Anti-Rattle Tongue Plate and Method of Forming Same
AssigneeTK Holdings Inc.
InventorsMark F. Gray, Timothy A. Gandee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An anti-rattle tongue plate is provided that includes two different materials for being operably connected to the body of the tongue plate. One of the materials is softer than the other to minimize noise when the tongue plate engages against interior components of the vehicle such as during rough ride conditions. One of the materials is made into a distinct component for being operably connected to the tongue plate body. In this manner, the tongue plate herein eliminates at least one of the insert molds needed for prior over molded latch plates, thus providing manufacturing and cost efficiencies thereover.
Claims16
An anti-rattle tongue plate comprising:
- a plate body having an opening for seat belt webbing to extend therethrough;
- a first material for being operably connected to the plate body at or adjacent to the opening;
- a second material that is softer than the first material for being operably connected to the plate body at a predetermined position to absorb impacts for noise reduction;
- and
- a component distinct from the plate body that is of one of the first and second materials.
A method of forming an anti-rattle tongue plate, the method comprising:
- attaching a first material to a body of the tongue plate;
- attaching a second material to at least one of the tongue plate body and attached first material, with one of the first and second materials being softer than the other to absorb impacts for noise reduction;
- and
- fabricating a distinct component that is of one of the first and second materials.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.