U.S. patent application number 14/993379 was filed with the patent office on 2017-07-13 for tether hook bracket with rebound blocker.
This patent application is currently assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC. Invention is credited to Charles E. Jensen, Jonathan E. Rich, Robert N. Saje, Matthew P. Simonin.
Application Number | 20170197527 14/993379 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59118873 |
Filed Date | 2017-07-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170197527 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Simonin; Matthew P. ; et
al. |
July 13, 2017 |
TETHER HOOK BRACKET WITH REBOUND BLOCKER
Abstract
A tether hook bracket for a vehicle subjectable to an external
force event, followed by a rebound event, and having a body
structure and a child seat connectable to the body structure via a
tether having a tether hook includes a body structure attachment
portion, a tether hook connection portion, and a tether hook
rebound blocker portion. The body structure attachment portion is
configured to be attachable to the body structure. The tether hook
connection portion is configured to receive the tether hook, such
that the tether hook is connected to the tether hook bracket. The
tether hook rebound blocker portion is disposed between the body
structure attachment portion and the tether hook connection portion
and is configured to maintain the connection of the tether hook to
the tether hook bracket when the vehicle is subjected to the
rebound event.
Inventors: |
Simonin; Matthew P.;
(Ortonville, MI) ; Jensen; Charles E.; (Shelby
Township, MI) ; Saje; Robert N.; (Shelby Township,
MI) ; Rich; Jonathan E.; (Clinton Township,
MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC |
Detroit |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS
LLC
Detroit
MI
|
Family ID: |
59118873 |
Appl. No.: |
14/993379 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/2809 20130101;
B60N 2/2884 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60N 2/44 20060101
B60N002/44; B60N 2/28 20060101 B60N002/28 |
Claims
1. A tether hook bracket for a vehicle subjectable to an external
force event, followed by a rebound event, and including a body
structure and a child seat connectable to the body structure via a
tether having a tether hook, the tether hook bracket comprising: a
body structure attachment portion configured to be attachable to
the body structure; a tether hook connection portion configured to
receive the tether hook, such that the tether hook is connected to
the tether hook bracket; and a tether hook rebound blocker portion
disposed between the body structure attachment portion and the
tether hook connection portion and configured to maintain the
connection of the tether hook to the tether hook bracket when the
vehicle is subjected to the rebound event.
2. The tether hook bracket of claim 1, further comprising a
deformation portion disposed between the body structure attachment
portion and the tether hook rebound blocker portion and configured
to deform during the external force event.
3. The tether hook bracket of claim 2, wherein the tether hook
rebound blocker portion is a tab configured to extend rearward
prior to the external force event; wherein the tab is disposed
below the tether hook connection portion prior to the external
force event such that the tether hook connection portion can
receive the tether hook without interference from the tab; and
wherein the tab is disposed rearward of the tether hook connection
portion after the external force event such that a rearward
movement of the tether hook during the rebound event is blocked by
the tab and the connection of the tether hook to the tether hook
bracket is maintained.
4. The tether hook bracket of claim 3, wherein the body structure
attachment portion, the deformation portion, the tether hook
rebound blocker portion, and the tether hook connection portion of
the tether hook bracket are formed together as a single piece.
5. The tether hook bracket of claim 3, wherein the body structure
attachment portion, the deformation portion, and the tether hook
connection portion of the tether hook bracket are formed together
as a first piece of the tether hook bracket; and wherein the tether
hook rebound blocker portion of the tether hook bracket is attached
to the first piece of the tether hook bracket.
6. The tether hook bracket of claim 5, wherein the tether hook
rebound blocker portion of the tether hook bracket is attached to
the first piece of the tether hook bracket via a slide-on clip.
7. The tether hook bracket of claim 1, wherein the tether hook
includes a spring clip configured to maintain the connection of the
tether hook to the tether hook bracket; and wherein the tether hook
rebound blocker portion is further configured to maintain the
connection of the tether hook to the tether hook bracket when the
vehicle is subjected to the rebound event and the spring clip of
the child seat tether hook does not function.
8. A vehicle subjectable to an external force event, followed by a
rebound event, comprising: a body structure; and a child seat
tether hook bracket, including: a body structure attachment portion
attached to the body structure; a tether hook connection portion
configured to receive a child seat tether hook, such that the child
seat tether hook is connected to the child seat tether hook
bracket; and a tether hook rebound blocker portion disposed between
the body structure attachment portion and the tether hook
connection portion and configured to maintain the connection of the
child seat tether hook to the child seat tether hook bracket when
the vehicle is subjected to the rebound event.
