt web adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein tension on the safety belt generates a clamping force between the third horizontal member and the second horizontal member that substantially prevents movement of the web adjuster on the safety belt unless the clamping force is reduced by rotating the web adjuster at least 45 degrees from an upper/lower plane orientation.  
   
   
       12 . The safety belt web adjuster of  claim 11 , wherein the position of the web adjuster on the safety belt can be adjusted only if the clamping force is reduced by rotating the web adjuster at least 90 degrees from the upper/lower plane orientation.  
   
   
       13 . The safety belt web adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the web adjuster is relatively flat.  
   
   
       14 . The safety belt web adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second horizontal members are coplanar and the third horizontal member is not coplanar with the first or second horizontal members.  
   
   
       15 . The safety belt web adjuster of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second substantially c-shaped ends of the third horizontal member are configured to permit the third horizontal member to move in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the first and second horizontal members.  
   
   
       16 . The safety belt apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second horizontal member is configured to prevent the third horizontal member from sliding past the second horizontal member and wherein the third horizontal member can be installed over the first horizontal member.  
   
   
       17 . The safety belt apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein one end of the second web is affixed to a chassis of a vehicle.  
   
   
       18 . The safety belt web adjuster of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second substantially c-shaped ends of the third horizontal member are configured to permit the third horizontal member to move in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the first and second horizontal members.  
   
   
       19 . The safety belt apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second horizontal members and the first and second vertical members define an opening in the web adjuster and wherein the third horizontal member does not enter the opening in the web adjuster.  
   
   
       20 . A web adjuster for adjusting the effective length of a web under tension, said web adjuster comprising: 
 a first horizontal member having first and second ends;    a second horizontal member having third and fourth ends;    a first vertical member having a top surface and a bottom surface extending between the first and third ends;    a second vertical member having a top surface and bottom surface extending between the second and fourth ends; and    a third horizontal member having a first substantially c-shaped end and a second substantially c-shaped end, wherein the first substantially c-shaped end engages the first vertical member around the top and bottom surfaces and wherein the second substantially c-shaped end engages the second vertical member around the top and bottom surfaces, wherein the third horizontal member is free to slide between the first and second horizontal members and wherein the third horizontal member is not coplanar with the first and second horizontal members;    wherein tension on the web generates a clamping force on the web between the third horizontal member and the second horizontal member that prevents movement of the web adjuster in the direction that reduces tension on the web unless the clamping force is reduced by rotating the web adjuster at least 45 degrees from an orientation of the web at the location of the web adjuster.    
   
   
       21 . The web adjuster of  claim 20 , wherein movement of the web adjuster in the direction that reduces tension on the web can be made only if the clamping force is reduced by rotating the web adjuster at least 90 degrees from the orientation of the web.  
   
   
       22 . The web adjuster of  claim 20 , wherein the third horizontal member cannot slide past said second horizontal member and wherein the third horizontal member can slide over the first horizontal member.  
   
   
       23 . The web adjuster of  claim 20 , wherein the web adjuster is relatively flat.  
   
   
       24 . The web adjuster of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second substantially c-shaped ends of the third horizontal member are configured to permit the third horizontal member to move in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the first and second horizontal members.