# US 10,246,046 B2 · Vehicle seatbelt assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,046 B2 - Document ID: US10246046B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/621,834 - Filed: 2017-06-13 - Published: 2018-12-13 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-13 - Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc. - Applicants: Nissan North America, Inc. - Inventors: Curtis Sharif - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246046B2 ## CPC - B60R 22/26: secured to the seat - B60R 22/02: Semi-passive restraint systems, e.g. systems applied or removed automatically but not both {; Manual restraint systems (knee, leg or head belts B60R22/001; devices for releasing in an emergency, remote or automatic unbuckling devices B60R22/32)} - B60R 22/06: having the belt or harness connected to a member slidable in a vehicle-mounted track - B60R 22/12: Construction of belts or harnesses (B60R21/18 takes precedence {; woven fabrics for safety belts D03D1/0005}) - B60R 22/18: Anchoring devices - B60R 22/28: incorporating energy-absorbing devices {(belt anchors provided with energy-absorbing means for protecting the occupants in case of physical contact therewith B60R21/055; belt retractors comprising energy-absorbing means B60R22/341, B60R22/4676)} - B60R 22/00: Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles (safety belts or body harnesses in general A62B35/00) - B60R 2022/003: {for restraining detainees} - B60R 2022/1806: {for buckles} - B60R 2022/1812: {Connections between seat belt and buckle tongue} - B60R 2022/281: {for buckles} - B60R 2022/282: {using fluids or vico-elastic materials} - B60R 2022/286: {using deformation of material} - B60R 2022/288: {with means to adjust or regulate the amount of energy to be absorbed} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A vehicle seatbelt assembly includes a first member, a second member, a buckle mechanism, and a clutch mechanism. The first member is configured to attach to one of a vehicle floor structure and a seat structure. The second member is supported on the first member. The second member is configured for limited sliding movement relative to the first member. The buckle mechanism is attached to the second member for movement therewith. The buckle mechanism has a latch device configured to releaseably retain a seatbelt latch tongue member. The clutch mechanism is disposed between the first member and the second member and is operable to switch between a dis-engaged state and an engaged state. In the dis-engaged state, the clutch mechanism allows movement of the second member relative to the first member. In the engaged state, the clutch mechanism prevents movement of the second member relative to the first member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle seatbelt assembly comprising: a first member configured to attach to one of a vehicle floor structure and a seat structure; a second member supported on the first member, the second member being configured for limited sliding movement relative to the first member; a buckle mechanism attached to the second member for movement therewith, the buckle mechanism having a latch device configured to releaseably retain a seatbelt latch tongue member; and a clutch mechanism disposed between the first member and the second member, the clutch mechanism being operable to switch between a dis-engaged state allowing movement of the second member relative to the first member and an engaged state preventing movement of the second member relative to the first member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 1, wherein the clutch mechanism includes a magnetorheological fluid that is electronically activated such that with an electric current being provided to the clutch mechanism, the clutch is in the engaged state, and in the absence of an electric current being provided to the clutch mechanism the clutch is in the dis-engaged state. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second member is spring biased to move toward a first orientation relative to the first member, and the clutch mechanism is configured to retain the second member in the first orientation relative to the first member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: an electronic controller connected to the clutch mechanism, the controller being configured to operate the clutch mechanism to change from the engaged state to the dis-engaged state in response to detection of a tensioning event. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 4, wherein the tensioning event is one of the following: a rapid deceleration of the vehicle body structure, a hard-braking event and an impact event. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 4, wherein the buckle mechanism is attached to the second member via a coupling member such that the buckle mechanism is a first distance away from the first member by a predetermined distance with the clutch mechanism in the engaged state, and in response to the controller operating the clutch mechanism to change from the engaged state to the dis-engaged state movement of the second member relative to the first member changes the location of the buckle mechanism such that with the clutch mechanism in the dis-engaged state the buckle mechanism is a second distance away from the first member, the second distance being greater than a first distance. ### Claim 7 A vehicle seatbelt assembly comprising: a seat structure configured to install within a passenger compartment of a vehicle; a first member attached to one of a surface of the passenger compartment and the seat structure; a second member supported on the first member, the second member being configured for limited sliding movement relative to the first member; a buckle mechanism attached to the second member for movement therewith and having a latch device; a seatbelt having a first end non-movably fixed relative to seat structure and a second end retractably retained within the passenger compartment, a seatbelt latch tongue member installed to the seatbelt and being configured to releasably attach to the latch device of the buckle mechanism; and a clutch mechanism disposed between the first member and the second member, the clutch mechanism being operable to switch between a dis-engaged state allowing movement of the second member relative to the first member and an engaged state preventing movement of the second member relative to the first member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 7, wherein the clutch mechanism includes a magnetorheological fluid that is electronically activated such that with an electric current being provided to the clutch mechanism, the clutch is in the engaged state, and in the absence of an electric current being provided to the clutch mechanism the clutch is in the dis-engaged state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 7, wherein the second member is spring biased to move toward an at rest position relative to the first member, and the clutch mechanism is configured to retain the second member in the at rest position relative to the first member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 7, further comprising: an electronic controller connected to the clutch mechanism, the controller being configured to operate the clutch mechanism to change from the engaged state to the dis-engaged state in response to detection of a tensioning event. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 10, wherein the tensioning event is one of the following: a rapid deceleration of the vehicle body structure, a hard-braking event and an impact event. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 10, wherein the buckle mechanism is attached to the second member via a coupling member such that the buckle mechanism is a first distance away from the first member by a predetermined distance with the clutch mechanism in the engaged state, and in response to the controller operating the clutch mechanism to change from the engaged state to the dis-engaged state movement of the second member relative to the first member changes the location of the buckle mechanism such that with the clutch mechanism in the dis-engaged state the buckle mechanism is a second distance away from the first member, the second distance being greater than a first distance. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 10, wherein the first member includes a positioning mechanism configured to adjust an at rest position of the second member relative to the first member; and the clutch mechanism is configured to retain the second member in the at rest position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 13, wherein the positioning mechanism includes an electronic motor connected to the controller, and the controller is configured to operate the electronic motor during adjustment of the second member to the at rest position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to operate the electronic motor to release the second member such that the second member can move with respect to the first member in response to the controller operating the clutch mechanism to change from the engaged state to the dis-engaged state.