Three-point safety belt system for motor vehicles

• US 5,431,448 A
• Filed: 06/03/1993
• Issued: 07/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Kleemann, Wolfgang, Kraft, Hans-Joachim, Haberl, Josef, Ball, Wilfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US08/070,757
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801.1, 280/801.2, 280/806, 280/808, 280/756, 297/473, 297/480, 297/477, 297/478
• US Class Current: 280/808
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/20 adjustable in position, e.g. in height
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/24 secured to the side, door, or roof of the vehicle

Abstract

A three-point safety belt system is provided which the upper deflection and fastening point for the belt strap cannot be arranged on the B-column of a vehicle body. So as not to interfere with the appearance of the vehicle body or with its lines but, yet obtain an optimal course of the belt strap in the event of a crash, the safety belt system has a displaceable belt point. This belt point is normally kept downward and will then be situated in the area of the window ledge or lower and can thus not be seen from the outside. In the event of a crash, the belt point displaces upward and thereby provides a belt strap course which ensures an optimal protection of the vehicle occupants.

Claims

1. A three-point safety belt system for a motor vehicle with a belt point for a safety belt, said belt point serving as at least one of a belt strap deflection point and a belt strap fastening located at a side wall of a vehicle body near an upper edge of a backrest of a vehicle seat assigned to the safety belt, wherein the belt system is configured such that the belt point is displaced upward when a given vehicle deceleration is exceeded, further comprising a spring force operable on the belt point to displace the belt point, wherein the belt point includes a deflection lug through which the belt strap travels, a sliding block fixedly connected with the deflection lug, and a guide rail fixed to the vehicle body, the sliding block being substantially vertically movable in the guide rail with respect to the motor vehicle, further comprising a compression spring between the sliding block and a support fixed to the vehicle body, said compression spring being prestressed when said belt point is displaced downward;

and a locking mechanism, responsive to vehicle deceleration, coupled to hold the compression spring in the prestressed condition.

2. A safety belt system according to claim 1, comprising electric control elements coupled to the belt point which are operable to displace the belt point.

3. A safety belt system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of hydraulic and pneumatic control elements coupled to the belt point which are operable to displace the belt point.

4. A safety belt system according to claim 1, further comprising a pyrotechnical propellant coupled to the belt point and which is operable to displace the belt point.

5. A safety belt system according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes a pin, which is fixedly connected with the sliding block, projects downward and has a surrounding grove into which a detent pawl engages when the belt point is displaced downward, said detent pawl being swivelable in response to movement of an inertia mass.

6. A safety belt system according to claim 5, wherein the inertia mass is displaceable against a spring force essentially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.