GB1599186A

GB1599186A - Seats for vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB1599186A
Application number: GB5352377A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Autoflug GmbH
Current assignee: Autoflug GmbH
Priority date: 1976-12-24
Filing date: 1977-12-22
Publication date: 1981-09-30
Also published as: FR2391872B1; FR2391872A1; DE2658747A1; DE2658747C2; GB1599187A; GB1599188A

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN SEATS FOR VEHICLES (71) We, AUTOFLUG G.m.b.H., a German Company of Industriestrasse 10, 2084 Rellingen 2, Germany, 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: The invention relates to a safety seat incorporating a safety harness particularly though not exclusively for a motor vehicle.

Safety seats for motor vehicles are known in a wide variety of forms of construction.

The development of such seats has been based substantially on pilot seats for aircraft. For example, US-PS 2 634802 discloses such a safety seat for pilots of aircraft, which allows movement of the person buckled to the seat and provides a locking device for the reeling device giving the belt its necessary tension. For approximately ten years at least the Press has been reporting on requirements regarding the integration of the safety belt in the seat. A brief reference to this can be found, for example, in the daily newspaper "Dusseldorfer Nachrichten" of 9./10. June 1966, which discusses a requirement by the British Ministry of Transport whereby belts should be designed as fixed integral parts of car seats. In its issue of 9th July 1966 the same newspaper reported on a safety seat made by a London firm in which all the fastening points for the seat belts are anchored to the seat itself, as is conventional on pilot seats in aircraft. This state of the art discloses two safety seats, although no safety seat with an integrated automatic safety belt system.

A safety seat of the type mentioned is disclosed in DT-AS 1430468. On this known safety seat the automatic mechanism is arranged fixably on a diagonal strut of the frame of the back-rest. If the back-rest on the known safety seat is swivelled, the automatic mechanism is compelled to participate in the swivelling movement. The currently known automatic mechanisms for safety belt systems are, as a rule, provided with rocking means influenced by gravity and sensitive to the vehicle. Swivelling of the automatic mechanism through a relatively small angle out of the direction of gravitational acceleration consequently leads to blocking of the automatic mechanism on the known system. In the state of the art swivelling of the back-rest is, therefore, possible only in very small, practically insignificant sectors.

It is also known to fasten the automatic mechanism directly on the vehicle, for example, on the vehicle floor. If a person buckled to the seat adjusts the vehicle seat in the direction in which the belt is pulled out of the reel, the system sensitive to the belt which is installed in most modern automatic reels can cause blocking of the automatic mechanism when the pull-out acceleration exceeds a certain amount. Uninterrupted adjustment of the seat is therefore not possible. The ease of operation of such a safety seat would not meet the requirements demanded.

In conclusion, it can therefore be stated: the vehicle-sensitive system is deflected when a positive or negative acceleration takes effect. It is likewise deflected when the automatic mechanism is turned and, consequently, the direction of gravitational acceleration no longer coincides with the vertical axis of the system. The automatic mechanism would in this case constantly be blocked. If an automatic mechanism with two kinds of systems is installed in the seat, it is stressed in a different way and is, therefore, blocked constantly as the occasion arises.

The problem of the invention is thus to provide a position-adjusting device which keeps the vertical axis of the vehicle-sensitive system constantly in the direction of gravitational acceleration and, thus, guarantees perfect operation of the automatic mechanism even after adjustment of the seat, since only in this one preferred position can acceleration be measured, as provided, by the vehicle-sensitive system and controlled blocking initiated.

When a device which directly blocks the arresting system is actuated, no blocking of the automatic mechanism is possible, in principle, whereas, if e.g. only the vehicle-sensitive system is arrested, blocking by the belt sensitive system is not excluded; the same also applies, in principle, in reverse.

According to the invention there is provided a safety seat having mounted thereon a safety belt connected to a vehicle-sensitive automatic retractor mounted on the seat, and including a compensating arrangement adapted to maintain the orientation of the retractor substantially constant upon a change of configuration or orientation of the seat and to maintain the retractor fixed in said orientation after the change in configuration or orientation has been effected.

