US5599070A — Seat and integral seat belt

Claim 1

Independent Claim 222 words

An apparatus comprising: a seat including a frame defining a reference axis and supporting a seat bottom and a seat back; a seat belt retractor fixed to said frame; seat belt webbing having one end fixed to said frame and another end operably connected with said retractor, said seat belt webbing carrying a tongue between said ends; a buckle connected to said frame for receiving and connecting with said tongue; guide means located in the seat back for guiding movement of said seat belt webbing through the seat back; and a turning mechanism for directing a portion of said seat belt webbing, said turning mechanism comprising: a housing fixed to said frame at a location spaced from the reference axis; a bezel having a surface supporting said seat belt webbing, said bezel being supported by a portion of said housing for rotation relative to the reference axis; and a member having a curved surface and being supported by said housing to extend at an angle relative to the reference axis, said member directing a portion of said seat belt webbing from said guide means toward said surface of said bezel, a majority of said member being spaced from the reference axis a distance greater than a distance that a majority of said surface of said bezel is spaced from the reference axis.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 222 words

An apparatus comprising: a seat including a frame defining a reference axis and supporting a seat bottom and a seat back; a seat belt retractor fixed to said frame; seat belt webbing having one end fixed to said frame and another end operably connected with said retractor, said seat belt webbing carrying a tongue between said ends; a buckle connected to said frame for receiving and connecting with said tongue; guide means located in the seat back for guiding movement of said seat belt webbing through the seat back; and a turning mechanism for directing a portion of said seat belt webbing, said turning mechanism comprising: a housing fixed to said frame at a location spaced from the reference axis; a bezel having a surface supporting said seat belt webbing, said bezel being supported by a portion of said housing for rotation relative to the reference axis; and a member having a curved surface and being supported by said housing to extend at an angle relative to the reference axis, said member directing a portion of said seat belt webbing from said guide means toward said surface of said bezel, a majority of said member being spaced from the reference axis a distance greater than a distance that a majority of said surface of said bezel is spaced from the reference axis.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said guide means further includes a first end portion located adjacent to said seat belt retractor and a second end portion attached to a portion of said turning mechanism.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises a sheath enclosing a portion of said seat belt webbing which extends between said retractor and said turning mechanism.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said portion of said housing comprises a support including snap attachment means for attaching said support to said housing and a support surface for receiving said bezel.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 41 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said snap attachment means comprises a surface defining a mounting slot in said support for receiving a portion of said housing and push pin on said support for receipt in an opening in said housing.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 48 words

The apparatus of claim 4 further including a shield to close a portion of said housing, said shield includes second snap attachment means for attaching to a portion of said member of said turning mechanism and third snap attachment means for attaching to a portion of said support.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 4 further including a cover to retain said bezel on said support surface, said cover including another snap attachment means for attaching to said support.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 47 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotational position of said bezel is adjustable relative to the reference axis for said surface defining the slot to direct a portion of said seat belt webbing from said member of said turning mechanism in a direction toward said buckle.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said seat belt retractor is located in the seat back and said turning mechanism is located outside of the seat back.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 368 words

An apparatus comprising: a seat including a frame with a first frame portion supporting a seat bottom and a second frame portion supporting a seat back, said second frame portion connected at two places with said first frame portion, said frame defining a reference axis extending through the two places where said first frame portion connects with said second frame portion, said seat being bisected by a plane extending longitudinally through said seat bottom; seat belt webbing including an end fixed to said first frame portion on a first side of the bisecting plane; a retractor fixed to one of said first and second frame portions on the first side of the bisecting plane, another end of said seat belt webbing being operably connected with said retractor; a tongue carried by said seat belt webbing intermediate said ends; a buckle fixed to one of said first and second frame portions on a second side of the bisecting plane, said buckle for receiving said tongue when a portion of said seat belt webbing carrying said tongue is extended across said seat and said tongue is moved from the first side of the bisecting plane to the second side; and a sheath located in said seat back, said sheath comprising an elongate tubular member through which said belt webbing extends to guide movement of said seat belt webbing through said seat back; and a turning mechanism for directing said seat belt webbing, said turning mechanism comprising: a housing fixed to a part of said second frame portion at a location spaced from the reference axis; a bezel having a belt slot through which the seat belt webbing extends, said bezel being supported by said housing for rotation relative the reference axis; and a member supported by said housing, said member having a curved surface for directing said seat belt webbing from said sheath in a direction toward the belt slot in said bezel, said member extending at an angle relative to the reference axis, and a majority of said member being located a distance from the reference axis which is greater than a distance that a majority of the belt slot in said bezel is spaced from the reference axis.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 368 words

