Seat belt securing device

摘要

An occupant restraint system includes a belt having one end anchored outboard the seat and adjacent the lap of the occupant with the other end anchored outboard the seat and adjacent the shoulder of the occupant. At least one of the belt anchorages is provided by a retractor having a windup spring for winding the belt to a vertically extending stored position. A belt securing device mounted inboard the occupant includes a housing having pivotally mounted tong arms for capturing encirclement of the belt. A spring acts on the tong arms to bias the tong arms to an open spaced-apart belt-releasing position. An actuating member is slidably mounted on the housing and has an actuating bar positioned between the tong arms. Movement of the actuating bar by the occupant or the belt as the belt is entered between the tong arms pivots the tong arms to a closed position of belt capturing encirclement. A releasable latch member is pivotally mounted on the housing and has a latch spring acting thereon to urge a portion into blocking engagement of abutment surfaces on the tong arms to block return of the tong arms to the open position.