The above-described disadvantages of the state of the art are thereby avoided. At the same time, numerous advantages are presented. Thus, the automatic mechanism remains operational even when, for example, the inclination of the back-rest is adjusted or the height and/or inclination of the seat surface is changed. Further, it is possible suddenly to displace the position of the seat in relation to the vehicle without the automatic mechanism responding as a result.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of the safety seat in a motor vehicle with six different basic positions for fitting an automatic belt reeling and blocking device (hereinafter referred to as automatic mechanism) in the safety seat and in the region thereof, Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the fitting of an automatic mechanism in the back-rest on a trapezoidal linkage, Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the fitting of an automatic mechanism in the back-rest on a guide linkage with positive guidance, Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of the fitting of an automatic mechanism in the back-rest on a trapezoidal linkage with addi tionl tnoe-lever linkage, Fig. 5 is a view according to arrow V in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of the fitting of a modified embodiment of the automatic mechanism in the upper region of the back-rest, Fig 7 is a schematic representation of the fitting of an automatic mechanism in the seat part on a universal linkage, Fie 8 is a schematic representation of the fitting of a modified embodiment of the automatic mechanism in the seat part, operated by Bowden cable.

In a motor vehicle 10 shown in Fig. 1 in simplified form from inside a safety seat 12 is arranged on seat rails 11. The backrest 13 of the safety seat 12 is mounted pivotablv about an axis 14 on the seat part 15 of the safety seat 12 (double arrow 16).

The seat part 15 is, in turn, arranged pivotably about an axis 17 on a supporting structure, not shown of the safety seat 12 (see double arrow 18). The entire safety seat 12 is also vertically adjustable (see double arrow 19) and displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (see double arrow 20).

Besides the basic structure of the safety seat 12, Fig. 1 also shows the various fitting positions of the automatic mechanism 21 for a safety belt 22. In Fig. 1 (from top to bottom) the letter A designates the fitting position of the automatic mechanism in the upper region of the back-rest 13 instead of the otherwise necessary guide fixtures; the letter B designates the fitting position inside the back-rest 13; the letter C denotes the fitting position approximately in the region of the pivot 14 inside the seat part 15 and letter D fitting position inside the seat part 15. The fitting position of the automatic mechanism 21 on the longitudinally displaceable seat rails 23 is indicated by the letter E, while the letter S designates the fitting position of the automatic mechanism 21 at any point desired on the vehicle, preferably the vehicle floor. The belt run assigned to the individual fitting positions of the automatic mechanisms 21 is shown by broken lines, the guide fixturs necessary for the safety belt 22 likewise being shown by broken lines. The safety belt emerging at the shoulders of the person sitting on the safety seat 15 is designed in the embodiment shown as a 3-point safety belt. 4-point belts (braces belts) are also possible. A belt lock 24 is fastened to the side of the safety seat and is likewise shown only schematically.

As shown in Fig. 1, the automatic mechanism 21 is controlled by a movement of the safety seat: if the automatic mechanism is in the positions A or B, it participates in the movements marked by the double arrows 16, 18, 19 and 20. The movements marked by the double arrows 16 and 18 act on the automatic mechanism 21 in position C. The automatic mechanism fitted there also participates in the movement marked by the double arrow 20. The automatic mechanism in position D guarantees the movements marked by the double arrows 18 and 20. If the seat executes the movements marked by the double arrow 19, this acts e.g. directly on the automatic mechanism 21 in the fitting positions E and F, the movement according to double arrow 20 also exerting an influence, in addition, on the automatic mechanism 21 in position F.

With regard to the vehicle-sensitive system, the possible influences can best be shown by the following table: Possible Adjustments according to double arrow: influence on the vehicle-sensitive system by change of position: Fitting position No Yes A 20, 19 16, 18 B 20, 19 16, 18 C 20, 19, 16 18 D 20, 19, 16 18 E 20, 19, 18, 16 F 20, 19, 18, 16 The other figures represent embodiments of devices which, according to the fitting position of the automatic mechanism 21, carry out a correction of the position thereof, when the seat executes the movement marked by the double arrows 16, 18, 19 20.

Fig. 2 shows a simplified representation of the safety seat 12, only part of the back-rest 13 and the seat part 15 being illustrated. The automatic mechanism 21 is in the position marked by B in Fig. 1 and is shown partly exposed in Fig. 2, so that its vehicle-sensitive system 25 can be seen. It is of crucial importance for the operability of the automatic mechanism that the vertical axis 21 of the vehicle-sensitive system 25 runs in the direction of gravitational acceleration G.

This can be achieved by fitting the automatic mechanism in the direction of the position designated hereinafter as fixed axis 27. The fixed axis 27 is at right angles to the vertical axis 26 and in the embodiments shown lies in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. This position represents a preferred position for the fixed axis, although the invention is not restricted to this position. A critical factor in the operability of the automatic mechanism 21 is that it is mounted in a plane to which the vertical axis 26 is at right angles, so that the fixed axis 27 represents in the embodiments shown merely the line of intersection of this plane through the drawing plane.

The automatic mechanism is fastened to a support plate 28 which is arranged rotatably about a pivot 30 on a bearing point 29 connected fast to the back-rest 13. On the side opposite the bearing point 29 in the direction of the fixed axis 27 the support plate 28 is connected rotatably to at least one linkage part 31. The linkage part 31 is, in turn, mounted rotatably about a pivot 33 on a linkage part 32 which is attached fast to the seat part 15. The centre line 34 of the linkage part 32 runs through the pivot 14 of the back-rest 13 and parallel to the fixed axis 27. The length of the linkage part 31 is selected so that the spacing between its pivots 33 and 35 is equal to the spacing between the pivot 30 and the axis 14. The result of this is a device, designated herein after as a trapezoidal linkage, which, when the back-rest 13 is swivelled in the direction of the double arrow 16, ensures that the fixed axis 27 stands at right angles to the vertical axis 16 in any position in the back rest 13. For precise adjustment of the fixed axis 27 into the position perpendicular to the direction of gravitational acceleration, the pivot 30 can, for example, be made so that its position is adjustable, e.g. by an eccentric mounting which is not shown in detail. Fig. 2 shows that the movement, marked by the double arrow 16, of the back rest 13 is compensated by the trapezoidal linkage 28, 31, 32. The movement in the direction of the double arrow 19 and 20 has no effect on the vehicle-sensitive system 25 of the automatic mechanism 21 with regard to changes in position.

As in all the other subsequent figures, Fig.

2 does not show how, for example, the back-rest 13 is mounted on the seat part 15 or how the holes through the seat covers for the linkage part 31 are made or other structural details, for example, the seat mounting on the seat rail.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a compensating device in which the automatic mechanism 21 is, again, mounted in position B in the back-rest 13 on a support plate 28 mounted rotatably about the pivot 30. The bearing point 29 is connected here, also, fast to the back-rest 13. The pivot 35 has fitted to it a guide linkage whose end opposite the pivot 35 is provided with a guide element 37.

The guide element 37, which can be, for example, a guide pin, a guide roller, a slid ing element or the like, is positively guided by bearing faces. These bearing faces can, as shown be formed by the sides of a guide slot 38. The guide slot 38 is provided in a struc tural part connected fast to the seat part 15.

In the embodiment shown the guide linkage 36 rolls against a fixture 39. To guarantee this at all times, a spring 40 is provided which forces the guide linkage 36 against the fixture 39. In the embodiment shown it is a tension spring clamped between a rod of the guide linkage 36 and the fixture 39.

The position of the back-rest pivot 14 is basically independent of the position of the centre line of the butting face, here in the form of an arc of the fixture 39. The pivot can be arranged in the appropriate region of the seat part 13 or 15. In this case, of course, the form of the guide slot 38 must be changed accordingly. Instead of the fixture - 39 and the spring 40, an oblong slot, for ex ample, can also be provided in the linkage into which engages a pin, etc.

The form of the guide slot 38 is selected so that the support plate 28 of the auto matic mechanism 21 is parallel to the fixed axis 27. As regards the effects of the seat movement, the same applies to the embodiment according to Fig. 3 as did regarding Fig. 2.

