Abstract:
A combination seat belt buckle presenter and seat belt use reminder includes an actuator to cause the extension and retraction of a buckle to improve buckle accessibility. A flexible support member transmits force from the actuator to the buckle. A self-locking device prevents forward or upward movement of the buckle. The self-locking mechanism is preferably configured as an energy-absorbing seat belt load limiter. The seat belt buckle presenter is preferably automated.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This invention-relates to automatic seat belt buckle presenters.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A prior art vehicle seat belt is typically mounted to a vehicle body near one side of an occupiable surface of a seat. A seat belt buckle is typically mounted near an opposite side of the occupiable surface. The seat belt is adapted to selectively alternate between a stowed position in which the seat belt is located substantially to one side of the seat to facilitate occupant access to the seat, and an engaged position in which the seat belt extends across the occupiable surface to restrain an occupant of the seat between the seat belt and the occupiable surface. The seat belt is retained in the engaged position by the buckle. An occupant of the seat manually moves the prior art seat belt to its engaged position and engages the buckle with a latch plate connected to the seat belt.  
           [0003]    The prior art includes seat belt presenters to make seat belts more visible and more easily accessible for movement to the engaged position. The prior art also includes buckle presenters to improve occupant access to the buckle. However, these prior art buckle presenters typically add significant complexity to the seat structure, make the buckle and its connection to the vehicle body massive and highly intrusive to the occupant, or require a significant amount of packaging space within the vehicle. For example, a prior art seat belt presenter employs a rigid, pivotable member to transmit force from an actuator to the buckle. The pivotable member limits the placement of the seat belt buckle presenter because the pivotable member requires dedicated packaging space in which to pivot.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    A seat belt buckle presenter for a vehicle is provided. The seat belt buckle presenter includes a seat belt buckle adapted to engage a latch plate connected to a seat belt for retaining the seat belt in the engaged position. A support member operatively connects the buckle to an actuator. The actuator is adapted to selectively move the buckle between an extended position and a retracted position by selectively extending and retracting the support member. The buckle is higher and more forwardly located in the extended position than in the retracted position so that the buckle is more accessible to the occupant.  
           [0005]    The support member is preferably flexible and routed through a guide that directs the movement of the support member. The flexible support member moves axially through the guide, thereby resulting in more compact and flexible transmission of force from the actuator to the buckle compared to the rigid force transmission members of the prior art. Furthermore, the flexible support member provides increased flexibility in packaging the buckle presenter compared to the prior art. For example, the buckle presenter can be packaged under the seating apparatus or inside the seat cushion such that only the buckle is exposed.  
           [0006]    The seat belt buckle presenter preferably includes a self-locking mechanism operatively connected to the support member to resist upward or forward movement of the buckle caused by a pulling force applied to the buckle by the seat belt or latch plate during a vehicle impact. In a preferred embodiment, the self-locking mechanism functions as an energy-absorber and seat belt load limiter during a vehicle impact.  
           [0007]    The seat belt buckle presenter, if automated, also functions as a seat belt reminder. The seat belt buckle is more prominent in its extended position than in its retracted position. Accordingly, a method for advantageously using the seat belt buckle presenter is also provided. The method includes monitoring at least one vehicle component in the vehicle for the presence or existence of at least one predetermined state, and causing the buckle to move between the extended position and the retracted position in response to the presence or existence of said at least one predetermined state.  
