Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Patent
1993-02-09
1994-09-13
Focarino, Margaret A.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
280807, 280808, 297481, B60R 2202
Patent
active
053462564
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to motorized operation of a safety belt in a motor vehicle. In a known device, which is already commercially available, an end switch reports to an electronic control device when the safety belt is in the stored position and the electronic control device switches off the drive motor for the pinion. A switching or trip cam which triggers the control pulse in cooperation with the end switch is associated with this end switch. Since the structural component part must be positioned in a very specific manner with reference to a defined interior region of the motor vehicle serving as contact point for the structural component part in the stored position, a relatively costly adaptation must be effected between the end switch and the trip cam. This is all the more true as the position of the defined interior region of the motor vehicle is itself subject to determined tolerances.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for motorized movement of a safety belt in a motor vehicle from a stored position to a deployed position which does not have the above-described disadvantages.
According to the invention, the device for motorized movement of a safety belt in a motor vehicle from a stored position to a deployed position, comprises drive means including a pinion drivable in opposite rotation directions; a toothed rack having a component part structured to loosely hold the safety belt at an end portion thereof, the component part contacting an interior region of the motor vehicle when the safety belt is in the stored position; and means for displacing the component part relative to the toothed rack in a direction the component part moves during motion of the safety belt into the deployed position against a spring force.
The device, according to the invention, has the advantage over the prior art that the costly adaptation between the trip cam and end switch can be dispensed with while taking into account the position of the structural component part on the defined interior region of the motor vehicle because, after contacting the defined position, the structural component part can be moved relative to the toothed rack for as long as it takes to achieve the switching position of the trip cam. Of course, for this purpose the possible displacing movement must be greater than that required for the defined interior region with reference to the toothed rack due to the positional tolerances.
In a preferred embodiment the component part holding the safety belt has an elongated guide carriage and the toothed rack is provided with a slide guide extending in a longitudinal direction in the toothed rack. The slide guide and said elongated guide carriage are structured so that the guide carriage carrying the component part is slidable in the slide guide. The guide carriage advantageously has a frame structure and a plurality of frame parts. The means for displacing the component part advantageously includes a guide pin arranged in a region surrounded by the frame parts and secured in a longitudinal direction of the guide carriage, a structural member fixed relative to the toothed rack and a pretensioned helical spring surrounding the guide pin, one end of the spring being braced on one of the frame parts and another end on the structural member. The structural member advantageously has means for connection with the toothed rack, is positioned between the frame parts and is provided with a longitudinal bore hole in which the guide pin is guided slidably.
The component part holding the seat belt advantageously has a recess and holds the safety belt loosely in the recess.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will now be illustrated in more detail by the following detailed description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and safety belt having one embodiment of a device for motor
REFERENCES:
patent: 4175633 (1979-11-01), Andres et al.
patent: 4993748 (1991-02-01), Jambor et al.
Huck Thomas
Schiller Herbert
Wiesler Martin
English Peter C.
Focarino Margaret A.
Robert & Bosch GmbH
Striker Michael J.
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