David P Sanders

US Patent:

7648171, Jan 19, 2010

Filed:

Apr 2, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/730554

Inventors:

Brandon S. Marriott - Waterford MI, US
David E. Sanders - Shelby Township MI, US

Assignee:

TK Holdings Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60R 22/28

US Classification:

280805, 2808011, 280806, 297468, 297470, 297471, 297472, 297480, 297482

Abstract:

A seat belt buckle system includes a seat belt with a latch plate, and a seat belt buckle assembly. The seat belt buckle assembly includes a buckle head for receiving the latch plate, a scabbard covering a portion of the buckle head, and a buckle stalk connecting the buckle head to a vehicle body portion. The scabbard includes at least one tear seam located at an intersection of the first wall and the third wall. The scabbard is configured such that a separation force of the tear seam is less than a buckling load of the scabbard, such that when the buckle is impacted and undergoes a shock load during buckle pretensioning, the tear seam will separate and allow the buckle head to slide down the ramped surface preventing a shock load from a hard contact point that would cause the latch plate to delatch from the buckle head.

US Patent:

8052170, Nov 8, 2011

Filed:

Mar 31, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/385144

Inventors:

Nick John Pelliccia - Rochester MI, US
Christopher Joe Kranz - Troy MI, US
Thomas Grzybowski - Fraser MI, US
Brandon Scott Marriott - Waterford MI, US
Paul Michael Smith - Davison MI, US
David Sanders - Shelby Township MI, US
April Lee Lampkowski - Grand Blanc MI, US
Lyle William Dunham - Rochester Hills MI, US

Assignee:

TK Holdings Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60R 22/30
B60R 22/10

US Classification:

280808, 2808012, 280807, 297473, 297474, 297483, 24170

Abstract:

A seat belt system for a vehicle may include a tongue configured to slidably engage a seat belt; a retractor coupled to a portion of the vehicle, the retractor configured to receive the seat belt; and a height adjuster. The height adjuster may include a guide webbing configured to be secured to a portion of the vehicle; a frame supporting a locking mechanism; and a supporting surface to support the seat belt as the seat belt changes direction. The position of the frame relative to the guide webbing is adjustable. The locking mechanism is configured to lock the frame in a position relative to the guide webbing by clamping the guide webbing without input from the user and stays in position during a crash.