Shoulder Belt Or Harness Patents (Class 297/483)
  • Patent number: 11951932
    Abstract: An assembly includes a vehicle pillar elongated along an axis. The assembly includes seatbelt retractor and a webbing retractably extendable from the retractor. The seatbelt retractor is lockable from an unlocked position in which the webbing is extendable from and retractable into the retractor to a locked position in which the retractor restricts extension of the webbing from the retractor. A seatbelt guide is supported by the pillar. The seatbelt retractor is below the seatbelt guide. The webbing extends upwardly from the seatbelt retractor around the seatbelt guide. A releasable connection connects the seatbelt guide to the pillar when the seatbelt retractor is in the unlocked position and releases the seatbelt guide relative to the pillar when force on the webbing exceeds a threshold when the seatbelt retractor is in the locked position. An energy absorber is between the vehicle pillar and the seatbelt guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 11951935
    Abstract: A system includes an in-cabin sensor, a seatbelt routing zone module, and a seatbelt routing classification module. The in-cabin sensor is operable to generate an image of an occupant in a vehicle seat. The seatbelt routing zone module is configured to generate a seatbelt routing zone based on at least one of a size of the occupant in the image and a shape of the occupant. The seatbelt routing classification module is configured to determine whether a seatbelt is routed properly around the occupant based on whether the seatbelt is at least partially within the seatbelt routing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scott D. Thomas, Dorel M. Sala, Joseph Philip McLaine
  • Patent number: 11945398
    Abstract: A vehicle seat structure for a vehicle seat may have a structural component having an inertia belt reel. The inertia belt reel may be arranged in a cavity of the structural component, and the structural component may be connected to at least one further component of the vehicle seat structure. A method for assembling such a vehicle seat structure may include providing a structural component having an inertia belt reel and at least one further component of the vehicle seat structure that are displaced and/or rotated relative to one another such that the structural component and the at least one further component of the vehicle seat structure take up an end position with respect to one another. In a further step, the structural component and the at least one further component of the vehicle seat structure are connected to one another in a form-fitting and/or integrally bonded and/or force-fitting manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Adient US LLC
    Inventors: Ludger Muehlenbrock, Toralf Mueller, Tobias Schaffert, Klaus Tupuschies
  • Patent number: 11930893
    Abstract: A plug-in tongue for a seatbelt includes a plug-in tongue component (10) and a clamping member (12) mounted thereto, wherein a belt guide passage (30) is delimited between the plug-in tongue component (10) and the clamping member (12), and the clamping member (12) comprises a center part (18) and two lateral parts (20) extending from the two ends of the center part (18) transversely to the latter. The plug-in tongue is characterized in that the center part (18) includes a central guide surface (32) located between the two lateral parts (20), and the two lateral parts (20) include lateral guide surfaces (34) facing each other, the guide surfaces (32, 34) constituting limitations of the belt guide passage (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Knoedl, Dominik Seitzer, Hans-Peter Betz
  • Patent number: 11897417
    Abstract: A system includes a coupler with a first arm and a second arm. The first and second arms configured to couple to a roll cage. A first end may include a first recessed portion and a first aperture. A third end may include a second recessed portion and a second aperture. The first and third ends may contact each other and be secured together via a first fastener that passes through the first aperture and the second aperture. Further, the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion may receive a second fastener therebetween that may receive a latch plate of a safety belt or safety harness to maintain it in an upward position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: Izac Hillam
  • Patent number: 11873105
    Abstract: Described is a frame component for a passenger seat assembly. The frame includes a tubular frame component having a first portion and a second portion. The bent portion bends the frame at a non-zero angle within a plane. The tubular frame component includes a variable inner diameter such that the first portion of the tubular frame component has a first wall thickness and the bent portion of the tubular frame component has a second wall thickness that is different from the first wall thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC
    Inventors: Romain Tranier, Reza Mansouri, Charles Michael Parker
  • Patent number: 11851023
    Abstract: Provided is a pre-tensioner for a seat belt, the pre-tensioner including a housing, a carrier disposed on a first surface of the housing, a fixing member connected to the carrier, a first pulley disposed in a first zone of the first surface of the housing, a second pulley disposed in a second zone of the first surface opposite to the first zone with respect to the carrier, a driving unit having at least a portion coupled to the second pulley, and a belt disposed to mesh with the first pulley, the second pulley, and the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, Samsong Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae Woon Kim, Jung Woo Park, Won Ryong Song
