ROTATABLE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MOUNTING BRACKET FOR A WEHICLE SEAT ADJUSTER WITH A CATCHER BRACKET BUCKLE BRACE

摘要

A track assembly for a vehicle includes an upper track slidably mounted in a lower track. A seat belt buckle mounting bracket is attached to the upper track and connects a fixed seat belt to the upper track. The seat belt buckle mounting bracket includes first and second angularly disposed legs, with the first leg attached to the upper track and the second leg attached to a fixed seat belt buckle. The attachment structure mounts the seat belt buckle mounting bracket in a first, normal operating position in which the second leg of the bracket extends upward from a side wall of the upper track. The attachment structure permits the seat belt buckle mounting bracket to rotate from the first position under a force applied through the fixed seat belt to a second position in which the second leg of the bracket is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the upper track to place the first and second legs of the bracket in tension with the applied force. The second position provides a strong geometry position for the seat belt buckle mounting bracket. The attachment structure also includes a catcher strap connecting the seat belt buckle mounting bracket and upper track to the rear torsion bar or tube to increase the ultimate load before failure, and to transfer the load in a manner so that the load is shared between the buckle bracket and the rear torsion bar for subsequent transmission to the rear riser.