Device for tightening a rear seat belt

• US 6,527,299 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2001
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2001
• 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: Knych, Andreas, Specht, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US09/930,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20020105181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 280/806, 280/801.1, 280/807, 280/808, 297/480, 297/468, 297/483
• US Class Current: 280/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1818 Belt guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1951 characterised by arrangements in vehicle or relative to seat belt
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1952 Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor

Abstract

A device for tightening a three-point seat belt is located in the rear of a vehicle. A linear belt tightener is located in the region of the vehicle door sill aligned essentially parallel to the vehicle door sill. The linear belt tightener acts via a pulling element on the belt webbing of a seat belt. The belt webbing is guided through a belt guide anchored to the vehicle body.

Claims

1. A device for tightening a three-point seat belt located in the rear of a vehicle comprising:

a linear belt tightener located in the region of a vehicle door sill that extends between a B-column and a C-column of a vehicle, the linear belt tightener being aligned essentially parallel to the vehicle door sill, the linear belt tightener engaging a pulling element attached to a seat belt webbing that is guided through a belt guide anchored to a vehicle body, the pulling element is moved approximately parallel to the vehicle door sill during the tightening process, the belt guide comprising a deflection bar that extends obliquely to a longitudinal center line of the belt webbing guided through the belt guide.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein during the tightening process the pulling element is moved toward the front of the vehicle.

3. The device according to claim 1 further comprising an electrical cable that extends from the B-column to the linear belt tightener to activate the linear belt tightener.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the pulling element is connected to an end of the belt webbing.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the pulling element acts upon a belt web loop of the belt webbing guided through the belt guide such that the belt webbing is anchored to the vehicle body.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the belt guide is located at approximately a rear end of the vehicle door sill.

7. The device according to claim 4 wherein the belt guide is located at approximately a rear end of the vehicle door sill.

8. The device according to claim 5 wherein the belt guide is located at approximately a rear end of the vehicle door sill.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the belt guide is located in a region where the vehicle door sill and the C-column coincide.

10. The device according to claim 1 wherein the belt guide pivots around an anchor.

11. The device according to claim 3 wherein an electrical connection is provided for the cable in the region of the B-column.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein the electrical connection has an additional connection for an electrical cable for the activation of an additional tightening drive that is located in the region of the B-column.

13. The device according to claim 12 wherein the additional tightening drive drives a seat belt retractor secured to the B-column.

14. A device for tightening a three-point seat belt located in the rear of a vehicle comprising:

a linear belt tightener located in the region of a vehicle door sill that extends between a B-column and a C-column of a vehicle, the linear belt tightener being aligned essentially parallel to the vehicle door sill, the linear belt tightener comprising a pyrotechnically driven piston engaging a pulling element attached to a seat belt webbing that is guided through a belt guide anchored to a vehicle body, the pulling element is moved approximately parallel to the vehicle door sill during the tightening process, the belt guide having a deflection bar that extends obliquely to a longitudinal center line of the belt webbing guided through the belt guide.

15. The device according to claim 14 wherein the belt guide is located at approximately the rear end of the vehicle door sill.

16. The device according to claim 14 wherein the belt guide is located in a region where the vehicle door sill and the C-column coincide.

17. A device for tightening a three-point seat belt located in the rear of a vehicle comprising:

a linear belt tightener located in the region of a vehicle door sill that extends between a B-column and a C-column of a vehicle, the linear belt tightener being aligned essentially parallel to the vehicle door sill, the linear belt tightener comprising a pyrotechnically driven piston engaging a pulling element attached to a seat belt webbing that is guided through a belt guide that is pivotally anchored to a vehicle body, the pulling element is moved approximately parallel to the vehicle door sill during the tightening process, the belt guide having a deflection bar that extends obliquely to a longitudinal center line of the belt webbing guided through the belt guide.

18. The device according to claim 17 wherein the belt guide is located at approximately the rear end of the vehicle door sill.

19. The device according to claim 17 wherein the belt guide is located in a region where the vehicle door sill and the C-column coincide.