U.S. patent application number 09/836720 was filed with the patent office on 2002-04-18 for seat belt buckle receptacle presenter assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to Joalto Design Inc.. Invention is credited to Campbell, John E., DeLorean, Paul J., El-Sayed, Mohamed, Townsend, John A..
Application Number | 20020043872 09/836720 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22731425 |
Filed Date | 2002-04-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020043872 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Townsend, John A. ; et
al. |
April 18, 2002 |
Seat belt buckle receptacle presenter assembly
Abstract
A seat belt buckle receptacle presenter is disclosed that
presents the seat belt buckle receptacle to a vehicle occupant in a
convenient and visually accessible location. In a first preferred
embodiment, the seat belt receptacle is pivotally mounted along a
generally horizontal track to move from a storage position located
in the rearward portion of a vehicle seat to a presenting position
located adjacent a forward edge of the vehicle seat. An alternative
second preferred embodiment includes an upwardly extending
presenting arm that is connected to a conventional restraint belt
receptacle. The presenting arm receives a seat belt buckle and
delivers the belt buckle to the seat belt receptacle.
Inventors: |
Townsend, John A.;
(Bloomfield Hills, MI) ; El-Sayed, Mohamed;
(Bloomfield Hills, MI) ; Campbell, John E.; (Hazel
Park, MI) ; DeLorean, Paul J.; (Bloomfield Hills,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RADER, FISHMAN & GRAUER PLLC
39533 WOODWARD AVENUE
SUITE 140
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48304-0610
US
|
Assignee: |
Joalto Design Inc.
|
Family ID: |
22731425 |
Appl. No.: |
09/836720 |
Filed: |
April 17, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60197956 |
Apr 17, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/473 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 2022/1806 20130101;
B60R 22/03 20130101; B60R 22/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/473 |
International
Class: |
A47D 015/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A seat belt buckle receptacle presenter for presenting a seat
belt buckle receptacle to a vehicle occupant, comprising: a movable
arm that is selectively movable between a storage position and a
presenting position, wherein said movable arm is positioned
adjacent a rear portion of a vehicle seat when said movable arm is
in said storage position and said movable arm is positioned
adjacent a forward portion when said movable arm is in said
presenting position; a seat belt buckle receptacle adapted to
receive a seat belt buckle connected to said movable member; and a
track mechanism that moves said movable arm from said storage
position to said presenting position.
2. The seat belt buckle receptacle presenter of claim 1, further
including an extension member that has first and second ends,
wherein said movable arm is pivotally connected to said first end
of said extension member and said second end of said extension
member is operatively connected to said track mechanism.
3. The seat belt buckle receptacle presenter of claim 2, further
including a rear stop member for pivoting said seat belt buckle
receptacle to a predetermined storage angle.
4. The seat belt buckle receptacle presenter of claim 2, further
including a forward stop member for pivoting said seat belt buckle
receptacle to a predetermined presenting angle.
5. The seat belt buckle receptacle presenter of claim 2, further
including slot having first and second distal ends extending along
a side surface of the vehicle seat, wherein said track mechanism is
positioned within said vehicle seat and said extension member
extends outwardly from said slot.
6. The seat belt buckle receptacle presenter of claim 4, wherein
said predetermined presenting angle orients said seat belt buckle
receptacle so as to be facing a vehicle occupant.
7. A seat belt buckle receptacle presenter for presenting a seat
belt buckle receptacle to a vehicle occupant, comprising: a seat
belt buckle receptacle having an opening adapted to received a seat
belt buckle, said buckle receptacle mounted adjacent to a vehicle
seat; and a presenting arm that selectively moves between a
presenting position and an engaged position relative to said buckle
receptacle; wherein said presenting arm is adapted to receive a
seat belt buckle when in the presenting position and to deliver the
seat belt buckle into said opening of said buckle receptacle as the
presenting arm moves to the engaged position.
8. The seat belt buckle receptacle presenter of claim 7, wherein
said presenting arm has a mouth portion with an opening therein for
receiving a belt buckle.
9. The seat belt buckle receptacle presenter of claim 8, wherein
said mouth portion extends laterally away from a base portion of
said presenting arm at an approximately 90.degree. angle.
