Shoulder belt guide with stow feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9308889-B1
Application number	US-201414538296-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 11, 2014
Priority date	Nov 11, 2014
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

The present teachings provide for a seatbelt positioner for a vehicle that includes a pillar and seatbelt. The seatbelt positioner can include a receiver, a router, and a tether. The receiver can be coupled to the pillar. The router can include a guide body and a stowage member. The router can be movable between a stowed position and an extended position. The guide body can be configured to releasably couple the router to a chest restraint of the seatbelt. When the router is in the stowed position the stowage member can couple the guide body to the receiver. The tether can have a first end coupled to the router and a second end coupled to the receiver. When the router is in the extended position the tether biases the router in a direction toward the receiver.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seatbelt positioner for a vehicle including a pillar and a seatbelt, the seatbelt positioner comprising:
a receiver coupled to the pillar;
a router including a guide body and a stowage member, said router being movable between an extended position in which said router is spaced apart from said receiver, and a stowed position in which said stowage member couples said guide body to said receiver and said guide body is configured to couple said router to a portion of the seatbelt; and
a tether having a first end coupled to said router and a second end coupled to said receiver, and said tether biasing said router in a direction toward said receiver when said router is in said extended position.

2. The seatbelt positioner of claim 1 , wherein said guide body is generally C-shaped, the portion of the seatbelt being removably received through an opening of said C-shaped guide body.

3. The seatbelt positioner of claim 2 , wherein said stowage member is coupled to said guide body on a side of said guide body opposite said opening.

4. The seatbelt positioner of claim 1 , wherein said receiver includes a pair of tabs spaced apart to define a trough;
wherein said stowage member includes a protrusion and a hitch, said protrusion extending away from said side of said guide body, and said hitch being spaced apart from said guide body by said protrusion; and
wherein said protrusion is received in said trough and said hitch is disposed on a side of said tabs opposite said guide body when said router is in said stowed position.

5. The seatbelt positioner of claim 4 , wherein said hitch is wider than said trough to prevent axial translation of said router relative to said receiver when said router is in said stowed position.

6. The seatbelt positioner of claim 5 , wherein said tabs further define a receiving aperture open to said trough, said receiving aperture widening with increased distance from said trough.

7. The seatbelt positioner of claim 1 , wherein said tether is formed of a resilient material configured to be biased toward a first length when stretched to a second length, longer than said first length.

8. The seatbelt positioner of claim 1 , wherein the stowage member includes a first portion and the receiver includes a second portion that contacts said first portion when said router is in said stowed position, and at least one of said first and second portions is formed of a resilient material.

9. The seatbelt positioner of claim 1 , wherein said receiver is defined by a portion of the pillar.

10. The seatbelt positioner of claim 1 , wherein said receiver is mounted to the pillar.

11. A seatbelt positioner for a vehicle including a pillar and a seatbelt, the seatbelt positioner comprising:
a receiver coupled to the pillar;
a router movable between an extended position and a stowed position, said router including:
a guide body having a generally C-shape defining a main channel, said main channel being configured to retain a portion of the seatbelt; and
a stowage member extending from said guide body; and

a tether coupled to said router and said receiver;
wherein said router is spaced apart from said receiver and biased in a direction toward said receiver when said router is in said extended position; and
wherein said stowage member is received in said receiver and said guide body is configured to couple said router to the portion of the seatbelt when said router is in said stowed position.

12. The seatbelt positioner of claim 11 , wherein said stowage member extends from a side of said guide body opposite said main channel.

13. The seatbelt positioner of claim 11 , wherein said receiver includes a first aperture of a first width, and said stowage member includes a protrusion and a hitch, said protrusion having a second width, said hitch being spaced apart from said guide body by said protrusion and having a third width that is greater than said first and second widths; and
wherein said protrusion is received in said first aperture and said hitch is disposed on a side of said first aperture opposite said guide body when said router is in said stowed position.

14. The seatbelt positioner of claim 13 , wherein said receiver includes a second aperture open to said first aperture, said second aperture having a fourth width that is greater than said third width.

15. The seatbelt positioner of claim 14 , wherein said first and second apertures are connected by a pair of ramps.

16. The seatbelt positioner of claim 11 , wherein said tether is formed of a resilient material configured to be biased toward a first length when stretched to a second length, longer than said first length.

17. The seatbelt positioner of claim 11 , wherein the stowage member includes a first portion and the receiver includes a second portion that contacts said first portion when said router is in said stowed position, and at least one of said first and second portions is formed of a resilient material.

18. The seatbelt positioner of claim 11 , wherein said receiver is defined by a pillar trim panel.

19. The seatbelt positioner of claim 11 , wherein said receiver is mounted to the pillar.

20. The seatbelt positioner of claim 11 , wherein said tether is rotatably coupled to said receiver.

Assignees

• Denninger Melinda M
• Tresnak Paul C
• Cacossa Rachel
• Fca Us Llc

Inventors

• Denninger Melinda M
• Tresnak Paul C
• Cacossa Rachel

Classifications

• B60R2022/029

  Belt storage; Devices or systems for controlling winding up of unused seat belt · CPC title

• B60R22/24 Primary

  secured to the side, door, or roof of the vehicle · CPC title

• B60R2022/1818

  Belt guides · CPC title

• B60R22/19

  with means for reducing belt tension during use under normal conditions {(included in the retractor B60R22/44)} · 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