Seat belt web stop apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A seat belt for restraining motion of a vehicle occupant, the seat belt comprising:
- a strap having a first side and a second side;
a first button member disposed adjacent to the first side, the first button member comprising a first protrusion extending through the strap; and
a second button member disposed adjacent to the second side, the second button member comprising an enclosure shaped to induce plastic deflection of the first protrusion in response to pressure urging the first and second button members together, wherein the plastically deflected first protrusion is shaped to interlock with the enclosure to hold the first and second button members together.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A web stop button may utilize plastic deflection to provide more secure and reliable attachment to a seat belt. The web stop button may have a first button member and a second button member. The first and second button members may each have multiple pieces attached together via crimping or the like. Protrusions extend from the first button member and plastically deflect within the second member in response to force urging the first and second members together. The protrusions may be capable of piercing the seat belt strap and/or a portion of the second button member. Plastic caps may be used on one or both of the button members to provide a larger web stop button and enhanced trim color matching capability. The second button member is shaped to induce the plastic deflection, and may therefore have a simple domed shape or a more complex, generally toroidal domed shape.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A seat belt for restraining motion of a vehicle occupant, the seat belt comprising:
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a strap having a first side and a second side;
a first button member disposed adjacent to the first side, the first button member comprising a first protrusion extending through the strap; and
a second button member disposed adjacent to the second side, the second button member comprising an enclosure shaped to induce plastic deflection of the first protrusion in response to pressure urging the first and second button members together, wherein the plastically deflected first protrusion is shaped to interlock with the enclosure to hold the first and second button members together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A seat belt for restraining motion of a vehicle occupant, the seat belt comprising:
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a strap having a first side and a second side;
a latch plate shaped to slidably capture the strap; and
a web stop button attached to the strap to restrict motion of the latch plate along the strap, the web stop button comprising a first button member disposed adjacent to the first side and a second button member disposed adjacent to the second side, wherein the first button member is shaped such that a portion of the first button member deflects plastically to interlock with the second button member in response to pressure urging the first and second button members together. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A seat belt for restraining motion of a vehicle occupant, the seat belt comprising:
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a strap having a first side and a second side;
a first button member disposed adjacent to the first side, the first button member comprising a first protrusion extending through the strap; and
a second button member disposed adjacent to the second side, the second button member comprising an enclosure pierced by the first protrusion in response to pressure urging the first and second button members together such that the first protrusion and the enclosure are interlocked to hold the first and second button members together. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for manufacturing a seat belt for restraining motion of a vehicle occupant, the seat belt comprising a strap having a first side and a second side, a first button member comprising a first protrusion, and a second button member comprising an enclosure, the method comprising:
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forming an opening in the strap;
disposing the first button member adjacent to the first side such that the first protrusion extends through the opening;
disposing the second button member adjacent to the second side; and
pressing the first and second button members together such that the first protrusion enters the enclosure and is plastically deflected to interlock with the enclosure to hold the first and second button members together. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for manufacturing a seat belt for restraining motion of a vehicle occupant, the seat belt comprising a strap having a first side and a second side, a first button member comprising a first sharp prong and a second sharp prong, and a second button member, the method comprising:
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aligning an axis of the first button member with an axis of the second button member;
pressing the first and second sharp prong into the first side to form first and second openings by piercing the strap, wherein the sharp prongs are formed substantially of a metal; and
pressing the first and second button members together to induce the first and second button members to interlock with each other, thereby holding the first and second button members together. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification