Seat-belt mounting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9821759-B2
Application number	US-201514639273-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2015
Priority date	Mar 5, 2015
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus includes a mounting plate having at least one deformable opening arranged to receive a securing member. The opening is configured to deform when a load on the mounting plate exceeds a predetermined threshold. The apparatus includes a ring member connected to the mounting plate. The ring member includes an opening to receive a strap there-through.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a mounting plate having at least one deformable opening arranged to receive a securing member;
a ring member defining an enclosed ring connected to the mounting plate, the ring member including an opening to receive a strap there-through; and
a locking mechanism including a shaft extending from a first side of the ring member to an opposing second side of the ring member in the opening and a longitudinal ridge, the locking mechanism rotatable about the shaft in the opening to a loaded state in which the strap is locked between the ring member and the longitudinal ridge;
wherein the at least one deformable opening is configured to deform when, after the locking mechanism is in the loaded state, a load on the mounting plate exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the securing member is a mounting bolt.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one deformable opening includes toothed sides.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one deformable opening is provided with two substantially straight sides, a first width at a first end of the deformable opening being greater than a second width at a second end of the deformable opening.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ring member is rotatably connected to the mounting plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a bracket mountable on a vehicle pillar and configured to slidably retain the mounting plate.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the strap is webbing for a vehicle seat belt.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is arranged to rotate about an axis defining a nonzero angle with a line of deformation of the mounting plate.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is an elongated locking cam rotatably installed in the opening.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the cam is provided with a plurality of longitudinal ridges.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the longitudinal ridges are arranged to restrain the strap against the ring member during a vehicle impact.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one deformable opening includes a plurality of openings configured to break on application of a predetermined load.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of openings is substantially circular.

14. A seat-belt mounting system, comprising:
a mounting plate having at least one deformable opening arranged to receive a mounting bolt;
a bracket mountable on a vehicle pillar and configured to slidably retain the mounting plate;
a ring member defining an enclosed ring rotatably connected to the mounting plate, the ring member including an opening to receive a strap there-through; and
a locking cam including a shaft extending from a first side of the ring member to an opposing second side of the ring member in the opening and a longitudinal ridge, the locking cam rotatable to a loaded state in which the strap is locked between the ring member and the longitudinal ridge;
wherein the at least one deformable opening is configured to deform when, after the locking cam is in the loaded state, a load on the mounting plate exceeds a predetermined threshold.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one deformable opening includes toothed sides.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one deformable opening is provided with two substantially straight sides, a first width at a first end of the at least one deformable opening being greater than a second width at a second end of the at least one deformable opening.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the longitudinal ridge is arranged to restrain the strap against the ring member during a vehicle impact.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the locking cam is arranged to rotate about an axis defining a nonzero angle with a line of deformation of the mounting plate.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one deformable opening includes a plurality of openings configured to break on application of a predetermined load.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein each of the plurality of openings is substantially circular.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Farooq Iskander
• Faruque Mohammed Omar
• Jaradi Dean M

Classifications

• B60R2022/1818

  Belt guides · CPC title

• B60R2022/283

  using tearing or scoring of material · CPC title

• B60R2022/286

  using deformation of material · CPC title

• B60R22/28 Primary

  incorporating energy-absorbing devices {(belt anchors provided with energy-absorbing means for protecting the occupants in case of physical contact therewith B60R21/055; belt retractors comprising energy-absorbing means B60R22/341, B60R22/4676)} · CPC title

• B60R22/185

  with stopping means for acting directly upon the belt in an emergency, e.g. by clamping or friction {(B60R22/195 takes precedence; combined with the retractor B60R22/42)} · CPC title