           [0008]    The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages, of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a schematic front illustration of a vehicle seating apparatus, seat belt, and seat belt buckle presenter according to the invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a schematic side illustration of a vehicle interior and the seat belt buckle presenter of FIG. 1;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a schematic side illustration of the seat belt buckle presenter of FIGS. 1 and 2 in an extended position;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a self-locking mechanism for use with the seat belt buckle presenter of FIGS. 1-3;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a schematic partially cut-away perspective illustration of another self-locking mechanism for use with the seat belt buckle presenter of FIGS. 1-3; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a schematic flow diagram of a method of using the seat belt buckle presenter of FIGS. 1-3. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]    Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle seating apparatus  20  is schematically depicted inside a vehicle  24 . The seating apparatus  20  has a seat cushion  28  and a seat back  32 , and is characterized by an occupiable surface  34 . A seat belt  36  is mounted to the body  40  of the vehicle  24  near a first side  38  of the occupiable surface  34 . The seat belt  36  is selectively moveable between a stowed position in which the seat belt  36  is located substantially to one side of the seating apparatus  20 , and an engaged position, shown in phantom  36 ′, in which the seat belt  36 ′ extends across the occupiable surface  34 . A buckle  48  engages a latch plate  52 ,  52 ′ on the seat belt  36 ,  36 ′ to retain the seat belt  36 ′ in its engaged position. The buckle  48  is part of a seat belt buckle presenter  50  mounted to the vehicle body  40  near a second side  54  of the occupiable surface  34  opposite the first side  38 .  
         [0016]    The seat belt  36  and seat belt buckle presenter  50  depicted in FIG. 1 are mounted to the vehicle body  40 ; however, those skilled in the art will recognize other mounting locations and schemes for a seat belt and a seat belt buckle presenter that may be employed within the scope of the claimed invention. For example, an all-belts-to-seat design, i.e., wherein a seat belt and buckle presenter are connected to, or are an integral part of, a seat assembly, may be employed within the scope of the claimed invention. Those skilled in the art may find that it is preferable to mount the seat belt buckle presenter to a seat frame, particularly in the situation where a seating apparatus is adjustable, that is, movable relative to the vehicle body, so that the buckle moves with the seating apparatus when the latter is adjusted by an occupant.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from FIG. 1, is a schematic side view of the seat belt buckle presenter  50 . A flexible extendible support member such as a cable  56  is connected to the buckle  48  at one end. The cable  56  is routed through, and slidably engaged with, a flexible sheath  58  and a rigid guide  60 . The guide  60  is rigidly mounted with respect to the seat cushion  28 . The guide  60  includes a pulley  64  within an angled or curved tube  68 . The cable  56  is operatively connected to an electric motor  72  via a self-locking mechanism  76 . The motor  72  functions as an actuator to selectively move the buckle  48  between a retracted position as depicted in FIG. 2 and an extended position, as depicted in FIG. 3, by selectively retracting and extending the cable  56 . The height H of the buckle  48  relative to the vehicle floor  78  in the retracted position is less than the height H′ of the buckle  48  in the extended position, and the buckle  48  is more forwardly located in the extended position than in the retracted position. The self-locking mechanism  76  is sufficiently operatively connected to the cable  56  to resist upward or forward movement of the buckle  48  caused by a pulling force applied to the buckle  48  by the seat belt  36  or latch plate  52  during a vehicle impact.  
         [0018]    The cable  56  is slidably engaged with the sheath  58  and the guide  60  so that the cable  56  moves relative to the sheath  58  and the guide  60  during cable extension and retraction. The sheath  58  and guide  60  are sufficiently configured and positioned to support the cable  56  and redirect the movement of the cable  56  as the cable  56  passes through and contacts the sheath  58  and guide  60  during cable extension or retraction. The embodiment of the seat belt buckle presenter depicted is characterized by the absence of a rigid, pivotable support member operatively connected to the buckle  48 . It may be preferable to omit the flexible sheath from the seat belt buckle presenter. For example, the rigid guide may be lengthened so that it abuts the self-locking mechanism, or the self-locking mechanism may be positioned in closer proximity to the rigid guide.  
         [0019]    In FIGS. 2 and 3, the self-locking mechanism is positioned with respect to the pulley such that the pulley&#39;s axis of rotation is aligned with the centerline of the self-locking mechanism. However, by positioning the self-locking mechanism  76  with respect to the pulley  64  such that the centerline of the self-locking mechanism  76  is tangential to the pulley  64 , the cable  56  follows a less circuitous path.  
         [0020]    Referring to FIG. 4, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from FIGS. 1-3, a preferred embodiment of the self-locking mechanism  76  is schematically depicted. The self-locking mechanism  76  is similar to a self-locking mechanism described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,565, issued Jun. 11, 2002 to Wang, et al, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. However, the self-locking mechanism  76  is configured to lock when a member is urged away from a stationary part of the self-locking mechanism  76 , whereas the self-locking mechanism described in the &#39;565 patent locks when a member is urged in a particular manner toward a stationary part of the self-locking mechanism.  
         [0021]    The self-locking mechanism  76  includes a stationary outer tube  80  having an inside cylindrical wall  84  and an inner member  88  telescoped into the outer tube  80  through an end  92  of the latter. The cable  56  is mounted to the inner member  88 . An end fitting  96  rigidly attached to the inner member  88  constitutes an end thereof in the outer tube  80  and includes an outside cylindrical wall  100  bearing against and cooperating with the inside cylindrical wall  84  of the outer tube  80  in supporting the inner member  88  on the outer tube  80  for translation in an extension direction E in which the cable  56  is extended and in a opposite retraction direction R in which the cable  56  is retracted, each direction parallel to a longitudinal centerline  104  of the outer tube  80 .  
         [0022]    A plurality of grooves  108 , or open spaces, is formed in the outside cylindrical wall  100  of the end fitting  96 . Each groove  108  is partially defined by a ramp surface  112  that faces the inside cylindrical wall  84  on the outer tube  80 . The distance between each ramp surface  112  and the inside cylindrical wall  84  is greater at a first, or deep, end  116  of the groove  108  than at a second, or shallow, end  120  of the groove  108 . The ramp surface  112  merges with a flat surface  121  at the shallow end  120 . End walls  124  are formed in the end fitting  96  at the first end  116  of each of the ramp surfaces  112 . A spherical rolling element  128  is located in each of the grooves  108 .  
         [0023]    During translation of the inner member  88  in the retraction direction R, the rolling elements  128  are cupped in the grooves  108  against the end walls  124  thereof, where they slide along the inside cylindrical wall  84  of the outer tube  80  without obstructing translation of the inner member  88 . Conversely, at the onset of translation of the inner member  88  in the extension direction E, the rolling elements  128  roll up the ramp surfaces  112  and quickly become wedged between the ramp surfaces  112  and the inside cylindrical wall  84  of the outer tube  80  thereby effectively resisting movement of the inner member  88  and cable  56 .  
         [0024]    When a force on the inner member  88  in the extension direction E is attributable to a high load on the inner member  88  transmitted via the cable  56 , the self-locking mechanism  76  functions as an energy absorber and seat belt load limiter. That is, the rolling elements  128  traverse the ramp surfaces  112  and become interference fitted between the flat surfaces  121  and the inside cylindrical wall  84  of the outer tube  80 . During subsequent linear translation of the inner member  88  in the outer tube  80 , the rolling elements  128  plastically deform the outer tube  80  by rolling or plowing tracks therein thereby to absorb energy by converting into work a fraction of the kinetic energy transmitted by the cable  56 . The hardness of the rolling elements  128  does not exceed the hardness of the end fitting  96 ; thus the end fitting  96  is not plastically deformed by the rolling elements  128 . FIG. 4 is a schematic depiction of the self-locking mechanism  76 , and is not drawn to scale. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the length of the outer tube  80 , as well as the distance between the inner member  88  and the first end of the tube  92  when the latch is in the retracted position, will preferably be larger than depicted in FIG. 4 to provide the inner member with a longer length of travel during an energy-absorption stroke.  
         [0025]    The resistive load-limiting force of the self-locking mechanism  76  is a function of the penetration depth of the rolling elements  128  into the outer tube  80 , which is determined in part by the distance between the flat surface  121  and the inside cylindrical wall  84 ; the number of rolling elements  128 ; the radius of each rolling element  128 ; the thickness of the outer tube  80 ; and the material properties of the outer tube  80 .  
