GB1407612A - Seat belt apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1407612 Vehicle safety harness AUTO RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Ltd 26 Jan 1973 [28 Jan 1972] 4252/72 Heading A3V A vehicle 10 includes seat belt apparatus which is arranged automatically to move seat belts into and away from an operative position across a vehicle seat (as shown in dotted lines for the belt 13 of the vehicle passenger seat 11) to an inoperative position (as shown for the belt 14 of the vehicle driver seat 12), the apparatus comprising a spring loaded reel 22 mounted centrally of the vehicle 10 and coupled to one end of a strap 18 the other end of which carries a link 21 through which is slidable a lap and diagonal strap 17, secured between door anchorages 19, 20, the strap 18 being slidable in a link 23 second twine end of a cord 25 wound on a pulley 26 mounted beneath the bonnet of the vehicle and driven by a reversible motor 26 such that rotation of the pulley to wind in the cord 25 withdraws the strap 18 from the reel 22 to move the seat belt to its inoperative position. The cord 25 also passes through an aperture in the free end of an arm pivotally mounted on the vehicle bulkhead behind a facia panel 31, the arm 30 moving between the position shown for the driver seat 12 and that shown for the passenger seat 11 as the seat belt moves to its operative position, the link 23 during such movement being guided by a guideway 33. At the limits of its travel the arm 30 operates limit switches to cut off the supply to the motor 36 whose operation has been initiated by opening or closing the adjacent vehicle door 16 through further switches as 42. A seat switch 102 may also be provided so that the seat belt will only be moved to its operative position if the seat is occupied. A manual switch may also be provided to move the seat belt to its inoperative position whilst the seat is occupied provided the vehicle handbrake is applied. Suitable electrical control circuits are described in the specification. In an alternative embodiment the arm 30 is replaced by a mechanism including a further cord wound on a spring loaded winding-in reel and carrying a ring through which the cord 25 is slidable. Also the vehicle door 16 contains a guideway for a link 100 through which the strap 17 is slidable, the link 100 being spring biassed towards the anchorage 20, but being movable to the position shown by being secured to one end of a cord 35 also wound on the pulley 26. The guideway 34 may have the linear form shown or may be horizontal at the forward end of the door leading into an inclined portion so as to avoid the possibility of the strap 17 catching on a seat occupant's knees.