Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-22
2001-05-22
English, Peter C. (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C296S210000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234529
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS NOT APPLICABLE
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of vehicle restraints and specifically to a shoulder belt for a center seat.
Most passenger vehicles are provided with a three-point restraint for each seat. The restraint normally includes a shoulder belt that is extendable from a retractor. The retractor is normally mounted to a pillar or other structural member on the side of the vehicle adjacent the seats. For center seats there is no adjacent pillar to which the retractor can be mounted. In some cases, a two-point harness is used. When a three-point harness is used, the retractor for the center seat is mounted to the roof above the seat, to the floor behind the seat, or to the seat itself. Because of the size of the retractor, these locations can interfere with storage space or other functional or aesthetic features of the interior of the vehicle.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a restraint assembly including a vehicle frame and a retractor mounted to the frame. A belt guide having a passage is mounted to the frame. A belt is extendable from the retractor and retractable by the retractor. The belt extends through the belt guide passage.
The frame includes a roof arch extending generally laterally across the vehicle. The belt guide is mounted to the roof arch. The roof arch includes a first component having a U-shaped cross section and a second component secured thereto. The roof arch components have outwardly extending flanges and the flanges of the components are mated to define a cavity between the components. The first component is a lower component provided with a recessed area and the belt guide is mounted in the recessed area.
A seat is disposed substantially below the roof arch. A latch has first and second latching portions, wherein the first portion is mounted adjacent the seat and the second latch portion is attached to the belt such that the belt can be extended from the retractor to secure the second latch portion to the first latch portion. A storage compartment for the second latching portion is disposed adjacent the belt guide. A roof is disposed above the roof arch. A roof liner is disposed below the roof arch and spaced from the roof. A portion of the belt extending between the retractor and the belt guide is disposed between the roof and the roof liner.
The frame includes a generally vertical pillar and a generally horizontal and forwardly extending stiffener. The retractor is mounted to at least one of the pillar and the stiffener. The frame includes a roof arch extending generally laterally from the stiffener and the belt guide is mounted to the roof arch. The roof arch is spaced forwardly from the pillar.
The belt guide includes a slot fitted with a grommet and the belt travels through the slot such that the grommet provides a bearing surface for the belt. The belt guide is spaced from the retractor. The belt guide is mounted separately from the retractor.
According to another aspect, the invention provides a restraint assembly for a vehicle having a frame including a roof arch extending laterally across the vehicle. The restraint assembly includes a retractor mounted to the frame; a belt guide secured to the roof arch and having a passage; and a belt extending from the retractor and through the belt guide passage. The frame includes a generally vertical pillar and a generally horizontal stiffener. The retractor is mounted to at least one of the pillar and the stiffener.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3810657 (1974-05-01), Campbell
patent: 3829123 (1974-08-01), Holka
patent: 4167277 (1979-09-01), Rumpf
patent: 4400013 (1983-08-01), Imai
patent: 4915413 (1990-04-01), Meyer
patent: 4988121 (1991-01-01), Yoshii
patent: 5207453 (1993-05-01), Stedman et al.
patent: 5253896 (1993-10-01), Verbeski
patent: 5265909 (1993-11-01), Verbeski
patent: 5487564 (1996-01-01), Fueller et al.
patent: 5590907 (1997-01-01), McQueen, II et al.
patent: 5671968 (1997-09-01), Masuda et al.
patent: 5957499 (1999-09-01), Kempf
Boettcher Eric
Ellison Terrie
Ito Hironao
English Peter C.
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabukshiki Kaisha
Rankin, Hill Porter & Clark LLP
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