Seatback with a seatbelt webbing retaining member with a releasably coupled end to allow the insertion of and to retain a webbing section of a seatbelt assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10179529-B1
Application number	US-201715811806-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 14, 2017
Priority date	Nov 14, 2017
Publication date	Jan 15, 2019
Grant date	Jan 15, 2019

Abstract

A seatback for a vehicle comprises a midline. A first upper seatbelt webbing contact portion is disposed to a first side of the midline. A first seatbelt webbing retaining member is disposed to the first side. The first seatbelt webbing retaining member has a medial end, a lateral end further away from the midline than the medial end, and a middle portion between the medial end and the lateral end. Either the medial end or the lateral end of the first seatbelt webbing retaining member is affixed to the seatback and the other of the medial end or the lateral end is releasably coupled to the seatback. The middle portion is disposed above the first upper seatbelt webbing contact portion forming a gap configured to retain a first webbing section of a seatbelt assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seatback for a vehicle comprising:
a midline;
an upper back support section configured to support the upper back of an occupant, the upper back support section having a rearward facing surface;
a headrest and webbing retainer support member attached adjacent to the rearward facing surface of the upper back support section, the headrest and webbing retainer support member including:
a headrest attachment portion;
an extension portion extending between the upper back support section and the headrest attachment portion;
a first upper seatbelt webbing contact portion disposed to a first side of the midline, and extending laterally and downward from the extension portion,
a first attachment section extending downward from the first upper seatbelt webbing contact portion;
a first seatbelt webbing retaining member disposed to a first side of the midline, the first seatbelt webbing retaining member having a medial end, a lateral end further away from the midline than the medial end, and a middle portion between the medial end and the lateral end,

a headrest attached to the headrest attachment portion of the headrest and webbing retainer support member, the extension portion elevating the headrest above the upper back support section;
wherein, the medial end of the first seatbelt webbing retaining member is affixed and the lateral end is releasably coupled to the first attachment section of the headrest and webbing retainer support member; and
wherein, the middle portion is disposed above the first upper seatbelt webbing contact portion forming a gap configured to retain a first webbing section of a seatbelt assembly.

2. The seatback of claim 1 :
the headrest and webbing retainer support member further including:
a second upper seatbelt webbing contact portion disposed to a second side of the midline, and extending laterally and downward from the extension portion;
a second attachment section extending downward from the second upper seatbelt webbing contact portion; and
a second seatbelt webbing retaining member disposed to a second side of the midline, the second seatbelt webbing retaining member having a medial end, a lateral end further away from the midline than the medial end, and a middle portion between the medial end and the lateral end;

wherein, the medial end of the second seatbelt webbing retaining member is affixed and the lateral end is releasably coupled to the second attachment section of the headrest and webbing retainer support member; and
wherein, the middle portion of the second seatbelt webbing retaining member is disposed above the second upper seatbelt webbing contact portion forming a gap configured to retain a second upper seatbelt webbing.

3. The seatback of claim 2 :
the upper back support section including a top portion; and
the headrest is disposed above the top portion of the upper back support section;
wherein, the medial end of the first seatbelt webbing retaining member and the medial end of the second seatbelt webbing retaining member are affixed to the extension portion.

4. The seatback of claim 2 ,
the extension portion comprising a first member and a second member;
wherein, the medial end of the first seatbelt webbing retaining member is affixed to the first member of the extension portion; and
wherein, the medial end of the second seatbelt webbing retaining member is affixed to the second member of the extension portion.

5. The seatback of claim 4 ,
wherein, the medial end of the first seatbelt webbing retaining member extends from the first member of the extension portion approximately parallel to the first upper seatbelt webbing contact portion;
wherein, the medial end of the second seatbelt webbing retaining member extends from the second member of the extension portion approximately parallel to the second upper seatbelt webbing contact portion;
wherein, the lateral end of the first seatbelt webbing retaining member is positioned vertically or approximately vertically when releasably coupled; and
wherein, the lateral end of the second seatbelt webbing retaining member is positioned vertically or approximately vertically when releasably coupled.

6. The seatback of claim 2 ,
wherein, the lateral end of the first seatbelt webbing retaining member is releasably coupled through magnetic attraction; and
wherein, the lateral end of the second seatbelt webbing retaining member is releasably coupled through magnetic attraction.

7. The seatback of claim 6 ,
the first attachment section including a magnet;
the second attachment section including a magnet;
the lateral end of the first seatbelt webbing retaining member including a metal piece; and
the lateral end of the second seatbelt webbing retaining member including a metal piece;
wherein, the lateral end of the first seatbelt webbing retaining member is releasably coupled to the first attachment section because the metal piece of the lateral end of the first seatbelt webbing retaining member is magnetically attracted to the magnet of the first attachment section; and
wherein, the lateral end of the second seatbelt webbing retaining member is releasably coupled to the second attachment section because the metal piece of the lateral end of the second seatbelt webbing retaining member is magnetically attracted to the magnet of the second attachment section.

8. The seatback of claim 2 ,
the upper back support section including an occupant facing surface;
wherein, the lateral end of the first seatbelt webbing retaining member is releasably coupled rearward of the occupant facing surface of the upper back support section; and
wherein, the lateral end of the second seatbelt webbing retaining member is releasably coupled rearward of the occupant facing surface of the upper back support section.

9. The seatback of claim 2 :
wherein, the headrest and webbing retainer support member is symmetrical about the midline.

10. A method of utilizing a seatbelt assembly with a seating assembly in a vehicle comprising:
presenting a vehicle comprising:
a seating assembly including a seatback comprising:
a midline;
an upper back support section configured to support the upper back of an occupant, the upper back support section having a rearward facing surface;
a headrest and webbing retainer support member attached adjacent to the rearward facing surface of the upper back support section, the headrest and webbing retainer support member including:
a headrest attachment portion;
an extension portion extending between the upper back support section and the headrest attachment portion;
a first upper seatbelt webbing contact portion disposed to a first side of the midline and extending laterally and downward from the extension portion;
a first attachment section extending downward from the first upper seatbelt webbing contact portion; and
a first seatbelt webbing retaining member disposed to the first side of the midline, the first seatbelt webbing retaining member having a medial end, a lateral end further away from the midline than the medial end, and a middle portion between the medial end and the lateral end;

a headrest attached to the headrest attachment portion of the headrest and webbing retainer support member, the extension portion elevating the headrest above the upper back support section;
wherein, the medial end of the first seatbelt webbing retaining member is affixed and the lateral end is releasably coupled to the first attachment section of the headrest and webbing retainer support member; and

wherein, the middle portion is disposed above the first upper seatbelt webbing contact portion forming a gap configured to retain a first upper seatbelt webbing

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Kondrad Marcos Silva
• Welch Ryan
• Mozurkewich Kevin
• Line Johnathan Andrew

Classifications

• B60R22/02

  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)} · CPC title

• B60R2022/027

  Four-point seat belt systems, e.g. with the two upper points connected together · CPC title

• B60N2/688 Primary

  Particular seat belt attachment and guiding · CPC title

• B60R22/023

  Three-point seat belt systems comprising two side lower and one side upper anchoring devices (B60R22/022, B60R22/03 take precedence) · CPC title