Guide device for automobile seatbelt

• US 7,131,669 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2003
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Matsuzaki, Teruo, Miura, Hiroyuki, Chida, Jun, Morita, Rikiya
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODEN JR, BARRY J
• Application Number:
  US10/734,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20040124690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 280/808, 280/801.1, 280/807, 280/801.2, 297/471, 297/473, 297/474, 297/475, 297/481, 297/482, 297/483, 297/486, 297/487, 297/468
• US Class Current: 280/808
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1818 Belt guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/24 secured to the side, door, or roof of the vehicle

Abstract

In a vehicle, a seatbelt extracted from a retractor is extended to and suspended by a webbing guide portion of a first rod, folded back in a predetermined direction by the webbing guide portion, and extended from a belt drawing-out portion. A load applied to the webbing guide portion when the seatbelt contacts it is dispersed by the first rod and one or more additional rods to prevent the load from concentrating at a portion of a body of the vehicle where the first rod is attached. As a result, it is not necessary to provide a large bracket for attaching the first rod to the vehicle body. With this arrangement, the weight and the cost of parts can be reduced while securing the strength thereof and realizing a belt folding-back function, and further a degree of design freedom of the layout can be improved.

Claims

1. A seatbelt guide device for a vehicle for guiding a seatbelt extracted from a retractor, comprising:

a first rod having a guide portion, formed as an arc-shaped portion of the first rod, for suspending and folding back the seatbelt, wherein one end of the first rod proximal to the guide portion is configured to be secured to a first portion of a body of the vehicle in proximity to the retractor, and wherein another end of the first rod distal from the guide portion is configured to be secured to a second portion of the body between the first portion and the retractor; and

a second rod for dispersing a load applied to the first rod;

wherein the second rod is secured to the guide portion and configured at one end to be secured to a third portion of the body in proximity to the second portion of the body.

2. The seatbelt guide device according to claim 1, further comprising a retaining rod for preventing a disconnection of the seatbelt from the guide portion.

3. The seatbelt guide device according to claim 1, further comprising a cover for preventing a disconnection of the seatbelt from the guide portion.

4. The seatbelt guide device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third rod disposed in parallel with the first rod and coupled with the first rod by a support member;

wherein one end of the third rod is configured to be secured to the first portion of the body and the other end of the third rod is configured to be secured to the second portion of the body.

5. The seatbelt guide device according to claim 1, wherein:

the second rod that is secured to the guide portion extends to a side of the guide portion to form a removal preventing portion for preventing the removal of the seatbelt from the guide portion.

6. The seatbelt guide device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a bracket for securing at least one of the first rod and the second rod to the vehicle body.

7. The seatbelt guide device according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the first rod and the second rod has a flat-plate-shaped vehicle body attaching portion formed thereto for fixing the rod to the vehicle body.