Device for tensioning a vehicle seat belt

• US 6,186,549 B1
• Filed: 12/14/1999
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bär, Michael, Specht, Martin, Schwald, Stephan
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/460,874
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 280/806, 280/805, 280/801.1, 297/464, 297/468, 297/480, 606/32, 248/352, 248/503, 248/503.1, 248/563
• US Class Current: 280/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1952 Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor

Abstract

A seat belt tensioner has two traction strands which transmit a tensioner drive movement to a seat belt. A block-shaped deflection device, which is anchored on the vehicle body has a guide channel. The block-shaped deflection device is fixed in an interlocking manner in a fastening sleeve anchored to the vehicle body.

Claims

1. A seat belt tensioner comprising:

a means for providing traction which transmits a tensioning drive movement to a seat belt;

a deflection device for anchoring the seat belt tensioner to a vehicle body, said deflection device comprising a guide channel for the means for providing traction which is located in a vertical guide plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the deflection device being fixed in a fastening sleeve which embraces the deflection device and is anchored on the vehicle body, wherein a projection on an external face of the deflection device interlocks with a corresponding recess in the fastening sleeve.

2. The seat belt tensioner according to claim 1 wherein owing to the projection on the external face of the deflection device interlocking with the corresponding recess in the fastening sleeve, the deflection device, in an anchoring plane which is perpendicular to the guide plane and in which the fastening sleeve is anchored on the vehicle body, is fixed longitudinally and against rotation with respect to an axis perpendicular to the anchoring plane on the fastening sleeve.

3. The seat belt tensioner according to claim 2 wherein a fastening tab that is located in the anchoring plane, and the fastening tab can be fastened to an anchoring point on the vehicle body.

4. The seat belt tensioner according to claim 3, wherein the fastening tab is formed in two layers.

5. The seat belt tensioner according to claim 3 wherein a holding loop is fixed between two layers of the fastening tab.

6. The seat belt tensioner according to claim 5 wherein a strand projecting from the holding loop is laid round the anchoring point and is clamped between the two layers of the fastening tab.

7. The seat belt tensioner according to claim 3 wherein the fastening sleeve and the fastening tab are formed from a single piece of sheet metal.

8. The seat belt tensioner according to claim 1 wherein a deflection angle of the means for providing traction is smaller than 90°

.

9. The seat belt tensioner according to claim 1 wherein the means for providing traction comprises two traction strands that are rotated through about 90°

along the guide channel.

10. The seat belt tensioner according to claim 9, wherein the traction strands, near an inlet end of the guide channel are rotated through 90°

and are guided with an identical deflection radius in the guide channel.

11. The seat belt tensioner according to claim 1 wherein the guide channel comprises two different radii of curvature of which the part of the guide channel adjacent to an inlet end of the guide channel has a smaller radius of curvature.

12. The seat belt tensioner according to claim 1 further comprising a tensioner drive that comprises a piston which is guided linearly during tensioning and a pressure chamber into which a propellant gas can be introduced for driving the piston, wherein the pressure chamber is formed at least in part on an attachment shaped integrally on the deflection device.

13. The seat belt tensioner according to claim 12, wherein for linear guidance of the piston, a guide tube is fastened on the attachment and, in normal operation when the tensioner drive is not providing tensioning, the piston is mounted on the attachment.

14. The seat belt tensioner according to claim 13 wherein the guide tube is fixed with an interlocking fit on the exterior of the attachment of the deflection device.

15. The seat belt tensioner according to claim 14 wherein a tubular casing of the guide tube is pressed into one or more indentations in the attachment.

16. The seat belt tensioner according to claim 12 wherein the pressure chamber is sealed from an outlet end of the guide channel by a sealing washer.

17. The seat belt tensioner according to claim 16 wherein a recess that at least partially embraces the pressure chamber is formed in the attachment, wherein the sealing washer is arranged on a bottom of the recess and the piston is fixed in the recess by a piston end.

18. The seat belt tensioner according to claim 17 wherein the piston end is held in the recess with a specific holding force by means of a piston fixing ring inserted in an interlocking manner into the recess.