Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-14
2001-06-12
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S801200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244626
ABSTRACT:
FIELD
This invention relates to trim components and in particular to trim components for use with safety harnesses, in particular but not exclusively for use on motor vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
In typical motor cars the driver and front passenger are held in their seats by a harness comprising a lap belt and a single diagonal belt that extends through a mounting or anchorage, secured on the adjacent door post, to a releasable lock located towards the middle of the vehicle. The mounting on the door post is typically fixed in position by a large bolt. The upper seat belt mountings on the door post can give rise to injuries if the wearer's head impacts the mounting during a collision.
Trim components having energy absorbing structures on the reverse side, between the trim surface and the door post, are known, see for example EP-A-0736422. However a particular problem arises with door post trim components. If the mounting is to be cushioned then the harness needs to pass through the trim component. The path taken by the seat belt webbing when in use in the vehicle will vary depending upon the distance that the car seat is from the door post and the height of the wearer.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will provide a means for covering a seat belt mounting with an energy absorbent member, and provides a trim component that allows for changes in seat belt path when in use.
STATEMENTS OF INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a trim component for a vehicle structural member having a seat belt mounting secured thereto, the component comprising a body shell, at least one energy absorbing member mounted on the reverse side of the body shell, and the member having an aperture therein through which seat belt webbing in use passes, being slidable relative to the shell to accommodate changes or adjustments in the belt path.
When adapted for use with a seat belt mounting which is slidable on the structural member, the trim component may be provided with an energy absorbing member having a socket formed therein to receive a portion of the mounting or its fastener.
The energy absorbing member preferably includes a pair of opposed walls with collapsible ribs extending between the two walls. The ribs can be arranged as is desired, for example in parallel, as chevrons in a lattice work, as a series of cell walls similar to a honey comb, or other suitable cell shape.
The member may slide with one wall in direct contact with the reverse side of the shell or may be formed as a separate pad which is mounted on an intermediate sliding member located adjacent the shell. The energy absorbing member or sliding member is slidably mounted to the shell by clips and/or slideways formed integrally with the body shell.
The shell is preferably a plastics moulding formed from polypropylene, high density polyethylene, or acrylonitrile styrenebutadiene (ABS).
Preferably, said slide member, or the said one wall of the energy absorbing member has a portion that extends in at least one direction beyond the opposing other wall and the aperture for the webbing is located in said extending portion to one side of the pad.
For a component covering the door post, that is the B post, or B and C post, the seat belt mounting is typically at head height and the energy absorbing member could be utilised to mask a large aperture in the body shell provided to accommodate the extremes of positioning of the seat belt webbing in use, and the extending portion in use projects vertically downwards.
Also according to the invention there is provided a method of protecting a seat belt mounting affixed to a structural member of a vehicle for guiding a seat belt, wherein the structural member and seat belt mounting are both covered by a decorative trim component comprising a body shell with at least one energy absorbing member mounted on the reverse side of the body shell to cushion impacts against said structural member and seat belt mounting, the energy absorbing member having an aperture therein through which seat belt webbing passes and being movable relative to the shell to accommodate changes in the belt path.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3930665 (1976-01-01), Ikawa
patent: 5641195 (1997-06-01), Patel et al.
patent: 5685566 (1997-11-01), Hirase et al.
patent: 5746419 (1998-05-01), McFadden et al.
patent: 5779270 (1998-07-01), Tanaka
patent: 5826907 (1998-10-01), Saito et al.
patent: 5842719 (1998-12-01), Tanaka
patent: 5863069 (1999-01-01), Wickenheiser et al.
patent: 6007100 (1999-12-01), Steffens, Jr.
patent: 2309152 (1997-07-01), None
Hahnekamp Richard
Monaghan Michael Thomas
Walter Wolfgang
Johnson Brian L.
Milliken Paul E
Rover Group LTD
Weber Ray L
Winner Tony
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