Load limiting seat belt buckle assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9827947-B2
Application number	US-201615040071-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2016
Priority date	Feb 10, 2016
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

A seat belt buckle assembly includes a buckle housing; a plate extending from the buckle housing and defining a slot; and a bracket including a rivet engaged in the slot. The plate and rivet are configured such that, in response to an impact force that exceeds a threshold acting to pull the buckle housing away from the bracket, the slot plastically deforms, permitting the buckle housing and plate to translate relative to the bracket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seat belt buckle comprising:
a buckle housing;
a plate, defining a slot, extending from the housing, the plate's thickness increasing along the slot; and
a bracket including a rivet engaged in the slot,
wherein the plate and rivet are configured such that, in response to an impact force exceeding a threshold acting to pull the housing away from the bracket, the slot plastically deforms, permitting the housing and plate to translate relative to the bracket.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the slot is V-shaped.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the slot defines a plurality of serrated teeth.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bracket is made from a first material and the plate is made from a second material, the second material being less stiff than the first material.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a retractor pretensioner attached to the bracket via a cable.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a locking feature configured to prevent an upward movement of the bracket towards the buckle housing and the plate in response to the impact force.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein a distance the buckle housing and the plate translate relative to the bracket does not exceed about 50 mm.

8. A seat belt buckle assembly comprising:
a buckle housing;
a plate extending from the buckle housing and defining a V-shaped slot, a thickness of the plate increasing along the slot; and
a bracket including a rivet engaged in the slot,
wherein the plate and rivet are configured such that, in response to an impact force that exceeds a threshold acting to pull the buckle housing away from the bracket, the slot plastically deforms, permitting the buckle housing and plate to translate relative to the bracket.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the slot defines a plurality of serrated teeth.

10. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the bracket is made from a first material and the plate is made from a second material, the second material being less stiff than the first material.

11. The assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a retractor pretensioner attached to the bracket via a cable.

12. The assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a locking feature configured to prevent an upward movement of the bracket towards the buckle housing and the plate in response to the impact force.

13. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein a distance the buckle housing and the plate translate relative to the bracket does not exceed about 50 mm.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Jaradi Dean M
• Farooq S M Iskander
• Shenaq Mohammed
• Faruque Mohammed Omar

Classifications

• B60R2022/286

  using deformation of material · CPC title

• B60R2022/281

  for buckles · CPC title

• B60R2022/1806

  for buckles · 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

• B60R22/1952

  Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor · CPC title