In the embodiment according to Figs. 4 and 5 the automatic mechanism 21 is mounted in the way described in detail in Fig. 2. A substantial difference from the embodiment according to Fig. 2 is that the linkage part 32 of the trapezoidal linkage is here arranged rotatably about the pivot 14.

This measure is necessary, since in the embodiment according to Fig. 4 it is also possible to swivel the seat part 15 in the direction of the double arrow 18, without affecting the operability of the automatic mechanism 21.

The linkage part 32 is attached rotatably to the seat part 15 by a bearing point 41.

The linkage part 31 is fastened to the linkage part 32, as in the embodiment according to Figure 2, rotatably about the pivot 33, the spacings between the individual pivots obeying the same rules as in the embodiment according to Fig. 2. In the embodiment according to Fig. 4 the linkage part 32 is extended beyond the pivot 33. The front region is designed as a journal 42 which is mounted lonoitudinally displaceably in part of a toggle-lever linkage 43. The togglelever linkage 43 consists, in turn, of linkage parts 44 and 45 respectively 46 and 47 connected to one another rotatively. The journal 42 is guided in the linkage parts 44 and 46, while the linkage parts 45 and 47 are arranged rotatably in a bearing pedestal 48.

The bearing pedestal 48 is fastened to the safety seat 12 so that it is forced to execute the movement in the direction of the double arrow 20.

Tf the back-rest 13 is swivelled in the direction of the double arrow 16, the mode of action is the same as that for the trapezoidal linkage 28, 31, 32 in the embodiment according to Fig. 2. When the seat height is adjusted in the direction of the double arrow 19 there is likewise no change, when the toggle-lever linkage 43 follows this movement unchanged, which occurs when the bearing pedestal 48 is raised or lowered. A substantial difference from the embodiment according to Fig. 2 occurs when the seat part 15 is swivelled about its pivot 17 in the direction of the double arrow 18. A rigid connection between the linkage part 32 and the seat part 15 would result in the pivot 33 having to follow the movement in the direction of the double arrow 18. Consequently, the support plate 28 of the automatic mechanism 21 would swivel in the direction of the double arrow 18, causing the fixed axis 27 or the vertical axis 26 to shift out of the required position. The rotatable mounting of the linkage part 32 in the bearing point 41, on the one hand, and the guide of the journal 42 at the opposite end of the linkage part 32 in the toggle-lever linkage 43, on the other, ensure, however, in the embodiment according to Figs. 4 and 5, that the centre line 34 of the linkage part 32 remains parallel to the fixed axis 27 in whatever direction the seat part 15 is swivelled. Fig.

4 shows by broken lines positions which are assumed, for example, when the seat part is adjusted upwards, which corresponds to raising of the bearing point 41. It will be seen that there is no change in the relative spacings of the bearing points 30, 35, 33 and 14.

Fig. 6 shows an automatic mechanism 21 in sitting position A in the upper region of the back-rest 13. This automatic mechanism 21 is provided with a device 96 which ensures that in any position of the automatic mechanism the vertical axis 26 of the vehiclesensitive system 25 runs in a direction of gravitational acceleration. This is achieved by mounting the device 96 with the vehiclesensitive system 25 pivotably about the reeling axis 49 of the automatic mechanism 21 in the manner of a pendulum. The device 96 is provided with a pendulum weight 50 underneath the reeling axis 49, so that the system, when it can swing freely, is always aligned in the direction of gravitational acceleration. A locking device 51 is provided which enables the system to swing freely only when the seat is adjusted. When seat adjustment is completed, the locking device 51 blocks the device 96 in the position then assumed. In the embodiment shown the locking device 51 is an electromagnet 52 whose core 53 is designed as a blocking pin which interacts with a serrated strip 54 on the device 96.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 6 the mode of operation is as follows: when a back-rest adjusting lever 55 or a seek-part adjusting lever 56 is operated, an electrical switch 57 or 58 is actuated, so that the electromagnet 52, supplied from a suitable power source on the vehicle, has current flowing through it and the core 53 designed as a blocking pin is thereby released from the serrated strip 54. The pendulum weight can now swing freely. If. for example, in the case shown the back-rest is inclined backwards, the pendulum weight 50 ensures that the vertical axis 26 keeps to the direction of gravitational acceleration. When swivelling of the back-rest 13 is completed, the flow current through the electromarnet 52 is broken, as a result of which the blocking pin 53 is engaged again with the serrated strip 54 and fixes the system in the position assumed.

This embodiment is not restricted to the fitting position shown for the automatic mechanism 21. Similarly, it is possible to use an automatic mechanism 21 designed thus also in the positions B, C and D. The form of construction of this embodiment similarly makes use of the effect of gravitational acceleration, as is also the case with the vehicle-sensitive system 25.

Fig. 7 represents an automatic mechanism 21 in the fitting position D according to Fig. 1. In this embodiment the automatic mechanism is mounted on a support plate 59 which is mounted on one side rotatably on a bearing point 60 of the seat part 15 and on the other side is connected to a push rod 61 of a universal linkage 62. The universal linkage 62 is formed by the push rod 61 permitting horizontal movement and a guide rod 63 permitting vertical movement and which are connected operatively via two bearing sleeves 64 and 65 connected to one another and arranged at right angles to one another.

The mode of operation is as follows: if the seat part 15 is swivelled about the pivot 17 in the direction of the double arrow 18, the bearing point 60, connected fast to the seat part, of the support plate 59 participates in this swivelling movement. The positive guide of the push rod 61 in the bearing sleeve 64 causes the support plate 59 to be raised or lowered parallel to the fixed axis 27, the bearing sleeve 65 simultaneously sliding under guide rod 63. The guide rod 63 is connected fast to the displaceable seat rails 23.

Fig. 7 shows, besides, the theoretical belt run for this sitting position D, a guide fixture being designated by the reference number 66. With this fitting of the automatic mechanism 21 a further guide fixture is necessary, as shown in Fig. 1, in the upper region of the back-rest 13.

Fig. 8 shows a further embodiment of the mounting of an automatic mechanism 21 in the seat part 15. The automatic mechanism 21 is shown in position C. In a similar way to that in the embodiment according to Fig. 6, in the embodiment according to Fig. 8 the vehicle-sensitive system 25 is influenced directly. The automatic mechanism 21 is mounted on an angle plate 67 connected fast to the seat part 15. The vehicle-sensitive system 25 is mounted rotatably about the reeling axis 49 and has a section 68 emerging from the housing.

Spaced from the angle plate 67 is arranged a linkage part 69, likewise connected fast to the seat part 15. In the region of the connecting point of the linkage part 69 to the seat part 15 there is provided a bearing point 70 on which a guide bush 71 is arranged rotatably. The guide bush 61 penetrates a guide rod 72 which, in the same way as the guide rod 63 in the embodiment according to Fig. 7, is fastened on the longitudinally displaceable rail 23 of the safety seat 12. The angle plate 67 and the linkage part 69 each have a mounting member 73 for the hose 74 of a Bowden cable 75 whose wire core 76 is fastened at one end to the section 68 of the vehicle-sensitive system 25 and at the other end to the guide brush 71.

The result of this is the following mode of operation of the compensating device according to the embodiment in Fig. 8: if the seat part 15 executes a swivelling movement in the direction of the double arrow 18 about the pivot 17, which in the region shown coincides with the reeling axis of the automatic mechanism 21, this movement is followed both by the angle plate 67 and by the linkage part 69 which are both connected fast to the seat part 15. As the automatic mechanism 21 is connected fast to the angle plate 67, it, also, follows the swivelling movement in the direction of the double arrow 18. The hose 74 attached between the angle plate 67 and the linkage part 69 and the wire core 76 displaceable therein and connected fast to the section 68 and the guide bush 71 ensure that despite the swivelling movement the vehicle-sensitive system 25 remains in the fixed position. The operability of the automatic mechanism 21 is, therefore, not influenced by adjustment of the seat in the direction of the double arrow 18 and 19.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described, especially, not to the type of automatic mechanism 21 and the mounting thereof on a support plate, nor to the single-leg or multi-leg form of the various linkage designs or to a specific belt guide.