  • Patent number: 11845363
    Abstract: A vehicle has an automatically tiltable seat, a plurality of seat actuators fully supporting the automatically-tiltable seat to enable the automatically tiltable seat to pitch or roll to compensate for motion of the vehicle, and a processor to predict the motion of the vehicle and to control the plurality of seat actuators. The plurality of seat actuators automatically adjust the pitch or roll of the automatically tiltable seat in response to the motion of the vehicle. The seat actuators also provide shock absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventor: Matthew Roy
  • Patent number: 11840193
    Abstract: An apparatus of adjusting the height of a seat belt, which enables the height of a three-point-type seat belt to be adjusted according to the body shape of a child passenger, securing the safety of a child passenger as well as an adult passenger, includes a sliding rail vertically provided on a side of a seatback; and a slider including a belt ring to hang a shoulder belt, wherein the slider is engaged to the sliding rail and configured to vertically slide along the sliding rail, the belt ring being positioned on a top portion of the seatback in a state in which the slider is positioned on an upper end portion of the sliding rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Young Rok Kim
  • Patent number: 11697391
    Abstract: A system includes a pillar and a seatbelt retractor. The system includes a D-ring supported by and vertically movable relative to the pillar. The system includes a webbing extending from the seatbelt retractor and through the D-ring, The system includes an actuator operatively coupled to the D-ring to vertically move the D-ring relative to the pillar. The system includes a computer having a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to determine that the seatbelt retractor in a nuisance locked state, and in response determining that the seatbelt retractor is in the nuisance locked state, command the actuator to move the D-ring vertically downward relative to the pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 11679736
    Abstract: Portable seatbelt systems, kits, and related methods of manufacture and use. A portable seatbelt system may be carried onto and temporarily or permanently installed to an automobile seat, and includes a back strap, a bottom strap, and a securement strap. The back strap may be secured to a backrest of the seat and the bottom strap may be secured to a bottom of the seat. A passenger may be seated in the seat and secured to the seat with the securement strap which attaches to the bottom strap. The securement strap secures the passenger in the seat and prevents the passenger from being ejected from the seat during a collision, a rollover, or another automobile incident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Toni Yvonne Lane
  • Patent number: 11647847
    Abstract: A baby carrier includes a carrying assembly and a support sheet. The carrying assembly includes a waist member and two shoulder straps. A front end of the waist member is connected with a lower portion of the support sheet. An upper portion of a front end of each shoulder strap is connected with an upper portion of the support sheet. A rear end of each shoulder strap is connected with a middle portion of the support sheet. A lower portion of a front end of each shoulder strap forms a circular structure connected with the waist member. A fixing member is disposed on the front end of the waist member. The lower portion of the front end of each shoulder strap is slidably connected with the fixing member. A width between the two shoulder straps is adjusted by a slide of each shoulder strap on the fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Meifeng Fan, Mingpeng Li
  • Patent number: 11642993
    Abstract: A seat mounting structure for at least one seat in a vehicle having a vehicle structure is provided. The seat mounting structure may have a seat rib cage configured as a universal solitary mounting bracket to which at least one seat can be affixed. The seat rib cage may have a plurality of rib cage elements connected with each other to form the seat rib cage. The seat rib cage may also have a plurality of seat mounting points for mounting the at least one seat to the seat rib cage. The seat rib cage may also have a plurality of vehicle structure mounting points for mounting the seat rib cage to the vehicle structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Adient US LLC
    Inventors: John J. Gomez, James D. Biebel, Raza Bashir, Joseph Gasko, Dalibor Dimovski, Kurt A. Seibold, Xin Wei Jolene Ng, John Bleau, Raymond Anthony Iavasile
  • Patent number: 11639153
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body having a pillar. The vehicle includes a track supported by the pillar. The vehicle includes a bar supported by the track. The bar is slidable relative to the track from a raised position to a lowered position. The vehicle includes a seatbelt webbing extending over the bar. The vehicle includes a piston supported by the pillar. The piston includes a piston rod connected to the bar and a piston cylinder supported by the pillar. The piston rod and the piston cylinder define a volume filled with a resilient material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: S. M. Iskander Farooq, Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, Saeed D. Barbat
  • Patent number: 11628799
