SEAT BELT WEBBING ENCLOSURE

• US 20080012417A1
• Filed: 07/12/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: OKAZAKI, HIDETSUGU, WHALEN, KELLY MICHAEL
• Granted Patent: US 7,510,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/688 Particular seat belt attachment and guiding
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

A seat belt webbing enclosure for a vehicle seat having a seat back and a seat cushion. The enclosure includes a bracket attached to a frame of the seat back. A cover is coupled to the bracket and extends downwardly to the seat cushion to enclose a gap between the seat back the seat cushion. A seat belt web of the seat is substantially enclosed proximate the gap by the cover in cooperation with the seat cushion.

Claims

1. A seat belt webbing enclosure for a vehicle seat having a seat back and a seat cushion, comprising:

a bracket attached to a frame of the seat back; and

a cover coupled to the bracket and extending downwardly to the seat cushion to enclose a gap between the seat back the seat cushion,

wherein a seat belt web of the seat is substantially enclosed proximate the gap by the cover in cooperation with the seat cushion.

2. The seat belt webbing enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a sheath coupled to the bracket and extending upwardly to an outlet housing attached to the frame of the seat back, the seat belt web extending through the bracket and the sheath to exit the outlet housing.

3. The seat belt webbing enclosure of claim 2, further comprising a seat web guide intermediate the bracket and the sheath.

4. The seat belt webbing enclosure of claim 3 wherein the seat web guide further comprises an elongated portion to which the sheath is configured to engage.

5. The seat belt webbing enclosure of claim 3 wherein the seat web guide is configured to engage an aperture of the bracket.

6. The seat belt webbing enclosure of claim 5 wherein the seat web guide further comprises a locking rib configured to engage a locking tab proximate the aperture.

7. The seat belt webbing enclosure of claim 1 wherein a first end of the cover is detachably coupled to the bracket.

8. The seat belt webbing enclosure of claim 1 wherein a second end of the cover is detachably coupled to the seat cushion.

9. The seat belt webbing enclosure of claim 1 wherein a second end of the cover is fixedly attached to the seat cushion.

10. The seat belt webbing enclosure of claim 1, further comprising:

a slide member attached to the seat cushion; and

a biasing element,

wherein a first edge of the cover is coupled to the bracket, the cover is slidably proximate the slide member, and the biasing element extends between a second edge of the cover and an anchor.

11. The seat belt webbing enclosure of claim 1 wherein the cover is made from at least one of leather, vinyl, natural fabric, synthetic fabric, plastic and metal.

12. The seat belt webbing enclosure of claim 1 wherein the bracket is made from at least one of metal, plastic, and composite materials.

13. A seat belt webbing enclosure for a vehicle seat having a seat back and a seat cushion, comprising:

a bracket attached to a frame of the seat back;

a seat web guide coupled to the bracket;

a sheath coupled to the seat web guide and extending upwardly to an outlet housing attached to the seat back frame, the seat belt web extending through the bracket and the sheath to exit the outlet housing; and

a cover coupled to the bracket and extending downwardly to the seat cushion to enclose a gap between the seat back the seat cushion,

wherein the seat belt web is substantially enclosed proximate the gap by the cover in cooperation with the seat cushion.

14. The seat belt webbing enclosure of claim 13 wherein a first end of the cover is detachably coupled to the bracket.

15. The seat belt webbing enclosure of claim 13 wherein a second end of the cover is detachably coupled to the seat cushion.

16. The seat belt webbing enclosure of claim 13 wherein a second end of the cover is fixedly attached to the seat cushion.

17. The seat belt webbing enclosure of claim 13, further comprising:

a slide member attached to the seat cushion; and

a biasing element,

wherein a first edge of the cover is coupled to the bracket, the cover is slidably proximate the slide member, and the biasing element extends between a second edge of the cover and an anchor.

18. The seat belt webbing enclosure of claim 13 wherein the cover is made from at least one of leather, vinyl, natural fabric, synthetic fabric, plastic and metal.

19. The seat belt webbing enclosure of claim 13 wherein the bracket is made from at least one of metal, plastic, and composite materials.

20. A method for enclosing a seat belt webbing of a vehicle seat having a seat back and a seat cushion, comprising the steps of:

attaching a bracket to a frame of the seat back; and

coupling a cover to the bracket such that the cover extends downwardly to the seat cushion, substantially enclosing a gap between the seat back the seat cushion,

wherein the seat belt web is substantially enclosed proximate the gap by the cover in cooperation with the seat cushion.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of coupling a sheath to the bracket and extending the sheath upwardly to an outlet housing attached to the frame of the seat back, the seat belt web extending through the bracket and the sheath to exit the outlet housing.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of installing a seat web guide intermediate the bracket and the sheath.