Vehicle occupant restraint system

• US 7,364,201 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Lutz, Jürgen, Strobel, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sliteris; Joselynn Y
• Application Number:
  US11/062,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20050140132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 280/806, 297/480
• US Class Current: 280/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/185 with stopping means for acting directly upon the belt in an emergency, e.g. by clamping or friction B60R22/195 takes precedence; combined with the retractor B60R22/42
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1951 characterised by arrangements in vehicle or relative to seat belt
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

A vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a safety belt arrangement with a belt webbing, a belt buckle and one of an end- and deflection fitting. The restraint system further comprises two tracks with which a vehicle seat is connected and which, for displacement of the vehicle seat, are constructed for engagement into counter-tracks fixed to a floor of the vehicle. An elongated, rigid fastening element is provided which extends beneath the seat between the tracks and which is connected with both of the tracks. At least one belt tensioner is mounted to the fastening element.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant restraint system comprising:

a safety belt arrangement, which has a belt webbing, a belt buckle and one of an end fitting and a deflection fitting;

two tracks with which a vehicle seat is connected and which, for displacement of said vehicle seat, are constructed for engagement into counter-tracks fixed to a vehicle floor;

an elongated, rigid fastening element which extends beneath said seat between said tracks and which is fixedly connected with both of said tracks; and

at least one belt tensioner mounted on said fastening element intermediate said tracks, at a fixed location and orientation relative to said seat and tracks;

wherein,

said belt tensioner includes means for generating a retraction motion lengthwise along said fastening element; and

said fastening element includes deflection means for redirecting and applying said retraction motion to at least one of said buckle and said fitting in a direction along a longitudinal axis of said webbing.

2. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein two belt tensioners are provided, which are both fastened to said fastening element.

3. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 2, wherein:

said system includes two belt tensioners; and

one of said belt tensioners is a buckle tensioner and the other of said belt tensioners is a fitting tensioner for a fitting which is one of an end fitting and a deflection fitting.

4. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein:

one of said at least one belt tensioner is connected with an engagement means;

said engagement means is connected with one of said belt buckle and said fitting; and

said fastening element has a deflection device for said engagement means.

5. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein:

said fastening element has a guide for said fitting;

said fitting moves in said guide during a tensioning process of said safety belt arrangement.

6. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said fastening element and said at least one belt tensioner form a pre-assembled unit.

7. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said fastening element has a deflection for a belt webbing of said safety belt arrangement.

8. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein:

said belt tensioner is one of an end fitting tensioner and a deflection fitting tensioner; and

said fastening element is a strut which is U-shaped in cross-section and extends upwards on a side of said belt tensioner, along said seat, forming U-shaped guide and a deflection for said belt webbing.

9. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein;

upon activation of said at least one belt tensioner, said belt webbing is retracted in a longitudinal direction of said fastening element; and

a belt webbing section has a reduced width in a region of said fastening element or is reduced in width during a retraction process.

10. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein:

said belt tensioner is one of an end fitting tensioner and a deflection fitting tensioner; and

during a tensioning process, lateral edges of said belt webbing are folded back inwardly and transversely to a longitudinal direction of said belt webbing.

11. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein:

the fastening element has a U-shaped cross-section;

width of said fastening element is reduced in a downward direction alone a side of said seat, becoming narrower than said belt webbing, whereby said belt webbing is folded as said belt webbing slides along said fastening element during a tensioning process.

12. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein:

said belt tensioner is one of an end fitting tensioner and a deflection fitting tensioner; and

a piece of said belt webbing which is to be drawn in is sewn together along a longitudinal direction of said belt webbing, such that a width of said belt webbing is reduced, such that its width is reduced.

13. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein:

said belt tensioner is one of an end fitting tensioner and a deflection fitting tensioner which is connected with an engagement means; and

a connection between said engagement means and said one of an end fitting and a deflection fitting is realized by a connection element.

14. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 13, wherein a connection point provided between said engagement means and said fitting is attached to said fastening element via a detachable component.

15. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein a retaining device is provided on said fastening element which retaining device is coordinated with a geometry of said fitting and provides a direct fastening of said one of an end fitting and a deflection fitting to said fastening element.

16. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 13, wherein:

said fitting has at least one eye;

said fastening element has a counter-bore; and

a screw is provided which extends through said eye and said counter-bore and fixes said fitting to said fastening element.

17. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein:

said tracks and said fastening element form a pre-assembled slide to which said vehicle seat can be fastened; and

said slide, said belt buckle and said at least one belt tensioner form a pre-assembled unit.

18. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, further comprising a vehicle seat which is connected with said tracks.

19. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 13, wherein said connection element comprises a screw coupling.