Similarly, it is possible that the automatic mechanism be arranged inside the safety seat and also that it be fastened outside the seat, which can always be appropriate if an existing vehicle seat is to be subsequently equipped with the compensating device according to the invention. The position adjusting mechanism for the automatic mechanism (Figs. 2-8) can, as shown, be installed, in an appropriate structural design the position adjusting mechanisms for the automatic mechanism can also be combined with the seat adjusting device.

The features of the obiect of the application which are disclosed in the description, the drawing and the patent claims can be substantial to the realisation of the invention in its various embodiments either individually or in any combination.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A safety seat having mounted thereon a safety belt connected to a vehicle-sensitive automatic retractor mounted on the seat, and including a compensating arrangement adapted to maintain the orientation of the retractor substantially constant upon a change of configuration or orientation of the seat and to maintain the retractor fixed in

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. also in the positions B, C and D. The form of construction of this embodiment similarly makes use of the effect of gravitational acceleration, as is also the case with the vehicle-sensitive system 25. Fig. 7 represents an automatic mechanism 21 in the fitting position D according to Fig. 1. In this embodiment the automatic mechanism is mounted on a support plate 59 which is mounted on one side rotatably on a bearing point 60 of the seat part 15 and on the other side is connected to a push rod 61 of a universal linkage 62. The universal linkage 62 is formed by the push rod 61 permitting horizontal movement and a guide rod 63 permitting vertical movement and which are connected operatively via two bearing sleeves 64 and 65 connected to one another and arranged at right angles to one another. The mode of operation is as follows: if the seat part 15 is swivelled about the pivot 17 in the direction of the double arrow 18, the bearing point 60, connected fast to the seat part, of the support plate 59 participates in this swivelling movement. The positive guide of the push rod 61 in the bearing sleeve 64 causes the support plate 59 to be raised or lowered parallel to the fixed axis 27, the bearing sleeve 65 simultaneously sliding under guide rod 63. The guide rod 63 is connected fast to the displaceable seat rails 23. Fig. 7 shows, besides, the theoretical belt run for this sitting position D, a guide fixture being designated by the reference number 66. With this fitting of the automatic mechanism 21 a further guide fixture is necessary, as shown in Fig. 1, in the upper region of the back-rest 13. Fig. 8 shows a further embodiment of the mounting of an automatic mechanism 21 in the seat part 15. The automatic mechanism 21 is shown in position C. In a similar way to that in the embodiment according to Fig. 6, in the embodiment according to Fig. 8 the vehicle-sensitive system 25 is influenced directly. The automatic mechanism 21 is mounted on an angle plate 67 connected fast to the seat part 15. The vehicle-sensitive system 25 is mounted rotatably about the reeling axis 49 and has a section 68 emerging from the housing. Spaced from the angle plate 67 is arranged a linkage part 69, likewise connected fast to the seat part 15. In the region of the connecting point of the linkage part 69 to the seat part 15 there is provided a bearing point 70 on which a guide bush 71 is arranged rotatably. The guide bush 61 penetrates a guide rod 72 which, in the same way as the guide rod 63 in the embodiment according to Fig. 7, is fastened on the longitudinally displaceable rail 23 of the safety seat 12. The angle plate 67 and the linkage part 69 each have a mounting member 73 for the hose 74 of a Bowden cable 75 whose wire core 76 is fastened at one end to the section 68 of the vehicle-sensitive system 25 and at the other end to the guide brush 71. The result of this is the following mode of operation of the compensating device according to the embodiment in Fig. 8: if the seat part 15 executes a swivelling movement in the direction of the double arrow 18 about the pivot 17, which in the region shown coincides with the reeling axis of the automatic mechanism 21, this movement is followed both by the angle plate 67 and by the linkage part 69 which are both connected fast to the seat part 15. As the automatic mechanism 21 is connected fast to the angle plate 67, it, also, follows the swivelling movement in the direction of the double arrow 18. The hose 74 attached between the angle plate 67 and the linkage part 69 and the wire core 76 displaceable therein and connected fast to the section 68 and the guide bush 71 ensure that despite the swivelling movement the vehicle-sensitive system 25 remains in the fixed position. The operability of the automatic mechanism 21 is, therefore, not influenced by adjustment of the seat in the direction of the double arrow 18 and 19. The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described, especially, not to the type of automatic mechanism 21 and the mounting thereof on a support plate, nor to the single-leg or multi-leg form of the various linkage designs or to a specific belt guide. Similarly, it is possible that the automatic mechanism be arranged inside the safety seat and also that it be fastened outside the seat, which can always be appropriate if an existing vehicle seat is to be subsequently equipped with the compensating device according to the invention. The position adjusting mechanism for the automatic mechanism (Figs. 2-8) can, as shown, be installed, in an appropriate structural design the position adjusting mechanisms for the automatic mechanism can also be combined with the seat adjusting device. The features of the obiect of the application which are disclosed in the description, the drawing and the patent claims can be substantial to the realisation of the invention in its various embodiments either individually or in any combination. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A safety seat having mounted thereon a safety belt connected to a vehicle-sensitive automatic retractor mounted on the seat, and including a compensating arrangement adapted to maintain the orientation of the retractor substantially constant upon a change of configuration or orientation of the seat and to maintain the retractor fixed in

