Restraint belt presenter with rising arm and offset rotary action

Abstract

A restraint belt presenter assembly includes a restraint belt engaging member that is selectively driven by a track drive mechanism to catch and pull a restraint belt from its unused position to a presentation position for grasping by a vehicle occupant. In one embodiment, the restraint belt engaging member includes a selectively upwardly moving arm having a finger assembly with an offset rotary action for moving the finger assembly into an actuating position. In a second embodiment, the restraint belt engaging member is connected to a hinge member that pivots the restraint belt engaging member into an actuating position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A restraint belt presenter assembly for bringing a restraint belt forward comprising: 
 a restraint belt engaging member having a selectively movable upper arm, a lower arm and a finger assembly mounted on said upper arm;    a pivot member for rotationally pivoting said finger assembly toward an actuated position; and    a track drive mechanism positioned adjacent a vehicle seat for selectively driving said restraint belt engaging member from a starting position to a presentation position.    
     
     
         2 . The restraint belt presenter assembly of    claim 1   , wherein said lower arm further includes a slot that receives said upper arm.  
     
     
         3 . The restraint belt presenter assembly of    claim 2   , wherein said lower arm further includes a screw member fixedly secured to a rotatable cog.  
     
     
         4 . The restraint belt presenter assembly of    claim 3   , wherein a bottom portion of said upper arm is operatively connected to said screw member.  
     
     
         5 . The restraint belt presenter assembly of    claim 4   , further including a toothed track member positioned alongside the vehicle seat, wherein said rotatable cog meshes with said toothed track member as said restraint belt moves from said starting position to said presentation position, thereby turning said screw member in a first predetermined direction so as to move upper arm upwardly.  
     
     
         6 . The restraint belt presenter assembly of    claim 1   , wherein said finger assembly is contained in a cap housing positioned on a top portion of said selectively movable upper arm, said cap housing having a slot from which a selectively retractable presenting finger protrudes.  
     
     
         7 . The restraint belt presenter assembly of    claim 1   , wherein said pivot member is rotatably mounted on a base member.  
     
     
         8 . The restraint belt presenter assembly of    claim 7   , wherein said pivot member includes corresponding walls that cooperate to define a channel therebetween that receives a mounting member connected to an end portion of said presenting finger.  
     
     
         9 . The restraint belt presenter assembly of    claim 8   , wherein said mounting member is pivotally connected to said pivot member.  
     
     
         10 . The restraint belt presenter assembly of    claim 8   , wherein said mounting member further includes a positioning lug that cooperates with a recess formed in said base member.  
     
     
         11 . The restraint belt presenter assembly of    claim 10   , further including a first spring for biasing said positioning lug in a first predetermined position.  
     
     
         12 . The restraint belt presenter assembly of    claim 11   , further including a second spring for biasing said pivot member in a second predetermined position.  
     
     
         13 . The restraint belt presenter assembly of    claim 1   , wherein said drive mechanism includes a carriage moved along a track by a belt driven by a motor.  
     
     
         14 . A restraint belt presenter assembly for bringing a restraint belt forward comprising: 
 a restraint belt engaging member having a selectively movable upper arm that has a bottom portion connected to a screw member positioned in a lower arm and a finger assembly mounted on said upper arm;    a rotatable cog fixedly secured to said screw member;    a pivot member for rotationally pivoting said finger assembly toward an actuated position;    a track drive mechanism positioned adjacent a vehicle seat for selectively driving said restraint belt engaging member from a starting position to a presentation position; and    a toothed track member positioned alongside the vehicle seat, wherein said rotatable cog meshes with said toothed track member as said restraint belt moves from said starting position to said presentation position, thereby turning said screw member in a first predetermined direction so as to move upper arm upwardly.    
     
     
         15 . The restraint belt presenter assembly of    claim 14   , wherein said finger assembly is contained in a cap housing positioned on a top portion of said selectively movable upper arm, said cap housing having a slot from which a selectively retractable presenting finger protrudes.  
     
     
         16 . The restraint belt presenter assembly of    claim 15   , wherein said pivot member includes corresponding walls that cooperate to define a channel therebetween that receives a mounting member pivotally connected to an end portion of said presenting finger, wherein said mounting member further includes a positioning lug that cooperates with a recess formed in said base member, wherein said a first spring operates to bias said positioning lug in a first predetermined position and a second spring operates to bias said pivot member in a second predetermined position.  
     
     
         17 . A restraint belt presenter assembly for bringing a restraint belt forward comprising: 
 a selectively movable carriage carrying a restraint belt engaging member;    a mounting member positioned on said carriage;    a hinge member connected to said mounting member for pivotal movement about said mounting member; and    a track drive mechanism positioned adjacent a vehicle seat for selectively driving said carriage carrying said restraint belt engaging member from a starting position to a presentation position.    
     
     
         18 . The restraint belt presenting member of    claim 17   , wherein said hinge member includes a first pair of ears that cooperate to form a channel therebetween, said mounting member being positioned in said channel and said hinge being secured to said mounting member for pivotal movement about said mounting member.  
     
     
         19 . The restraint belt presenting member of    claim 18   , wherein said hinge member includes a second pair of ears that cooperate to form a second channel therebetween, said second channel receiving said restraint belt engaging member therein, wherein said restraint belt engaging member is mounted to said hinge member for pivotal movement.  
     
     
         20 . The restraint belt presenting member of    claim 19   , wherein said second channel further includes a stop member positioned between said second pair of ears to limit the pivotal movement of said restraint belt engaging member.  
     
     
         21 . The restraint belt presenting member of    claim 17   , further including a projecting feature for engaging said restraint belt engaging member and assisting in moving said restraint belt engaging member to the actuated position.