Adjustable seat belt turning loop anchorage with release button

A height adjusting mechanism for a safety belt comprising a track adapted to the secured in a general vertical orientation to a portion of the vehicle. The track includes a central channel and a carrier slidably received thereon. The carrier includes structure to support a D-ring. The height adjusting mechanism further includes a latch plate tiltably located within the track and movable with the carrier.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a height adjusting mechanism for a safety 
belt and more particularly to a mechanism useful in changing the vertical 
position of a shoulder belt and its turning loop or D-ring. 
The invention comprises a height adjusting mechanism for a safety belt 
comprising a track, adapted to be secured in a generally vertical 
orientation to a portion of a vehicle, the track including a central 
channel formed therein, and a plurality of slots or grooves, vertically 
positioned along the track. The mechanism comprises a carrier slidably 
received in the track, including engagement means extending through the 
central channel for supporting a D-ring through which the safety belt 
extends. The mechanism additionally includes a latch plate tiltably 
located within the track and movable with the carrier. The latch plate 
comprises a first portion forming a fulcrum, a second portion extending 
from the first portion, having formed at one end thereof first means (106, 
124) for lockingly engaging a designated groove; and a third portion 
located on an opposite side of the fulcrum away from the second portion. 
The third portion includes a bar extending outwardly through the central 
channel of the track, such that when force is exerted on the bar the latch 
plate pivots about the fulcrum causing the first means to disengage from a 
selected slot or groove (46) such that the latch plate can be slid 
vertically in the track carrying therewith the carrier, and repositioned 
to enable the second portion to engage another slot or groove. In one 
embodiment of the invention the track includes slots in a front portion 
and in another embodiment slots are in a rear or bottom portion. 
Many other objects and purposes of the invention will be clear from the 
following detailed description of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a height adjusting mechanism 30 for a safety belt. 
The height adjusting mechanism comprises a track generally shown as 32 
having openings 34a and 34b at opposite ends thereof for receipt of a 
fastener 36 such as a bolt for attaching the track to the B pillar of an 
automobile. In use, the track 32 is positioned vertically. The track 32 
includes a back portion 38, sides 40a and 40b integrally extending from 
the back portion, and two opposing front members 42a and 42b. The spacing 
between the front members defines a central channel generally shown as 44. 
The back portion 38 includes grooves or slots 46a, 46b . . . 46n. The 
lower portions of sides 40a and b include a tab 48a and 48b which 
integrally extends from the respective side, to provide a stop for a 
carrier 60. The bottom 38 also includes a tab 50, which may be inserted in 
a hole in the B pillar to position the track 32 prior to insertion of the 
bolts 36. 
The carrier 60 is slidably received within the track 32. The carrier 60 
includes an internally threaded boss 62 extending outwardly from the front 
members. A turning loop or D-ring 63 is attached to the boss 62 and the 
shoulder belt 65 extends therethrough in a known manner. The carrier 60 is 
shown in greater detail in FIGS. 3-5. As can be seen, the carrier is 
generally rectangular shaped and includes bent over end portions 64a and 
64b, the bottoms of which slide on the bottom 38 of the track 32. The 
central flat portion 66 of the carrier 60 includes a small opening 68 and 
the bent over portion 64a includes a partial opening 70 (slot, notch etc). 
The ends 71a,b and 71c,d of each bent over end portion 64a extends 
outwardly from the central plate 66. The distance between each respective 
end 71a-71b, and 71c-71d is approximately the same as the spacing between 
the sides 40a and 40b of the track. As can be appreciated, the ends 70a- 
70d laterally stabilize the carrier with the track 32. As can be seen from 
FIG. 1 and also FIG. 3, the height h of the end portion 64a and 64b is 
slightly smaller than the height of the track. In order to stabilize the 
carrier within the track and also to reduce the sliding friction against 
the underside of the front members 42a and 42b, an additional member 80 is 
fitted to the top of the carrier 60. This member 80 is illustrated in 
greater detail in FIGS. 6-8. The member 80 is fabricated of a flexible 
plastic and includes a central plate 82 and a plurality of sides 84a,b 
extending downwardly therefrom. Each of the sides includes an inwardly 
directed tab, such as 86a and 86b. Extending upwardly from the plate 82 
are a plurality of tabs 88a and 88b. The plate 82 includes a large opening 
90 and a smaller opening 92. The member 80 is placed over the carrier such 
that the tabs 86a and b grab respective sides 72a and 72b of the carrier. 
