# US 10,246,051 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 10,246,051 B2 - Document ID: US10246051B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/616,443 - Filed: 2017-06-07 - Published: 2018-12-13 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-07 - Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc. - Applicants: Nissan North America, Inc. - Inventors: Jesse Tegen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246051B2 ## CPC - B60R 22/4604: {characterised by arrangements in vehicle or relative to seat belt} - B60R 22/023: {Three-point seat belt systems comprising two side lower and one side upper anchoring devices (B60R22/022, B60R22/03 take precedence)} - B60R 22/1951: {characterised by arrangements in vehicle or relative to seat belt} - B60R 22/1952: {Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor} - B60R 22/22: secured to the vehicle floor - B60R 22/24: secured to the side, door, or roof of the vehicle - B60R 22/26: secured to the seat - B60R 22/4628: {characterised by fluid actuators, e.g. pyrotechnic gas generators (actuating a cable B60R22/4619)} - B60R 22/4671: {characterised by spring actuators (B60R22/4623 takes precedence)} - B60R 22/48: Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness - B60R 2022/1806: {for buckles} - B60R 2022/1818: {Belt guides} - B60R 2022/4666: {characterised by electric actuators} - B60R 2022/4841: {for sensing belt tension} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A seatback portion has a tether passageway defined therein from proximate an upper section to proximate a lower section thereof. A seatbelt tether includes a tensioning mechanism, a tether ring and a connecting portion that extends from the tether ring to the tensioning mechanism. The connecting portion extends through the tether passageway with the tether ring located at the upper section outside the seatback portion. The tether ring is shaped and dimension to slide-ably receive a seatbelt. The tensioning mechanism selectively applies tension to the tether ring. In a non-tensioned state the tether ring is movable to an upper outboard side of the seatback portion. In a tensioned state the tether ring is pulled toward a headrest supporting section of the seatback portion inboard and away from the upper outboard side of the seatback portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle seatbelt assembly, comprising: a seat assembly having a seat cushion portion and a seatback portion, the seat cushion portion being configured to attach to a floor structure within a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the seatback portion being supported to the seat cushion portion and having a tether passageway defined therein extending from proximate an upper section downward toward a lower section of the seatback portion; and a seatbelt tether having a tensioning mechanism that is non-movable relative to the seat assembly, a tether ring and an elongated connecting portion, the elongated connecting portion having a first end connected to the tensioning mechanism and a second end attached to the tether ring, the elongated connecting portion extending through the tether passageway of the seatback portion from the tensioning mechanism and out of the tether passageway to the tether ring, with the tether ring being located outside the tether passageway at the upper section of the seatback portion, the tether ring being shaped and dimension to receive a seatbelt such that the seatbelt can slidably move therethrough, the tensioning mechanism being configured to selectively apply tension to the elongated connecting portion and the tether ring and move the elongated connecting portion and the tether ring a predetermined distance in response to detection of a tensioning event, such that in a non-tensioned state the tether ring is moveable to an upper outboard side of the seatback portion and in a tensioned state the tether ring is pulled in an inboard direction away from the upper outboard side of the seatback portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elongated connecting portion consists of one of the following: a cable, a metallic rod and a nylon strap. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning mechanism is fixedly attached to one of the floor structure and the seat cushion portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning mechanism is coupled to a motion sensor that detects the tensioning event, the tensioning event being any of the following: a rapid deceleration of the vehicle body structure, a hard-braking event and an impact event. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning mechanism is configured to apply a predetermined level of tension to the elongated connecting portion and the tether ring in response to detection of the tensioning event. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning mechanism is configured to operate in response to detection of the tensioning event and apply tension to the elongated connecting portion and the tether ring via a one-time usage of a pyrotechnic device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning mechanism includes an electric motor that is operated to apply tension to the elongated connecting portion and the tether ring in response to detection of the tensioning event and thereafter release the tension after a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning mechanism includes spring loaded device that applies tension to the elongated connecting portion and the tether ring in response to detection of the tensioning event and release the tension in response to lack of subsequent acceleration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seatback section includes a metallic frame covered by upholstery material, with an upper portion of the metallic frame includes a guide ring fixedly attached thereto with the elongated connecting portion of the seatbelt tether extending therethrough and through the upholstery material. ### Claim 10 A vehicle seatbelt assembly, comprising: a vehicle body structure having a floor structure and a pillar structure