Device for the rapid disengagement of a retaining system in vehicles

• US 4,004,821 A
• Filed: 05/24/1973
• Issued: 01/25/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Knoll, Heinz W., Breitschwerdt, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Robert R.
• Application Number:
  US05/363,565
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 280/150 SB, 280/150 B, 180/82 C, 180/111, 180/112, 180/113, 180/114
• US Class Current: 280/808
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/04 Passive restraint systems, i.e. systems both applied and removed automatically, e.g. by movement of the vehicle door

Abstract

An installation for the rapid release of a retaining system in vehicles, especially in motor vehicles with a passive safety belt system, in which at least one actuating mechanism is provided at a readily accessible place of the vehicle body, by way of which a release of the safety belt system can be initiated from the outside of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An installation for the rapid release of a retaining system in vehicles with a vehicle body characterized in that at least one actuating means is provided at a readily accessible place of the vehicle body which includes means enabling the initiation of a release of the retaining system from the outside of the vehicle body, and in that the actuating means cooperates with an outside door handle means which is operatively connected with a belt release means and which, upon exceeding a predetermined actuating force acting on the same, initiates an unlatching of the belt release means.

2. An installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the belt release means includes a belt lock.

3. An installation according to claim 1, characterized in that a spring means is provided producing a force opposing the unlatching operation of the belt release means, linkage means operatively connected with outside door handle means, the spring means being received by a shaft of the linkage means and being supported, on the one hand, at the head portion of the linkage means and, on the other at a bracket means fixed at the vehicle and serving as guide means for the shaft.

4. An installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the bracket means is operatively connected with a bell crank and in that the bell crank is operatively connected at one end with the linkage means and at the other with a Bowden cable which is operatively connected with the belt release means.

5. An installation according to claim 4, characterized in that the actuation force necessary for the unlatching of the belt release means amounts to about five times the actuating force necessary for the opening of the door.

6. An installation according to claim 4, characterized in that the Bowden cable engages at a spring-loaded latching pawl of the belt lock of the belt release means which can also be moved manually in the sense of an unlatching of the belt release means by pressing-in an associated button.

7. An installation according to claim 6, characterized in that with a safety belt system including two belts, both belt strands are connected with each other by a loop in proximity to their point of displacement and are loosely connected with an eyelet.

8. An installation according to claim 7, characterized in that the safety belt system consists of a seat belt and of a shoulder belt.

9. An installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the retaining system is a passive safety belt system in motor vehicles.

10. An installation according to claim 9, characterized in that the readily accessible place of the body of the vehicle is a protected place.

11. An installation according to claim 10, characterized in that the actuation force necessary for the unlatching of the belt release means amounts to about five times the actuating force necessary for the opening of the door.

12. An installation according to claim 10, characterized in that a Bowden cable engages at a spring-loaded latching pawl of the belt lock of the belt release means which can also be moved manually in the sense of an unlatching of the belt release means by pressing-in an associated button.