10. The seat belt buckle receptacle presenter of claim 8, wherein
said mouth portion is sized to be approximately the same size as a
top portion of said seat belt buckle receptacle and said opening of
said mouth portion is generally aligned with the opening of said
seat belt buckle receptacle.
11. The seat belt buckle receptacle presenter of claim 7, wherein
said presenting arm is telescopingly mounted in a groove formed in
a track member that is fixedly secured to said buckle
receptacle.
12. The seat belt buckle receptacle of claim 11, further including
a coil spring positioned in said groove of said track member
beneath a bottom edge of said presenting arm, wherein said coil
spring biasing said presenting arm into said presenting
position.
13. The seat belt buckle receptacle of claim 12, further including
a rotary damper having a toothed outer periphery, wherein said
rotary damper is rotatably mounted to said track member such that
said toothed outer periphery mates with a toothed outer edge of
said presenting arm to cooperate with said coil spring to
selectively move said presenting arm between said presenting
position and said engaged position.
14. The seat belt buckle receptacle of claim 12, wherein a lip
portion fixedly of said coil spring is connected to a mounting bar
positioned across the track member and over said presenting
arm.
15. The seat belt buckle receptacle of claim 13, wherein said
rotary damper is rotatably mounted to a plate that is fixedly
connected to said track.
16. The seat belt buckle receptacle of claim 15, wherein said track
further includes a mounting portion having a slot therein, said
plate being fixedly connected to said mounting portion with said
toothed rotary damper extending partially through said slot and
into said groove of said track.
17. The seat belt buckle receptacle assembly of claim 7, wherein
said seat belt buckle receptacle is oriented at a predetermined
angle such that said opening of said seat belt buckle receptacle
faces upward and away from the rear of the vehicle seat.
18. The seat belt buckle receptacle assembly of claim 7, wherein
said presenting arm further includes a latch mechanism to secure
said buckle as said presenting arm moves from said presenting
position to said engaged position.
19. A seat belt buckle receptacle presenter for presenting a seat
belt buckle receptacle to a vehicle occupant, comprising: a seat
belt buckle receptacle having an opening adapted to received a seat
belt buckle, said buckle receptacle mounted adjacent to a vehicle
seat and oriented at an angle within the range of
30.degree.-90.degree. such that said opening is facing outwardly
and away from said vehicle seat; a track member fixedly secured to
a side of said seat belt buckle receptacle, said track member
having a groove extending therethrough; a presenting arm mounted in
said groove of said track member in a telescoping manner such that
said presenting arm selectively moves between a presenting position
and an engaged position relative to said buckle receptacle; wherein
said presenting arm includes a mouth portion and a base portion,
said mouth portion extending laterally away from said base portion
and having an opening that generally corresponds to the size and
shape of said opening of said seat belt buckle receptacle, said
opening of said mouth portion being adapted to receive a seat belt
buckle when in the presenting position and to deliver the seat belt
buckle into said opening of said buckle receptacle as the
presenting arm moves to the engaged position.
20. The seat belt buckle receptacle of claim 19, further including
a coil spring positioned in said groove beneath a bottom edge of
said presenting arm to bias said presenting arm into said
presenting position and rotary damper having a toothed outer
periphery, wherein said rotary damper is rotatably mounted to a
plate member and said plate member is fixedly secured to a mounting
portion of said track member such that a portion of said toothed
outer periphery of said rotary damper partially extends through a
slot formed in said track member an into said groove so as to mate
with a toothed outer edge of said presenting arm to cooperate with
said coil spring to selectively move said presenting arm between
said presenting position and said engaged position.
21. The seat belt buckle receptacle of claim 19, wherein said
presenting arm is motor driven by a central processing unit between
said presenting position and said engaged position.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Serial No. 60/197,956 filed Apr. 17, 200 entitled "SEAT
BELT BUCKLE RECEPTACLE PRESENTER ASSEMBLY", hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The invention relates to a seat belt buckle assembly, and
more particularly to a seat belt buckle receptacle assembly that
has a selectively extendable buckle receptacle that moves within
easy reach of a vehicle occupant to facilitate engagement with a
seat belt buckle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The use of restraint belts in vehicles is known for
providing vehicle occupants with protection in the event of a
collision or accident. Conventional restraint belts include a
combination of a lap belt portion and shoulder belt portion formed
from a continuous belt. In such an arrangement, one end of the belt
is anchored to a structural floor member of the vehicle behind a
seat on its outboard side. The other end is secured to a retracting
mechanism mounted on or in the `B` pillar rearward from the vehicle
door, the outboard edge of the ceiling or floor, or in the seat
back. A buckle for engaging with a receptacle positioned adjacent
to the inboard side of the vehicle seat, is usually slidably
attached to the belt. When not in use, the retracting mechanism
biases the belt and buckle toward the outboard side of the vehicle.
