Granted Patent B2

US 12,446,666 · App. 17/870,366 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

Inventor: Thang Chien Phi (Wichita, KS)

Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.

A44B11/2576

Abstract

Claims (43)

1. A replaceable seat belt buckle cover, comprising:

a top cover configured to partially enclose a top portion of a seat belt buckle, the top cover comprising:

a top face configured to protect at least a portion of a seat belt buckle;

a front face comprising two shoulders with a first opening therebetween, wherein the two shoulders are substantially parallel with each other, and wherein the first opening is configured to receive a seat belt buckle tongue, wherein the seat belt buckle tongue is configured for releasably connecting with the seat belt buckle;

a connecting member extending between the two shoulders, wherein the connecting member defines a second opening of the front face;

a back face comprising a cavity configured to receive a seat belt, the seat belt being mechanically coupled with the seat belt buckle; and

two opposing side walls, the side walls being substantially perpendicular to the top face and to the back face;

a bottom cover configured to abut the top cover when the seat belt buckle is enclosed between the top cover and the bottom cover; and

at least one fastener configured to secure the top cover with the bottom cover; and

wherein the second opening is of a sufficient size that a user can access a seat belt buckle release using a finger, while the top cover is secured to the bottom cover.

2. The replaceable seat belt buckle cover of claim 1 , wherein the top cover and the bottom cover are symmetrical about a longitudinal axis extending longitudinally along the replaceable seat belt buckle cover.

3. The replaceable seat belt buckle cover of claim 1 , wherein a material of the replaceable seat belt buckle cover comprises at least one of aluminum or magnesium.

4. The replaceable seat belt buckle cover of claim 1 , wherein the top cover comprises at least one top cover fastener hole for receiving the at least one fastener, and wherein the bottom cover comprises at least one bottom cover fastener hole corresponding to the at least one top cover fastener hole.

5. The replaceable seat belt buckle cover of claim 4 , wherein the at least one top cover fastener hole comprises four fastener holes, each being situated in a corner of the top cover, and the at least one bottom cover fastener hole comprises four fastener holes, each being situated in a corner of the bottom cover.

6. A replaceable seat belt buckle cover, comprising:

a top cover, comprising:

a top wall comprising a first opening for providing access to a release of a seat belt buckle received within the replaceable seat belt buckle cover;

a first side wall and a second side wall extending substantially perpendicular from the top wall; and

a back wall substantially perpendicular to the top wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall, the back wall comprising a second opening for receiving a seat belt therein, the seat belt mechanically coupled to the seat belt buckle; and

a bottom cover having a top face that abuts the first side wall, the second side wall, and the back wall when the bottom cover is coupled to the top cover;

at least one fastener for coupling the top cover to the bottom cover;

wherein the first opening is of a sufficient size that a user can pass a finger through the first opening to access a seat belt buckle release using the finger, while the top cover is secured to the bottom cover;

wherein the bottom cover comprises at least one through hole for receiving the at least one fastener therein and the top cover comprises at least one hole therein corresponding to the at least one through hole; and

wherein the at least one through hole comprises a first through hole which is disposed opposite from a second through hole.

7. The replaceable seat belt buckle cover of claim 6 , wherein the top cover further comprises a front wall substantially perpendicular to the top wall, the first side wall and the second side wall and substantially parallel to the back wall.

8. The replaceable seat belt buckle cover of claim 7 , wherein the front wall comprises:

a first shoulder substantially parallel to a second shoulder; and

a connecting member extending from the first shoulder to the second shoulder.

9. The replaceable seat belt buckle cover of claim 6 , wherein, when coupled, the top cover and the bottom cover do not contact the seat belt buckle to reduce damage thereto when forces are applied to the replaceable seat belt buckle cover.

10. The replaceable seat belt buckle cover of claim 6 , wherein the top cover and the bottom cover comprise at least one chamfered edge or at least one filleted edge.

11. A replaceable seat belt buckle cover, comprising:

a top cover configured to at least partially enclose a seat belt buckle, the top cover comprising:

a first shoulder;

a second shoulder which is substantially parallel to the first shoulder and defining a gap therebetween;

a connecting member extending from the first shoulder to the second shoulder; and

at least one opening for providing a seat belt wearer access to a seat belt buckle;

a bottom cover configured to at least partially enclose the seat belt buckle, the bottom cover comprising a top face abutting a bottom face of the top cover; and

at least one connector for coupling the top cover to the bottom cover;

wherein the at least one opening is of a sufficient size that a user can pass a finger through the at least one opening to access the seat belt buckle release using a finger, while the top cover and the bottom cover are in connection with one another; and

wherein the at least one opening comprises a first opening and a second opening located on opposing sides of the connecting member, the first opening providing access to a release of the seat belt buckle and the second opening providing access to a receiver of the seat belt buckle for insertion of a seat belt buckle tongue.

12. The replaceable seat belt buckle cover of claim 11 , wherein the at least one connector comprises at least one of a fastener, an adhesive, or a magnet.

13. The replaceable seat belt buckle cover of claim 11 , wherein the bottom cover is hingedly coupled to the top cover.

14. The replaceable seat belt buckle cover of claim 11 , wherein the top cover comprises a back wall having the second opening for receiving a seat belt of the seat belt buckle.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (12)