Seat belt retainer

• US 6,116,649 A
• Filed: 07/01/1998
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald Lee Compton
• Original Assignee: Donald Lee Compton
• Inventors: Compton, Donald Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINNER, TONY H
• Application Number:
  US09/109,030
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801.2, 280/801.1, 280/749, 24/633, 24/634, 24/265 C, 24/265 CD, 297/481, 297/468
• US Class Current: 280/801.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/005 for restraining luggages
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/021 Means for holding the tongue or buckle in a non-use position, e.g. for easy access by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/02 Semi-passive restraint systems, e.g. systems applied or removed automatically but not both ; Manual restraint systems knee, leg or head belts B60R22/001; devices for releasing in an emergency, remote or automatic unbuckling devices B60R22/32

Abstract

A retainer 30 for a seat belt strap assembly 81 that includes an anchor body 35 having a securement portion 45 and a seat belt engagement portion 79. The securement portion 45 is adapted for being releasably mountable upon a front side panel 92 of a vehicle passenger seat 90. The seat belt engagement portion 79 is adapted for releasable engagement with the seat belt assembly member 84. The securement portion 45 is alternatively substantially U-shaped or J-shaped with an interior leg 50 adapted for abutting engagement with an interior surface 94 of a front side panel 92 of a vehicle passenger seat 90 and an exterior leg 60 adapted for abutting engagement with an exterior surface 96 of the same front side panel 92 of the vehicle passenger seat 90. In the J-shaped configuration, however, the interior leg 50 is shorter than the exterior leg 60. In this manner, when the retainer 30 is in a mounted configuration, the front side panel 92 of the vehicle passenger seat 90 is pinched between the interior and exterior leg 60s. A bite portion 65 connects the interior leg 50 to the exterior leg 60 and orients the interior leg 50 substantially parallel to the exterior leg 60 when in an relaxed or uninfluenced configuration. At least the bite portion 65 is constructed from a resiliently flexible material so that the relaxed configuration is biased toward when deformed therefrom. At least one barb 70, is positioned upon one of the legs of the securement portion 45 for biting engagement upon a front side panel 92 of the vehicle passenger seat 90 when in a mounted thereupon.

Claims

1. A retainer for a seat belt strap assembly, said retainer comprising:

an anchor body having a securement portion and a seat belt engagement portion, said securement portion being adapted for being releasably mountable upon a front panel of a vehicle passenger seat and said seat belt engagement portion adapted for releasable engagement with a seat belt assembly member, said securement portion having a buckle for releasably engaging a tongue insert of the seat belt strap assembly member; and

said buckle further comprises a push-button release for permitting disengagement of the tongue insert from said buckle, said push-button release being spring biased toward a configuration for securement to the seat belt assembly member.

2. The retainer as recited in claim 1;

wherein said securement portion is substantially U-shaped with an interior leg adapted for abutting engagement with an interior surface of a front side panel of a vehicle passenger seat and an exterior leg adapted for abutting engagement with an exterior surface of the same front side panel of the vehicle passenger seat so that when said retainer is in a mounted configuration the front side panel of the vehicle passenger seat is pinched between said interior and exterior legs.

3. The retainer as recited in claim 1;

wherein said securement portion is substantially J-shaped with an interior leg adapted for abutting engagement with an interior surface of a front side panel of a vehicle passenger seat and an exterior leg adapted for abutting engagement with an exterior surface of the same front side panel of the vehicle passenger seat so that when said retainer is in a mounted configuration the front side panel of the vehicle passenger seat is pinched between said interior and exterior legs.

4. The retainer as recited in claim 3;

said retainer further comprising;

a bite portion connecting said interior leg to said exterior leg and orienting said interior leg substantially parallel to said exterior leg in an relaxed configuration, said bite portion being constructed from a resiliently flexible material so that said relaxed configuration is biased toward when deformed therefrom.

5. The retainer as recited in claim 3;

said retainer further comprising;

at least one barb positioned upon one of said legs of said securement portion for biting engagement upon a front side panel of a vehicle passenger seat when in a mounted configuration.

6. The retainer as recited in claim 5;

wherein said at least one barb is positioned upon said interior leg of said securement portion for biting engagement upon a front side panel of a vehicle passenger seat when in a mounted configuration.

