Safety belt system

• US 5,924,772 A
• Filed: 04/21/1997
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata (Europe) Vehicle Safety Technology GmbH
• Original Assignee: Takata (Europe) Vehicle Safety Technology GmbH
• Inventors: Schmid, Wolfgang, Botsch, Axel, Pleyer, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, PETER R
• Application Number:
  US08/845,153
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 297/468, 297/473, 280/801.2, 280/804, 280/802, 280/803, 280/805
• US Class Current: 297/473
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/207 Horizontally or transversally adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/208 by automatic or remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/20 adjustable in position, e.g. in height
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/205 the slider comprising emergency actuated locking means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

Safety belt system for seats of a motor vehicle displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the belt system comprising a belt (25) which can be unwound from a reel, an upper deflection fitting or attachment fitting for the belt (25) and a lower attachment fitting (2) for the end of the belt (25) remote from the reel arranged at the side relative to the associated seat, with the lower attachment fitting being secured to the vehicle so that it is capable of displacement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein, in order to ensure a comfortable grasping position of the safety belt (25) in each position of the vehicle seat, the displacement position of the lower attachment fitting (2) is controlled from the associated vehicle seat in dependence on its longitudinal position.

Claims

1. A safety belt system for a vehicle having a seat that is displaceable in opposite longitudinal directions of the vehicle, the safety belt system comprising:

a belt adapted for winding and unwinding with respect to a reel,

an upper deflection fitting adapted to be mounted to the vehicle for redirecting movement of the belt,

a lower attachment fitting adapted to be supported with respect to the vehicle for connecting to an end of the belt remote from the reel, the lower attachment fitting being adapted for relative displacement with respect to the seat and the vehicle in the longitudinal directions of the vehicle, and

a displacer engaging the lower attachment fitting and adapted to be connected to the seat,

wherein displacement of the lower attachment fitting is responsive to the displacing of the seat.

2. The safety belt system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a presentation arm guiding the belt, the presentation arm being pivotally connected to the lower attachment fitting and displaceable therewith.

3. The safety belt system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the presentation arm is forwardly inclined in the longitudinal direction.

4. The safety belt system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a sliding block connected to the lower attachment fitting, the sliding block being displaceably guided in a rail adapted to be mounted to the vehicle.

5. The safety belt system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the sliding block includes a latching nose adapted for engaging a latch recess provided on the rail at times when the belt loads the lower attachment fitting.

6. The safety belt system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the displacer includes a follower adapted for moving with the vehicle seat, the follower displacing the sliding block.

7. The safety belt system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the displacer includes a Bowden cable adapted for moving with the vehicle seat, the Bowden cable displacing the sliding block.

8. A safety belt system for a vehicle having a seat that is displaceable in opposite longitudinal directions of the vehicle, the safety belt system comprising:

a belt adapted for winding and unwinding with respect to a reel,

an upper deflection fitting adapted to be mounted to the vehicle for redirecting movement of the belt,

a lower attachment fitting adapted to be supported with respect to the vehicle for connecting to an end of the belt remote from the reel, the lower attachment fitting being adapted for relative displacement with respect to the vehicle in the longitudinal directions of the vehicle,

a sliding block being connected to the lower attachment fitting, the sliding block being displaceably guided in a rail and including a latching nose adapted for engaging a latch recess provided on the rail at times when the belt loads the lower attachment fitting, the rail being adapted to be mounted to the vehicle,

a spring element extending between the sliding block and the rail, the spring element biasing the gliding block toward an unlatched position, and

a displacer engaging the lower attachment fitting and adapted to be connected to the seat,

wherein displacement of the lower attachment fitting is responsive to the displacing of the seat.

9. A safety belt system for a vehicle having a seat that is displaceable in opposite longitudinal directions of the vehicle, the safety belt system comprising:

a belt adapted for winding and unwinding with respect to a reel,

an upper deflection fitting adapted to be mounted to the vehicle for redirecting movement of the belt with respect to the vehicle,

a lower attachment fitting adapted to be supported with respect to the vehicle for connecting to an end of the belt remote from the reel, the lower attachment fitting being adapted for relative displacement with respect to the vehicle in the longitudinal directions of the vehicle,

a sliding block being connected to the lower attachment fitting, the sliding block being displaceably guided in a rail and including a latching nose adapted for engaging a latch recess provided on the rail at times when the belt loads the lower attachment fitting, the rail being adapted to be mounted to the vehicle,

a spring element biasing the sliding block toward a first end position with respect to the rail, and

a displacer engaging the sliding block and adapted to be connected to the seat,

wherein displacement of the lower attachment fitting is responsive to the displacing of the seat.

