Patent Application
20130270380
The present exemplary embodiment relates to a seat belt assembly, and more particularly to a protective arrangement for the seat belt, and associated method of protecting the seat belt. It finds particular application in conjunction with protecting a seat belt retractor and the seat belt webbing, and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it will be appreciated that the present exemplary embodiment is also amenable to other like applications.
During installation of seat belts, for example in connection with front seat belts in an automotive vehicle, mounting bolts are occasionally mis-installed. More particularly, a mounting bolt is sometimes cross-threaded. To correct this problem, a corresponding nut on the vehicle body must be re-tapped. The resulting metal shavings from the re-tap process can cause additional problems. For example, the metal shavings may fall onto the seat belt webbing which is stored in a seat belt retractor housing. The retractor housing is typically an open, frame-like structure and thus the retractor mechanism and components, and seat belt webbing are potentially exposed during the re-tap process. As a result, metal shavings may drop into the retractor mechanism. The metal shavings may interfere with or jam relatively moving components of the seat belt retractor i.e., the metal shavings can hinder performance of the seat belt retractor.
Re-tapping the nut also potentially results in metal shavings dropping on to the seat belt webbing. The material that forms the seat belt webbing does not instantaneously shed the metal shavings. Likewise, extension and retraction of the seat belt does not necessarily remove the metal shavings from the material of the seat belt webbing. This is undesirable, particularly when the seat belt is extended and worn by the vehicle occupant.
Providing protection from debris such as re-tap shavings and preventing the metal shavings from becoming a problem associated with the seat belt retractor components or mechanism, or becoming inadvertently embedded on the seat belt webbing have not been adequately addressed. One proposed solution uses a foam protector that surrounds the retractor housing. However, the foam protector is difficult to install and does not adequately protect against the noted re-tap shavings issues.
Still another proposed solution uses a plastic cover. However, the plastic cover is difficult to secure to the seat belt retractor housing and requires a separate fastener(s) with associated increased cost to manufacture and related assembly issues.
Accordingly, a need exists for an inexpensive, reliable, easy-to-assemble solution to the re-tap shavings issues potentially associated with mis-installation at the factory that overcomes the above-noted problems in a simple, effective, and economical manner.
A new cover is provided and serves as a protective shield to direct potential debris such as metal shavings away from the retractor housing and away from the seat belt webbing.
The cover includes a body dimensioned to overlie an opening in a seat belt retractor housing. A clip is formed in the body and has a configuration that engages a mount extending outwardly from the retractor housing. At least one fastener portion is formed on the body at a location spaced from the clip to secure the body to the seat belt retractor housing.
The body preferably has a sloped configuration that directs particle shavings away from the retractor housing and away from adjacent the opening in the seat belt retractor housing that receives the seat belt webbing.
In a preferred arrangement, the body is a single, unitary member.
The at least one fastener portion in one embodiment includes first and second fasteners extending outwardly from an inner face of the body for engaging spaced apart locations on the seat belt retractor housing.
In one arrangement, the clip includes first and second cooperating arms spaced apart by a preselected first dimension that enclose a recess having a second dimension formed in the body greater than the first dimension. The arms are preferably formed of a material allowing the aims to resiliently flex outwardly as the clip is advanced over the seat belt retractor mount and subsequently flex to the first dimension to retain the cover
A first portion of the cover body is dimensioned to overlie an opening along an upper region of the seat belt retractor housing, and a second portion extends substantially perpendicular to the first portion and is located along a second edge of the first portion spaced from the first edge.
The enlarged first portion may have a generally arcuate conformation that generally extends from the first edge to the second edge.
The fastener preferably includes first and second arms spaced from one another and adapted to flexibly engage a portion of the seat belt retractor housing.
A method of protecting at least one of a seat belt retractor mechanism and seat belt webbing from debris includes providing a cover dimensioned for receipt over an upper portion of a seat belt retractor housing. The method further includes securing a first edge of the cover to the housing with an integral clip, and securing a second edge of the cover, remotely spaced from the first edge, to the housing with an integral fastener.
The method preferably includes forming the cover, clip, and fastener as a one-piece component.
The method includes forming the cover to have a sloped upper surface for directing material that falls thereon away from the retractor housing.
A primary benefit of the present disclosure is the provision of a cover that effectively protects the seat belt retractor mechanism and the seat belt webbing stored therein from potential debris such as re-tap shavings.
Another advantage relates in the simplified design and ease of assembly of the cover.
Still other benefits and advantages may become apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description.
With reference to
The side walls 108, 110 each include an enlarged opening 118, 120, respectively, that generally aligns with opposite ends of the winding shaft or spool 130. A seat belt webbing 132 is secured to an outer periphery of the spool in a conventional manner, i.e., the seat belt webbing is wound about the outer surface of the spool, and the webbing is selectively extended or retracted when the seat belt is used. A tension bar (not shown) is received through the hollow central portion of the spool to suppress rotation of the spool under certain vehicle events. The remainder of the structure such as a spring, locking pawl, etc. that aid in rotation or locking of the spool in a seat belt withdrawing direction are not illustrated for ease of reference. The seat belt webbing 132 is selectively deployed as the spool rotates in a first direction (counter-clockwise as illustrated in
Extending upwardly from the upper wall 112 is a seat belt stay or mount 150. The mount 150 has a base portion 152 that receives a cover 160. More particularly, the cover 160 has an integral clip 162 preferably defined by first and second arms 164, 166 that are spaced apart a first, preselected dimension in a relaxed, unbiased state. Preferably the cover 160 (and likewise the arms) is formed of a material such as a polymer or plastic, rubber, or co-injected plastic-rubber combination, that can be easily molded so that the arms 164, 166 will flex in a resilient and elastic manner to extend around the width of the base portion 152. A recess 168 spaced inwardly into the cover from the arms 164, 166 and the recess has a second dimension larger than the first dimension between terminal, inner ends of the arms 164, 166. Once the integral clip is advanced over the base portion 152 of the mount 150, a first edge 180 of the cover is effectively secured to the seat belt retractor housing.
A main body 182 of the cover has a generally sloped or arcuate conformation (perhaps best seen in
Preferably the cover is a one-piece, unitary structure with integrated clip and fastener. This provides for ease of manufacture and assembly, and likewise eliminates issues associated with using separate fasteners, such as inventory, assembly, etc. The cover has a generally rectangular shape, although other shapes can be used without departing from the scope and intent of the present disclosure. Similarly, although plastic is one desired material of construction, other materials that satisfy various desired properties (e.g., ease of manufacture, cost, ability to adopt various shapes, flexibility/elasticity for ease of assembly, strength, etc.) can be used to form the cover.
The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