         [0026]    The self-locking mechanism  76  further includes an actuator rod  132  telescoped into a second end  136  of the outer tube  80  and into a bore  140  in the end fitting  96  on the inner member  88 . The actuator rod  132  has a rack gear  142  thereon which meshes with a pinion gear  144 . The pinion gear  144  is connected to the electric motor (not shown) so that the motor, the pinion gear  144 , and the rack gear  142  constitute a drive means operable to translate the actuator rod  132  back and forth in the extension and retraction directions E, R.  
         [0027]    A tubular hub  148  is rigidly attached to the actuator rod  132  and supports the actuator rod  132  in the bore  140  in the end fitting  96  for translation relative to the inner member  88  in the direction of the longitudinal centerline  104  of the outer tube  80 . A ring  152  is rigidly attached to the hub  148  at the end thereof facing the rack gear  142  on the actuator rod  132  and cooperates with the inside cylindrical wall  84  of the outer tube in supporting the actuator rod  132  on the outer tube  80  for back and forth translation in the extension and retraction directions E, R of the inner member  88 . An annular flange  156  on the end of the hub  148  opposite the ring  152  faces an annular shoulder  160  on the end fitting  96  around the bore  140 . A compression spring  164  seats against the ring  152  and against the end fitting  96  and biases the end fitting  96  and the actuator rod  132  in opposite directions until the annular flange  156  seats against the annular shoulder  160 .  
         [0028]    A retainer  168  of the self-locking mechanism  76  surrounds the compression spring  164  and overlaps the gap between the end fitting  96  and the ring  152 . The retainer  168  includes a hooked end  172  seated in a corresponding annular groove in the ring  152  whereby the retainer  168  is rigidly attached to the ring  152  and, therefore, to the actuator rod  132 .  
         [0029]    The ring  152  and the spring  164  constitute a first clutch which effects translation of the actuator rod  132  and the inner member  88  in the extension direction E in response to corresponding rotation of the pinion gear  144 . That is, when the pinion gear  144  rotates clockwise, the thrust applied to the actuator rod  132  is transferred to the end fitting  96  through the ring  152  and the spring  164  and urges the inner member  88  in the extension direction E. At the same time, the retainer  168  is urged by the ring  152  in the extension direction E so that the retainer  168  extends sufficiently into the grooves  108  to contact the rolling elements  128  and retain the rolling elements  128  in the first end  116  of the grooves  108  and against the end walls  124  so that the rolling elements  128  do not roll up the ramp surfaces  112 . The rolling elements  128  thus slide along the inside cylindrical wall  84  of the outer tube  80  while cupped against the end wall  124  without interfering with translation of the inner member  88 .  
         [0030]    Conversely, the annular flange  156  on the hub  148  and the annular shoulder  160  on the end fitting  96  constitute a second clutch which effects unitary translation of the actuator rod  132  and the inner member  88  in the retraction direction R in response to corresponding rotation of the pinion gear  144 . That is, when the pinion gear  144  rotates counterclockwise, the thrust applied to the actuator rod  132  is transferred directly to the end fitting  96  through the flange  156  and the annular shoulder  160  and urges the inner member  88  in the retraction direction R.  
         [0031]    Referring to FIG. 5, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from FIGS. 1-4, an alternative self-locking mechanism  76 ′ for use with the seat belt buckle presenter is schematically depicted. The alternative self-locking mechanism  76 ′ is similar to a self-locking mechanism described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,573, issued Oct. 19, 1999 to Wang, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. However, the self-locking mechanism  76 ′ is configured to lock when a member is urged away from a stationary part of the self-locking mechanism  76 ′, whereas the self-locking mechanism described in the &#39;573 patent locks when a member is urged in a particular manner toward a stationary part of the self-locking mechanism.  
