Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-21
2001-03-27
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S805000, C411S349000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206423
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a vehicle, with a vehicle floor, with a belt tensioner which comprises a piston/cylinder unit, and with a device for fastening the cylinder to the vehicle floor.
Hitherto, belt tensioners have been fastened to the vehicle for example by the provision of a flange which is welded to the cylinder, this flange being arrested in a fork-shaped part which is screwed to the vehicle floor. Irrespective of whether the flange is arranged laterally or on the end face of the cylinder facing away from the belt engaging means, this type of fastening increases the space required for the installation of the cylinder in the vehicle. Owing to the considerable axial length of a belt tensioner, it has been necessary hitherto to install this in the vehicle with a cable deflector, because otherwise the belt engaging means, in normal cases the belt buckle, projects too far upwards, in some cases to above the seat surface. In fact the use of a cable deflector, however, additionally increases the necessary installation space which makes fitting the belt tensioner the vehicle still more difficult.
The invention provides a vehicle in which fitting of the belt tensioner in the vehicle is distinctly facilitated and the space occupied by the belt tensioner in the interior of the vehicle remains small. This is achieved in a vehicle of the type initially mentioned in that the vehicle floor has a recess into which the cylinder at least partially projects. The belt tensioner therefore need not be arranged completely inside the vehicle, but rather projects into the recess which is provided for it, so that the installation space which is available for the belt tensioner in its axial direction is increased. Expensive measures provided hitherto for shortening the belt tensioner whilst maintaining as long a tensioning path as possible can be dispensed with, which makes the belt tensioner as a whole more favourable. Fitting the belt tensioner in the vehicle in this manner also allows to install the belt tensioner in the vehicle without a cable deflector.
According to a preferred embodiment, the recess is configured and the positions of the fastening device and of the cylinder are coordinated with each other such that the central axis of the traction transfer means which connects the piston with a belt engaging means corresponds substantially to the belt path when the safety belt is worn. Thereby, a rectilinear introduction of force into the traction transfer means is ensured, so that lateral forces scarcely act on it in the case of restraint or in normal travelling operation when the safety belt is worn.
The recess in the vehicle can be a downwardly extending trough which is open or closed or can be a port, the cylinder—in the case of a downwardly open recess—being able to project therefrom by its lower end.
Simple types of fastening of the belt tensioner to the vehicle floor are, for example, the provision of a fastening means projecting radially from the exterior of the cylinder shell which means is in turn arrested on the vehicle floor. The fastening means can be a radial flange or an external thread by which the cylinder can be screwed into a counter-thread in the recess in the vehicle floor or a nut fastened to the vehicle floor. With this type of fastening, no separate parts have to be supplied for the installation of the belt tensioner, which reduces the manufacturing and installation costs as a whole.
A further simple fastening possibility consists in the provision of a bayonet closure, a bayonet fitting being constructed on the vehicle floor, into which the cylinder is able to be introduced and turned by an outwardly projecting flange.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2239125 (1941-04-01), Summers
patent: 2282360 (1942-05-01), Horrocks
patent: 2423432 (1947-07-01), Barlow
patent: 3440602 (1969-04-01), Frig
patent: 3583530 (1971-06-01), De Venne
patent: 3649786 (1972-03-01), Mauron
patent: 3838746 (1974-10-01), Andres
patent: 3888085 (1975-06-01), Larsonneur
patent: 3917031 (1975-11-01), Doin et al.
patent: 4422669 (1983-12-01), Chiba et al.
patent: 4458921 (1984-07-01), Chilba et al.
patent: 5096224 (1992-03-01), Murakami et al.
patent: 5169173 (1992-12-01), Nishizawa
patent: 5350194 (1994-09-01), Fohl
patent: 5366245 (1994-11-01), Lane, Jr.
patent: 5368427 (1994-11-01), Pfaffinger
patent: 5403070 (1995-04-01), Jahn et al.
patent: 5553890 (1996-09-01), Buhr et al.
patent: 5568940 (1996-10-01), Lane, Jr.
patent: 5927756 (1999-07-01), Wier
patent: 2104446 (1972-04-01), None
patent: 1351447 (1974-05-01), None
patent: B1351447 (1974-05-01), None
patent: 1571505 (1980-07-01), None
Shriver J. Allen
Swann J. J.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
LandOfFree
Vehicle with a seat belt tensioner secured to the floor of... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vehicle with a seat belt tensioner secured to the floor of..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicle with a seat belt tensioner secured to the floor of... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2548616