Tongue cover and seat belt apparatus using the same
First Claim
1. A tongue cover for a tongue, the tongue comprising:
- a plate that is configured to engage a buckle; and
a grip that is configured to facilitate engagement of the plate with the buckle, wherein the grip is integral with the plate and is configured to be slidably supported by a belt, and wherein the tongue cover, which is formed of a material that is softer than the grip, is provided on the grip in a manner such that the tongue cover covers edges of the grip except for an edge to which the plate is attached.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tongue cover is attached to a grip of a seatbelt tongue such that the tongue cover covers edges of the grip except for an edge to which a plate is attached. The tongue cover may be formed of synthetic resin or rubber that is softer than a resin mold of the grip. The tongue cover, which acts as a cushion, prevents the grip from directly impacting the trim on the inner side wall of a vehicle, thereby substantially reducing the likelihood that the trim will be scratched and/or dented. Moreover, the tongue cover also substantially reduces and/or eliminates noise that is typically caused when a tongue directly impacts trim on the inner side of a vehicle, in the absence of such a tongue cover.
22 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A tongue cover for a tongue, the tongue comprising:
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a plate that is configured to engage a buckle; and
a grip that is configured to facilitate engagement of the plate with the buckle, wherein the grip is integral with the plate and is configured to be slidably supported by a belt, and wherein the tongue cover, which is formed of a material that is softer than the grip, is provided on the grip in a manner such that the tongue cover covers edges of the grip except for an edge to which the plate is attached. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A seatbelt apparatus comprising:
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a seatbelt;
a seatbelt retractor for retracting the seatbelt;
a buckle;
a tongue that is slidably supported by the seatbelt and that is configured to be inserted in, and releasably engaged with, the buckle to fasten the seatbelt, the tongue comprising;
a plate that is configured to engage the buckle; and
a grip that is configured to facilitate engagement of the plate with the buckle;
and a tongue cover for the tongue, wherein the grip is integral with the plate and is slidably supported by the seatbelt, wherein the tongue cover, which is formed of a material that is softer than the grip, is provided on the grip in a manner such that the tongue cover covers edges of the grip except for an edge to which the plate is attached, and wherein the tongue cover is attached to or is integral with the tongue. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification