Soft-Close Stowage Compartment for Vehicle Safety Belt Tongue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stowage systems for vehicle safety belt tongues/latch plates detract from the aesthetic appearance and interior fit and finish of vehicles, as they remain visible and exposed, even when the safety belt is in use.
Innovation Solution
A self-closing/soft-close stowage compartment with a pocket defined by a wall and a door that translates between open and closed configurations, incorporating a damper for controlled door movement and a catch for engaging the safety belt tongue/latch plate, allowing the door to close while still allowing safety belt webbing passage, thus maintaining a crafted appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional open stowage pocket is used for the safety belt tongue/latch plate, then the safety belt components are easily accessible, but the aesthetic appearance and interior fit and finish are degraded due to constant visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The safety belt tongue/latch plate is extracted from the visible exterior space and placed inside a concealed stowage compartment. The compartment door closes to hide the tongue while still allowing webbing passage through a gap, thus extracting the aesthetic burden from the visible interior while maintaining accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety belt tongue/latch plate is nested within the stowage compartment, which itself is nested within the vehicle interior structure (roof trim or parcel tray). This nested arrangement allows the tongue to be concealed when not in use, improving aesthetic appearance while remaining accessible when needed.
2Shape
If a closed stowage compartment is used to conceal the safety belt tongue, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the safety belt webbing cannot pass through when the door is closed
Solution Approach 1:
The compartment door is designed with a specific local quality - a gap or opening - that allows safety belt webbing to pass through while the rest of the door remains closed to conceal the tongue. This localized opening maintains both aesthetic appearance and functional accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The gap in the door acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the closed compartment (for aesthetics) and the need for webbing passage (for functionality). It allows the webbing to pass through while the door remains visually closed, resolving the contradiction between appearance and function.
3Speed
If a rapidly closing door is used in the stowage compartment, then the concealment function is achieved quickly, but the door may close too forcefully causing damage or safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
A damper mechanism is incorporated into the door system to provide beforehand cushioning during the closing action. The damper controls the closing speed and reduces the impact force, preventing damage to the door, tongue, or surrounding components while maintaining the quick concealment function.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper mechanism dynamically changes the closing speed parameter of the door during its motion. It allows rapid initial closing for quick concealment, then gradually reduces the speed to a safe low value near the end of the closing stroke, preventing forceful impact while maintaining overall fast operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively conceals the safety belt tongue/latch plate when not in use, enhancing the vehicle's interior appearance and fit and finish by allowing the safety belt webbing to deploy while maintaining a closed door configuration.
Implementation Method 1
The door includes a damper for controlling a rate of translation of the door between the open configuration and the closed configuration
Implementation Method 2
A spring-assisted mechanism may be provided for assisting in translating the door between the closed configuration and the open configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle safety belt webbing and tongue/latch plate stowage assembly includes a safety belt webbing retractor disposed in a compartment and a pocket disposed adjacent to the compartment and configured for receiving the safety belt tongue/latch plate therein. The pocket is defined by at least a divider and a door configured for translation between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The closed configuration defines a gap between the wall and the door sufficient for passage therethrough of a safety belt webbing. A damper controls the rate of translation of the door between the open configuration and the closed configuration, providing a soft touch opening/closing feature. The door may be configured for pivoting between the open and closed configurations, or for sliding between the open and closed configurations.