SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MOUNTING SYSTEM

• US 20080073967A1
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: OKAZAKI, HIDETSUGU, WHALEN, KELLY MICHAEL, MOFFITT, BRENT, HONDA, HIROYUKI
• Granted Patent: US 7,497,521 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/688 Particular seat belt attachment and guiding
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/263 Front seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/34 Belt retractors, e.g. reels anchoring devices , e.g. guide loops , with means to tension the belt in an emergency B60R22/195
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53 Means to assemble or disassemble

Abstract

A seat belt retractor mounting system for a vehicle seat includes a bracket having a first sidewall and a second sidewall. A generally planar plate is located generally parallel to and spaced apart from the first sidewall of the bracket. The plate is coupled to the second sidewall. In addition, at least one of the bracket and plate are secured to, and cooperate with, a seat cushion frame of the seat to surround and protect an emergency locking retractor mounted to the first sidewall. A method employs the system.

Claims

1. A seat belt retractor mounting system for a vehicle seat, comprising:

a bracket having a first sidewall and a second sidewall; and

a generally planar plate, the plate being generally parallel to and spaced apart from the first sidewall of the bracket and coupled to the second sidewall,

wherein at least one of the bracket and plate are secured to, and cooperate with, a seat cushion frame of the seat to surround and protect an emergency locking retractor mounted to the first sidewall.

2. The seat belt retractor mounting system of claim 1 wherein the first sidewall of the bracket further comprises an indexing notch to receive a corresponding tab of the emergency locking retractor and establish the orientation and position of the emergency locking retractor mounted thereto.

3. The seat belt retractor mounting system of claim 2 wherein the indexing notch and tab cooperate with a fastener installed into corresponding aligned openings in the bracket and the emergency locking retractor to orient and secure the retractor at a predetermined position for a predetermined location in a vehicle into which the seat is mounted.

4. The seat belt retractor mounting system of claim 1 wherein the first sidewall of the bracket is coupled to the seat cushion frame with a fastener.

5. The seat belt retractor mounting system of claim 1 wherein the second sidewall of the bracket is coupled to the plate with a fastener.

6. The seat belt retractor mounting system of claim 1 wherein the first sidewall of the bracket is welded to a cross member of the seat cushion frame.

7. The seat belt retractor mounting system of claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing brace coupled to the seat cushion frame.

8. The seat belt retractor mounting system of claim 1 wherein the plate further comprises a channel configured to engage a support brace of the seat cushion frame.

9. The seat belt retractor mounting system of claim 1 wherein the bracket is made from at least one of metal plastic, and composite materials.

10. The seat belt retractor mounting system of claim 1 wherein the plate is made from at least one of metal plastic, and composite materials.

11. A seat belt retractor mounting system for a vehicle seat, comprising:

a bracket having a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first sidewall further including an indexing notch to receive a corresponding tab of an emergency locking retractor; and

a generally planar plate having a channel, the plate being positioned generally parallel to and spaced apart from the first sidewall of the bracket and coupled to the second sidewall,

wherein the channel engages a support brace of a seat cushion frame of the seat and at least one of the bracket and plate are secured to, and cooperate with, the frame to surround and protect an emergency locking retractor mounted to the first sidewall, and

wherein the indexing notch and tab cooperate with a fastener installed into corresponding openings in the bracket and the emergency locking retractor to orient and secure the retractor to a predetermined position for a predetermined location in a vehicle into which the seat is mounted.

12. The seat belt retractor mounting system of claim 11 wherein the first sidewall of the bracket is coupled to the seat cushion frame with a fastener and the second sidewall of the bracket is coupled to the plate with a fastener.

13. The seat belt retractor mounting system of claim 11 wherein the first sidewall of the bracket is welded to a cross member of the seat cushion frame.

14. The seat belt retractor mounting system of claim 11, further comprising a reinforcing brace coupled to the seat cushion frame.

15. A method for mounting a seat belt retractor to a vehicle seat, comprising the steps of:

providing a bracket having a first sidewall and a second sidewall;

coupling a generally planar plate to the bracket such that the plate is generally parallel to and spaced apart from the first sidewall of the bracket;

securing at least one of the bracket and plate to a seat cushion frame of the seat; and

mounting an emergency locking retractor mounted to the first sidewall such that the retractor is generally surrounded by the bracket, plate and frame.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

providing an indexing notch in the first sidewall of the bracket; and

mounting the emergency locking retractor to the first sidewall such that the notch receives a corresponding tab of the emergency locking retractor and establishes the orientation and position of the emergency locking retractor mounted thereto.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

providing corresponding openings in the bracket and the emergency locking retractor; and

installing a fastener into the aligned openings to orient and secure the retractor at a predetermined position for a predetermined location in a vehicle into which the seat is mounted.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

coupling the first sidewall of the bracket to the seat cushion frame with a fastener; and

coupling the second sidewall of the bracket to the plate with a fastener.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of welding the first sidewall of the bracket to a cross member of the seat cushion frame.

20. A seat belt retractor mounting system constructed according to the method of claim 15.