Sometimes a second retractor is added which separately attaches to
the lap portion of the belt and the floor or lower seat, again on
the outboard side.
[0004] To secure a restraint belt, the vehicle occupant typically
must first twist around the seat and reach across their body to try
and grab the buckle that is located above, behind the seat or
alongside the seat back. Next, the occupant must draw the buckle
and belt across his body such that the shoulder belt portion
extends from the retracting mechanism diagonally across the
occupant's chest while the lap belt portion is directed across the
occupant's lap. Finally, the occupant must twist around the
opposite direction towards the center of the vehicle to find the
seat belt receptacle and releasably secure the buckle in the
receptacle. Buckling into such prior art restraint systems is an
undesirable chore. It is awkward for an occupant to twist around
and secure a buckle in the buckle receptacle. Thus, statistics have
shown that people will often forget or forego using such prior art
restraint systems.
[0005] To overcome the problems associated with conventional
restraints systems, another type of restraint system known as a
"passive" restraint system has been developed. One such passive
restraint system uses separate lap and shoulder belts. The lap belt
is of a conventional design wherein a retracting mechanism is
positioned adjacent to the seat on its outboard side. The shoulder
belt has one end attached to the inside of the upper rear corner of
the vehicle door. The other end is engaged with a separate
retracting mechanism adjacent to the inboard side of the seat. When
the vehicle door is opened, the belt extends from the inboard side
of the seat away from the seat to the outer corner of the vehicle
door, so as to enable the vehicle occupant to enter the vehicle
between the shoulder belt and the seat. Once the door is pulled
shut, the inboard end of the shoulder belt retracts, thereby
securing the shoulder belt around the vehicle occupant. However,
the lap belt must still be separately secured across the occupant's
lap. Moreover, the positioning of the shoulder belt reduces the
available room in which the vehicle occupant may enter and exit the
vehicle, thus hindering entry and exit of the vehicle.
[0006] To provide more room to enter and exit the vehicle, another
known type of passive restraint system has the outboard end of the
shoulder belt attached to a movable shuttle riding in a track along
the upper periphery of the door opening. When the door is opened,
the shuttle automatically moves the outboard end of the shoulder
belt forward along the track. More room is provided for the
occupant to enter and exit the vehicle without becoming
inadvertently entangled in the shoulder belt. Again, however, the
lap belt still must be separately and manually fastened across the
occupant's lap in the conventional manner such that the occupant
must twist around to locate and secure the lap belt.
[0007] Therefore, there exists a need for a buckle receptacle
assembly that is presented to a vehicle occupant so as to be easily
accessible and within the vehicle occupant's sight of vision to
eliminate the need for twisting around to locate the buckle
receptacle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is directed to a seat belt buckle
receptacle assembly for a vehicle seat that presents a seat belt
buckle receptacle to a vehicle occupant in a conveniently
accessible location. A first preferred embodiment of the seat belt
buckle assembly includes a selectively movable arm that carries a
buckle receptacle. The movable arm moves between a storage position
and a presenting position in a sliding manner. The arm is pivotally
attached to a first end of an extension member that extends
outwardly from a slot formed in the vehicle seat. A second end of
the extension member is operatively connected to a motor driven
track positioned within the vehicle seat. Alternatively, the track
mechanism may be positioned adjacent to the vehicle seat.
[0009] The slot has first and second distal ends. Positioned
adjacent to the first distal end is a rear pivot stop. Rear pivot
stop is fixedly connected to a structural component of the rear
portion of the vehicle seat. A forward pivot stop is fixedly
connected to a structural component of a forward portion of the
vehicle seat adjacent the second distal end of the slot. The rear
and forward pivot stops cooperate with the movable arm to position
the buckle receptacle at a predetermined angle.