10. A safety system for a vehicle, the safety system comprising:

a seat adapted for displacing in opposite longitudinal directions of the vehicle, the seat having a seat surface and a backrest which can be pivoted downwardly towards the seat surface,

a belt adapted for winding and unwinding with respect to a reel,

an upper deflection fitting adapted to be mounted to the vehicle for redirecting movement of the belt with respect to the vehicle, and

a lower attachment fitting adapted to be supported with respect to the vehicle for connecting to an end of the belt remote from the reel, and

a mechanism extending between the lower attachment fitting and the backrest for automatically displacing the lower fitting attachment in the longitudinal directions of the vehicle to an end position closer to the upper attachment fitting upon downward pivoting of the backrest.

11. The safety system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the mechanism includes an adjustment element connecting the backrest on downward pivoting to a slide block connected to the lower attachment fitting.

12. The safety system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the adjustment element includes a Bowden cable acting on the sliding block, and the mechanism includes a spring element opposing displacement of the sliding block by the Bowden cable.

13. The safety system in accordance with claim 11, further comprising:

a rail guiding displacement of the sliding block, and

a second sliding block being guided by the rail, the second sliding block being located at a side of the first sliding block remote from the upper attachment and being displaceable in dependence on the pivoted position of the backrest,

wherein the second sliding block is located in an end position remote from the upper attachment fitting when the backrest is upright and is located in an end position close to the upper attachment fitting when the backrest is pivoted downwardly.

14. The safety system in accordance with claim 13, further comprising:

a Bowden cable connecting the backrest and the second sliding block.

15. The safety system in accordance with claim 13, further comprising:

a spring element biasing the second sliding block toward the end position remote from the upper attachment fitting.

16. The safety system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the adjustment element includes a Bowden cable.

17. A system for positioning a safety belt with respect to a seat in a vehicle, the seat being displaceable in opposite longitudinal directions with respect to the vehicle, the system comprising:

an attachment adapted for connecting the safety belt with respect to the vehicle, said attachment being displaceable in the opposite longitudinal directions;

a track guiding displacement of said attachment in the opposite longitudinal directions, said track being adapted to be mounted to the vehicle; and

a follower being adapted to be fixed relative to the seat, said follower displacing said attachment in a first one of the opposite longitudinal directions;

wherein said attachment is adapted for relative displacement with respect to the vehicle and to the seat.

18. The system for positioning a safety belt in accordance with claim 17, further comprising:

a spring biasing said attachment in a second one of the opposite longitudinal directions toward said follower, said spring connecting said track and said attachment.

19. A system for positioning a safety belt with respect to a seat in a vehicle, the seat being displaceable in opposite longitudinal directions with respect to the vehicle, the system comprising:

an attachment adapted for connecting the safety belt with respect to the vehicle, said attachment being displaceable in the opposite longitudinal directions;

a track guiding displacement of said attachment in the opposite longitudinal directions, said track being adapted to be mounted to the vehicle; and

a Bowden cable extending between the attachment and the seat for displacing said attachment in a first one of the opposite longitudinal directions, said Bowden cable being adapted for pulling said attachment during displacement of the seat in the first one of the opposite longitudinal directions;

wherein said attachment is adapted for relative displacement with respect to the vehicle and to the seat.

20. The system for positioning a safety belt in accordance with claim 19, further comprising:

a spring biasing said attachment in a second one of the opposite longitudinal directions in opposition to tension in said Bowden cable, said spring connecting said track and said attachment.

21. A system for positioning a safety belt with respect to a seat in a vehicle, the seat being displaceable in opposite longitudinal directions with respect to the vehicle and having a seat back pivotal in opposite angular directions with respect to a seat base, the system comprising:

an attachment adapted for connecting the safety belt with respect to the vehicle, said attachment being displaceable in the opposite longitudinal directions;

a track guiding displacement of said attachment in the opposite longitudinal directions, said track being adapted to be fixed relative to the vehicle; and

a slider being connected to the seat back and being displaceable along said track in the opposite longitudinal directions, said slider being adapted to be displaced in response to the seat back pivoting relative to the seat base;

wherein said slider limits displacement of said attachment along said track.

22. The system for positioning a safety belt in accordance with claim 21, further comprising:

a first spring biasing said attachment in one of the longitudinal directions toward said slider; and

a second spring biasing said slider in the one of the longitudinal directions.

23. The system for positioning a safety belt in accordance with claim 21, further comprising:

a Bowden cable displacing said slider, said Bowden cable being adapted for connecting said slider to the seat back.