An Anchoring Fixing and a Process for producing it.
The present invention relates to an anchoring fixing comprising a traction device, preferably made in strand form, which is designed to be connected to an anchorage part, preferably a vehicle chassis, by means of the said fixing.
The main object of the present invention is primarily to provide an anchoring fixing of the above-mentioned kind which enables the fixing to be produced and assembled rationally and simply, and which also forms an effective. and secure fixing for objects which it is desired should be anchored on an anchorage part, for example, for securing a seat-belt fastening device in the zone between two vehicle seats or in the back seat of a vehicle.
The said object is achieved with an anchoring fixing according to the present invention which is essentially characterised in that a tubular metal sleeve, which is open at least at one of its ends and into the interior of which a loop-shaped traction device equipped with an end can be inserted, past the location of a cut-out which extends transversely through the sleeve and is adapted to receive a fixing element which co-acts with the anchorage part, so that at least one part of the traction device projects out of the sleeve, is pressed together in the zone between the two sections of the traction device, and that a section of the sleeve, together with a section of the traction device, is bent out relative to the rest of the fixing so that the sleeve is pressed in transverse to the traction device and the traction direction thereof.
A further object of the invention is to devise a process for producing an anchoring fixing of the above-mentioned type which comprises a preferably strand-form traction device which is designed to be connected to an anchorage part such as a vehicle chassis by means of the said fixing.
The said further object is achieved with a process according to the present invention which is substantially characterised in that a loop-shaped section of the said traction device provided with an end is enclosed in a metal sleeve produced in the form of a tube, this sleeve being equipped with a cut-out adapted to receive a fixing element which co-acts with the anchorage part, after which the sleeve is pressed together around the traction device and between the two sections thereof, and that at least one section of the said sleeve, together with the part of the traction device enclosed by the said section of the sleeve, is bent out in order to prevent relative movement between the sleeve and the traction device.
The invention is described in the following with refer ence to the accompanying drawings, on which: Figure 1 shows a first stage in the production of a fixing, where the sleeve shown is ready to receive and enclose a section of a traction device in the form of a cable, Figure 2 shows the sleeve enclosing a section of the cable which has been folded round into a loop,
Figure 3 shows how the sleeve is provided with a cutout,
Figure 4 shows the fixing in a pressed and bent state, Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of a fixing wherein the sleeve part has been pinched together in the region between the two sections of the cable enclosed by the sleeve,
Figure 6 shows how the sleeve part shown pinched together in Figure 5, together with a section of the cable, is pressed and bent relative to the rest of the fixing, Figure 7 shows a third embodiment example of a fixing which is equipped with a notch in the sleeve part in the zone between the sections of cable, and
Figure 8 shows the said third embodiment example of the fixing equipped with a protective layer around the cable sections.
An anchoring fixing mad.e .according to the present
invention is suitable for use in a number of different fields. One field of application for which the fixing is particularly suitable is in vehicles, for fixing seat-belts onto vehicle chasis, for example. Since it is possible to produce the fixing automatically, in a machine, for example, large numbers can be mass-produced for a low material outlay.
A sleeve which is designated by the numeral 1 on the drawings is formed by a part made of metal material and shaped into a tube. Preferably, this shaped sleeve 1 is produced by flattening a piece of tube which is preferably open at both ends, as shown in Figure 1. A traction device 2, which in the embodiment shown consists of a wire traction device in the form of a cable, is bent round, preferably in the middle, so that a loop-shaped part 3 is formed with two sections 4 extending out from the said section 3. The loop-shaped part 3 of the traction device 2 is designed to be encircled by the sleeve 1 as is shown, for example, in Figure 2, by inserting it, for example, through an opening 5 in the sleeve 1, into the inner space therein.