9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the child seat tether hook
bracket further includes a deformation portion disposed between the
body structure attachment portion and the tether hook rebound
blocker portion and configured to deform during the external force
event.
10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the external force event has an
external force direction that is toward a front end of the vehicle:
wherein the tether hook rebound blocker portion is a tab configured
to extend toward a rear end of the vehicle prior to the external
force event; wherein the tab is disposed below the tether hook
connection portion prior to the external force event such that the
tether hook connection portion can receive the tether hook without
interference from the tab; and wherein the tab is disposed rearward
of the tether hook connection portion after the external force
event such that a rearward movement of the tether hook during the
rebound event is blocked by the tab and the connection of the
tether hook to the tether hook bracket is maintained.
11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the body structure attachment
portion, the deformation portion, the tether hook rebound blocker
portion, and the tether hook connection portion of the child seat
tether hook bracket are formed together as a single piece.
12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the body structure attachment
portion, the deformation portion, and the tether hook connection
portion of the child seat tether hook bracket are formed together
as a first piece; and wherein the tether hook rebound blocker
portion of the child seat tether hook bracket is attached to the
first piece of the child seat tether hook bracket.
13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the tether hook rebound
blocker portion of the child tether hook bracket is attached to the
first piece of the child tether hook bracket via a slide-on
clip.
14. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the body structure includes a
seat back beam; and wherein the body structure attachment portion
of the child seat tether hook bracket is attached to the seat back
beam of the body structure.
15. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the body structure attachment
portion of the child seat tether hook bracket is attached to the
body structure via a weld.
16. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the body structure attachment
portion of the child seat tether hook bracket is attached to the
body structure via a mechanical fastener.
17. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the child seat tether hook
includes a spring clip configured to maintain the connection of the
child seat tether hook to the child seat tether hook bracket; and
wherein the tether hook rebound blocker portion is further
configured to maintain the connection of the child seat tether hook
to the child seat tether hook bracket when the vehicle is subjected
to the rebound event and the spring clip of the child seat tether
hook does not function.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This disclosure relates to a tether hook bracket including a
rebound blocker.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A vehicle may be used to transport a child seat. The child
seat may be connected to the body structure of the vehicle via a
tether having a tether hook. The vehicle may be subject to an
external force event, followed by a rebound event.
SUMMARY
[0003] A tether hook bracket and a vehicle are provided herein. The
tether hook bracket is for a vehicle subjectable to an external
force event, followed by a rebound event. The vehicle includes a
body structure and a child seat connectable to the body structure
via a tether having a tether hook. The tether hook bracket includes
a body structure attachment portion, a tether hook connection
portion, and a tether hook rebound blocker portion. The body
structure attachment portion is configured to be attachable to the
body structure. The tether hook connection portion is configured to
receive the tether hook, such that the tether hook is connected to
the tether hook bracket. The tether hook rebound blocker portion is
disposed between the body structure attachment portion and the
tether hook connection portion and is configured to maintain the
connection of the tether hook to the tether hook bracket when the
vehicle is subjected to the rebound event. The tether hook bracket
may further comprise a deformation portion disposed between the
body structure attachment portion and the tether hook rebound
blocker portion. The deformation portion may be configured to
deform during the external force event.
[0004] The vehicle is subjectable to an external force event,
followed by a rebound event. The vehicle includes a body structure
and a child seat tether hook bracket. The child seat tether hook
bracket includes a body structure attachment portion, a tether hook
connection portion, and a tether hook rebound blocker portion. The
body structure attachment portion is attached to the body
structure. The tether hook connection portion is configured to
receive a child seat tether hook, such that the child seat tether
hook is connected to the child seat tether hook bracket. The tether
hook rebound blocker portion is disposed between the body structure
attachment portion and the tether hook connection portion and is
configured to maintain the connection of the child seat tether hook
to the child seat tether hook bracket when the vehicle is subjected
to the rebound event. The child seat tether hook bracket may
further include a deformation portion disposed between the body
structure attachment portion and the tether hook rebound blocker
portion. The deformation portion may be configured to deform during
the external force event.
[0005] The tether hook bracket and the vehicle disclosed herein
maintain the connection of the child seat tether hook to the tether
hook bracket when the vehicle is subjected to an external force
event, followed by a rebound event. This disclosure applies to any
vehicle, including but not limited to cars, trucks, vans, busses,
boats, trains, and airplanes.
