Seatbelt assembly

1 . A seatbelt assembly comprising:

a seatbelt defining a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction, and comprising a shoulder belt, a lap belt, and an intermediate belt disposed between the shoulder belt and the lap belt; and

a reinforcement structure disposed on the intermediate belt,

wherein the reinforcement structure comprises a plurality of reinforcement strips extending along the width direction and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction,

wherein the plurality of reinforcement strips are positioned on the intermediate belt, and no reinforcement strip is positioned on the shoulder belt or the lap belt, and

wherein the plurality of reinforcement strips are entirely covered so as to not be exposed.

2 . The seatbelt assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement structure provides additional stiffness to the intermediate belt such that the intermediate belt has greater stiffness along the width direction than the shoulder belt and the lap belt.

3 . The seatbelt assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement strips are formed of metal.

4 . The seatbelt assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement strips are formed of steel.

5 . The seatbelt assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement strips are formed of plastic.

6 . The seatbelt assembly of claim 1 , wherein gaps are formed between the reinforcement strips and edges of the seatbelt along the width direction.

7 . The seatbelt assembly of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate belt is thicker along the thickness direction than the reinforcement strips.

8 . The seatbelt assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement strips are embedded within the intermediate belt.

9 . The seatbelt assembly of claim 1 , wherein a fabric cover covers at least one side of the plurality of reinforcement strips.

10 . The seatbelt assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the reinforcement strips has a dimension along the longitudinal direction that is less than a distance between adjacent reinforcement strips of the plurality of reinforcement strips.

11 . A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle seat; and

a seatbelt assembly mounted on or adjacent to the vehicle seat,

wherein the seatbelt assembly comprises:

a latching structure defining a latch loop therein;

a seatbelt defining a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction, and comprising a shoulder belt, a lap belt, and an intermediate belt disposed between the shoulder belt and the lap belt and passing through the latch loop; and

a reinforcement structure disposed on the intermediate belt,

wherein the reinforcement structure comprises a plurality of reinforcement strips extending along the width direction and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction,

wherein the plurality of reinforcement strips are positioned on the intermediate belt, and no reinforcement strip is positioned on the shoulder belt or the lap belt, and

wherein the plurality of reinforcement strips are entirely covered so as to not be exposed.

12 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the intermediate belt has a first dimension along the longitudinal direction, and adjacent reinforcement strips of the reinforcement strips are spaced apart by a second dimension, the first and second dimensions being set such that at least one of the reinforcement strips is always within the latch loop during use.

13 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein gaps are formed between the reinforcement strips and edges of the seatbelt along the width direction.

14 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the intermediate belt is thicker along the thickness direction than the reinforcement strips.

15 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the reinforcement strips are embedded within the intermediate belt.

16 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein a fabric cover covers at least one side of the plurality of reinforcement strips.

17 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein each of the reinforcement strips has a dimension along the longitudinal direction that is less than a distance between adjacent reinforcement strips of the plurality of reinforcement strips.

18 . A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle seat; and

a seatbelt assembly mounted on or adjacent to the vehicle seat,

wherein the seatbelt assembly comprises:

a latching structure defining a latch loop therein;

a seatbelt defining a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction, and comprising a shoulder belt, a lap belt, and an intermediate belt disposed between the shoulder belt and the lap belt and passing through the latch loop; and

a reinforcement structure disposed on the intermediate belt,

wherein the reinforcement structure provides additional stiffness to the intermediate belt such that the intermediate belt has greater stiffness along the width direction than the shoulder belt and the lap belt,

wherein the reinforcement structure comprises a plurality of reinforcement strips extending along the width direction and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction,

wherein the reinforcement strips are formed of metal or plastic,

wherein the plurality of reinforcement strips are positioned on the intermediate belt, and no reinforcement strip is positioned on the shoulder belt or the lap belt, and

wherein the plurality of reinforcement strips are entirely covered so as to not be exposed.