IP Library Granted Patent US 10,434,977
Granted Patent B2
US 10,434,977 · App. 15/692,888 · Granted Oct 8, 2019

Seatbelt anchor

Inventors: Ching-Hung Chuang (Northville, MI); Dean M. Jaradi (Macomb, MI); Mohammad Omar Faruque (Ann Arbor, MI); S. M. Iskander Farooq (Novi, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60R22/24B60R22/28B60R22/34B60R2022/286
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,434,977
App. No.
15/692,888
Granted
Oct 8, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A seatbelt anchor includes an attachment portion. The seatbelt anchor includes a seatbelt support portion spaced from the attachment portion to define a slot therebetween. The seatbelt anchor includes a pair of connecting portions spaced from each other with the slot disposed therebetween and connecting the attachment portion to the seatbelt support portion and including a lattice structure that is plastically deformable relative to the attachment portion and the seatbelt support portion.

Claims (26)

1. A seatbelt anchor comprising:

an attachment portion;

a seatbelt support portion spaced from the attachment portion to define a slot therebetween; and

a pair of connecting portions spaced from each other with the slot disposed therebetween and connecting the attachment portion to the seatbelt support portion and including a lattice structure that is plastically deformable relative to the attachment portion and the seatbelt support portion, the lattice structure including interconnected cells having strips that define voids within the cells.

2. The seatbelt anchor of claim 1 , wherein the lattice structure has a negative Poisson's ratio.

3. The seatbelt anchor of claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion is formed of metal.

4. The seatbelt anchor of claim 1 , wherein the slot defines an axial direction and the pair of connecting portions are spaced from each in the axial direction.

5. The seatbelt anchor of claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion is spaced from the seatbelt support portion in a lateral direction, and the pair of connecting portions are plastically deformable in the lateral direction.

6. The seatbelt anchor of claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion includes a lattice structure.

7. The seatbelt anchor of claim 1 , wherein the seatbelt support portion includes a lattice structure.

8. The seatbelt anchor of claim 1 , wherein the pair of connecting portions are formed of metal.

9. The seatbelt anchor of claim 1 , wherein the pair of connecting portions are 3D printed.

10. The seatbelt anchor of claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion is formed of a first material, and the seatbelt support portion is formed of a second material that is different than the first material.

11. The seatbelt anchor of claim 1 , further comprising an outer shell covering the attachment portion, the connecting portions, and the seatbelt support portion.

12. The seatbelt anchor of claim 1 , further comprising a seatbelt positioning portion connected to the attachment portion.

13. The seatbelt anchor of claim 12 , wherein the seatbelt positioning portion includes a lattice structure defining a first density, and the attachment portion includes a lattice structure defining a second density that is greater than the first density.

14. The seatbelt anchor of claim 12 , wherein the seatbelt positioning portion includes a lattice structure defining a first density, and the seatbelt support portion includes a lattice structure defining a second density that is greater than the first density.

15. The seatbelt anchor of claim 12 , wherein the seatbelt positioning portion is of a first strength, and the attachment portion is of a second strength that is greater than the first strength.

16. The seatbelt anchor of claim 12 , wherein the seatbelt positioning portion is of a first strength, and the seatbelt support portion is of a second strength that is greater than the first strength.

17. The seatbelt anchor of claim 12 , wherein the seatbelt positioning portion extends from the attachment portion towards the seatbelt support portion.

18. A seatbelt assembly comprising:

a retractor;

an anchor including an attachment portion, a seatbelt support portion spaced from the attachment portion to define a slot therebetween, and a pair of connecting portions spaced from each other with the slot disposed therebetween and connecting the attachment portion to the seatbelt support portion and including a lattice structure that is plastically deformable relative to the attachment portion and the seatbelt support portion, the lattice structure including interconnected cells having strips that define voids within the cells; and

a webbing payable from the retractor and slideably received in the slot.

19. The seatbelt assembly of claim 18 , wherein lattice structure has a negative Poisson's ratio.

20. The seatbelt assembly of claim 18 , wherein the pair of connecting portions are 3D printed.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 31, 2017
From: CHUANG, CHING-HUNG; JARADI, DEAN M.; FARUQUE, MOHAMMAD OMAR; FAROOQ, S.M. ISKANDER
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 043466/0218 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190061682A1 · Feb 28, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,240,401