A. cut-out 6 is provided in the sleeve 1 by punching or in some other suitable way, such as by drilling, for example to form a cut-out 6 through the material of the two sleeve sections 7 and 8 of the sleeve 1 which encloses the loop- shaped cable section 3, in the zone inside the said terminal loop 3, as is shown in Figure 3. Expediently, in conjunction with the forming of the said hole the edges of at least one of the cut-outs 6 will be pressed in towards the inside of the sleeve in order to increase contact between the sleeve 1 and the traction device 2.
In conjunction with expediently pressing the sleeve 1 together around the traction device 2, one section 1A or 2A of the sleeve 1 and the traction device 2 respectively are bent out in a zone 9 which is located on that side of the cut-out 6 which is furthest from the loop-shaped cable section 3. The two sections 4 of the traction device 2 which extend at an angle relative to the rest of the fixing
are effectively secured in the sleeve 1.
The fixing is mounted by inserting a bolt with a thread (not shown on the drawings) through the cut-outs 6 and screwing it firmly to an anchoring part such as the chassis of a vehicle, for example. In so doing the bolt strives to press the sleeve 1 together and to pinch the section 3 of the traction device 2 which is enclosed by the sleeve 1 even more, and thereby makes it more difficult for the traction device 2 to be pulled out of the sleeve 1. The free ends of the cable sections 4, which are preferably rigid, are suitable for connection to the receiving part of a vehicle seat-belt fastening device, for example, by arranging the coupling plates incorporated in the said receiving part on either side of a cable section and connect ing them to each other, and preventing them from being removed from the cable 2 by means of thicker sections on the ends of the cable sections 4, for example. A protective layer can also be provided to cover the exposed sections of the cable, but this is not described further in connection with this embodiment.
Figures 5 and 6 show a further embodiment example of a fixing. After making the cut-out through the sleeve 12, the sleeve is pinched together in the region 72 between the cable sections 4 2 which extenpd from the loop 32 of the cable, so that the sleeve part 72 comes to rest against the further sleeve part 8 2. This makes it possible to achieve effectively the desired angular setting of the two cable sections 42 relative to each other and the fixing. Preferably, they will be arranged so that they diverge in the direction away from the fixing, to prevent them from coming in contact with each other.
As can be seen in Figures 7 and 8, in the third embodiment example shown a notch 10 is provided in the sleeve 13 in the zone which, extends from the cable loop 33 between the cable sections 4 3, through the two secti'ons 73 and 83 respectively of the sleeve. The said notch 10 is expediently produced by cutting away, after a section 73 of the sleeve
has been expediently pressed together in the above-mention way. In this way an end 11, which is like an upright leg, is formed on and around each cable section 43 in the sleeve 13; the said ends 11 are suitable for receiving their res pective ends 12A of a tubular heat-shrink protective layer 12. After threading the said tube 12 over each of the cable sections 43 and the sleeve end 11 before the anchoring fixing is connected to the seat-belt fastening device, for example, the tube is exposed to heat so that it shrinks and forms itself over the contours of the parts which it encloses. This gives the fixing a more pleasing appearance, since the cable 23 is not visible. The other open end 13 of the sleeve 13 can expediently be closed by pinching the sleeve 13 together in the region of the two corners 14 which are located on either side of the cable 2 3 laid in a loop 33. The cable 23 is thereby protected from contact from the outside, while at the same time the cable 2 3 is clamped more firmly in the cleeve 13.
All of the above-described operations can expediently oe carried out one after another in a single machine.
Since, with the present invention, the traction device, which is formed by a traction device equipped with an end, can be effectively connected to the tubular sleeve via a looped section of the traction device, preferably located in the central zone thereof, two vehicle seat-belt fastening elements can be securely mounted via a single fixing, since they are each connected to their respective section of the traction device and can also be arranged at the desired angle. The invention is not limited to the embodiments which are described above and shown on the drawings purely by way of example, but its details can be modified within the frame of the following Patent Claims. For example, the sleeve may be produced from a piece of plate which is bent or shaped in some other appropriate way to enclose a section of a traction device.