Soft close safety belt tongue/latch plate stowage compartment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9776595-B2
Application number	US-201514735175-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2015
Priority date	Jun 10, 2015
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle safety belt webbing and tongue/latch plate stowage assembly includes a safety belt webbing retractor disposed in a compartment and a pocket disposed adjacent to the compartment and configured for receiving the safety belt tongue/latch plate therein. The pocket is defined by at least a divider and a door configured for translation between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The closed configuration defines a gap between the wall and the door sufficient for passage therethrough of a safety belt webbing. A damper controls the rate of translation of the door between the open configuration and the closed configuration, providing a soft touch opening/closing feature. The door may be configured for pivoting between the open and closed configurations, or for sliding between the open and closed configurations.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A concealing stowage compartment for a vehicle safety belt tongue/latch plate, comprising a pocket configured for receiving the safety belt tongue/latch plate therein, the pocket defined by at least a wall and a door configured for translation between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the door slides laterally between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

2. The compartment of claim 1 , wherein the closed configuration defines a gap between the wall and the door sufficient for passage therethrough of a safety belt webbing.

3. The compartment of claim 2 , wherein the door includes a catch for engaging the safety belt tongue/latch plate to translate the door to the closed configuration.

4. The compartment of claim 3 , wherein the door includes a hinged end for pivoting between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

5. A vehicle including the compartment of claim 1 .

6. A vehicle safety belt webbing and tongue/latch plate stowage assembly, comprising:
a safety belt webbing retractor disposed in a compartment;
a pocket disposed adjacent to the compartment and configured for receiving the safety belt tongue/latch plate therein, the pocket defined by at least a divider and a door configured for translation between open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the door slides laterally between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the closed configuration defines a gap between the wall and the door sufficient for passage therethrough of a safety belt webbing.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the door includes a catch for engaging the safety belt tongue/latch plate to translate the door to the closed configuration.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the door includes a hinged end for pivoting between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

10. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the compartment is disposed in a portion of a roof trim of the vehicle.

11. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the compartment is disposed in a portion of a parcel tray of the vehicle.

12. A vehicle including the assembly of claim 6 .

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Taylor Daniel Robert
• Tuomisto Paul
• Schop Christopher Donald
• Yilma Benjamin
• Raines Travis Justin

Classifications

• B60R22/02 Primary

  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

• B60R22/18 Primary

  Anchoring devices · CPC title

• B60R22/12 Primary

  Construction of belts or harnesses (B60R21/18 takes precedence {; woven fabrics for safety belts D03D1/0005}) · CPC title

• B60R2022/029

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

• B60R2022/021

  Means for holding the tongue or buckle in a non-use position, e.g. for easy access by the user · CPC title