The opening 90 is fitted about the boss 62 and the opening 92 is 
positioned over the opening 68 within the carrier 60. Also, the tabs 88a 
and 88b fit over a respective one of the end faces 37a and 37b of the 
front portions 42a and 42b of the track 32 and slide thereon. 
Fitted within the carrier 60 is a latch plate 94. The latch plate 94 is 
more clearly illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The latch plate is fabricated 
of steel and includes a central plate portion 96 having opposing slots 98a 
and 98b formed therein. The right hand portion of the plate 96 is bent 
upwardly at 100 to provide a pivot point. A narrow handle 102 extends 
outwardly from the plate 96 and a button 104 (see FIG. 1) may be fitted to 
the end of the handle 102. The opposite end of the plate 96 is formed with 
a hook 106 which is adapted to be received within a selected one of the 
slots 46. When the latch plate 94 is positioned within the carrier 60, the 
ends 71a and 71b thereof are fitted within the slots 98a and 98b and the 
hook extends outwardly through the opening or notch 70. In addition, the 
handle extends upwardly through the opening 68 within the carrier and 
opening 92 within the low friction member 80. A bias spring 110 is used to 
maintain the hook 106 in the selected slot 46. The spring 110 is shown in 
greater detail in FIGS. 11 and 12. As can be seen, one end of the spring 
is formed with a groove 112 that is adapted to be received about the end 
of the downwardly curved member 64b of the carrier 60. FIG. 11 illustrates 
in solid line the free or unstressed position of the spring 110 and in 
dashed line the installed position which can also be seen in FIG. 1. 
The height adjusting mechanism 30, illustrated in the above described 
drawings, operates in the following manner. When the vehicle user desires 
to reposition the carrier 60 within the track 32, an inward force is 
exerted on button 104. This force causes the latch plate 94 to rotate 
clockwise as illustrated in FIG. 1 about the pivot 100 thereby moving the 
hook 106 out of selected the slot 46a-n. With the hook 106 now out of the 
slot 46a-n, the vehicle user slides the button 104 and carrier 60 upwardly 
(see arrow 120, FIG. 1) or downwardly within the track to another slot 
46a-n. 
Reference is now made to FIGS. 13-15 which illustrate an alternate 
embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen in FIG. 13, one 
difference between the track 30 utilized in FIG. 1 and the track 30' shown 
in FIG. 13 is that the slots 46 in the bottom 38 have been removed and 
replaced with opposing sets of grooves or slots 46a'-46n' formed in each 
front member 42a and 42b. This change in the track necessitates a change 
in the design of the latch plate. FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate an alternate 
latch plate 94'. The latch plate 94' comprises a central plate 120 which 
is bent at location 100 to provide a pivot point or fulcrum. The plate 120 
includes opposing grooves 122a and 122b. An end of the plate is formed 
with a hook 124 which engages a corresponding set of the grooves 46a'-n' 
formed in the track 30. Extending from an opposite portion of the plate 
120 is a handle 126 that may be provided with a knob 128 (see FIG. 13). 
The central portion of the plate 120 includes an opening 130. The latch 
plate is biased against the carrier to maintain the hook 124 within the 
selected slot 46a'-n'. As before, the ends 71a and 71b of the carrier are 
inserted within grooves of the latch plate such as grooves 122a and 122b. 
The hook 124 extends through the opening 70 formed in the carrier 60. 
FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate various views of a bias spring 132. Spring 132 
includes a groove 112 which fits upon bent end 64a of the carrier. The end 
133 of the spring 132 biases the latch plate 94' in a clockwise manner as 
viewed in FIG. 13. The spring 132 further includes a central opening 136 
which permits the spring to be fitted about the handle 126. 
FIGS. 18-20 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the invention which is 
virtually identical to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 
13. The only difference is in the construction of the spring 132. As 
illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20, the spring 132' comprises a bent over 
configuration comprising a hook 134 at one end thereof which engages the 
end 135 of the latch plate (see FIG. 14). The spring 132' also includes a 
central opening 136. The stressed and free positions of the spring is also 
shown in FIG. 19 in dotted line. 
Many changes and modifications in the above described embodiment of the 
invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope 
thereof. Accordingly, that scope is intended to be limited only by the 
scope of the appended claims.