[0010] In operation, the seat belt buckle receptacle assembly is
initially in the storage position at the first distal end of the
slot with the movable arm being positioned at the rear portion of
the vehicle seat and the arm positioned at approximately a
45.degree. angle. The buckle receptacle is oriented toward the
forward portion of the vehicle seat and rests against the rear
pivot stop. Next, a central processing unit operates to initiate
the operation of the motor driven track mechanism to move the arm
supporting the buckle receptacle forward toward the second distal
end of the slot and into contact with the forward pivot stop. Once
the movable arm contacts the forward pivot stop, the arm pivots
about the extension member in a counterclockwise direction until
reaching a predetermined presenting angle such that the buckle
receptacle is facing the vehicle occupant. Preferably, the
presenting angle is approximately 45.degree.. Upon inserting a
buckle into the buckle receptacle, the central processing unit
directs the movable arm to return to the storage position at the
rear of the vehicle seat. As the movable arm comes into contact
with the rear pivot stop, the movable arm rotates about the
extension member in a clockwise direction, back to the initial
storage position. Upon shut off of the vehicle engine, it is
preferred that the central processing unit automatically returns
the movable arm to the presenting position where the seat belt
buckle may be de-latched. Further, upon de-latching it is preferred
that the seat belt buckle receptacle assembly is returned back to
the storage position.
[0011] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, in an
alternative preferred embodiment, a seat belt buckle receptacle
assembly includes a selectively upwardly extending arm that is
movable between a presenting position and an engagement position in
a telescoping manner. The upwardly extending arm operates to
deliver a seat belt buckle to a buckle receptacle.
[0012] The alternative buckle receptacle assembly includes a
conventional seat belt buckle receptacle portion for receiving a
conventional seat belt buckle that is fixedly secured to a side
surface of a vehicle seat. Preferably, the seat belt buckle
receptacle portion is oriented at a predetermined angle,
approximately 45.degree., so as to face away from the rear of the
vehicle seat. A selectively movable arm mechanism is mounted to the
conventional buckle receptacle portion. The arm mechanism includes
a track having a groove therein, a rotary damper, a presenting arm
having a mouth portion with an opening therein, and a coil spring.
The track is fixedly connected to the seat belt receptacle. The
presenting arm is movable mounted within the groove of the track.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the presenting arm
further includes a toothed outer edge.
[0013] The rotary damper is rotatably mounted on a plate that is
fixedly connected to a mounting portion of the track. The rotary
damper further includes teeth members on its periphery that
cooperates and mates with the toothed outer edge formed on the
presenting arm to facilitate movement of the presenting arm. A lip
portion of the coil spring is fixedly secured to a mounting bracket
that is mounted across the track and over the presenting arm. The
coiled portion of the coil spring is mounted within the groove of
the track, beneath the presenting arm to bias the presenting arm
into the presenting position. The rotary damper serves to slow the
biasing force of the coil spring.
[0014] In operation, the arm assembly is biased into the presenting
position such that the presenting arm is extended upwardly with the
mouth portion being spaced away from the conventional seat belt
buckle receptacle. Because the mouth portion is positioned upwardly
from the receptacle portion and in easy view of the vehicle
occupant, a vehicle occupant is able to easily engage a buckle with
an opening in the mouth portion. Once the buckle is received in the
opening of the mouth portion, the vehicle occupant may manually
push the mouth portion downward toward the buckle receptacle until
the mouth portion is positioned directly over the top of the
receptacle. The opening of the mouth portion is aligned with the
buckle receptacle such that the buckle is received within the
buckle receptacle and secured by a conventional latch within the
buckle, thereby securing the presenting arm in the engaged
position. Alternatively, the coil spring may be eliminated and a
rotary damper may be connected to a motor that is controlled by a
central processing unit to deliver the buckle and presenting arm to
the seat belt buckle receptacle.
[0015] To remove the buckle from the receptacle, it is preferred
that once the vehicle engine is turned off, the central processing
unit operates a solenoid to automatically de-latch the buckle from
the receptacle portion. The teeth of the rotary damper cooperates
with teeth on the outer edge of the presenting arm and the biasing
force of the coil spring to return the presenting arm to the
presenting position. A latch in the mouth portion may be depressed
to release the buckle.
[0016] Alternatively, after the buckle is de-latched, the
presenting arm of the seat belt buckle receptacle assembly may be
returned to the engaged position such that the mouth portion is
resting on top of the buckle receptacle with the opening in the
mouth portion generally aligned with the buckle opening in the
buckle receptacle and secured by a latch mechanism. In accordance
with this aspect of the invention, the presenting arm may be
retuned to the presenting position by the coil spring after
de-latching the mouth portion. Alternatively, the rotary damper may
be activated by a central processing unit and rotated a
predetermined direction to move the presenting arm upwardly along
the track into the presenting position once the vehicle door is
closed. Once the presenting arm reaches the presenting position,
approximately 4-8 inches from the buckle receptacle, the central
processing unit turns off the motor driving the rotary damper.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The features and inventive aspects of the present invention
will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed
description, claims, and drawings, of which the following is a
brief description:
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention
having a sliding seat belt buckle receptacle presenter assembly
with the seat belt buckle receptacle in a storage position.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows the sliding seat belt buckle receptacle
presenter of FIG. 1 moving into a presenting position.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows the sliding seat belt buckle receptacle
presenter of FIG. 1 in the presenting position.
[0021] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention
having a telescoping extendable seat belt buckle receptacle
assembly in a presenting position.
[0022] FIG. 5 shows the telescoping extendable seat belt buckle
receptacle in an engaged position with a belt buckle engaged with a
seat belt buckle receptacle.
[0023] FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the telescoping extendable
seat belt buckle receptacle assembly of FIG. 4.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the telescoping extendable
seat belt buckle receptacle assembly in the presenting
position.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the telescoping extendable
seat belt buckle receptacle assembly in the engaged position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIGS. 1-3 disclose a first preferred embodiment of a seat
belt buckle receptacle presenter assembly 20 that includes a
pivotally mounted seat belt buckle receptacle 22 that selectively
receives a seat belt buckle (not shown). Seat belt buckle
receptacle 22 is positioned adjacent to a vehicle seat 24 and is
movable from a storage position (FIG. 1), to a presenting position
(FIG. 3). The storage position is defined by seat belt buckle
receptacle 22 being positioned adjacent vehicle seat back 26
towards a rear portion 28 of vehicle seat 24. The presenting
position is defined by seat belt buckle receptacle 22 being
positioned adjacent a front portion 30 of vehicle seat 24 such that
seat belt buckle receptacle 22 is positioned within sight of and
within easy reach of a vehicle seat occupant. Seat belt receptacle
22 includes a pivotal arm 32 that carries a conventional receptacle
portion 34 having an opening 36 therein.
[0027] Assembly 20 uses a motor-driven slider mechanism that
preferably includes a movable arm 38 that moves along a track to
move seat belt receptacle 22 from the storage position to the
presenting position. Preferably, the slider mechanism is mounted
within vehicle seat 24 for ease of packaging and aesthetic
appearance. Alternatively, assembly 20 may be mounted adjacent to
vehicle seat 24, either inboard or outboard of vehicle seat 24.
[0028] In the preferred embodiment, movable arm 38 has first and
second ends. First end 40 is pivotally connected to pivotal arm 32.
Second end (not shown) extends into a generally planar slot 42
formed in vehicle seat 24 that defines the presenting path of the
seat belt buckle receptacle and operatively connects to the track.
Alternatively, slot 42 may be formed so as to curve upwardly toward
front portion 30 of vehicle seat 24. Movable arm 38 is pivotally
mounted to pivotal arm 30 such that seat belt buckle receptacle 22
may be pivoted into a predetermined position.
[0029] Slot 42 has first and second distal ends 44 and 46.
Positioned adjacent first distal end 44 is a rear pivot stop 48.
Rear pivot stop 48 is fixedly connected, preferably by a bolt
assembly or other suitable mechanism, to a structural component of
vehicle seat 24. Positioned adjacent second distal end 46 is a
forward pivot stop 50. Forward pivot stop 50 is fixedly connected,
preferably by a bolt assembly or other suitable mechanism, to a
structural component of vehicle seat 24. The rear and forward pivot
stops 48 and 50 cooperate with pivotal arm 32 to position seat belt
buckle receptacle 22 at a predetermined angle.
