Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-18
2001-07-03
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S801200, C280S805000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254133
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a height adjuster for a vehicle safety belt.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,344 shows a height adjuster for a vehicle safety belt in which a deflection fitting for a vehicle safety belt is attached to a slide piece. The slide piece may be shifted within a track by means of a stud. An impact protection member in the form of a covering hood covers the head of the stud facing the interior of the vehicle. This prevents the head of the vehicle occupant from hitting directly the head of the stud in an accident. The covering hood may be fixed only after the stud has been tightened.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is to provide a height adjuster for a vehicle safety belt which ensures low HIC (head impact criterion) values and is easy to assemble.
This is achieved in a height adjuster which comprises a track and a slide piece which may be shifted within the track. The height adjuster further comprises an adjusting mechanism with a lever by means of which a movement of the slide piece can be unlocked or locked. There is further provided a deflection fitting attached to the slide piece and an impact protection member. The impact protection member is attached to the slide piece and extends from the slide piece in a direction away from the track. A cover part is provided which engages with the impact protection member. By the impact protection member being attached above the deflection fitting, the deflection fitting may be attached independently of whether the impact protection member is fixed to the slide piece. Also, the height adjuster may be designed modularly and easily be adapted according to the modular principle to different requirements, such as fitting conditions or required HIC values, for instance.
In a further development of the invention, the impact protection member has a larger dimension in the direction away from the track than the deflection fitting. In case of an impact, the head of a vehicle occupant therefore hits the impact protection member first, and any impact of the head onto the stable deflection fitting itself may be prevented or be attenuated at least.
In a further development of the invention, the impact protection member may be slipped onto the slide piece. It is equally advantageous if the impact protection member is provided with clip connecting members engaging the slide piece. These measures further facilitate assembly of the height adjuster according to the invention.
A further developed measure provides for that the impact protection member comprises a through-opening for actuation of an adjusting mechanism of the height adjuster. Thereby, the adjusting mechanism is easily accessible on the one hand and the head of vehicle occupant may be protected against any impact onto protruding levers, buttons or latches of an adjusting mechanism on the other hand.
The impact protection member advantageously has the shape of a parallelepiped and comprises opposite side walls connected via reinforcing ribs. This results in a rib-shaped structure of the impact protection member to assist energy dissipation when the head of an occupant hits the impact protection member.
Finally, the impact protection member advantageously consists of plastic, preferably of foamed plastic. Plastics are inexpensive to produce and may be adapted to the energy-dissipation behavior required for the impact protection member in respect of their properties.
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patent: 5393098 (1995-02-01), Thomas et al.
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patent: 5692780 (1997-12-01), Yasui
patent: 5779270 (1998-07-01), Tanaka
patent: 5782491 (1998-07-01), Patel
patent: 5826907 (1998-10-01), Saito et al.
patent: 5863071 (1999-01-01), Li-Calso
patent: 5941567 (1999-08-01), Wickenheiser
patent: 6007100 (1999-12-01), Steffens, Jr.
patent: 6106012 (2000-08-01), Boegge et al.
patent: B1 5529344 (1996-06-01), Yasui et al.
patent: 19654344 (1997-07-01), None
German Search Report 299 12 874.1.
Johnson Brian L.
Sliteris Joselynn Y.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
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