[0006] The above features and advantages and other features and
advantages of the present teachings are readily apparent from the
following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out
the present teachings when taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, schematic, perspective illustration
of a vehicle having a tether hook bracket as disclosed herein.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a schematic, cross-sectional illustration,
partially in elevation, of the vehicle of FIG. 1, taken at line 2-2
of FIG. 1, showing a tether hook being received by the tether hook
bracket and the tether hook connected to the tether hook bracket
prior to an external force event.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a schematic, cross-sectional illustration,
partially in elevation, of the vehicle of FIG. 1, taken at line 2-2
of FIG. 1, showing the tether hook and the tether hook bracket
during the external force event and during a rebound event.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a schematic, perspective illustration of a first
embodiment of the tether hook bracket of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a schematic, perspective illustration of a second
embodiment of the tether hook bracket of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a schematic, perspective illustration of a third
embodiment of the tether hook bracket of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a schematic, perspective illustration of a fourth
embodiment of the tether hook bracket of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a schematic, perspective illustration of a fifth
embodiment of the tether hook bracket of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that
terms such as "above," "below," "upward," "downward," "top,"
"bottom," etc., are used descriptively for the figures, and do not
represent limitations on the scope of the disclosure, as defined by
the appended claims.
[0016] Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers
refer to like components throughout the views, FIG. 1 shows a
portion of an example vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 includes an
example child seat tether hook bracket 30 as disclosed herein. The
vehicle 10 is subjectable to an external force event (arrow F),
followed by a rebound event (not shown). The external force event
(arrow F) may have an external force direction (arrow F) that is
toward a front end (not shown) of the vehicle 10. The external
force event (arrow F) causes an external force acceleration (not
shown) of the vehicle 10 and its components in the external force
direction (arrow F). The rebound event occurs after the external
force event (arrow F) and causes a rebound acceleration (not shown)
of the vehicle 10 and its components in the external force
direction (arrow F).
[0017] Referring now to FIGS. 1-2, the vehicle 10 includes a body
structure 12. The body structure 12 may include a seat back beam
22. The vehicle 10 includes a seat 14 attached to the body
structure 12. The seat 14 may include a seat cushion 16 and a seat
back 18. The seat 14 may be a rear seat, as shown, or any other
seat 14 of the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 may include a rear window
trim panel 20. The rear window trim panel 20 may be configured to
form a cup 21 and a cover 23. The cover 23 may have an open
position, as shown, and a closed position (not shown). The cover 23
may conceal the tether hook bracket 30 when the cover 23 is in the
closed position and the tether hook bracket 30 is not in use. The
cover 23 may allow access to the tether hook bracket 30 when the
cover 23 is in the open position and the tether hook bracket 30 is
in use. The cup 21 may provide an aesthetic trim for an area
surrounding the tether hook bracket 30 when the cover 23 is in the
open position.
[0018] A child seat (not shown) may be disposed on the seat cushion
16 and the seat back 18 of the seat 14 and connected to the body
structure 12 of the vehicle 10 via a tether (not shown) having a
tether hook 24, as best seen in FIGS. 2-3. The child seat tether
hook 24 may include a spring clip 25 configured to maintain the
connection of the child seat tether hook 24 to the child seat
tether hook bracket 30. The child seat tether hook bracket 30 may
be an upper child seat tether hook bracket, as shown, a lower child
seat tether hook bracket (not shown), or any other child seat
tether hook bracket. The child seat tether hook 24 may be a
corresponding upper child seat tether hook, as shown, a
corresponding lower child seat tether hook, or any other child seat
tether hook of the child seat.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 2, the child seat tether hook bracket
30 includes a body structure attachment portion 32, a tether hook
connection portion 34, and a tether hook rebound blocker portion
36. The body structure attachment portion 32 is attached to the
body structure 12. The body structure attachment portion 32 may be
attached to the seat back beam 22 of the body structure 12, as
shown. Alternatively, the body structure attachment portion 32 may
be attached to any other suitable part of the body structure 12 or
to a seat structure (not shown) of the seat 14, which is in turn
attached to the body structure 12. The body structure attachment
portion 32 may be attached to the body structure 12 via a
mechanical fastener 26, a weld (not shown), or any other suitable
attachment.
[0020] The tether hook connection portion 34 is configured to
receive the tether hook 24, when the tether hook 24 is in a first
or connection position A, such that the tether hook 24 is connected
to the tether hook bracket 30. After the tether hook 24 is
connected to the tether hook bracket 30, the tether may be
tightened and the tether hook 24 may move to a second or tightened
position B.
[0021] Referring now to FIGS. 2-3, the tether hook bracket 30 may
further include a deformation portion 38 disposed between the body
structure attachment portion 32 and the rebound blocker portion 36.