[0030] In operation, seat belt receptacle 22 is initially in the
storage position with rear pivot stop 40 contacting a rearward edge
52 of pivotal arm 30 and positioning seat belt receptacle 22 at a
starting angle such that opening 36 faces outwardly and away from
vehicle seat back 26. Preferably, the starting angle is
approximately 45.degree.. A central processing unit initiates the
operation of the motor driven slidable track mechanism to which
movable arm 38 is operatively connected. Movable arm 38, in turn,
moves seat belt buckle receptacle 22 forward toward second distal
end 46 of slot 42 until pivotal arm 32 comes into contact with
forward pivot stop 50. Once pivotal arm 32 contacts forward pivot
stop 50, pivotal arm 32 pivots about the first end of movable arm
38 in a counterclockwise direction until reaching a predetermined
presenting angle. Preferably the angle is approximately 45.degree.
such that opening 36 is facing upwardly and toward vehicle seat
back 26 so as to be facing the vehicle occupant and permitting ease
of use. Upon inserting a seat belt buckle into opening 36 of
receptacle portion 34, the central processing unit directs the
track and movable arm 38 to return seat belt buckle receptacle 22
along slot 42 to the storage position. As pivot arm 32 comes into
contact with rear pivot stop 48, pivot arm 30 rotates about the
first end of movable arm 38 in a clockwise direction until it
reaches the predetermined storage angle. Once seat belt buckle
receptacle 22 reaches rear pivot stop 40, the central processing
unit locks seat belt buckle receptacle 22 into the storage
position. Upon shut off of the vehicle engine, it is preferred that
the central processing unit automatically returns movable arm 38 to
the presenting position where the seat belt buckle may be
de-latched. Further, upon de-latching it is preferred that seat
belt buckle receptacle assembly 20 is returned back to the storage
position.
[0031] It is preferred that seat belt buckle receptacle assembly 20
is used in combination with a seat belt presentation mechanism (not
shown) that delivers the seat belt to forward edge 30 of vehicle
seat 24 on the opposite side of vehicle seat 24 that assembly 20 is
positioned. Examples of such seat belt presentation mechanisms are
shown in U.S. co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/169,070. It
is further preferred that the central processing unit operates both
the seat belt presentation mechanism and seat belt receptacle
assembly 20 such that both operate simultaneously.
[0032] FIGS. 4-8 disclose an alternative preferred embodiment of a
seat belt buckle receptacle assembly 200 having a selectively
upwardly extending presenting arm assembly 222 that is movable
between a presenting position (FIGS. 4 and 7) and an engagement
position (FIGS. 5 and 8). Assembly 200 includes a conventional seat
belt buckle receptacle 224 that is fixedly secured to a vehicle
seat 223 and having a supporting arm 226 carrying a conventional
receptacle portion 228 for selectively receiving a seat belt buckle
230 (FIGS. 4 and 5). Preferably, buckle receptacle 224 is oriented
at a predetermined angle in the range of 30.degree. to 90.degree.,
and more preferably approximately 45.degree. such that the top of
seat belt buckle receptacle 224 is facing outwardly and away from
vehicle seat back 231.
[0033] Presenting arm assembly 222 (best seen in FIGS. 6-8)
includes a track 232 having a groove 234 therein, a rotary damper
236, a presenting arm 238, and a coil spring 240. Track 232 is
fixedly connected to a side surface 242 of receptacle portion 228
of seat belt buckle receptacle 224, preferably by bolts or other
suitable fasteners. Rotary damper 236 is rotatably mounted on a
plate 246 that is fixedly connected to a mounting portion 248 of
track 232. A slot 250 is formed adjacent mounting portion 248 such
that partial portion of rotary damper 236 extends through slot 250
and into groove 234. In accordance with one aspect of the
invention, rotary damper 236 further includes teeth members 252
along its periphery, to be explained in further detail below.