         [0032]    The self locking mechanism  76 ′ includes a cylindrical outer tube  80  having a longitudinal centerline  104 . The outer tube  80  may have any convenient cross sectional shape other than circular. An inner member  88 ′ is supported on the outer tube  80  for back and forth linear translation in the direction of the longitudinal centerline  104  of the outer tube  80  with an outer cylindrical wall  100 ′ of the inner member  88 ′ facing an inner cylindrical wall  84  of the outer tube  80 . The cross sectional shape of the inner member  88 ′ matches the cross sectional shape of the outer tube  80 .  
         [0033]    A plurality of grooves  108 ′ in the outer cylindrical wall  100 ′ of the inner member  88 ′ are parallel to the longitudinal centerline  104  of the outer tube  80  and face the inner cylindrical wall  84  thereof. The grooves  108 ′ are disposed between a pair of bearing rings  178 A,  178 B on the inner member  88 ′ which cooperate in maintaining concentricity between the inner member  88 ′ and the outer tube  80  during relative linear translation therebetween. Each groove  108 ′ is partially defined by a ramp surface  112 ′ that faces the inside cylindrical wall  84  on the outer tube  80 . The distance between each ramp surface  112 ′ and the inside cylindrical wall  84  is greater at a first, or deep, end  116 ′ of the groove  108 ′ than at a second, or shallow, end  120 ′ of the groove  108 ′. The ramp surface  112 ′ merges with a flat surface  121 ′ at the shallow end  120 ′. The inner member  88 ′ is interrupted by a plurality of radial slots  182  which intersect respective ones of the grooves  108 ′.  
         [0034]    Respective ones of a plurality of rolling elements  128 , e.g. steel spheres, are disposed in respective ones of the grooves  108 ′ over the radial slots  182  in the inner member  88 ′. The diameters of the rolling elements  128  are substantially the same as the depths of the grooves  108 ′ at the deep ends  116 ′ thereof to minimize contact between the rolling elements  128  and the inner cylindrical wall  84  of the outer tube  80  when the rolling elements  128  are lodged at the deep ends  116 ′ of the grooves  108 ′.  
         [0035]    A tubular hub  148 ′ is supported by a bore  140 ′ of the inner member  88 ′ for back and forth linear translation relative to the inner member  88 ′ in the direction of the longitudinal centerline  104  of the outer tube  80 . A hex flange  156 ′ on the hub  148 ′ bears against an annular first shoulder  160 ′ on the inner member  88 ′ around the bore  140 ′ to limit relative linear translation therebetween in one direction. A retainer  168 ′ having a plurality of radial fingers  186  is connected to the hub  148 ′ at the opposite end thereof from the flange  156 ′. The retainer  168 ′ and fingers  186  bear against an annular second shoulder  192  on the inner member  88 ′ to limit relative linear translation between the hub  148 ′ and the inner member  88 ′ in the other direction. The radial fingers  186  slide back and forth in respective ones of the radial slots  182  in the inner member  88 ′ and radially overlap the grooves  108 ′ between the rolling elements  128  therein and the shallow ends  120 ′ thereof.  
         [0036]    The actuator rod  132 ′ is rigidly attached to the hub  148 ′. When the pinion gear  144  rotates clockwise the pinion gear  144  induces linear translation of the actuator rod  132 ′ and the hub  148 ′ in the extension direction E. The radial fingers  186  on the hub  148 ′ engage the annular second shoulder  192  on the inner member  88 ′. The thrust of the pinion gear  144  on the actuator rod  132 ′ is transferred through the hub  148 ′ to the inner member  88 ′ to induce linear translation of the inner member  88 ′ and the cable  56  relative to the outer tube  80 .  
         [0037]    Concurrently, the radial fingers  186  on the hub  148 ′ engage respective ones of the rolling elements  128  and confine the rolling elements  128  to the deep ends  116 ′ of the grooves  108 ′ to prevent the rolling elements  128  from wedging against the cylindrical inner wall  84  of the outer tube  80  and interfering with linear translation of the inner member  88 ′ and cable  56 .  
