Seat belt utilization recorder

• US 4,111,459 A
• Filed: 09/09/1977
• Issued: 09/05/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Magyar, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Robert R.
• Application Number:
  US05/831,957
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 280/744, 280/746, 280/747, 116/114 R, 116/114 AE, 116/114 AH, 297/385, 297/388, 297/386, 188/1 C
• US Class Current: 297/478
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/18 Anchoring devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/34 Belt retractors, e.g. reels anchoring devices , e.g. guide loops , with means to tension the belt in an emergency B60R22/195

Abstract

A seat belt mounting member such as a retractor frame or an apertured plate has an elongated slot extending generally in the direction of imposition of occupant restraint load and a load bearing wall at the end of the slot. A fastener extends through the slot and attaches the mounting member on a vehicle body structural member. A means such as coined tabs or a frangible glass disc is located in the slot in interposition between the fastener and the load bearing wall to define a normal position of the mounting member relative the fastener wherein the load bearing wall is spaced from the fastener. The frangible or deformable means has a predetermined limited load sustaining capability and is permanently altered upon imposition of a predetermined occupant restraining load upon the belt to provide a permanent record of load imposition and permit limited bodily shifting movement of the mounting member whereby the fastener traverses the slot to engage the load bearing wall and thereby anchor the seat belt for effective restraint of the occupant. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention a deformable means is provided by coining tabs in the mounting member adjacent the slots to project into the slot, the tabs being permanently deformed by the fastener to provide a record of load imposition. According to another embodiment of the invention, a frangible glass disc is mounted in the slot and is broken by the fastener to provide a record of load imposition.

Claims

1. An anchorage device for attaching a seat belt on a vehicle body structural member and for providing a record of imposition of a predetermined occupant restraint load on the seat belt, said anchorage device comprising:

a seat belt mounting member having the seat belt attached thereto, said mounting member having an elongated slot extending generally in the direction of imposition of occupant restraint load and having a load bearing wall at one end of the slot, a fastener extending through the slot and attaching the mounting member on the structural member, means located in the slot in interposition between the fastener and the load bearing wall to space the load bearing wall from the fastener, said means having a predetermined limited load sustaining capability and being permanently altered upon imposition of an occupant restraint seat belt load greater than the predetermined load sustaining capability to provide a permanent record of load imposition and permit limited bodily shifting movement of the mounting member whereby the fastener traverses the slot to engage the load bearing wall and thereby anchor the seat belt for restraint of the occupant.

2. An anchorage device for attaching a seat belt on a vehicle body structural member and for providing a record of imposition of a predetermined occupant restraint load on the seat belt, said anchorage device comprising:

a seat belt mounting member having the seat belt attached thereto, said mounting member having an elongated slot extending generally in the direction of imposition of occupant restraint load and having a load bearing wall at one end of the slot, a fastener extending through the slot and attaching the mounting member on the structural member, a frangible element located in the slot in interposition between the fastener and the load bearing wall to space the load bearing wall from the fastener and adjacent the end of slot opposite the load bearing wall, said frangible element having a predetermined limited load sustaining capability and being broken upon imposition of an occupant restraint seat belt load greater than the predetermined load sustaining capability to record load imposition and permit bodily shifting movement of the mounting member whereby the fastener traverses the slot to engage the bearing wall and thereby anchor the seat belt for restraint of the occupant.

3. An anchorage device for attaching a seat belt on a vehicle body structural member and for providing a record of imposition of a predetermined occupant restraint load on the seat belt, said anchorage device comprising:

a seat belt mounting member having the seat belt attached thereto, said mounting member having an elongated slot extending generally in the direction of imposition of occupant restraint load and having a load bearing wall at one end of the slot, a fastener extending through the slot and attaching the mounting member on the structural member, projecting tab means integral with the mounting member and projecting into the slot in interposition between the fastener and the load bearing wall to space the load bearing wall from the fastener, said projecting tab means having a predetermined limited load sustaining capability and being permanently deformed by the fastener upon imposition of an occupant restraint seat belt load greater than the predetermined load sustaining capability to provide a permanent record of load imposition and permit bodily shifting movement of the mounting member whereby the fastener traverses the slot to engage the bearing wall and thereby anchor the seat belt for restraint of the occupant.