FR2524810A1 - Safety belt for motor vehicle - has one strap with sliding cushions extending across vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The vehicle safety belt has a single strap, at each end of which (11,12) is a hook fixing (13,14) engaging a ring (15) mounted flexibly on side vehicle mountings (16) at stomach height and behind the user's back. The ring is fixed on a small strap (17) of elastic material, or on a spring. A cushion (18) slidably mounted on the safety belt, for each occupant, to protect them. Each cushion has two pads on one face, except the centre, between which the belt is introduced and the cushion is sponge covered.

Description

Seat belt device. especially for a motor vehicle.

The invention relates to a seat belt device, in particular for a motor vehicle.

The seat belt devices currently mounted on motor vehicles, of the abdominal strap and chest strap type, have a number of drawbacks. Their release is not easy, which can present serious risks for the occupants of the vehicle in the event of an accident, after immobilization of the vehicle. In addition, they provide a feeling of embarrassment to the occupants of the vehicle, somewhat hampering the movements that the latter may have to make during a trip.

It is an object of the invention to provide a seat belt device which overcomes these drawbacks.

The device according to the invention is characterized in that it consists of a single strap, comprising at each end a hook-type fixing member intended to cooperate with a ring resiliently mounted on each lateral upright of the vehicle, at a point located at chest height and behind the support surface of the user's back.

Furthermore, according to another characteristic of the device according to the invention, a cushion can be slidably attached to the safety strap for each occupant of the vehicle, for the purpose of protecting the occupants in the event of impact and of rest for the passenger's arms. .

The seat belt device according to the invention is very easy to release. To do this, it suffices for the user to unhook the strap at one of its ends; if for some reason he could not perform such a movement, the user retains the possibility of freeing himself very easily by passing the strap over his head.

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the seat belt arrangement according to the invention; Figure 2 is a rear view of a portion of the strap on which a cushion is mounted; and FIG. 3 is a view of the interior of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle showing a user equipped with the belt device according to the invention.

The seat belt according to the invention comprises a single strap 10 comprising at each of its ends 11, 12, a fastening member of the hook type 13, 14, intended to cooperate with a ring 15 elastically mounted on each lateral upright 16 of the vehicle . The strap is made of leather or plastic.

The ring 15 is advantageously fixed by a small strap 17 of elastic material which passes through it and the ends of which are fixed by any suitable means to a lateral upright of the vehicle, for example by riveting.

The ring 15 can also be fixed to one end of a spring, the other end of which is fixed to the lateral upright.

The invention provides the possibility of mounting on the strap a cushion 18 for each occupant of the vehicle, driver and passenger, by means of lugs 191, 192, 193 fixed, for example sewn, on one face of the cushion 18 with the exception of their central part 20 to allow the introduction of the strap 10.

The cushions 18 can be internally lined with foam material. They can also be inflatable.

To set up the seat belt device, the user need only hook each of the hooks 13, 14 into the associated ring 15 and then pass his arms over the strap 10. I1 then adjusts the position of the cushion 18 by sliding it on the strap 10 to place the cushion in front of its chest. The cushion thus constitutes a protective element in the event of a fall in front of the occupant of the vehicle in the event of an impact. The cushion 18 can also serve as a support for the passenger's arms, thus improving the conditions of comfort in particular for long journeys.

The seat belt device according to the invention can be released very easily and quickly by the occupant in an emergency, either by releasing the hooks of the associated rings, or by passing the strap over the head.

The device according to the invention is adaptable not only for seats of motor vehicles, as described, but also for other types of vehicles, for example airplanes.

Claims (6)

Claims 1. Seat belt device, in particular for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it consists of a single strap (10) comprising at each end (11, 12) a fastening member (13, 14) of the hook type intended to cooperate with a ring (15) resiliently mounted on each lateral upright (16) of the vehicle, at a point located at chest height and behind the support surface of the user's back. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ring (15) is fixed on a small strap (17) of elastic material or on a spring. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a cushion (18) can be slidably mounted on the safety strap (10) for each occupant of the vehicle, driver and passenger, for the purpose of protecting the occupant in case of shock and rest for the passenger's arms. 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that each cushion comprises at least two tabs (19) fixed on one of its faces with the exception of their central part (20) so as to provide a gap in which can be introduced the strap (10). 5. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the cushion (18) is lined with foam. 6. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the cushion (18) is inflatable.