that at least partially define a passenger compartment; a seat assembly having a seat cushion portion and a seatback portion, the seat cushion portion being attached to the floor structure, the seatback portion being supported to the seat cushion portion and having a tether passageway defined therein from proximate an upper section to proximate a lower section thereof; a D-ring attached to the pillar structure within the passenger compartment above the seat cushion portion; a seatbelt buckle assembly fixedly attached to one of the floor structure and the seat cushion portion; a seatbelt tether having a tensioning mechanism, a tether ring and an elongated connecting portion having a first end coupled to the tensioning mechanism, the tensioning mechanism being fixed to one of the floor structure and the seat cushion portion, the elongated connecting portion extending through the tether passageway of the seatback portion with the tether ring located outside the tether passageway at the upper section of the seatback portion; and a seatbelt coupled to the vehicle body structure such that the seatbelt extends through the D-ring, through the tether ring, and to a latch tongue that is configured to releasably attached to the seatbelt buckle assembly, with the tensioning mechanism being configured to selectively apply tension to the tether ring in response to a tensioning event, such that in an non-tensioned state the elongated connecting portion is extendable with the tether ring moveable to an upper outboard side of the seatback portion, and in a tensioned state the tether ring is pulled toward a headrest supporting section of the seatback portion inboard and away from the upper outboard side of the seatback portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 10, wherein the tensioning mechanism is coupled to a motion sensor that detects tensioning events, the tensioning event being any 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 tensioning mechanism is configured to apply a predetermined level of tension to the elongated connecting portion and the tether ring in response to detection of the tensioning event. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 10, wherein the tensioning mechanism is configured to move the elongated connecting portion and the tether ring a predetermined distance in response to detection of the tensioning event. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 10, wherein the tensioning mechanism is configured to operate in response to detection of the tensioning event and apply tension to the elongated connecting portion and the tether ring via a one-time usage of a pyrotechnic device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 10, wherein the tensioning mechanism includes an electric motor that is operated to apply tension to the elongated connecting portion and the tether ring in response to detection of the tensioning event and thereafter release the tension after a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 10, wherein the tensioning mechanism includes spring loaded device that applies tension to the elongated connecting portion and the tether ring in response to detection of the tensioning event and release the tension in response to lack of subsequent acceleration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 10, wherein the elongated connecting portion consists of one of the following: a cable, a metallic rod and a nylon strap. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The vehicle seatbelt assembly according to claim 10, wherein the seatback portion includes a metallic frame covered by upholstery material, with an upper portion of the metallic frame includes a guide ring fixedly attached thereto with the elongated connecting portion of the seatbelt tether extending therethrough and through the upholstery material. ### Claim 19 A vehicle seatbelt assembly, comprising: a vehicle body structure having at least the floor structure and a pillar structure that partially define the passenger compartment; a seat assembly having a seat cushion portion and a seatback portion, the seat cushion portion being configured to attach to a floor structure within a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the seatback portion being supported to the seat cushion portion and having a tether passageway defined therein extending from proximate an upper section downward toward a lower section of the seatback portion, with the seat cushion portion being attached to the floor structure; a seatbelt tether having a tensioning mechanism that is non-movable relative to the seat assembly, a tether ring and an elongated connecting portion, the elongated connecting portion having a first end connected to the tensioning mechanism and a second end attached to the tether ring, the elongated connecting portion extending through the tether passageway of the seatback portion from the tensioning mechanism and out of the tether passageway to the tether ring, with the tether ring being located outside the tether passageway at the upper section of the seatback portion, the tether ring being shaped and dimension to receive a seatbelt such that the seatbelt can slidably move therethrough; a D-ring attached to the pillar structure within the passenger compartment above the seat cushion portion; a seatbelt buckle assembly fixedly attached to one of the floor structure and the seat cushion portion; and a seatbelt having a first end coupled to the pillar structure of the vehicle body structure such that the seatbelt extends through the D-ring, through the tether ring, and to a latch tongue that is configured to releasably attached to the seatbelt buckle assembly, the tensioning mechanism being configured to selectively apply tension to the elongated connecting portion and the tether ring in response to detection of a tensioning event, such that in a non-tensioned state the tether ring is moveable to an upper outboard side of the seatback portion and in a tensioned state the tether ring is pulled in an inboard direction away from the upper outboard side of the seatback portion.