Add-on structure for vehicle shoulder belt

Claim 1

An add-on shoulder belt restraint support arrangement for installation in a convertible-type vehicle wherein the vehicle having a body enclosing a rear passenger compartment adapted for supporting a seat cushion and seat back for a pair of occupants, said compartment defined in part by a body floor pan and a pair of side wheelhouse inner panels extending along an aft portion of the passenger compartment, said add-on shoulder belt restraint support arrangement comprising: a pair of mirror image composite pillars each rigidly affixed adjacent respective aft corners of the passenger compartment, each said composite pillar projecting upwardly from a lower end thereof adjacent the floor pan to an upper end thereof located adjacent an upper horizontal edge of the rear seat back; each said composite pillar comprising three vertically elongated substantially coextensive sheet metal members affixed in a flatwise manner defining a forward seat support member, an intermediate anchor member, and an aft member, said aft member, in a cross-sectional view, defining a shoulder belt guide channel having a forward flat web and aft inturned side webs; a transversely extending horizontal disposed tie bar interconnecting each upper end thereof of said pair of composite pillars; a shoulder belt retractor rigidly mounted on each said composite pillar adjacent a lower rearwardly facing end portion of an aft channel member; each said pillar anchor member having, in a cross-sectional view, a U-shape defining aft-turned mirror image side flanges, each said side flange provided with an integral attachment ear extending rearwardly therefrom adjacent the midpoint of an associated anchor member; an obliquely projecting apertured tail portion formed on a lower outboard end of each said anchor member and adapted for fixed engagement with an associated upstanding side portion of the floor pan; each said pillar having a generally V-shaped downwardly and rearwardly angled trailing brace, each said brace comprising a pair of inboard and outboard rearwardly convergent sheet metal straps terminating in an aft flatwise merged portion, each said inboard and outboard strap having a forward end secured by fastener means to a respective anchor member ear portion and an aft merged portion secured by fastener means to an associated rear wheelhouse inner panel; and closure trim means received on the upper end of each said composite pillar, each said closure trim means providing belt passage means permitting each said retractor shoulder belt to be fed upwardly for passage through the associated aft member guide channel, the associated closure trim means and over the relevant shoulder of an occupant and being secured to the vehicle body thereby providing a shoulder belt for the occupant.