Tether hook bracket with rebound blocker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9713971-B1
Application number	US-201614993379-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 12, 2016
Priority date	Jan 12, 2016
Publication date	Jul 25, 2017
Grant date	Jul 25, 2017

Abstract

A tether hook bracket for a vehicle subjectable to an external force event, followed by a rebound event, and having a body structure and a child seat connectable to the body structure via a tether having a tether hook includes a body structure attachment portion, a tether hook connection portion, and a tether hook rebound blocker portion. The body structure attachment portion is configured to be attachable to the body structure. The tether hook connection portion is configured to receive the tether hook, such that the tether hook is connected to the tether hook bracket. The tether hook rebound blocker portion is disposed between the body structure attachment portion and the tether hook connection portion and is configured to maintain the connection of the tether hook to the tether hook bracket when the vehicle is subjected to the rebound event.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tether hook bracket for a vehicle subjectable to an external force event, followed by a rebound event, and including a body structure and a child seat connectable to the body structure via a tether having a tether hook, the tether hook bracket comprising:
a body structure attachment portion configured to be attachable to the body structure;
a tether hook connection portion configured to receive the tether hook, such that the tether hook is connected to the tether hook bracket; and
a tether hook rebound blocker portion disposed between the body structure attachment portion and the tether hook connection portion and configured to maintain the connection of the tether hook to the tether hook bracket when the vehicle is subjected to the rebound event.

2. The tether hook bracket of claim 1 , further comprising a deformation portion disposed between the body structure attachment portion and the tether hook rebound blocker portion and configured to deform during the external force event.

3. The tether hook bracket of claim 2 , wherein the tether hook rebound blocker portion is a tab configured to extend rearward prior to the external force event;
wherein the tab is disposed below the tether hook connection portion prior to the external force event such that the tether hook connection portion can receive the tether hook without interference from the tab; and
wherein the tab is disposed rearward of the tether hook connection portion after the external force event such that a rearward movement of the tether hook during the rebound event is blocked by the tab and the connection of the tether hook to the tether hook bracket is maintained.

4. The tether hook bracket of claim 3 , wherein the body structure attachment portion, the deformation portion, the tether hook rebound blocker portion, and the tether hook connection portion of the tether hook bracket are formed together as a single piece.

5. The tether hook bracket of claim 3 , wherein the body structure attachment portion, the deformation portion, and the tether hook connection portion of the tether hook bracket are formed together as a first piece of the tether hook bracket; and
wherein the tether hook rebound blocker portion of the tether hook bracket is attached to the first piece of the tether hook bracket.

6. The tether hook bracket of claim 5 , wherein the tether hook rebound blocker portion of the tether hook bracket is attached to the first piece of the tether hook bracket via a slide-on clip.

7. The tether hook bracket of claim 1 , wherein the tether hook includes a spring clip configured to maintain the connection of the tether hook to the tether hook bracket; and
wherein the tether hook rebound blocker portion is further configured to maintain the connection of the tether hook to the tether hook bracket when the vehicle is subjected to the rebound event and the spring clip of the child seat tether hook does not function.

8. A vehicle subjectable to an external force event, followed by a rebound event, comprising:
a body structure; and
a child seat tether hook bracket, including:
a body structure attachment portion attached to the body structure;
a tether hook connection portion configured to receive a child seat tether hook, such that the child seat tether hook is connected to the child seat tether hook bracket; and
a tether hook rebound blocker portion disposed between the body structure attachment portion and the tether hook connection portion and configured to maintain the connection of the child seat tether hook to the child seat tether hook bracket when the vehicle is subjected to the rebound event.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the child seat tether hook bracket further includes a deformation portion disposed between the body structure attachment portion and the tether hook rebound blocker portion and configured to deform during the external force event.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the external force event has an external force direction that is toward a front end of the vehicle:
wherein the tether hook rebound blocker portion is a tab configured to extend toward a rear end of the vehicle prior to the external force event;
wherein the tab is disposed below the tether hook connection portion prior to the external force event such that the tether hook connection portion can receive the tether hook without interference from the tab; and
wherein the tab is disposed rearward of the tether hook connection portion after the external force event such that a rearward movement of the tether hook during the rebound event is blocked by the tab and the connection of the tether hook to the tether hook bracket is maintained.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the body structure attachment portion, the deformation portion, the tether hook rebound blocker portion, and the tether hook connection portion of the child seat tether hook bracket are formed together as a single piece.

12. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the body structure attachment portion, the deformation portion, and the tether hook connection portion of the child seat tether hook bracket are formed together as a first piece; and
wherein the tether hook rebound blocker portion of the child seat tether hook bracket is attached to the first piece of the child seat tether hook bracket.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the tether hook rebound blocker portion of the child tether hook bracket is attached to the first piece of the child tether hook bracket via a slide-on clip.

14. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the body structure includes a seat back beam; and
wherein the body structure attachment portion of the child seat tether hook bracket is attached to the seat back beam of the body structure.

15. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the body structure attachment portion of the child seat tether hook bracket is attached to the body structure via a weld.

16. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the body structure attachment portion of the child seat tether hook bracket is attached to the body structure via a mechanical fastener.

17. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the child seat tether hook includes a spring clip configured to maintain the connection of the child seat tether hook to the child seat tether hook bracket; and
wherein the tether hook rebound blocker portion is further configured to maintain the connection of the child seat tether hook to the child seat tether hook bracket when the vehicle is subjected to the rebound event and the spring clip of the child seat tether hook does not function.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Simonin Matthew P
• Jensen Charles E
• Saje Robert N
• Rich Jonathan E

Classifications

• B60N2/2884 Primary

  with protection systems against abnormal g-forces · CPC title

• B60N2/2887 Primary

  Fixation to a transversal anchorage bar, e.g. isofix · CPC title

• B60N2/442 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60N2/2809

  with additional tether connected to the top of the child seat and passing above the top of the back-rest · CPC title