Seat assembly with integrated belt restraint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10933784-B2
Application number	US-201916387620-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2019
Priority date	Apr 18, 2019
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

A seatback assembly includes a seatback frame having first and second side members that define a back support portion of the seatback frame. An upper frame member interconnects the first and second side members of the seatback frame to define a headrest support portion of the seatback frame. An upper mounting plate is coupled to the upper frame member. A retaining bar is coupled to the upper mounting plate. A retractor mechanism is operably coupled the back support portion of the seatback frame. A mounting bracket is operably coupled to the seatback frame. A seatbelt includes a webbing having a first portion which is operably coupled to and extending from the retractor mechanism towards the retaining bar within an interior of the seatback assembly. A second portion of the webbing extends from the retaining bar to the mounting bracket within the interior of the seatback assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seat assembly, comprising:
a seatback frame having first and second side members spaced-apart from one another and interconnected by a cross member and an upper frame member;
a lower mounting plate having front and rear sides, wherein the lower mounting plate is supported on the cross member;
a retractor mechanism operably coupled to the rear side of the lower mounting plate;
an upper mounting plate having front and rear sides, wherein the upper mounting plate is supported on the upper frame member;
a ring member coupled to the front side of the upper mounting plate above the retractor mechanism;
a mounting bracket operably coupled to one of the first side member and the second side member of the seatback frame; and
a seatbelt having a webbing with a first end coupled to the retractor mechanism and a second end coupled to an anchor point disposed on the seat assembly, wherein the webbing includes a first portion extending from the retractor mechanism to the ring member, a second portion extending from the ring member to the mounting bracket, and a third portion positioned between the mounting bracket and the anchor point.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ring member is pivotally coupled to the seatback frame.

3. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retractor mechanism is centrally disposed between the first and second side members of the seatback frame.

4. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket includes a plate portion having a retaining bar extending outwardly therefrom.

5. The seat assembly of claim 4 , wherein the retaining bar includes an upper portion and a lower portion extending downwardly and outwardly from the upper portion.

6. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of the webbing are disposed within an interior of the seat assembly.

7. The seat assembly of claim 6 , wherein the third portion of the webbing defines an exposed portion of the webbing disposed outside of the interior of the seat assembly.

8. A seatback assembly, comprising:
a seatback frame having first and second side members defining a back support portion of the seatback frame, and an upper frame member interconnecting the first and second side members of the seatback frame to define a headrest support portion of the seatback frame disposed above the back support portion of the seatback frame;
an upper mounting plate operably coupled to the upper frame member;
a ring member operably coupled to the upper mounting plate;
a retractor mechanism operably coupled to the back support portion of the seatback frame, wherein the retractor mechanism and the ring member are centrally disposed along the seatback frame;
a mounting bracket operably coupled to the seatback frame; and
a seatbelt having a webbing, wherein the webbing includes a first portion operably coupled to and extending from the retractor mechanism to the ring member, and a second portion extending from the ring member to the mounting bracket.

9. The seatback assembly of claim 8 , including:
front and rear carrier modules coupled to one another around the seatback frame to define an interior of the seatback assembly therebetween.

10. The seatback assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first and second portions of the webbing are concealed within the interior of the seatback assembly.

11. The seatback assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first portion of the webbing extends upwardly from the retractor mechanism.

12. The seatback assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second portion of the webbing extends downwardly and outwardly from the ring member to the mounting bracket.

13. The seatback assembly of claim 8 , including:
an overhead airbag assembly outwardly disposed from and surrounding the first side member, the second side member and the upper frame member of the seatback frame.

14. A seat assembly, comprising:
a seatback frame disposed within an interior portion of the seat assembly;
a retractor mechanism operably coupled to the seatback frame at a first vertical position;
a ring member coupled to the seatback frame at a second vertical position that is above the first vertical position, wherein the ring member and the retractor mechanism are centrally disposed on the seatback frame;
a mounting bracket operably coupled to the seatback frame at a third vertical position that is below the second vertical position; and
a seatbelt having an elongate webbing that is deployable between buckled and unbuckled conditions of the seatbelt, wherein the webbing includes a first portion extending upwardly from the retractor mechanism to the ring member, a second portion extending downwardly and outwardly from the ring member to the mounting bracket, and an exposed portion disposed outside of the interior portion of the seat assembly, wherein the first and second portions are disposed within the interior portion of the seat assembly.

15. The seat assembly of claim 14 , wherein the ring member is pivotally coupled to the seatback frame.

16. The seat assembly of claim 14 , wherein the mounting bracket includes a plate portion having a retaining bar extending outwardly therefrom.

17. The seat assembly of claim 16 , wherein the retaining bar includes a vertical upper portion and a lower portion extending downwardly and outwardly from the upper portion.

18. The seat assembly of claim 14 , including:
an overhead airbag assembly outwardly disposed from and surrounding the seatback frame.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Yilma Benjamin
• Desmet Edward Joseph
• Line Johnathan Andrew
• Kondrad Marcos Silva
• Hoernke Spencer Robert

Classifications

• B60R22/26 Primary

  secured to the seat · CPC title

• B60R22/34

  Belt retractors, e.g. reels (anchoring devices {, e.g. guide loops} , with means to tension the belt in an emergency B60R22/195) · CPC title

• B60R2022/1818

  Belt guides · CPC title

• B60R2021/2074

  in head rests · CPC title

• B60R2022/3402

  Retractor casings; Mounting thereof · CPC title