         [0038]    When the pinion gear  144  rotates counterclockwise, the pinion gear  144  induces linear translation in the retraction direction R of the actuator rod  132 ′ and the hub  148 ′. The hub  148 ′ translates relative to the inner member  88 ′ until the flange  156 ′ on the hub  148 ′ engages the annular first shoulder  160 ′ on the inner member  88 ′. The direction of relative movement between the inner member  88 ′ and the outer tube  80  causes the rolling elements  128  to remain lodged in the deep ends  116 ′ of the grooves  108 ′ so that linear translation of the inner member  88 ′ relative to the outer tube  80  is unopposed by rolling elements  128 .  
         [0039]    A force exerted on the inner member  88 ′ from the cable  56  inducing linear translation of the inner member  88 ′ in the extension direction E will cause the inner member  88 ′ to move independently of the hub  148 ′. Relative linear translation between the inner member  88 ′ and the outer tube  80  causes the rolling elements  128  to roll in the grooves  108 ′ toward the shallow ends  120 ′ thereof until the rolling elements  128  become wedged against the inner cylindrical wall  84  of the outer tube  80 . Thereafter, the rolling elements traverse the ramp surfaces  112 ′ and become interference fitted between the flat surfaces  121 ′ and the inside cylindrical wall  84  of the outer tube  80 . During subsequent linear translation of the inner member  88 ′ in the outer tube  80 , the rolling elements  128  plastically deform the outer tube  80  by rolling or plowing tracks therein thereby to absorb energy by converting into work a fraction of the kinetic energy transmitted by the cable  56 .  
         [0040]    The resistance afforded by the rolling elements  128  wedged against the inner cylindrical wall  84 , i.e., the resistive load-limiting force of the self-locking mechanism  76 ′, is a function of the penetration depth of the rolling elements  128  into the outer tube  80 , which is determined in part by the distance between the flat surface  121 ′ and the inside cylindrical wall  84 ; the number of rolling elements  128 ; the radius of each rolling element  128 ; the thickness of the outer tube  80 ; and the material properties of the outer tube  80 . FIG. 5 is a schematic depiction of the self-locking mechanism  76 ′, and is not drawn to scale. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the length of the outer tube  80 , as well as the distance between the inner member  88 ′ and the end of the tube through which the cable  56  extends, will preferably be larger than depicted in FIG. 5 to provide the inner member with a longer length of travel during an energy-absorption stroke.  
         [0041]    Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, the vehicle  24  includes at least one vehicle door  196  moveable between an open position and a closed position. The vehicle  24  also includes an ignition switch  200  switchable between an on position and an off position. The seat belt presenter  50  preferably includes a controller  204  operatively connected to a plurality of sensors that are adapted to monitor at least one vehicle component and communicate a state of the at least one vehicle component to the controller  204 . The sensors preferably include a door position sensor  208  sufficiently configured and positioned with respect to the door  196  to monitor the position of the door  196  and communicate the position of the door  196  to the controller  204 . An ignition switch sensor  212  is sufficiently configured and positioned with respect to the ignition switch  200  to monitor the position of the ignition switch  200  and communicate the position of the ignition switch  200  to the controller  204 . A sensor  216  is sufficiently configured and positioned with respect to the seat cushion  28  to monitor and detect whether the seating apparatus  20  is occupied by an occupant  218  and communicate whether the seating apparatus  20  is occupied to the controller  204 . Sensors  220  monitor the position of the buckle  48  and whether the buckle  48  is engaged or disengaged with the latch plate  52 .  
