Seatbelt adjusting device

Abstract

A seatbelt adjusting device includes: a guiding track provided with a plurality of first engaging members; a belt-connecting slider mounted on the guiding track and slidable on the guiding track; a actuator mounted movably on the belt-connecting slider, provided with a second engaging member, and operable to move relative to the belt-connecting slider between an engaging position, in which the second engaging member engages releasably an aligned one of the first engaging members, and a disengaging position, in which the second engaging member is disengaged from the first engaging members; and an urging member urging against the actuator for restoring the actuator from the disengaging position to the engaging position.

1 . A seatbelt adjusting device for a safety seat having an backrest and a seatbelt connected to the backrest, said seatbelt adjusting device comprising:
 a guiding track adapted to be secured to the backrest, extending in a first direction, having first and second ends opposite to each other in the first direction, and provided with a plurality of first engaging members that are arranged along the first direction;   a belt-connecting slider mounted on said guiding track, adapted to be connected to the seatbelt, and being slidable on said guiding track in the first direction for adjusting the seatbelt;   an actuator provided with a second engaging member and mounted movably on said belt-connecting slider so as to be co-slidable with said belt-connecting slider on said guiding track to align said second engaging member with one of said first engaging members, said actuator being operable to move relative to said belt-connecting slider between an engaging position, in which said second engaging member engages with one of said first engaging members, thereby preventing sliding movement of said belt-connecting slider on said guiding track, and a disengaging position, in which said second engaging member is disengaged from said first engaging members, thereby permitting sliding movement of said belt-connecting slider on said guiding track; and   an urging member biasing said actuator toward said engaging position.   
   
   
       2 . The seatbelt adjusting device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging members are a plurality of first teeth, and the second engaging member is a second tooth. 
   
   
       3 . The seatbelt adjusting device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said guiding track includes:
 a pair of parallel rails that are opposite to each other in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction; and   a rack that is disposed between said pair of rails and is formed with said first teeth in the first direction, said first teeth defining engaging grooves thereamong, said belt-connecting slider being mounted slidably on said rails;   
     wherein the second tooth extends into one of said engaging grooves defined by said first teeth when said actuator is disposed at said engaging position. 
   
   
       4 . The seatbelt adjusting device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said rack cooperates with said rails to define a trough thereamong, each of said rails having:
 an end lip projecting laterally and outwardly of said trough in the second direction; and   a pair of wings that are opposite to each other in the second direction and that project outwardly and laterally from said central part, each of said wings defining a guiding groove extending in the first direction, said end lip of a respective one of said rails extending through the guiding groove so as to permit sliding movement of said belt-connecting slider on said rails.   
   
   
       5 . The seatbelt adjusting device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said belt-connecting slider includes a central part that is received in said trough, said central part defining an accommodating space, said actuator being received in said accommodating space and having an engaging end and a pressing end opposite to said engaging end, said actuator being pivoted to said central part of said belt-connecting slider so as to be rotatable relative to said belt-connecting slider about an axis between said engaging and disengaging positions, said axis being disposed between said pressing end and said engaging end of said actuator, said second tooth protruding from said engaging end of said actuator, said urging member abutting against said pressing end of said actuator to give force on said actuator in a direction toward said engaging position. 
   
   
       6 . The seatbelt adjusting device as claimed in claim  5 , wherein said central part of said belt-connecting slider has a bottom wall that is formed with a first protrusion protruding into said accommodating space, and a bottom opening that is in spatial communication with said accommodating space for extension of said second engaging member therethrough, said actuator having a top wall that is formed with a second protrusion protruding into said accommodating space, disposed at said pressing end of said actuator, and said first protrusion and said second protrusion are correspondingly spaced apart from each other, said urging member being in the form of a compression spring that is sleeved on said first and second protrusions. 
   
   
       7 . The seatbelt adjusting device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said central part of said belt-connecting slider further has an end wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall, and a confining wall extending from said bottom wall in the transverse direction into said accommodating space, aligned with said end wall in the first direction, and cooperating with said end wall to define a spring-confining recess therebetween, said first protrusion protruding from said bottom wall into said spring-confining recess, said urging member having a lower portion confined in said spring-confining recess. 
   
   
       8 . The seatbelt adjusting device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said guiding track includes a pair of parallel rails that are opposite to each other in a second direction transverse to the first direction, at least one of said rails being formed with said first teeth projecting therefrom and aligned with each other, said belt-connecting slider being mounted slidably on said rails; 
     when said actuator is disposed at said engaging position, said second tooth is disposed in one of said engaging grooves in said at least one of said rails. 
   
   
       9 . The seatbelt adjusting device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said rails cooperatively define a trough therebetween, said belt-connecting slider includes a central part that is received in said trough, and a pair of wings opposite to each other in the second direction and projecting outwardly from said central part; 
     wherein each of said wings defines a guiding groove extending in the first direction for respective said rails extending therethrough so as to permit sliding movement of said belt-connecting slider on said rails. 
   
   
       10 . The seatbelt adjusting device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said central part has a top open end and a bottom wall, and defines an accommodating space in spatial communication with said guiding grooves in said wings; 
     Wherein said top open end is formed with at least one limiting brim disposed above said bottom wall and protruding into said accommodating space in the second direction, and at least one guiding protrusion protruding into said accommodating space in the second direction; 
     wherein said actuator includes a top wall, said top wall is disposed above said limiting brim. 
   
   
       11 . The seatbelt adjusting device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said actuator further includes at least one leg extending downwardly from said top wall of said actuator through said top open end of said central part and into said accommodating space, said leg is formed with said second tooth that is disposed below said limiting brim and that protrudes in the second direction into said guiding groove in a respective one of said wings; 
     wherein said urging member abuts against said bottom wall of said central part and said top wall of said actuator and is compressible so as to permit said actuator to move relative to said belt-connecting slider between said engaging and disengaging positions, said second tooth of said leg abutting against a bottom side of said limiting brim by the urging action of said urging member when said actuator is disposed at said engaging position. 
   
   
       12 . The seatbelt adjusting device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said bottom wall of said central part is formed with a first protrusion protruding into said accommodating space, said top wall of said actuator being formed with a second protrusion protruding into said accommodating space and correspondingly aligned with said first protrusion, said urging member being in the form of a compression spring that is sleeved on said first and second protrusions. 
   
   
       13 . The seatbelt adjusting device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising first and second stoppers connected to said first and second ends of said guiding track, respectively, for preventing removal of said belt-connecting slider from said first and second ends of said guiding track. 
   
   
       14 . The seatbelt adjusting device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said actuator further has a pivot portion disposed between said engaging end and said pressing end, and pivoted to said central part of said belt-connecting slider.