Fastening for a safety belt buckle, which is equipped for measuring the belt force arrangement

• US 7,357,419 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2003
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Knorle, Bernd, Jacobs, Frank, Kock, Hans-Otto
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US10/511,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20060012236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,826 Days
• Field of Search: 280/805, 280/801.1, 180/268, 297/268, 738/623.81, 738/623.91, 701/45, 246/51, 246/41, 246/33
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4841 for sensing belt tension
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0155 sensing belt tension
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45623 and operator therefor

Abstract

A fastening arrangement for a safety belt is provided and includes a holder for securement to a vehicle. The holder has a T-shaped head with laterally extending arms. A connector is moveably disposed, against spring action on the holder and is connected to a belt buckle strap loop. A magnet and magnetic field sensor are disposed on the holder and connector. Relative movement between them, caused by displacement of the connector relative to the holder, is converted into a signal that corresponds to acting belt force. First springs are provided on outer longitudinal sides of the holder and connector and respectively extend between the arms of the holder and an oppositely disposed abutment of the connector to counteract tension force of the safety belt or buckle. The compensation spring is disposed between the holder and connector and, without a tension force acting on the connector, prestresses the connector relative to the holder against nearly relaxed first springs with a low spring force.

Claims

1. A fastening arrangement for a safety belt in a vehicle, comprising:

a holder for securement to said vehicle, wherein said holder is provided with a T-shaped head having arms that extend laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of said holder;

a connector that is moveably disposed, against spring action, on said holder, wherein said connector is adapted to be connected to a belt buckle or a belt strap loop, and wherein said connector is provided with abutments positioned opposite said arms of said holder;

a magnet and a magnetic field sensor disposed on said holder and said connector, wherein a relative movement between said magnet and said magnetic field sensor caused by displacement of said connector relative to said holder, which displacement is effected by tension acting on said safety belt, is converted into a signal that corresponds to the acting belt force;

first springs provided on outer longitudinal sides of said holder and said connector, wherein respective ones of said first springs extend between each of said arms of said holder and an oppositely disposed abutment of said connector, and wherein said first springs counteract a tension force of said safety belt or said belt buckle; and

a compensation spring that is disposed between, and is respectively supported on, said holder and said connector, wherein said compensation spring, without a tension force acting on said connector, prestresses said connector relative to said holder against nearly relaxed ones of said first springs with a spring force that is set low.

2. A fastening arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said connector comprises two plates that are disposed parallel to one another, wherein enclosed between said two plates are said T-shaped heads of said holder, including said arms of said holder, and wherein said abutments on said connector for said first springs are formed by connecting flanges that are disposed perpendicular to planes of said plates.

3. A fastening arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said first springs are respective compression springs that are respectively supported between said arms of said holder and said abutments of said connector.

4. A fastening arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said connector is provided with a bearing surface against which said T-shaped head of said holder is supported under the action of said first springs.

5. A fastening arrangement according to claim 3, wherein guide members are formed on said arm of said T-shaped head and on said abutments of said connector, and wherein said guide members project in a direction of extension of said compression springs.

6. A fastening arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said connector is connected via a connecting device with a buckle housing of said belt buckle.

7. A fastening arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said connector is a monolithic component of a buckle housing of said belt buckle.

8. A fastening arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said buckle housing has a U-shaped configuration and includes a base plate and laterally projecting U-legs, wherein to form said monolithic connector said base plate of said buckle housing is provided with an axial extension portion, and wherein said abutments are formed on an end of said base plate accompanied by the formation of a space between said abutments and said U-legs.

9. A fastening arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said arms of said holder, including said first springs, are disposed in said space.

10. A fastening arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said holder is secured to said base plate of said buckle housing so as to be relatively moveable thereto.

11. A fastening arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said holder is embodied as a rigid component or as a flexible cable holder.

12. A fastening arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said magnet comprises a bar magnet that is oriented in a longitudinal direction of said holder and said connector, and is mounted on an inner side of said connector that faces said T-shaped head of said holder, and wherein said magnet field sensor is mounted on said T-shaped head of said holder such that a longitudinal axis of said magnetic field sensor is disposed at right angles to a longitudinal axis of said bar magnet and within a magnetic field of said bar magnet.

13. A fastening arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said bar magnet is mounted on one of said plates of said connector, and wherein a cutout that spans said magnetic field sensor is formed on the other plate.

14. A fastening arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said magnet comprises a bar magnet that is oriented in a longitudinal direction of said holder and said connector and is rotatably mounted on said connector, wherein said magnet field sensor, which detects a change in position of said bar magnet, is disposed on said connector, and wherein during displacement of said holder relative to said connector, said holder deflects said bar magnet out of its orientation in the longitudinal direction of said connector.

15. A fastening arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said T-shaped head of said holder engages against said rotatably mounted bar magnet via an articulated lever arm.

16. A fastening arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said magnetic field sensor is mounted on said holder, wherein said magnet is in the form of a bridge that spans the base plate of said buckle housing and is fixed into position on said lateral U-legs of said buckle housing, and wherein said bridge is disposed in such a way that said magnetic field sensor is disposed below said magnet bridge.

17. A fastening arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said magnetic field sensor is fixed in position on said holder via a sealing compound that encases it.

18. A fastening arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic field sensor is disposed within a magnetic field of said magnet in such a way that a change of the magnetic field connected with a change in position of said magnet is received by said magnetic field sensor.

19. A fastening arrangement according to claim 18, wherein said compensation spring is embodied as a pre-bent flat spring having a central portion that is fixed in position against said connector, wherein laterally outer ends of said compensation spring act upon said holder with pre-stress, and wherein upon a relative displacement of said connector relative to said holder, said outer ends of said compensation spring come free from said holder due to tension force that engages said connector.

20. A fastening arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said holder has a two-part configuration, including a holding portion that is to be secured to said vehicle, and a fitting portion that is provided with said arms and cooperates with said connector.

21. A fastening arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a belt strap loop directly engages said connector.