Arrangement and method for height adjustment of the upper attachment point of a safety belt

• US 6,802,537 B1
• Filed: 05/21/2002
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Horsrud, Johan, Tolfsen, Ulf
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith, Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): RICHARDSON, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US10/088,585
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801.1, 280/801.2, 280/802, 280/803, 280/804, 280/805, 280/727, 297/484
• US Class Current: 280/801.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/508 Scissors-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/208 by automatic or remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/201 with the belt anchor connected to a slider movable in a vehicle-mounted track for passive restraint systems B60R22/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/203 the locking means being movably mounted on the slider
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat
• 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

The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for height adjustment of the upper attachment point of a safety belt, arranged in a vehicle with a vehicle seat which is spring-mounted in the vertical direction, where the upper attachment point is arranged displaceably in the vertical direction on the body of the vehicle. Said height adjustment takes place as a function of the springing movement of the vehicle seat, which results in the upper attachment point always remaining correctly positioned in the vertical direction.

Claims

1. A height-adjusting arrangement for an upper attachment point of a safety belt wherein the said upper attachment point is affixed to a slide which is displaceably arranged on a guide rail, arranged in a vehicle with a vehicle seat which is spring-mounted so as to move in a generally vertical direction, by means of a mounting arrangement having pairs of intersecting link arms and articulated points of intersection, comprising:

said upper attachment point being mounted for displacement also in a generally vertical direction in the body of the vehicle adjacent the seat and being connected to said vehicle seat via vertical seat movement transmitting means for causing the spring induced movement of the vehicle seat in said vertical direction to bring about a corresponding vertical displacement of said upper attachment point.

2. The height-adjusting arrangement for the upper attachment point of a safety belt according to claim 1, wherein said movement-transmitting means comprise a link arm arrangement arranged between the vehicle seat and the upper attachment point.

3. The height-adjusting arrangement for the upper attachment point of a safety belt according to claim 2, wherein said movement-transmitting means comprise a first link arm attached to the vehicle seat and connected, via a link arm articulation, to a second link arm which is connected to said upper attachment point.

4. The height-adjusting arrangement for the upper attachment point of a safety belt according to claim 1, wherein said movement-transmitting means comprise a push-pull cable, the first end of which is connected to the vehicle seat and the second end of which is connected to the upper attachment point.

5. The height-adjusting arrangement for the upper attachment point of a safety belt according to claim 1, wherein said movement-transmitting means comprise a first hydraulic arrangement arranged on the vehicle seat and a second hydraulic arrangement arranged at the upper attachment point and a hydraulic circuit which interconnects said first and second hydraulic arrangements.

6. The height-adjusting arrangement for the upper attachment point of a safety belt according to claim 5, wherein said first hydraulic arrangement comprises a hydraulic piston/cylinder assembly arranged on the vehicle seat.

7. The height-adjusting arrangement for the upper attachment point of a safety belt according to claim 5 wherein said second hydraulic arrangement comprises a hydraulic piston/cylinder assembly arranged at the upper attachment point.

8. The height-adjusting arrangement for the upper attachment point of a safety belt according to claim 1 and further comprising a belt reel (10) located adjacent the upper attachment point.

9. The height-adjusting arrangement for the upper attachment point of a safety belt according to claim 1 wherein the upper attachment point includes deflection means for the safety belt.

10. A method for height adjustment of an upper attachment point of a safety belt, located in a vehicle having a spring mounted vehicle seat which displaceable in a generally vertical direction, comprising the steps of:

locating the upper attachment point for displacement in a generally vertical direction in the vehicle in proximity to the vehicle seat, connecting the vehicle seat to the upper attachment, and displacing the upper attachment point vertically as a function of the vertical spring displacement of the vehicle seat in the form of a mounting arrangement having pairs of intersecting link arms and articulated points of intersection.

11. A method for height adjustment of the upper attachment point of a safety belt according to claim 10, wherein the displacing of the upper attachment point is a linear function of the springing movement of the vehicle seat.