# US 10,863,799 B2 · Seatbelt buckle assembly

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- Number: US 10,863,799 B2
- Document ID: US10863799B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/378,070
- Filed: 2019-04-08
- Published: 2020-10-08
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2019-04-08
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Inventors: Carter Chen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10863799B2

## CPC

- A44B 11/2546: {Details}
- B29C 45/14336: {Coating a portion of the article, e.g. the edge of the article (B29C45/14573 and B29C45/14598 take precedence)}
- B29C 45/0001: {characterised by the choice of material}
- B29C 45/16: Making multilayered or multicoloured articles {(B29C45/0062 takes precedence; feeding colouring materials into the injection unit B29C45/1816)}
- B60R 22/18: Anchoring devices
- B29K 2023/12: {PP, i.e. polypropylene}
- B29K 2995/0035: Fluorescent
- B29L 2031/727: {Fastening elements (bolts B29L2001/002; nuts B29L2001/005; screws B29L2001/007; slide fasteners B29L2005/00; buttons for haberdashery B29L2019/00)}
- B60R 2022/1806: {for buckles}
- A44B: BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE (fastenings specially adapted for footwear A43C)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

A method of forming a seatbelt buckle assembly comprises forming a housing by injection molding with a first mold cavity, allowing the injection molded housing to cool and cure, placing the housing into a second mold cavity, forming a debris shield by over-molding the debris shield directly onto portions of an outer surface of the housing within the second mold cavity, allowing the over-molded debris shield to cool and cure, and removing the housing with the over-molded debris shield from the second mold cavity.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A seatbelt buckle assembly comprising:
a housing, the housing including a body and a cover;
a latching mechanism positioned within the housing, wherein the cover is removably attachable to the body to enclose the latching mechanism therein;
an opening formed within the body; and
a debris shield over-molded directly onto the body of the housing, and covering portions of the body including the opening, the debris shield including:
a closed end covering the opening in the body of the housing, the closed end including a first flange and a second flange being in an overlapping relationship to define a slot formed along a portion of the closed end, the first and second flanges each adapted to flex during insertion of a seatbelt tongue to create a temporary gap which substantially conforms to the seatbelt tongue periphery, whereby the slot is adapted to allow the passage of the seatbelt tongue and resist the passage of other objects or fluids; and
at least one side wall extending from the closed end, wherein the at least one side wall is configured to cover a portion of a corresponding section of an outer surface of the body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The seatbelt buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the debris shield has an inner surface and the body of the housing has an outer surface, wherein there are no gaps or spaces between the inner surface of the debris shield and portions of the outer surface of the body covered by the debris shield.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The seatbelt buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the debris shield has an inner surface and the body of the housing has an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the debris shield is dimensionally identical to the portions of the outer surface of the body covered by the debris shield.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The seatbelt buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the slot is formed along an inwardly tapered portion of the closed end, the inwardly tapered portion adapted to guide the seatbelt tongue to the slot when the seatbelt tongue is inserted into the seatbelt buckle assembly.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The seatbelt buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the debris shield is adapted to sealably cover the opening in the body of the housing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The seatbelt buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing and the debris shield are constructed in a substantially rectangular configuration.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The seatbelt buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the debris shield is made from rubber.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The seatbelt buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein debris shield is made from lightweight plastic.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The seatbelt buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the debris shield is made from a thermoplastic elastomer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The seatbelt buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the debris shield is made from a phosphorescent material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The seatbelt buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the debris shield and the housing are each made from a polypropylene-based material.