Guide assembly for a safety belt

• US 7,971,908 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Tilly, Thomas, Sajovec, Leslie A., Jefferson, Alfred A., Corrion, Steven G., Hathaway, Carol C., DiMambro, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Toan C
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLISH, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US12/474,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20100301594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801.1, 280/801.2, 280/808, 297/468, 297470-472, 297481-483, 297/485, 241/15.F, 246/02, 246/25, 241/15.G
• US Class Current: 280/808
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1818 Belt guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3982 Safety release
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45461 Interlocking portion actuated or released responsive to preselected condition [e.g., heat, pressure]

Abstract

A seat assembly includes a seat of a vehicle, a safety belt, and a guide assembly. The seat includes a seat back and an attachment feature that is operatively connected to the seat back. The safety belt includes webbing that is configured to extend in a generally diagonal direction across the seat back. The guide assembly includes a clip, a cord, an attachment mechanism, and a breakaway mechanism. The clip is configured for operative attachment to the webbing of the safety belt. The cord operatively extends from the clip. The attachment mechanism is operatively connected to the cord. The attachment mechanism is configured for selective attachment to the attachment feature of the seat back. The breakaway mechanism operatively interconnects the cord and the clip and is configured to separate such that the cord pulls free from the clip upon the application of a force to the clip or the cord.

Claims

1. A guide assembly configured for selectively adjusting a safety belt of a seat, said guide assembly comprising:

a clip configured for operative attachment to webbing of the safety belt;

a cord operatively extending from said clip;

an attachment mechanism operatively connected to said cord;

wherein said attachment mechanism is configured for selective attachment to the seat; and

a breakaway mechanism operatively interconnecting said cord and said clip;

wherein said breakaway mechanism includes a male portion inter-engaging a female portion;

wherein said male portion includes a base operatively connected to said cord and a pair of fingers resiliently extending from said base in spaced and generally parallel relationship to one another;

wherein said female portion defines a cavity within said clip and said female portion is configured for receiving said male portion such that said fingers extend into said cavity to inter-engage said female portion; and

wherein said pair of fingers are configured to pull free of said female portion and out of said cavity upon the application of a sufficient force to said cord to separate said breakaway mechanism such that said cord pulls free from said clip.

2. A guide assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said attachment mechanism is a snap hook.

3. A guide assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said clip includes a face portion and a pair of tabs extending toward one another from ends of said face portion;

wherein a recess is defined between each of said tabs and said face portion for receiving and supporting a portion of the webbing of the safety belt.

4. A guide assembly, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said face portion defines said female portion of said breakaway mechanism.

5. A guide assembly, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said cord is elastic.

6. A guide assembly, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an adjustment mechanism operatively attached to said cord, wherein said adjustment mechanism is configured for adjusting an operative length of said guide assembly.

7. A guide assembly, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said adjustment mechanism includes:

a body defining at least one aperture with said cord extending through said at least one aperture;

a biasing member extending into said body;

wherein said biasing member is movable relative to said body to selectively exert tension on said cord extending through said at least one aperture to retain said cord at said operative length;

wherein said biasing member is movable relative to said body to selectively release tension exerted on said cord extending through said at least one aperture to move said cord through said at least one aperture to change said operative length of said cord.

8. A guide assembly, as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a stop operatively connected to said cord;

wherein said stop is configured for preventing said adjustment mechanism from being removed from said cord as said adjustment mechanism adjusts said operative length of said guide assembly.

9. A seat assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a seat having a seat back and an attachment feature operatively connected to said seat back;

a safety belt having webbing configured to extend in a generally diagonal direction across said seat back;

a guide assembly including;

a clip configured for operative attachment to said webbing of said safety belt;

a cord operatively extending from said clip;

an attachment mechanism operatively connected to said cord;

wherein said attachment mechanism is configured for selective attachment to said attachment feature of said seat back; and

a breakaway mechanism operatively interconnecting said cord and said clip;

wherein said breakaway mechanism includes a male portion inter-engaging a female portion;

wherein said male portion includes a base operatively connected to said cord and a pair of fingers resiliently extending from said base in spaced and generally parallel relationship to one another;

wherein said female portion defines a cavity within said clip and said female portion is configured for receiving said male portion such that said fingers extend into said cavity to inter-engage said female portion; and

wherein said pair of fingers are configured to pull free of said female portion and out of said cavity upon the application of a sufficient force to said cord to separate said breakaway mechanism such that said cord pulls free from said clip.

10. A seat assembly, as set forth in claim 9, further comprising an adjustment mechanism operatively attached to said cord, wherein said adjustment mechanism is configured for adjusting an operative length of said guide assembly.

11. A seat assembly, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said adjustment mechanism includes:

a body defining at least one aperture with said cord extending through said at least one aperture;

a biasing member extending into said body;

wherein said biasing member is movable relative to said body to selectively exert tension on said cord extending through said at least one aperture to retain said cord at said operative length;

wherein said biasing member is movable relative to said body to selectively release tension exerted on said core extending through said at least one aperture to move said cord through said at least one aperture to change said operative length of said cord.

12. A guide assembly configured for selectively adjusting a safety belt of a seat, said guide assembly comprising:

a clip configured for operative attachment to webbing of the safety belt;

a cord operatively extending from said clip;

a snap hook operatively connected to said cord;

an adjustment mechanism operatively attached to said cord between said clip and said snap hook, wherein said adjustment mechanism is configured for adjusting an operative length of said guide assembly;

wherein said adjustment mechanism is configured for selective attachment to the seat; and

a breakaway mechanism operatively interconnecting said cord and said clip;

wherein said breakaway mechanism includes a male portion inter-engaging a female portion;

wherein said male portion includes a base operatively connected to said cord and a pair of fingers resiliently extending from said base in spaced and generally parallel relationship to one another;

wherein said female portion defines a cavity within said clip and said female portion is configured for receiving said male portion such that said fingers extend into said cavity to inter-engage said female portion; and

wherein said pair of fingers are configured to pull free of said female portion and out of said cavity upon the application of a sufficient force to said cord to separate said breakaway mechanism such that said cord pulls free from said clip.