[0034] Presenting arm 238 has a base portion 254 and a mouth
portion 256. Base portion 254 is movably mounted within groove 234
of track 232. Base portion 254 further includes a toothed outer
edge 258 that cooperates with and mates with teeth members 252 of
rotary damper 236. Mouth portion 256 is fixedly connected to base
portion 254 and extends laterally from base portion 254. Mouth
portion 256 is sized and shaped so as to generally correspond to
the size and shape of a top surface 259 of receptacle portion 228.
Mouth portion 256 further includes an opening 260 for receiving
seat buckle 230. Preferably, mouth portion 256 also includes a
latch mechanism 262 for retaining seat buckle 230 therein as
presenting arm 238 delivers buckle 230 to receptacle 228.
[0035] A lip portion 262 of coil spring 240 is fixedly secured to a
mounting bracket 264. Mounting bracket 264 is fixedly secured
across groove 234 and to track 232 to retain presenting arm 238
within groove 234. A coiled portion 266 of coil spring 240 is
mounted within groove 234 and under a bottom edge 268 of presenting
arm 238 to bias presenting arm 238 into the presenting position.
Rotary damper 236 serves to slow the biasing force of coil spring
240.
[0036] In operation, presenting arm assembly 222 is in the storage
position, wherein arm assembly 222 is biased into the presenting
position such that presenting arm 238 is extended upwardly with
mouth portion 256 being spaced away from seat belt buckle
receptacle 224. Because mouth portion 256 is positioned upwardly
from receptacle portion 228 and in easy view of the vehicle
occupant, a vehicle occupant is able to easily engage seat belt
buckle 230 with opening 260 of mouth portion 256. Once seat belt
buckle 230 is received in opening 260 of mouth portion 256, the
vehicle occupant manually pushes mouth portion 256 downward to
buckle receptacle portion 228 until seat belt buckle 230 is secured
in buckle receptacle portion 228 by a latch mechanism (not shown).
Alternatively, a central processing unit may be connected to rotary
damper 236, or another suitable mechanism, to drive presenting arm
238 downward until mouth portion 256 is positioned directly over
top surface 259 of receptacle portion 228. Opening 260 of mouth
portion 256 aligns with an opening 270 in buckle receptacle portion
228 such that buckle 230 is received within buckle receptacle
portion 228 and secured by a latch mechanism (not shown).
[0037] To remove buckle 230 from receptacle portion 228, it is
preferred that once the vehicle engine is turned off, a central
processing unit operates a solenoid to automatically de-latch
buckle 230 from receptacle portion 228. Next, teeth members 252 of
rotary damper 236, engaged with toothed outer edge 258 of base
portion 254 of presenting arm 238 and the biasing force of coil
spring 240 to return presenting arm 238 to the presenting position.
Latch 262 in mouth portion 256 releases the buckle 230.
[0038] Alternatively, after buckle 230 is de-latched, presenting
arm 238 of seat belt buckle receptacle 200 assembly may be returned
to the engaged position such that mouth portion 256 is resting on
top surface 259 of the buckle receptacle portion 228 with opening
260 in mouth portion 256 generally aligned with opening 270 in
buckle receptacle portion 228 and secured by a latch mechanism. In
accordance with this aspect of the invention, the presenting arm
238 is returned to the presenting position by the biasing force of
coil spring 240 after de-latching mouth portion 256. Alternatively,
rotary damper 236, or other suitable mechanism, may be activated by
the central processing unit and rotated a predetermined direction
to move presenting arm 238 upwardly along track 232 into the
presenting position. Once presenting arm 238 reaches the presenting
position, approximately 4-8 inches from buckle receptacle 228, the
central processing unit turns off the motor driving the rotary
damper.
[0039] It is preferred that seat belt receptacle assembly 200 is
used in combination with a seat belt presentation mechanism (not
shown) that delivers the seat belt to a forward edge 272 of vehicle
seat 223 on the opposite side of vehicle seat 223 that assembly 200
is positioned. Examples of such seat belt presentation mechanisms
are shown in U.S. co-pending patent application Ser. No.
09/169,070. It is further preferred that the central processing
unit operates both the seat belt presentation mechanism and seat
belt receptacle assembly 200 such that both operate
simultaneously.
[0040] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
disclosed. A person of ordinary skill in the art would realize,
however, that certain modifications would come within the teachings
of this invention. Therefore, the following claims should be
studied to determine the true scope and content of the
invention.
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