Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-14
2001-02-13
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C060S632000, C248S503100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186549
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an apparatus for tensioning a vehicle seat belt.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
An apparatus for tensioning a vehicle seat belt known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,997 has a tensioner drive that is connected to the seat belt via a traction means and transmits a tensioner drive movement to the seat belt. In the known arrangement, the traction means is connected to a buckle in which the seat belt can be locked and is deflected between the tensioner drive and buckle in a deflection device anchored on the vehicle body. The deflection device possesses a guide channel that is guided round the anchoring point of the deflection device. The guide channel for the traction means extends in a substantially vertical guide plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The anchoring point of the deflection device is designed as a bore hole through which an anchoring bolt is inserted and fastened on the seat slide of a vehicle seat by a screw connection.
A device for tensioning back seat belts in a motor vehicle is also known from DE 85 29 017 U1, in which the traction means comprising two traction strands is guided over a block-shaped deflection device. At the traction means inlet end of the guide channel formed in the deflection device, the two traction strands connected to the buckle of the seat belt are arranged side by side in a plane extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The two traction strands are rotated through 90° in the deflection device so they are arranged on top of one another in a vertical plane at the traction means outlet end of the deflection device. A plurality of belt buckles of the back seat belts can be bound to the two traction means strands for common tensioning. To obtain perfect anchoring of the cable deflection on the vehicle body, in particular the vehicle sub-floor, it is necessary to provide at least two anchoring points for the cable deflection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention the deflection device is block-shaped and comprises one block piece or a plurality of block pieces assembled in an interlocking manner with an interlocking fit provided by a fastening sleeve anchored on the vehicle body at a single anchoring point and fixed in the sleeve. For this purpose, a structure is provided on the exterior of the block-shaped deflection device, which projects with an interlocking fit into at least one of the walls of the fastening sleeve embracing the deflection device. The structure preferably projects into a wall of the fastening sleeve located in an anchoring plane, within which the anchoring point of the fastening sleeve is located. The anchoring plane extends substantially perpendicularly to the guide plane in which the guide channel for the traction means extends in the block-shaped deflection device. The anchoring point of the fastening sleeve is preferably formed by a borehole in a fastening tab shaped integrally on the fastening sleeve. The fastening tab extends in the anchoring plane and preferably comprises an orifice through which an anchoring bolt is screwed in a known manner to the vehicle body, in particular in the region of the sub-floor.
The fastening sleeve embraces the block-shaped deflection device substantially in the form of a box with an interlocking fit. In this way, all forces that originate from the seat belt, in particular also in the event of a crash, are introduced into the vehicle body without destruction in the smallest amount of space.
A plurality of tensioner devices can be arranged in the back bench or back seat region of the motor vehicle, in the manner shown in the embodiment in FIG. 10 of EP 0 785 113 A1.
A dust-free arrangement of the deflection device is achieved owing to the substantially box-shaped interlocking embracing of the deflection device. The traction means preferably consists of two traction strands, in particular steel cables with a diameter of about 4 mm. The arrangement of the two traction strands is rotated through about 90° along the guide channel. The rotation ensures that the two strands of the traction means are guided over the same deflection radius in the guide channel. In the loaded phase, for example during retensioning or during a crash, substantially identical forces act on the two strands of the traction means.
For careful introduction of the two traction strands into the deflection device, a guide funnel can be shaped in the block of the deflection device at the inlet end of the guide channel and is continued at the corresponding point in the cover of the fastening sleeve. Additional stiffening for the introduction of the two strands of the traction means into the guide channel is thus achieved.
A linear drive comprising a piston guided linearly during the tensioning movement in a guide tube is preferably used for the tensioner drive. The tensioner drive also possesses a pressure chamber which is formed on the back of the piston and in which a propellant gas can be introduced for driving the piston. The propellant gas can be produced by an ignited propellant, for example in a gas generator. The gas generator can preferably be arranged in the piston, as known from DE 43 32 206 C2. However, it is also possible to provide the gas generator in the wall of the tube or at the deflection device or a different suitable point outside the guide tube and to introduce the propellant gas into the pressure chamber via a corresponding channel.
In normal operation, the guide tube and piston are preferably fixed on an attachment shaped integrally on the block-shaped deflection device. The attachment can comprise a recess from which the pressure chamber is formed at least in part and in which the piston is supported and held.
The piston is fixed in the recess of the attachment preferably with a specific holding force so that an uncontrolled advance of the traction means is prevented during normal operation. A piston fixing ring can be provided for fixing the piston in the recess of the attachment. This ensures that the piston is released from the holding ring only by a specific take-off force, particularly if a specific working pressure is produced in the pressure chamber by the propellant gas.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5519997 (1996-05-01), Specht et al.
patent: 8529017 (1985-10-01), None
patent: 4332206 (1993-09-01), None
patent: 0785113 (1997-07-01), None
Bar Michael
Schwald Stephan
Specht Martin
Breed Automotive Technology Inc.
Culbreth Eric
Drayer Lonnie
LandOfFree
Device for tensioning a vehicle seat belt does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for tensioning a vehicle seat belt, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for tensioning a vehicle seat belt will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2612298