7. The retainer as recited in claim 6;

wherein said at least one barb is a plurality of barbs, each of said plurality of barbs oriented for biting engagement upon a front side panel of a vehicle passenger seat when in a mounted configuration.

9. The retainer as recited in claim 3;

said interior leg further comprises;

an outwardly turned upper lip for facilitating mounting of said retainer upon a front side panel of a vehicle passenger seat.

8. A retainer for a seat belt strap assembly, said retainer comprising:

an anchor body having a securement portion and a seat belt engagement portion, said securement portion being adapted for being releasably mountable upon a front panel of a vehicle passenger seat and said seat belt engagement portion adapted for releasable engagement with a seat belt assembly member;

wherein said securement portion is substantially J-shaped with an interior leg adapted for abutting engagement with an interior surface of the front panel of a vehicle passenger seat and an exterior leg adapted for abutting engagement with an exterior surface of the same front panel of the vehicle passenger seat so that when said retainer is in a mounted configuration the front side panel of the vehicle passenger seat is pinched between said interior and said exterior legs;

wherein a plurality of barbs are positioned upon said interior leg of said securement portion for biting engagement upon the front side panel of the vehicle passenger seat when in a mounted configuration and each of said plurality of barbs further comprises;

a base connected upon said interior leg; and

a tip distally located from said base and oriented so that said tip is positioned closer to said bite portion than is said base for resisting unintentional disengagement of said retainer from a front side panel of a vehicle passenger seat when in a mounted configuration.

10. A retainer for a seat belt strap assembly, said retainer comprising:

an anchor body having a securement portion and a seat belt engagement portion, said securement portion being adapted for being releasably mountable upon a front panel of a vehicle passenger seat and said seat belt engagement portion adapted for releasable engagement with a seat belt assembly member;

said securement portion further comprises a buckle for releasably engaging a tongue insert of a seat belt strap assembly;

said buckle further comprises a push-button release for permitting disengagement of said tongue insert from said buckle;

said push-button release further comprises a ramp-shaped catch for insertion into a receiving aperture of said tongue insert; and

said push-button release is spring biased toward a configuration for securement to said seat belt assembly member.

11. The retainer as recited in claim 10;

wherein said buckle is positioned upon a top end of said anchor body opposite said securement portion.

12. A method for anchoring a motor vehicle passenger seat belt assembly when not in use, said method comprising:

installing an anchor body upon a front side panel of a vehicle passenger seat for releasable engagement thereupon, said anchor body having a securement portion and a seat belt engagement portion, said securement portion being adapted for being releasably mountable upon a front panel of a vehicle passenger seat and said seat belt engagement portion adapted for releasable engagement with a seat belt assembly member, said securement portion having a buckle for releasably engaging a tongue insert of the seat belt strap assembly member and said buckle further comprises a push-button release for permitting disengagement of the tongue insert from said buckle, said push-button release being spring biased toward a configuration for securement to the seat belt assembly member; and

inserting a seat belt assembly member into a buckle of said securement portion of said retainer for securing a strap portion of said seat belt assembly across a top surface of said vehicle passenger seat.

13. The method as recited in claim 12;

further comprising;

clipping said anchor body about a lower edge of said front side panel of said vehicle passenger seat.

14. The method as recited in claim 12;

further comprising;

engaging at least one barb into said front side panel of said vehicle passenger seat thereby resisting inadvertent disengagement of said retainer from said front side panel of said vehicle passenger seat.

15. The method as recited in claim 12;

further comprising;

tightening said strap portion of said seat belt assembly so that said seat belt assembly is drawn taut across said top surface of said vehicle passenger seat.

16. The method as recited in claim 12;

further comprising;

constructing said anchor body so that said securement portion is substantially J-shaped with an interior leg adapted for abutting engagement with an interior surface of said front side panel of a vehicle passenger seat and an exterior leg adapted for abutting engagement with an exterior surface of said front side panel of the vehicle passenger seat; and

pinching said front side panel of said vehicle passenger seat between said interior and exterior legs when said retainer is in a mounted configuration.

17. The method as recited in claim 16;

further comprising;

positioning at least one barb upon one of said legs of said securement portion for biting engagement upon said front side panel of said a vehicle passenger seat when said retainer is in a mounted configuration.