Buckle positioning apparatus for improving occupant access in a motor vehicle

• US 5,332,261 A
• Filed: 02/08/1993
• Issued: 07/26/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Company
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Siepierski, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Focarino, Margaret A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson, Victor E.
• Application Number:
  US08/014,918
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801 R, 297/481, 297/468
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1806 for buckles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/22 secured to the vehicle floor

Abstract

A buckle positioning apparatus in a seat belt system of a motor vehicle for positioning a buckle at a heightened position above a seat bottom for enhancing occupant accessibility of the buckle. The buckle has a lever that is poised for engagement by a back side of a seat back so that the buckle rises and descends with the seat back while not interfering with the movement of the seat back and seat bottom between a cargo position and a normal seating position. The buckle yields to a torsional spring upon an occupant pushing the heightened seat belt buckle upon the occupant entering and exiting the vehicle.

Claims

1. A buckle positioning apparatus for improving occupant access to a buckle of a sat belt system in a motor vehicle having a seat bottom and a seat back, and said seat back having a back side, and said seat bottom and said seat back moving between a normal seating position, wherein said seat bottom is substantially perpendicular to said seat back, and a cargo position, wherein said seat back folds onto said seat bottom, and both said seat back and said seat bottom move away from said buckle comprising:

an anchor bracket connected to said vehicle;

a buckle pivotally connected to said anchor bracket to permit said buckle to pivot between a stowed position and an occupant accessible use position;

a lever operatively connected to said buckle and extending into the path of movement of the seat back and poised for engagement with said back side of said seat back only when the seat back moves to the seating position and being disengaged by the seat back when the seat back moves to the cargo position; and

means for biasing said lever toward a stowed position, and said biasing means yielding to said lever upon said back side of said seat back engaging said lever and pivoting said buckle towards said use position without interfering with the movement of said seat bottom and said seat back between said cargo position and said normal seating position.

2. A buckle positioning apparatus for improving occupant access to a buckle of a seat belt system in a motor vehicle having a seat bottom and a seat back, and said seat back having a back side, and said seat bottom and said seat back moving between a normal seating position, wherein said seat bottom is substantially perpendicular to said seat back, and a cargo position, wherein said seat back folds onto said seat bottom, and both said seat back and said seat bottom move forward in said motor vehicle and away from said buckle comprising:

an anchor bracket connected to said vehicle;

said buckle pivotally connected to said anchor bracket to permit said buckle to pivot between a stowed position and an occupant accessible use position;

a lever pivotally connected to both said anchor bracket and said buckle and poised for engagement with said back side of said seat back upon said seat back moving between said cargo position and said normal seating position;

a torsional spring having a first end and a second end and having said first end connected to said anchor bracket and said second end connected to said lever to bias said lever toward said stowed position and having said torsional spring yield to said lever upon said back side of said seat back engaging said lever and having said lever pivot and raise said buckle toward said use position without interfering with the movement of said seat bottom and said seat back;

a positive stop integral with and extending from said anchor bracket and having said buckle abut said positive stop in said stowed position and having said lever abut said buckle in said stowed position preventing said lever from traveling beyond said stowed position; and

a second means for biasing said buckle toward said use position and having said second biasing means yield to said buckle upon an occupant pushing said buckle.

3. A buckle positioning apparatus for improving occupant access to a buckle in a seat belt system of a motor vehicle having a floor, a seat bottom and a seat back, and said seat back having a back side, and said seat bottom having an opening for extending said buckle through said seat bottom, and said seat bottom being connected to said floor and providing bodily movement between a normal seating position, wherein said seat bottom is substantially perpendicular to said seat back, and a cargo position, wherein said seat back folds onto said seat bottom, and both said seat back and said seat bottom move forward in said vehicle and away from said buckle comprising:

said seat back being pivotally connected to said floor and linked with said seat bottom for simultaneous bodily movement between said normal seating position and said cargo position;

an anchor bracket having a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion with said first end connected to said floor, and said intermediate portion and said second end extending upward from said floor;

a buckle bracket pivotally connected to said anchor bracket;

a buckle connected to and extending from said buckle bracket and pivoting with said buckle bracket between a stowed position and an occupant accessible use position;

a lever pivotally connected to both said anchor bracket and said buckle bracket through a common horizontal axis, and said lever being mounted between said anchor bracket and said buckle bracket at said common horizontal axis and having an extension poised for engagement by said back side of said seat back upon said seat back moving between said cargo position and said normal seating position and upon said seat back being engaged in said normal seating position;

a first torsional spring having a first end and a second end with said first end connected to said lever and said second end connected to said buckle bracket and biasing said buckle bracket toward said use position and yielding to said buckle bracket upon an occupant pushing said buckle toward said stowed position upon said lever being engaged by said back side of said seat back;

a first positive stop formed in said lever and having said buckle bracket abut said first positive stop upon said first torsional spring biasing said buckle bracket toward said use position, and said first positive stop preventing said buckle bracket from traveling beyond said lever and said use position;

a second torsional spring having a first end and a second end with said first end connected to said lever and said second end connected to said anchor bracket and biasing said lever toward said stowed position and yielding to said lever upon said back side of said seat back engaging said extension of said lever, and said lever raising said buckle through said opening in said seat bottom toward said use position without interfering with the movement of said seat bottom and said seat back between said cargo position and said normal seating position; and

a second positive stop formed in said second end of said anchor bracket and having said buckle bracket abut against said second positive stop upon said second torsional spring biasing said lever towards said stowed position and having said lever abut against said buckle bracket in said stowed position to prevent said lever from traveling beyond said stowed position.