GB1570459A

GB1570459A - Motor vehicle safety belts

Info

Publication number: GB1570459A
Application number: GB2345477A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Britax Wingard Ltd
Current assignee: SMR Automotive Mirrors UK Ltd
Priority date: 1978-05-09
Filing date: 1978-05-09
Publication date: 1980-07-02

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY BELTS (71) We, BRITAX (WINGARD) LIMITED, a British Company, of Chandler Road, Chichester, Sussex PO19 2UG, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a safety belt or harness for the occupant of a motor vehicle.

The effectiveness of a motor vehicle safety belt depends on the position of the points at which the belt is anchored to the bodywork of the vehicle. The lower mounting point of a lap/diagonal seat belt arrangement must be within the angles specified in relevant known British Standard Specifications with respect to the occupant of the seat. In two door vehicles, in which the door opening is very wide to allow access to the rear seats, the positioning of the lower anchorage point within the Specification requirements means that the seat belt often impedes entry to the rear seats. The problem is of particular importance in the case of inertia-reel seat belts where the belt, when not in use, is retracted into the reel and so extends in a straight line from the lower anchorage point to the upper anchorage point at the upper end of the door pillar.

The arrangement according to the present invention seeks to overcome this disadvantage.

According to the present invention, a safety belt or harness comprises a belt portion attached to a pivoted anchorage member, first and second resilient means being provided to act on said anchorage member to provide a force to rotate the anchorage member about its pivot point such that the two resilient means can act either in opposition, whereby the resultant pivoting force is substantially zero when the belt is worn, or in conjunction to pivot the anchorage member to a given position, whereby said belt portion is moved to a stowed position.

Preferably the anchorage member is pivoted on the vehicle chassis or a frame, the first and second resilient means being respective springs connected to said chassis or frame and exerting a respective bias on the anchorage member. Suitably, the first resilient means is attached to the anchorage member at a point thereon such that the bias exerted by the first resilient means acts on one side or the other of the pivoting axis as the anchorage member pivots, the side on which the bias acts depending on the pivotal position of the anchorage member. The second resilient means is attached to the anchorage member so as to apply its bias on one side of the pivoting axis.

Preferably, the second resilient means is a pretensioned clock-type spiral spring positioned around the pivot so as to provide a substantially constant torque on the anchorage member.

The invention also provides a vehicle in which the safety belt or harness is fitted, the anchorage member being positioned on the lower sill of the vehicle door opening, and including a safety belt retractor mounted within the vehicle for applying a retracting force to the safety belt or harness to cause the anchorage member to pivot to its given position, whereby said belt portion is moved to a stowed position.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partial interior view of a two door motor vehicle illustrating the seat belt anchorage points.

Figure 2 is a partially sectioned view, on a larger scale, of the lower anchorage point.

Figure 3 is a partially sectioned top view of the anchorage point shown in Figure 2, the belt being omitted for clarity.

Figure 1 shows a rear pillar 10 of a door opening of a two door car. A lap/diagonal safety belt arrangement is shown which includes an inertia belt storage reel or retractor 11 mounted adjacent the lower end of pillar 10. Belt 12 passes from the reel 11 through an anchored guide 13 positioned adjacent the upper end of pillar 10. From here, the belt passes through a fastening buckle (not shown) by which the belt user secures himself to an anchorage point positioned between the two front seats of the vehicle. From the buckle (not shown).

the belt passes to a rear anchor point 14 positioned below the door sill 15 and in front of the rear pillar 10.

As shown in greater detail in Figure 2, the anchor point 14 comprises an anchor plate 9 to which the end of the belt 12 is secured.

Anchor plate 9 is pivotally mounted on a headed bolt member 16 which is screwed into a threaded hole in the frame or body of the vehicle, or in a separate frame for attachment to the vehicle. A sleeve 17 made, for example, of hard rubber, surrounds the anchor plate 9 and extends along the belt 12 for a distance substantially equal to the distance between the anchor point 14 and the rear pillar 10. The anchor plate 9 is provided with a lug 18 to which is attached one end of a tension spring 19. The tension spring 19 has an "over-centre" action with regard to the position of lug 18 as the anchor plate 9 pivots on member 16. The other end of spring 19 is connected to a point 20 which is positioned forwardly of the attachment member 16 on a back plate 21.

As shown in Figure 2, when the belt is in a position in which it is worn by the user, the spring 19 provides a clockwise-acting forcing on the anchor plate 9. However, when the belt is not in use and is to be stowed away, the lug 18 of spring 19 passes through an over-centre point which lies on a line through point 20 and the pivoting axis or the centre of member 16, so that the bias of spring 19 acts on the other side of the pivoting axis and the anchor plate 9 is moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2. As can be seen from Figure 1, when it is in the stowed position, the sleeve 17 ensures that the belt 12 does not intrude beyond the pillar 10, thus allowing easy axis to the rear seats of the vehicle.

In addition to the spring 19, a pretensioned clock-type spiral spring 22 is positioned around the shaft of the member 16 and is connected between the back plate 21 and the anchor plate 9 so as to provide a substantially constant anti-clockwise torque on the anchor plate 9 (as viewed in Figures 1 and 2).

It can be seen that when the anchor plate 9 is in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, springs 22 and 19 act in opposition. the properties (such as the dimensions) of the two springs being chosen such that, when in this position, there is substantially zero resultant torque on the plate 9. It can also be seen that as soon as the line of action of the spring 19 moves to below the centre of the member 16 (as viewed in Figure 2), which will occur as the plate 9 is rotated anti-clockwise towards the given position in which the belt is stowed, the spring 19 will act to rotate the plate 9 in the same anticlockwise direction as the spring 22.

When the user releases himself from the belt, the rewinding torque provided by the reel 11 will cause the belt 12 to pull the plate 9, and its connected sleeve 17, to the position 17' shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. The lug 18 on the plate 9 is so located that, in this position, the line of action of spring 19 moves below (as shown in Figure 2) the centre of member 16 and the two springs 19 and 22 then co-operate for rapidly moving the plate 9 and the sleeve 17 to the given position in which the belt is stowed.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A safety belt or harness comprising a belt portion attached to a pivoted anchorage member, first and second resilient means being provided to act on said anchorage member to provide a force to rotate the anchorage member about its pivot point such that the two resilient means act either in opposition, whereby the resultant pivoting force is substantially zero when the belt is worn, or in conjunction to pivot the anchorage member to a given position, whereby said belt portion is moved to a stowed position.

2. A safety belt or harness according to claim 1 in which the anchorage member is pivoted on a vehicle chassis.

3. A safety belt or harness according to claim 2 wherein the first and second resilient means are respective springs connected to said chassis and exerting a respective bias on the anchorage member.

4. A safety belt or harness according to claim 1 in which the anchorage member is pivoted on a frame.

5. A safety belt or harness according to claim 4 in which the first and second resilient means are respective springs connected to said frame and exerting a respective bias on the anchorage member.

6. A safety belt or harness according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first resilient means is attached to the anchorage member at a point thereon such that the bias exerted by the first resilient means acts on one side or the other of the pivoting axis as the anchorage member pivots, the side on which the bias acts depending on the pivotal position of the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Figure 1 shows a rear pillar 10 of a door opening of a two door car. A lap/diagonal safety belt arrangement is shown which includes an inertia belt storage reel or retractor 11 mounted adjacent the lower end of pillar 10. Belt 12 passes from the reel 11 through an anchored guide 13 positioned adjacent the upper end of pillar 10. From here, the belt passes through a fastening buckle (not shown) by which the belt user secures himself to an anchorage point positioned between the two front seats of the vehicle. From the buckle (not shown). the belt passes to a rear anchor point 14 positioned below the door sill 15 and in front of the rear pillar 10. As shown in greater detail in Figure 2, the anchor point 14 comprises an anchor plate 9 to which the end of the belt 12 is secured. Anchor plate 9 is pivotally mounted on a headed bolt member 16 which is screwed into a threaded hole in the frame or body of the vehicle, or in a separate frame for attachment to the vehicle. A sleeve 17 made, for example, of hard rubber, surrounds the anchor plate 9 and extends along the belt 12 for a distance substantially equal to the distance between the anchor point 14 and the rear pillar 10. The anchor plate 9 is provided with a lug 18 to which is attached one end of a tension spring 19. The tension spring 19 has an "over-centre" action with regard to the position of lug 18 as the anchor plate 9 pivots on member 16. The other end of spring 19 is connected to a point 20 which is positioned forwardly of the attachment member 16 on a back plate 21. As shown in Figure 2, when the belt is in a position in which it is worn by the user, the spring 19 provides a clockwise-acting forcing on the anchor plate 9. However, when the belt is not in use and is to be stowed away, the lug 18 of spring 19 passes through an over-centre point which lies on a line through point 20 and the pivoting axis or the centre of member 16, so that the bias of spring 19 acts on the other side of the pivoting axis and the anchor plate 9 is moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2. As can be seen from Figure 1, when it is in the stowed position, the sleeve 17 ensures that the belt 12 does not intrude beyond the pillar 10, thus allowing easy axis to the rear seats of the vehicle. In addition to the spring 19, a pretensioned clock-type spiral spring 22 is positioned around the shaft of the member 16 and is connected between the back plate 21 and the anchor plate 9 so as to provide a substantially constant anti-clockwise torque on the anchor plate 9 (as viewed in Figures 1 and 2). It can be seen that when the anchor plate 9 is in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, springs 22 and 19 act in opposition. the properties (such as the dimensions) of the two springs being chosen such that, when in this position, there is substantially zero resultant torque on the plate 9. It can also be seen that as soon as the line of action of the spring 19 moves to below the centre of the member 16 (as viewed in Figure 2), which will occur as the plate 9 is rotated anti-clockwise towards the given position in which the belt is stowed, the spring 19 will act to rotate the plate 9 in the same anticlockwise direction as the spring 22. When the user releases himself from the belt, the rewinding torque provided by the reel 11 will cause the belt 12 to pull the plate 9, and its connected sleeve 17, to the position 17' shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. The lug 18 on the plate 9 is so located that, in this position, the line of action of spring 19 moves below (as shown in Figure 2) the centre of member 16 and the two springs 19 and 22 then co-operate for rapidly moving the plate 9 and the sleeve 17 to the given position in which the belt is stowed. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A safety belt or harness comprising a belt portion attached to a pivoted anchorage member, first and second resilient means being provided to act on said anchorage member to provide a force to rotate the anchorage member about its pivot point such that the two resilient means act either in opposition, whereby the resultant pivoting force is substantially zero when the belt is worn, or in conjunction to pivot the anchorage member to a given position, whereby said belt portion is moved to a stowed position.

anchorage member.

7. A safety belt or harness according to claim 6 wherein the second resilient means is attached to the anchorage member so as to apply its bias on one side of the pivoting axis.

8. A safety belt or harness according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second resilient means is a clock-type spring positioned around the pivot of the anchorage member so as to provide a substantially constant torque on the anchorage member.

9. Safety apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A vehicle in which a safety belt or harness is fitted, the safety belt or harness being in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 8, the anchorage member being positioned on the lower sill of the vehicle door opening, and including a safety belt retractor mounted within the vehicle for applying a retracting force to the safety belt or harness to cause the anchorage member to pivot to its given position, whereby said belt portion is moved to a stowed position.