An apparatus comprising: a seat including a frame with a first frame portion supporting a seat bottom and a second frame portion supporting a seat back, said second frame portion connected at two places with said first frame portion, said frame defining a reference axis extending through the two places where said first frame portion connects with said second frame portion, said seat being bisected by a plane extending longitudinally through said seat bottom; seat belt webbing including an end fixed to said first frame portion on a first side of the bisecting plane; a retractor fixed to one of said first and second frame portions on the first side of the bisecting plane, another end of said seat belt webbing being operably connected with said retractor; a tongue carried by said seat belt webbing intermediate said ends; a buckle fixed to one of said first and second frame portions on a second side of the bisecting plane, said buckle for receiving said tongue when a portion of said seat belt webbing carrying said tongue is extended across said seat and said tongue is moved from the first side of the bisecting plane to the second side; and a sheath located in said seat back, said sheath comprising an elongate tubular member through which said belt webbing extends to guide movement of said seat belt webbing through said seat back; and a turning mechanism for directing said seat belt webbing, said turning mechanism comprising: a housing fixed to a part of said second frame portion at a location spaced from the reference axis; a bezel having a belt slot through which the seat belt webbing extends, said bezel being supported by said housing for rotation relative the reference axis; and a member supported by said housing, said member having a curved surface for directing said seat belt webbing from said sheath in a direction toward the belt slot in said bezel, said member extending at an angle relative to the reference axis, and a majority of said member being located a distance from the reference axis which is greater than a distance that a majority of the belt slot in said bezel is spaced from the reference axis.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 47 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the rotational position of said bezel is adjustable relative to the reference axis to enable a surface defining the belt slot to support and direct a portion of said seat belt webbing from said member in a direction toward said buckle.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said turning mechanism includes a support portion including snap attachment means for attaching said support portion to said housing and a support surface for supporting an arcuate surface of said bezel.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 41 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said snap attachment means comprises a surface defining a mounting slot for receiving a portion of said housing and a push pin having a resiliently deflectable portion for receipt in an opening in said housing.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 12 further including a shield including second snap attachment means for attaching to a portion of said member and for attaching to said support portion.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus of claim 12 further including a cover to retain said bezel on said support surface of said support portion and third snap attachment means for attaching said cover to said support portion.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 266 words

An apparatus comprising: a seat including a frame defining a reference axis and supporting a seat bottom and a seat back; a seat belt retractor fixed to said frame; seat belt webbing having one end fixed to said frame and another end operably connected with said retractor, said seat belt webbing carrying a tongue between said ends; a buckle fixed to said frame and for receiving the tongue; a sheath located in said seat back, said sheath comprising an elongate tubular member through which said belt webbing extends to guide movement of said seat belt webbing through said seat back; and a turning mechanism for directing a portion of said seat belt webbing, said turning mechanism comprising: a housing fixed to said frame at a location outside of said seat back and adapted to be adjacent to a shoulder of an occupant of said seat; a support portion and integral snap attachment means for attaching said support portion to said housing, said support portion having a support surface; a bezel having an arcuate outer surface and a slot through which said seat belt webbing extends, said arcuate outer surface of said bezel being supported by said support surface of said support portion for rotation relative to said housing and the reference axis; a cover fixed to said support portion by second integral snap attachment means to hold said bezel on said support surface of said support portion; and a member having a curved surface and being supported by said frame, said member directing a portion of said seat belt webbing from said sheath toward said bezel.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 266 words

An apparatus comprising: a seat including a frame defining a reference axis and supporting a seat bottom and a seat back; a seat belt retractor fixed to said frame; seat belt webbing having one end fixed to said frame and another end operably connected with said retractor, said seat belt webbing carrying a tongue between said ends; a buckle fixed to said frame and for receiving the tongue; a sheath located in said seat back, said sheath comprising an elongate tubular member through which said belt webbing extends to guide movement of said seat belt webbing through said seat back; and a turning mechanism for directing a portion of said seat belt webbing, said turning mechanism comprising: a housing fixed to said frame at a location outside of said seat back and adapted to be adjacent to a shoulder of an occupant of said seat; a support portion and integral snap attachment means for attaching said support portion to said housing, said support portion having a support surface; a bezel having an arcuate outer surface and a slot through which said seat belt webbing extends, said arcuate outer surface of said bezel being supported by said support surface of said support portion for rotation relative to said housing and the reference axis; a cover fixed to said support portion by second integral snap attachment means to hold said bezel on said support surface of said support portion; and a member having a curved surface and being supported by said frame, said member directing a portion of said seat belt webbing from said sheath toward said bezel.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus of claim 16 further including a shield having third integral snap attachment means for attaching to a portion of said member and to a portion of said support portion.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said member extends at an angle relative to a support for said frame.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the rotational position of said bezel relative to said housing is variable to enable a surface defining the slot to direct seat belt webbing from said member across an occupant of said seat and toward said buckle.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said sheath includes a first end portion located adjacent said seat belt retractor and a second end portion attached to a portion of said turning mechanism.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-02-04	2000-08-05	2001-02-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-02-04	2004-08-05	2005-02-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-02-04	2008-08-05	2009-02-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Seat and integral seat belt

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