    Abstract: A belt guide (2) having a base structure (9) and a bracket part (13), wherein the base structure (9) includes a body contact portion (17) configured to abut a body part (3), wherein the bracket part (13) is connected to the base structure (9) via a connecting structure and includes a belt contact surface (19) facing the base structure (9) to guide a belt between itself and the body part (3) or the base structure (9), wherein the connecting structure is configured to hold the bracket part (13) such that it cannot move relative to the base structure (9) in a normal state and to yield under the action of a predetermined load, in particular a load acting from the direction of the body part (3), to allow the bracket part (13) to move relative to the base structure (9) toward the body contact portion (17) in a release state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Albert Sbongk
  • Patent number: 11623550
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a back frame having opposing side members and side brackets pivotally connected to the opposing side members about a pivot axis such that the back frame is pivotal between a reclined position and a folded position. A spring-assist system is configured to urge pivoting of the back frame towards the folded position. The spring-assist system including a torsion rod spring extending between the side members at a location that is radially outboard of the pivot axis to generate an off-axis moment that urges the back frame towards the folded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: Dakota Stapleton
  • Patent number: 11589683
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a high chair that is permanently secured to a picnic table to facilitate the public enjoyment of communal meals and recreational time by families that include small children. In some embodiments, the high chair may be configured to extend above the upper surface of the picnic table, providing the additional benefit of facilitating interaction and attunement between a child occupant of the high chair and adult occupants of the picnic table bench seats. In other embodiments, the high chair may be configured such that a food tray of the high chair is substantially level with the upper surface of the picnic table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: PLAYCORE WISCONSIN , INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Robert Norquist, Salil Shriram Vaijapurkar
  • Patent number: 11584336
    Abstract: A seat belt accessory comprising a first and second fastener connected by a connecting member. The fasteners may be of various shapes, sizes, designs, and dimensions. The seat belt assembly can be used to improve the comfort of a passenger riding in a vehicle or any other apparatus requiring seat belt restraints by creating more space between the seat belt and the passenger and eliminating any pinching created by the seat belt. In addition to creating a more comfortable passenger experience, the seat belt accessory allows easier seat belt access to passengers with mobility problems, serves as a reminder for passengers to use their seat belt, and instantly protect passengers upon crash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventor: Richard H. Galloway
  • Patent number: 11572032
    Abstract: The vehicle body upper structure includes a rear roof rail, a retractor, a webbing, and an anchor. The rear roof rail extends along a roof panel of the vehicle body. The retractor is housed inside the rear roof rail and is fixed to the rear roof rail with a first fastening bolt. For example, the webbing is pulled out in a pull-out direction orthogonal to an axis of the first fastening bolt. A through ring changes a stretching direction of the webbing that restrains an occupant with the webbing to have an acute angle with respect to the pull-out direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kobori, Kazunori Hida, Ryoichi Kakioka
  • Patent number: 11572031
    Abstract: A seat belt guide device for a passenger restraint belt of a motor vehicle is provided, wherein the seat belt guide device includes a fastening device with at least one spring-actuated catching device, with which the seat belt guide device can be snap-fitted or fastened to a motor vehicle in an assembly direction, wherein the seat belt guide device is preferably molded from at least one plastic injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS, INC.
    Inventors: Matthias Wolf, Jochen Beck, Viviane Reibel
  • Patent number: 11535189
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a belt strap for a safety belt device of a motor vehicle. The belt strap includes at least one cavity for receiving electronic components and/or lines. The cavity is formed by two fabric layers which are connected to one another in the outer edge sections by means of one or more weave thread/weave threads running parallel to the longitudinal direction of the belt strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Tommy Wang, Bob Chen, Raphael Tao, Willi Welz, Frank Gan, Kai-Stephan Müller, Chris Van Helvoort, Victoria Drews
  • Patent number: 11452360
    Abstract: The backpack with inflatable cushions comprises a backpack, inflatable shoulder pads, and an inflatable lumbar support. The backpack may be adapted to be worn on a user's back, supported by a pair of shoulder straps, and may be operable to carry items within the backpack. Non-limiting examples of the items that may be carried within the backpack comprise school supplies, camping gear, sports equipment, and a change of clothing. The inflatable shoulder pads may be adapted to distribute the weight of the pair of shoulder straps over a larger area of a user's shoulders when the inflatable shoulder pads are inflated with air. The inflatable lumbar support may be adapted to fill the space between a user's lower back and the bottom of the backpack when inflated, thus promoting good posture and reducing back pain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Inventor: Qwasahn A. Cedeno, Sr.