         [0042]    The controller  204  is programmed and configured to cause the motor  72  to extend or retract the cable  56  and thereby move the buckle  48  between the extended and retracted positions in response to at least one of the sensors communicating the existence of at least one predetermined state. Within the scope of the claimed invention, communication by a sensor may include both the presence and the absence of an electrical or other signal when the absence of a signal is indicative of a state of a vehicle component. Thus, for example, the door position sensor  208  may be a switch that is open when the door  196  is in the closed position and closed when the door  196  is in the open position. Thus, the sensor  208  only transmits an electrical signal when the door is open. However, the absence of a signal from the sensor  208  indicates to the controller  204  that the door is in the closed position.  
         [0043]    Referring to FIG. 6, a method for automating the seat belt presenter is schematically depicted. The method represents an exemplary control logic for the seat belt presenter. The method includes monitoring various vehicle components for the presence or existence of at least one predetermined state. The method also includes causing the buckle to move between the extended position and the retracted position in response to the presence or existence of the at least one predetermined state. More specifically, the method preferably includes the sensors monitoring the position of the seat belt buckle  224 , monitoring the position of the ignition switch  228 , monitoring the state of the seat belt buckle  232 , i.e., whether the seat belt buckle is engaged or disengaged from the latch plate, and monitoring the position of the vehicle door  236 . The method may also include monitoring whether the vehicle seat is occupied  240 . The sensors communicate the states of the vehicle components to the controller.  
         [0044]    The controller is programmed to follow an algorithm wherein the controller inquires if the ignition switch has been in the on position continuously for a predetermined duration of time, for example, ten seconds  244 . If the answer is no, then the controller inquires if the buckle is in the extended position  248 . If the answer to inquiry  248  is yes, that is, if the buckle is in the extended position, then the controller engages in the step of causing the buckle to move from the extended position to the retracted position  252 .  
         [0045]    The predetermined duration of time results in a time delay that will reduce the frequency of buckle presenter actuation for occupants who always engage the seat belt. It may be advantageous for the predetermined duration of time to be zero so that the controller causes the buckle to extend every time certain predetermined states exist.  
         [0046]    If the controller detects via the ignition switch sensor that the ignition switch has been in the on position continuously for the predetermined amount of time, that is, if the answer to inquiry, or decision,  244  is yes, then the controller inquires if the buckle has been disengaged from the latch plate continuously for the predetermined amount of time  256 . If the answer is no, then the controller moves to inquiry  248 . If the answer is yes, then the controller inquires if the door has been in the closed position continuously for the predetermined amount of time  260 . If the answer is no, then the controller moves to inquiry  248 . If the answer is yes, then the controller inquires if an occupant has been occupying the seat for the predetermined amount of time  264 . If the answer is yes, then the controller inquires if the buckle is in the extended position  268 .  
         [0047]    If the answer is no, then the controller engages in the step of causing the buckle to move from the retracted position to the extended position  272 . After step  272 , or if the answer to inquiry  268  is yes, the controller inquires if there has been a change in the monitored states  276 , i.e., if the door is no longer in the closed position, the seat is no longer occupied, the buckle is no longer disengaged, or the ignition switch is no longer in the on position. If the answer is yes, then the seat belt buckle need not be in the extended position, and the controller engages in the step of causing the buckle to move to the retracted position  252 . If the answer to inquiry  276  is no, then the controller inquires whether a predetermined amount of time, for example, five minutes, has elapsed since the extension of the buckle  280 . If the answer is yes, then the controller engages in the step of causing the buckle to move to the retracted position  272  because the lapse of time indicates that the occupant will not employ the seat belt. If the answer to inquiry  280  is no, then the controller moves to inquiry  276 .  
         [0048]    It may be advantageous in certain circumstances, where the seat is a driver&#39;s seat, for example, for the controller to move from inquiry  260  to inquiry  268 , and omit inquiry  264 . The seat belt buckle presenter can be used in place of an audible and/or visual seat belt use reminder, or it can be used in conjunction with an audible and/or visual seat belt use reminder.  
         [0049]    As set forth in the claims, various features shown and described in accordance with the different embodiments of the invention illustrated may be combined.  
         [0050]    While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the scope of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.