Safety belt apparatus

• US 20020096872A1
• Filed: 01/25/2002
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Takata-Petri (Sachsen) GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Vehicle Safety Technology GmbH
• Inventors: Schwer, Thomas, Herrmann, Thomas, Frank, Richard, Ruge, Vadim
• Granted Patent: US 6,736,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/805
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1818 Belt guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/283 using tearing or scoring of material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/286 using deformation of material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/201 with the belt anchor connected to a slider movable in a vehicle-mounted track for passive restraint systems B60R22/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/24 secured to the side, door, or roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/28 incorporating energy-absorbing devices belt anchors provided with energy-absorbing means for protecting the occupants in case of physical contact therewith B60R21/055; belt retractors comprising energy-absorbing means B60R22/341, B60R22/4676

Abstract

A safety belt apparatus for motor vehicles comprising a safety belt and a deflecting device for the safety belt which is connected to a holder which can be fastened to the vehicle via an absorption unit. The deflecting device being movable in an absorption direction by forces occurring relative to the holder with a pulling movement of the safety belt caused by an accident while overcoming an opposing absorption resistance of the absorption unit. The deflecting device being hindered from making a movement in the absorption direction with forces occurring in normal operation. The absorption unit being changeable in shape by the deflecting device moving in the absorption direction in order to overcome the absorption resistance.

Claims

1. A safety belt apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

a safety belt;

a holder configured to be attached to the vehicle;

a deflecting device for the safety belt connected to the holder via an absorption unit;

wherein the deflecting device is configured to move in an absorption direction while overcoming an opposing absorption resistance of the absorption unit, in response to a pulling movement of the safety belt caused by an accident;

wherein the deflecting device is configured to remain stationary when exposed to forces that occur during normal operation; and

wherein the absorption unit is configured to change in shape in response to movement of the deflecting device in the absorption direction.

2. The safety belt apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absorption direction is an approximately vertical direction.

3. The safety belt apparatus of claim 1, wherein the change in shape of the absorption unit is irreversible.

4. The safety belt apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absorption unit is plastically deformable.

5. The safety belt apparatus of one of claim 1, wherein the absorption unit is at least a part of the holder.

6. The safety belt apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absorption unit comprises at least one strip-like or rod-like bending element, which extends preferably approximately parallel to the absorption direction.

7. The safety belt apparatus of claim 1, wherein a connection, which is present during normal operation, between at least two sections of the absorption unit is separable to effect the change in shape of the absorption unit.

8. The safety belt apparatus of claim 7, wherein the connection is along a line.

9. The safety belt apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absorption unit includes an absorption section configured to be torn off a base part.

10. The safety belt apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holder includes a base part, from which an absorption section of the absorption unit is separable.

11. The safety belt apparatus of claim 1, wherein an absorption section of the absorption unit is deformable and separable from a base part.

12. The safety belt apparatus of claim 9, wherein the base part is formed in a strip-like or rod-like manner and extends parallel to the absorption section in normal operation.

13. The safety belt apparatus of claim 11, wherein the base part comprises a plate that extends approximately parallel to the absorption direction.

14. The safety belt apparatus of claim 1, wherein the change in shape of the absorption unit takes place by removing material from the apparatus.

15. The safety belt apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absorption unit has at least one expandable recess for the change in shape of the absorption unit.

16. The safety belt apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one engaging section of the deflecting device engages into the recess wherein the engaging section is larger than an adjacent region of recess in the absorption direction.

17. The safety belt apparatus of claim 15, wherein the recess is formed in a slit-like manner and extends approximately parallel to the absorption direction.

18. The safety belt apparatus of claim 15, wherein the recess is formed in a plate region of a base part which is part of the holder.

19. The safety belt apparatus of claim 1, wherein the amount of absorption depends on the position of the deflecting device and increases as the deflecting device moves in the absorption direction.

20. The safety belt apparatus of claim 1, wherein the deflecting device is guided in the holder, in particular parallel to the absorption direction.

21. The safety belt apparatus of claim 1, wherein the deflecting device comprises at least one deflection roller which is supported by a carrier.

22. The safety belt apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a deflecting means which cooperates with the safety belt between the deflecting device and a vehicle occupant so that the safety belt extends at least approximately parallel to the absorption direction between the deflecting device and the deflecting means.