  • Patent number: 11414046
    Abstract: A safety belt presentation system includes a safety belt presentation track extending from a first position to a second position spaced from the first position, a latch that includes a tongue disposed between a first side of the latch and second side of the latch and a first coupling portion, and a driving mechanism that includes a second coupling portion configured to releasably couple the first coupling portion of the latch. The driving mechanism is configured to control the latch to move from the first position to the second position along the safety belt presentation track when the first and second coupling portions are coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Philipp Charopoulos, Lukas Satas, John J. Baker, Jonathon R. Folks, Andrew W. Kooker
  • Patent number: 11382403
    Abstract: A wearable carrying system for a container such as a backpack or a bag has one or two straps that extend over the shoulder(s) and torso of a user. The strap or straps include a bladder system that is sequentially inflated or deflated by the controllable introduction and removal of a fluid into and out of the bladder system. A shoulder pad is located on a portion of the strap, the shoulder pad having an additional controllable bladder system to adjust the load bearing position of a strap on the shoulder of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Gantz, Russ Knize
  • Patent number: 11351958
    Abstract: A seat belt device includes a webbing, a locking tongue, and a guide. The webbing includes a lap belt and a shoulder belt. The locking tongue is configured to undergo a change from a free state, in which the webbing is capable of passing between a side of the lap belt and a side of the shoulder belt, to a lock state, in which the webbing is not capable of passing between the side of the lap belt and the side of the shoulder belt, in accordance with a collision or a warning of the collision of a vehicle. The guide is configured to displace a location on the shoulder belt that is adjacent to the locking tongue in a direction away from the occupant in response to the change from the free state to the lock state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 10919485
    Abstract: A vehicle seat belt assembly that ensures proper lap belt and shoulder belt restraint even when an occupant substantially reclines his or her seat. A primary shoulder belt that runs from a buckle member across the chest and shoulder of the occupant and engages a routing device and/or retraction/tensioning device coupled to a pillar, such as a B-pillar, of the body of the vehicle is coupled with a substantially coincident secondary shoulder belt that also runs from the buckle member across the chest and (same) shoulder of the occupant and engages a secondary routing device and/or secondary retraction/tensioning device coupled to a top portion of the seat back, adjacent to the heat rest of the seat and head of the occupant, on the same side of the seat as an anchor point associated with the lap belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Setterberg
  • Patent number: 10913421
    Abstract: An air bag apparatus for protecting a passenger's head includes an air bag cover fixedly installed at an upper end of a seat back and an air bag cushion installed in a folded state in the air bag cover. The air bag cushion is deployed while breaking the air bag cover during supply of air bag gas from an inflator, and deployed toward one side of the passenger who is on a seat to protect the passenger's head during deployment. Accordingly, the air bag apparatus protects the passenger's head even in a situation in which a position of the seat is changed and an autonomous driving condition in which various sitting modes are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Il Chang Sung
  • Patent number: 10661749
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a restraint system for use in a vehicle with a seat belt system, including a plurality of straps that can be adjusted to conform to the changing dimensions in a wearer and to fit a variety of wearers. The restraint system includes multiple security members that facilitate attaching different kinds of seat belts to different locations on the restraint system. Thus, the restraint system can be used to secure its wearer to a variety of different seat belt systems in a variety of different vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Inventor: Hoon Y. Kim
  • Patent number: 9713968
    Abstract: A five-point harness system is disclosed including a right side strap, a left side strap, a right buckle connected to the right side strap, a left buckle connected to the left side strap, a center strap with a center buckle configured to receive and retain the right buckle and the left buckle. The five-point harness may also include a right side elastic strip having a right front portion coupled to the right side strap, a left side elastic strip having a left front portion coupled to the left side strap, and a center elastic strip having a center front portion coupled to the center strap. The right and the left side elastic strips may be tensioned to pull the harness straps away from each other. The center elastic strip may be tensioned to pull the center strap away from the other straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: DREAMBIZ LLC
    Inventors: Chad Richardson, Craig Richardson
  • Patent number: 9643567
    Abstract: A backrest for a back seat of a motor vehicle is pivotable between a usage and folded position. A lateral part is arranged next to the backrest in usage position and forms a gap therebetween. A safety belt adjacent to the gap rests on a contact surface of the lateral part. A guide element is arranged in the gap and mounted in the lateral part for moving from an operative position partially projecting out of the gap and too a non-operative position completely retracted in the gap and vice versa. The guide element projects over the contact surface in the operative position. The guide element is moved from the operative position into the non-operative position against a spring force when the backrest pivots into the usage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Martin Stein
  • Patent number: 9376088
    Abstract: Apparatus for adapting an adult three-point seatbelt for securing a child, the seatbelt comprising a belt extending from above the shoulder to an anchor point connected to chassis of vehicle, and a clasp attached to the chassis on opposite side of an occupant of the seat, such that the belt may be drawn downwards and across the occupant to engage the clasp, thereby restraining the occupant with both sash and lap sections of the seatbelt, the apparatus comprising: a mat with side catches for engaging the lap section of the seatbelt and holding it down over the legs of the child, and a strap fixed to the mat and having a clip at a distal end thereof, for extending behind the child, and the clip for clippably engaging the belt extending from the drum, to bring the sash section of the belt down, over the shoulder of the child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: CARFOLDIO LTD.
