Device for adjusting the position of a strap return element of in particular a safety belt for a motor vehicle

• US 4,801,156 A
• Filed: 02/19/1988
• Issued: 01/31/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ECIA - Equipements et Composants Pour L'Industrie Automobile
• Original Assignee: ECIA - Equipements et Composants Pour L'Industrie Automobile
• Inventors: Escaravage, Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferriter, Karin L.
• Application Number:
  US07/161,342
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 280/801, 280/802, 280/804, 280/808, 297/469, 297/483, 310/191, 310/209, 310/15, 310/16, 310/17, 310/80, 200/1 V, 200/16 C, 200/16 D, 200/16 F
• US Class Current: 280/801.2
• 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: G05D 3/1481 with discrete position sensor

Abstract

The device for adjusting the position of a strap return element (1) of in particular a safety belt for a motor vehicle is characterized in that the strap return element is mounted to be movable between two end positions by driving means comprising an electric motor supplied with current through the medium of a control element controlling the position of the strap return element at any point of the travel of the latter defined by the two end positions. The strap return element (1) is disposed on an anchoring pin (4) mounted on the stator of the electric motor whose hollow rotor is provided with an internal screwthread cooperating with a screwthreaded rod mounted on the vehicle for shifting the electric motor and therefore the strap return element.

Claims

1. A device for adjusting the vertical position of a strap return element, of in particular a safety belt for a motor vehicle, said device comprising said return element mounted to be movable between two end positions, an electric motor having a stator and a rotor, a control element, a source of current, means for connecting the source of current to the motor through the medium of the control element, an anchoring pin mounted on the stator of the motor, said return element being mounted on said anchoring pin, means for mounting on the vehicle for guiding and retaining the electric motor so that the electric motor is movable between said two end positions, said guiding and retaining means comprising a metal plate having bent edge portions and projecting portions on the stator which are cooperative with the edge portions of the plate, the rotor of the electric motor being hollow and carrying an internal screwthread, and screwthreaded rod for fixing to the vehicle and screwthreadedly engaged with the internal screwthread of the rotor for ensuring the axial displacement of the stator of the motor, and therefore of the strap return element, when the motor is supplied with current;

wherein said means for connecting the source of current to the electric motor comprise brushes mounted on the stator and cooperative with said control element; and

wherein the control element comprises a slide and conductive tracks mounted on the slide, the conductive tracks being cooperative with the brushes for supplying current to the electric motor.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the slide comprises two sets of conductive tracks which are connected to said source of current in such manner as to have inverted polarities and are separated by a gap for cutting off the supply of current to the electric motor and determining the position of the latter when the brushes reach the respective gaps.

3. A device according to claim 2, comprising a slideway for mounting on the vehicle and including a slot, the slide being movably mounted in the slideway, a slider mounted on the slide and projecting through the slot in the slideway, the slider being manually movable so as to adjust the position of the gaps cutting off the supply of current to the motor and thereby determine the position of the motor and therefore the position of the strap return element.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the slide includes a first set of three conductive tracks which are substantially in alignment and separated from one another by a gap for cutting off the supply of current to the electric motor and therefore determining the position of the electric motor, and connected to the source of current in such manner as to have successively alternating polarities.

5. A device according to claim 4, comprising a support structure for mounting on the vehicle and including a slideway which defines a slot, the slide being movably mounted in the slideway and having a part which projects through the slot of the slideway and a slider carried by the projecting part of the slide, the slider and the slide being manually movable in the slot of the slideway along the travel of adjustment of the strap return element so as to adjust the position of the gaps for cutting off the supply of current to the motor and determine the position of the motor and the position of the strap return element.

6. A device according to claim 4, comprising a second set of tracks connected to the source of current and second brushes cooperative with the second set of tracks, the first-mentioned set of conductive tracks being connected to the source of current of the vehicle through the second brushes and the second set of conductive tracks.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one end of said screwthreaded rod is mounted on the metal plate.

8. A device for adjusting the vertical position of a strap return element, of in particular a safety belt for a motor vehicle, said device comprising said return element mounted to be movable between two end positions, an electric motor having a stator and a rotor, a control element, a source of current, means for connecting the source of current to the motor through the medium of the control element, an anchoring pin mounted on the stator of the motor, said return element being mounted on said anchoring pin, means for mounting on the vehicle for guiding and retaining the electric motor so that the electric motor is movable between said two end positions, said guiding and retaining means comprising a metal plate having bent edge portions and projecting portions on the stator which are cooperative with the edge portions of the plate, the rotor of the electric motor being hollow and carrying an internal screwthread, a screwthreaded rod for fixing to the vehicle and screwthreadedly engaged with the internal screwthread of the rotor for ensuring the axial displacement of the stator of the motor, and therefore of the strap return element, when the motor is supplied with current;

wherein said means for connecting the source of current to the electric motor comprise brushes mounted on the stator of the motor and fixed conductive tracks connected to the source of current through said control element, said brushes being cooperative with the conductive tracks; and

wherein the control element comprises an inverting switch having three positions permitting the connection of said conductive tracks to the source of current in such manner as to cause the electric motor, and therefore the strap return element mounted thereon, to selectively move in one direction and the other toward the desired position, and the cut off of said supply of the current when this desired position is reached.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein at least one end of said screwthreaded rod is mounted on the metal plate.