Seat belt assembly having length adjustable service arm

• US 7,543,852 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quality Safety Systems, Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Quality Safety Systems, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Owen, Steven Edward, Clark, Jeffrey, Latour, Aaron Robert, Murthy, Vasudeva Sankarshana
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown; Drew J.
• Application Number:
  US11/304,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20070138782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801.2, 280/808, 280/801.1, 248/297.31, 297/468
• US Class Current: 280/801.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1818 Belt guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/20 adjustable in position, e.g. in height
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/24 secured to the side, door, or roof of the vehicle

Abstract

A seat belt assembly for a vehicle that includes an anchor portion having an anchor bolt adapted to attach to a vehicle. A seat belt web is associated with the anchor portion. A sheath member is coupled to the anchor portion with the sheath member having opposing top and bottom surfaces and opposing side surfaces. The opposing top and bottom surfaces and opposing side surfaces define an interior cavity. The sheath member includes a plurality of detents formed on the opposing side surfaces. An extension plate having opposing proximal and distal ends as well as opposing top and bottom surfaces bounded by opposing lateral edges is slidingly disposed within the interior cavity of the sheath member. The extension plate includes a pair of arms formed on the opposing lateral edges. An extension arm formed about the extension plate includes first and second ends with the first end coupled to the proximal end of the extension plate. The second end of the extension arm includes a web guide formed on an end. The pair of arms releasably engage the plurality of detents for telescopic adjustment of the extension arm whereby the web guide is movable to a plurality of positions.

Claims

1. A seat belt assembly for a vehicle comprising:

an anchor portion having an anchor bolt attached to a vehicle preventing movement of the anchor bolt relative to the vehicle;

a seat belt web associated with the anchor portion;

a sheath member coupled to the anchor portion, the sheath member having connected opposing top and bottom surfaces and opposing side surfaces defining an interior cavity, the sheath member including a plurality detents formed on the opposing side surfaces;

an extension plate having opposing proximal and distal ends and opposing top and bottom surfaces bounded by opposing lateral edges, the proximal end slidingly disposed within the interior cavity of the sheath member, the extension plate having a pair of arms formed on the opposing lateral edges;

an extension arm formed about the extension plate, the extension arm having first and second ends, the first end coupled to the proximal end of the extension plate, the second end having a web guide formed thereon, the extension arm is spaced from the sheath member for allowing unrestricted movement of the extension arm within the sheath member;

wherein the pair of opposing arms releasably engage the plurality of detents for telescopic adjustment of the extension arm such that the web guide is moveable to a plurality of positions.

2. The seat belt assembly of claim 1 wherein the extension plate includes a stop member formed on the top surface.

3. The seat belt assembly of claim 2 wherein the sheath member includes a slot formed through the top surface of the sheath member receiving the stop member of the extension plate for limiting the telescopic travel of the extension plate relative to the sheath member.

4. The seat belt assembly of claim 1 wherein the extension plate includes spring members associated therewith for contacting the pair of opposing arms and biasing the opposing arms laterally outward relative to the opposing lateral edges of the extension plate.

5. The seat belt assembly of claim 1 wherein the anchor portion includes a D-ring attached thereto for guiding the seat belt web.

6. The seat belt assembly of claim 1 wherein the anchor portion includes a cover disposed about the anchor portion.

7. The seat belt assembly of claim 1 including inner and outer cover members disposed about the sheath member.

8. The seat belt assembly of claim 7 wherein the inner and outer covers include strengthening ribs formed on an inner surface of the covers.

9. The seat belt assembly of claim 1 wherein the sheath member includes three pairs of opposing detents formed on the opposing side surfaces for engaging the opposing pairs of arms of the extension plate and adjusting the extension arm to three varying positions.

10. A seat belt assembly for a vehicle comprising:

an anchor portion having an anchor bolt adapted to attach to a vehicle;

a seat belt web associated with the anchor portion;

a sheath member coupled to the anchor portion, the sheath member having connected opposing top and bottom surfaces and opposing side surfaces defining an interior cavity, the sheath member including a plurality detents formed on the opposing side surfaces;

an extension plate having opposing proximal and distal ends and opposing top and bottom surfaces bounded by opposing lateral edges, the proximal end slidingly disposed within the interior cavity of the sheath member, the extension plate having a pair of arms formed on the opposing lateral edges and spring members associated with the pair of arms for contacting the pair of opposing arms and biasing the opposing arms laterally outward relative to the opposing lateral edges of the extension plate;

an extension arm formed about the extension plate, the extension arm having first and second ends, the first end coupled to the proximal end of the extension plate, the second end having a web guide formed thereon;

wherein the pair of arms releasably engage the plurality of detents for telescopic adjustment of the extension arm such that the web guide is moveable to a plurality of positions.