    Inventor: Jon Sumroy
  • Patent number: 9260076
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint method, system, and apparatus. The system includes a seat belt associated with a seat of a vehicle and a shoulder belt portion of the seat belt comprising a shoulder stabilizing zone and a thorax belt portion, wherein the shoulder stabilizing zone includes a larger width dimension than the thorax belt portion. The system also includes a pretensioning device associated with the shoulder belt portion of the seat belt. The pretensioning device is configured to cinch and lock the shoulder stabilizing zone around a shoulder region of the occupant, thereby preventing forward rotation of the shoulder region, in response to a side impact collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Craig A Markusic
  • Patent number: 9241544
    Abstract: A belt buckle assembly, especially for a seat belt system in a motor vehicle, includes a belt buckle (10) and a plug-in tongue (12) lockable in the belt buckle (10) by means of a locking mechanism. A component of the locking mechanism of the belt buckle (10) interacting with the plug-in tongue (12) inside the belt buckle (10) and/or the plug-in tongue (12) has/have design features at a locking portion (16) interacting with the locking mechanism of the belt buckle (10) inside the belt buckle (10). The design features enable the plug-in tongue (12) to be locked in the belt buckle (10) only at one of at least two possible orientations of the plug-in tongue (12) in the belt buckle (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Haas, Achim Ebert
  • Patent number: 9039094
    Abstract: A seat back frame includes: a first side member and a second side member each formed into an elongated shape along an up-and-down direction of a seat back so as to support each side portion of the seat back; and a belt guide portion on which tension of a seat belt is applied when the seat belt is pulled, the belt guide portion being formed in an upper portion of the first side member and guiding the seat belt having the one end retained by a seat belt retaining member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 9015949
    Abstract: A method for preventing twisting of a strap of a car seat, the method comprising receiving the strap through a body portion of a device, wherein the body portion includes opposite open ends, and wherein the strap extends through the body portion and protrudes from each of the ends, and positioning the device below at least one of a chest clip and a bottom clip coupled to the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Inventor: Jeannine Bernardo
  • Patent number: 9010868
    Abstract: A seat belt spacing device holds a seat belt in spaced relationship to a person to prevent the belt from wrinkling clothes worn by the person. The device includes a medial member and a first bracket coupled to and extending from a first face of the medial member. The first bracket defines a first slot positioned in spaced relationship to the first face configured for receiving a shoulder portion of a seat belt therein. A second bracket is coupled to and extends from a second face of the medial member. The second bracket defines a second slot positioned in spaced relationship to the second face. The second slot is configured for receiving a lap portion of the seat belt therein. Thus, the shoulder portion of the seat belt is retained in spaced relationship to the lap portion of the seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Kyndal A. Hashman
  • Patent number: 9010865
    Abstract: A restraint system for a removable vehicle seat is attached to the vehicle seat. A restraint tower associated with the restraint system transfers energy generated during vehicle impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Valasin, Radesh Vangipuram, Richard Squires, Philip Skinner, Joseph Talamonti
  • Patent number: 8998286
    Abstract: A soldier restraint system and method secure a soldier in a vehicle. In one embodiment, the soldier restraint system includes a seat assembly comprising a seat and straps. The soldier restraint system also includes a restraint harness belt. The restraint harness belt is secured to the seat assembly. In addition, the soldier restraint system includes mounting assemblies. The straps attach the seat to the mounting assemblies. The mounting assemblies are securable to the vehicle. Attachment of at least one of the straps to the seat is releasable by a release assembly. The soldier restraint system also includes a strap retractor and a retractor strap. The retractor strap is extractable from the strap retractor. The retractor strap is retractable by the strap retractor. The strap retractor retracts the retractor strap upon achieving a strap threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Black Mountain Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle L. Greenwood, Bobby D. Melvin, Rattaya C. Yalamanchili, James Buckner, James Hagan
  • Patent number: 8991866