The deformation portion 38 may be configured to deform, as shown in
FIG. 3, when the vehicle 10 is subjected to the external force
event (arrow F). The external force event (arrow F) and the
resulting deformation of the deformation portion 38 of the child
seat tether hook bracket 30 may move the child seat tether hook to
a third or external force position C, as shown in FIG. 3.
[0022] After the external force event (arrow F), the rebound event
may cause the tether hook 24 to move rearward relative to the
tether hook bracket 30. The tether hook rebound blocker portion 36
is disposed between the body structure attachment portion 32 and
the tether hook connection portion 34 and is configured to maintain
the connection of the tether hook 24 to the tether hook bracket 30
when the vehicle 10 is subjected to the rebound event. The tether
hook 24 may move to a fourth or rebound position D, as shown in
FIG. 3. The tether hook rebound blocker portion 36 may block a
rearward movement (arrow R) of the tether hook 24 during the
rebound event, thus keeping the tether hook 24 connected to the
tether hook bracket 30 during the rebound event. The tether hook
rebound blocker portion 36 may prevent detachment of a tether hook
24 that has been damaged from the tether hook connection portion 34
of the tether hook bracket 30 when the vehicle 10 is subjected to
the rebound event. For example, if the tether hook 24 had a damaged
or missing spring clip 25, the tether hook rebound blocker portion
36 may prevent the tether hook 24 from disconnecting with the
tether hook connection portion 34 of the tether hook bracket 30
when the vehicle 10 is subjected to the rebound event.
[0023] The tether hook rebound blocker portion 36 of the tether
hook bracket 30 may be a tab 40 configured to extend toward a rear
end (not shown) of the vehicle 10, i.e., rearward, prior to the
external force event (arrow F). The tab 40 may be disposed below
the tether hook connection portion 34 prior to the external force
event (arrow F) such that the tether hook connection portion 34 can
receive the tether hook 24 without interference or contact between
the tether hook 24 and the tab 40. The tab 40 may be disposed
rearward of the tether hook connection portion 34 after the
external force event (arrow F) such that a rearward movement (arrow
R) of the tether hook 24 during the rebound event is blocked or
prevented by the tab 40 and the connection of the tether hook 24 to
the tether hook bracket 30 is maintained.
[0024] The spring clip 25 of the child seat tether hook 24 may not
function to maintain the connection of the child seat tether hook
24 to the child seat tether hook bracket 30 after the external
force event (arrow F). The tether hook rebound blocker portion 36
of the tether hook bracket 30 may be further configured to maintain
the connection of the child seat tether hook 24 to the child seat
tether hook bracket 30 when the vehicle 10 is subjected to the
rebound event and the spring clip 25 of the child seat tether hook
24 does not function.
[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 6, the body structure
attachment portion 32, the deformation portion 38, the tether hook
rebound blocker portion 36, and the tether hook connection portion
34 of the child seat tether hook bracket 30 may be formed together
as a single piece 42. FIG. 4 shows the single piece 42 formed as a
stamping. FIG. 6 shows the single piece formed as an extrusion. Any
other suitable process or method may be used to form the single
piece 42.
[0026] Referring now to FIGS. 5, 7, and 8, the body structure
attachment portion 32, the deformation portion 38, and the tether
hook connection portion 36 of the child seat tether hook bracket 30
may be formed together as a single first piece 44. The single first
piece 44 may be formed by stamping, as shown, by extrusion or by
any other suitable method. The tether hook rebound blocker portion
36 of the child seat tether hook bracket 30 may be attached to the
first piece 44 of the child seat tether hook bracket 30. FIG. 5
shows the tether hook rebound blocker portion 36 attached to the
first piece 44 via a second mechanical fastener 46.
[0027] FIGS. 7 and 8 show the tether hook rebound blocker portion
36 attached to the first piece 44 via a slide-on clip 48 formed on
the tether hook rebound blocker portion 36. A first embodiment of
the slide-on clip 48 is shown in FIG. 7. A second embodiment of the
slide-on clip 48 is shown in FIG. 8. The embodiments shown in FIGS.
7 and 8 may allow addition of the tether hook rebound blocker
portion 36 to an existing child tether hook bracket that does not
include a tether hook rebound blocker portion 36 without the
complexities and tool access requirements of welding or mechanical
fastening. Alternatively, attachment of the tether hook rebound
blocker portion 36 to the first piece 44 may be via a weld, a
crimp, or any other suitable attachment.
[0028] While the best modes for carrying out the many aspects of
the present teachings have been described in detail, those familiar
with the art to which these teachings relate will recognize various
alternative aspects for practicing the present teachings that are
within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *