Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-15
2001-12-04
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C297S483000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325417
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an arrangement for a safety-belt. In particular, the main application of the invention is in connection with safety-belts for motor vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In vehicles, particularly in passenger cars, safety-belts are normally used to secure those travelling in the vehicle. In a known manner, the safety-belts add to the safety of those travelling in the vehicle. A common kind of safety-belt is the so-called three-point belt which comprises a belt attached to a retracting device which is normally arranged on the body of the vehicle, at the side of the seats. The belt runs from the retracting device, across the torso of the passenger or driver. Normally, at the level of the one shoulder of the passenger or the driver, there is an upper belt guide through which the belt runs. The belt is fastened by a locking means at an attachment point on the side of the driver or the passenger. The belt also runs through a guide at this attachment point, and runs across the waist of the driver or passenger. Finally, the belt is fixedly attached to the floor of the vehicle on the opposite side of the driver or passenger relative to the attachment point.
In terms of the function of the safety-belt, it is an important requirement that the above mentioned upper belt guide is arranged so that the belt runs through it at a point close to the shoulder part of the driver or passenger when sitting in an upright position, i.e. with the back rest in an upright position. In this way optimal protection can be obtained from the safety-belt in a possible collision. The belt in this manner runs through the belt guide close to the shoulder of the driver or passenger, across the chest of the driver or passenger, through another belt guide at the lower attachment and guide point, and across the waist of the driver or passenger towards the fixation point.
Although conventional seat belts of the three-point type provide good protection in most normal situations they are somewhat inadequate in those cases where the driver or passenger sits in a position somewhat different from the normal, i.e. upright position, which has been described above. In particular, conventional three-point belts do not provide optimal safety if a passenger wishes to recline the backrestin order to rest or sleep when travelling in the vehicle. This is particularly relevant for a passenger who sits in the passenger seat next to the driver. If the backrest of the seat is reclined, the upper guide point of the safety-belt will be at a point a long way in front of and above the shoulder of the passenger. Thus, the safety belt cannot provide optimal protection in case of a collision.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An arrangement for a frontseat belt in a vehicle in which the vehicle has a frontseat for a passanger, an area where the passanger when seated in a normal position in the front seat has a shoulder, a forward direction comprising a direction of travel of the vehicle, and a rearward direction, comprises a front seatbelt which runs from the area in the vehicle where the passanger when seated in a normal position in the frontseat has a shoulder to a lower attachment point at the side of the passanger. A rear seatbelt is fixed to the vehicle behind the frontseat. The rear seatbelt is adapted for moving the frontseat belt in the rearward direction and keeping the front seatbelt at the passanger shoulder so that the front seatbelt is in contact with the passanger regardless of the angle of the seats backrest.
Preferably, a locking unit is attached to the front seatbelt for connecting the front seatbelt with the rear seatbelt. The locking unit preferably comprises a locking element for locking the belts. The locking element preferably has a first arm, a second arm and a lock shackel which is rotatably arranged on one of the arms. The second arm preferably comprises a locking means for locking interaction with corresponding locking means on the lock shackel. The first arm and second arm are preferably arranged for designation in case of collison so that the arms move towards each other to secure the belt.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3510151 (1970-05-01), Weman
patent: 3567247 (1971-03-01), Sobkow et al.
patent: 4832366 (1989-05-01), Corbetti et al.
patent: 4915413 (1990-04-01), Meyer
patent: 5358310 (1994-10-01), Nemoto
patent: 6042190 (2000-03-01), Mathe et al.
patent: 2 032 772 (1971-02-01), None
patent: 2032772 (1971-02-01), None
patent: 37 41 831 C2 (1991-11-01), None
patent: 41 36 914 C1 (1993-02-01), None
AB Volvo
Dickson Paul N.
Fleming Faye M.
Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik LLP
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