    Abstract: A vehicle pillar trim assembly includes a trim panel, a first cover plate and a second cover plate. The trim panel has a first side surface, a second side surface and an aperture extending from the first side surface to the second side surface. The first cover plate is slidably arranged in an adjustment direction with respect to the trim panel in an overlapping manner with the first side surface and at least partially covering the aperture. The first cover plate has a first opening that is smaller than the aperture and at least partially aligned with the aperture. The second cover plate is slidably with respect to the trim panel in an overlapping manner with the first cover plate and at least partially covering the first opening. The second cover plate has a second opening smaller than the first opening and aligned with the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Neal Osterhout
  • Patent number: 8960717
    Abstract: A seatbelt strap for a seatbelt of a motor vehicle includes several seatbelt strap layers and at least one belt interior that can be charged with gas and is arranged between at least two seatbelt strap layers. The seatbelt strap layers are connected to one another in the region of the chargeable seatbelt interior at edge regions by tear strips having different seam thicknesses in different sections. The seatbelt strap layers are fastened to one another outside a region of the chargeable seatbelt interior in such a way that these remain connected to one another at least during the charging of the seatbelt interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Christian Burczyk, Uwe Merz
  • Patent number: 8919888
    Abstract: There is provided a seat belt guiding construction capable of regulating the longitudinal and transverse movement of a seat belt. In a seat belt guiding construction including a retractor 12 for a seat belt, which is installed in a seat back 2; a belt guide portion 13 for a seat belt 5, which is disposed in an upper end portion of the seat back 2; and a seat belt cover 11 which is mounted at a belt takeout port 6 for taking the seat belt 5 out of the seat back 2, the belt guide portion 13 is made up of a front guide portion 8b for guiding the front surface of the seat belt 5, side guide portions 9c for guiding the side of the seat belt 5, and a rear guide portion 9b for guiding the rear surface of the seat belt 5; a slit 9a through which the seat belt 5 passes into the guide is formed in the side guide portion 9c or the rear guide portion 9b; and the attachment portion for the seat belt cover 11 is formed in the belt guide portion 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichiro Maruo
  • Patent number: 8911023
    Abstract: A soldier restraint system and method secure a soldier in a vehicle. In one embodiment, the soldier restraint system is secured in a military vehicle. The soldier restraint system includes a seat assembly comprising a seat and straps. The soldier restraint system also includes a restraint harness belt. The restraint harness belt is secured to the seat assembly. In addition, the soldier restraint system includes mounting assemblies. The straps attach the seat to the mounting assemblies. The mounting assemblies are securable in the vehicle. Attachment of at least one of the straps to the seat is releasable by a release assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Black Mountain Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyle L. Greenwood
  • Patent number: 8845032
    Abstract: A restraining device eases the loading, unloading and securing of an infant/child to a car seat by holding the shoulder straps of the harness assembly away from the seating area of the car seat. A common, central body is secured to the carrying handle of the infant car seat by at least one of the at least one radial extension. Another of the at least one radial extension is used to secure the harness shoulder strap temporarily to the carrying handle while the infant/child is placed in the seating area of the car seat. The harness shoulder strap is subsequently released from the carrying handle and returned to its original position within the seating area for properly securing the infant/child to the car seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventors: Ashley Renee Bruce, Dylan Stewart Bruce, Patricia Laine Hoehne
  • Patent number: 8820790
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a sitting part structure and a seatback structure which is arranged so as to pivot at its lower end on the sitting part structure and is covered by a seatback cover and to which, in its upper region on the vehicle sill side, is secured a belt deflector. The belt deflector has a belt runner opening for a seatbelt, which faces in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The seatbelt is guided out of an automatic belt roller mechanism, which accommodates one end of the seatbelt, through the belt runner opening in the belt deflector. The belt deflector is covered by the seatback cover which has a belt-passage through-opening which coincides with the belt runner opening and is covered on the front face of the seatback by a belt cover which has a belt-guide slot and is connected to the seatback cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Wenz, Sasa Galijasevic, Thomas Jung
  • Patent number: 8814210
    Abstract: A belt presenter for a seat belt system comprising a belt strap and deflection fittings (16) includes an arm (102) having a belt strap guide (104) and a mounting portion (106) by which the arm (102) is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle lining (10). The arm (102) is manually movable about an axis of rotation (108) into a plurality of locking positions. The axis of rotation (109) about which the arm (102) can be rotated is arranged, in the vehicle-mounted state, to be offset from a mounting point (18) of deflection fittings (16) of the seat belt system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Mario Zauder, Peter Goehringer, Markus Kees, Juergen Petzi
  • Patent number: 8807658
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (10) is provided having a vertically adjustable seat belt in order to secure a user of the vehicle seat (10). The vehicle seat (10) comprises a portion (20) for receiving a first end (33) of the seat belt (30). In this case the vehicle seat portion (20) comprises a cover (21) which covers the vehicle seat portion (20) towards the vehicle seat (10) and behind which are provided a first slot opening (22) for passing the seat belt (30) out of the interior of the vehicle seat portion (20) towards the exterior of the vehicle seat portion (20) and a second slot opening (23) for guiding a seat-belt vertical adjustment element (24) on the vehicle seat portion (20) between an upper end position (OE) of the seat belt (30) and a lower end position (UE) of the seat belt (30). The cover (21) descends obliquely downwards to an outer edge (K) of the vehicle seat (10), at which edge (K) the vehicle seat portion (20) is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventors: Richard Ott, Markus Haner, Andreas Poehlmann
  • Patent number: 8807598
    Abstract: A guide loop for a vehicle seat belt system includes a first portion configured for attachment to a body of a vehicle, a second portion extending from the first portion at an angle and configured for attachment to the body, and a third portion extending from the second portion and substantially parallel to the first portion. The third portion is spaced apart from the first portion so as to define a channel that is configured for receiving a seat belt webbing. The guide loop is fixedly attachable to and not rotatable with respect to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: George J. Strnad, Steven J. Richter
  • Patent number: 8777323
    Abstract: Various embodiments of restraint harnesses for use in land, air, and sea vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, for example, a restraint harness can include a first shoulder web, a second shoulder web, and a torso web. A first end portion of the torso web can include a buckle that is configured to engage a connector at a second, opposite end portion of the torso web. The restraint harness can further include first and second portions of a stiffening material attached to first and second portions of the first and second shoulder webs, respectively. The stiffening material can form the first and second shoulder webs into preformed openings with inverted U-like shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: AmSafe, Inc.
    Inventors: David T. Merrill, Michael J. Walton, Zulma Y. Estrada
  • Patent number: 8733794
    Abstract: A seat belt system includes a storage case including a main body having a box shape and a storage portion, the main body having an opening formed thereon through which first and second tongues are inserted, the first tongue being attached to an end of a belt and to be connected to a first buckle on a seat side, the second tongue being movably attached to the belt and to be connected to a second buckle on the seat side, and a storage portion formed in a shape tapered in an insertion direction of the first and second tongues, protruding from the main body and including first and second inclined surfaces that are formed on both sides of a surface opposite a surface having the opening formed thereon and are inclined to guide insertion of the first and second tongues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Toru Suzuki, Yuki Ando, Takaya Tsukigase
  • Publication number: 20140125110
    Abstract: A child restraint device may include, in one embodiment, a base member and a back member. The back member may be foldably attached to the base member such that the base member and the back member may be folded together. The child restraint device may also include at least one back member securing belt and at least one base member securing belt. Moreover, the child restraint device may include a restraint harness disposed between the base member and the back member. The restraint harness may include an adjustable shoulder portion attached to the back member and an adjustable lap portion attached to the base member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Kennedy Innovations LLC
    Inventor: Raina Kennedy