said orientation after the change in configuration or orientation has been effected.

2. A safety seat according to claim 1, wherein the compensating device consists of a lever system engaging on a mounting of the automatic retractor, the lever system being hinged on the mounting so that upon a change of position of the seat the angle, preferably 90 , formed with the vertical axis by a fixed axis to the mounting running in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle remains constant.

3. A safety seat according to claim 2, wherein the lever system consists of a plurality of trapezoidally arranged rods.

4. A safety seat according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the mounting consists of a supporting plate which is pivotably connected by means of a bearing point at one end to the seat back rest and pivotably connected to the lever system at its other end.

5. A safety seat according to claim 4, wherein the supporting plate is provided with a fine adjustment device for its adjustment perpendicular to the vertical axis.

6. A safety seat according to claim 5, wherein the fine adjustment device comprises an eccentric mounting in the bearing point.

7. A safety seat according to claim 2, wherein the lever system consists of a positively guided guide rod.

8. A safety seat according to claim 7, wherein the positive guidance is formed by a guide element guided in a guide groove provided in a structural part fixedly connected to the seat part.

9. A safety seat according to claim 8, wherein the guide element comprises a guide roller rolling in the guide groove.

10. A safety seat according to claim 8, wherein the guide element is designed as a guide pin made of a slidable material and guided in the guide groove.

11. A safety seat according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the guide rod is adapted to be rollable on a fitting part connected to the back rest.

12. A safety seat according to claim 11, wherein the guide rod is urged against the fitting part by means of a tension and/or compression element.

13. A safety seat according to claim 12, wherein the element which urges the guide rod against the fitting part is a tension spring clamped between the fitting part and the guide rod.

14. A safety seat according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the lever system is connected to a toggle-lever linkage.

15. A safety seat according to claim 14, wherein the rod part of the trapezoidally arranged rods is mounted pivotably on the seat part at a bearing point and is provided at its opposite end with a bearing journal.

16. A safety seat according to claim 15, wherein the bearing journal is mounted longitudinally displaceably with respect to the toggle-lever linkage.

17. A safety seat according to any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the toggle lever linkage is arranged pivotably in a bearing pedestal which effects the adjusting movements of the seat in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

18. A safety seat according to claim 2, wherein the lever system consists of two slidingly connected cross rods.

19. A safety seat according to claim 18, wherein a supporting plate forming the mounting is hingedly connected between a bearing point of the seat part and a connecting rod of the cross rods.

20. A safety seat according to claim 19, wherein the cross rods are formed by a connecting rod permitting the horizontal movement and by a guide rod permitting the vertical movement, said rods being connected operatively to one another via two bearing sleeves arranged at right angles to one another.

21. A safety seat according to claim 1, wherein the automatic mechanism has a design of the vehicle-sensitive system which permits a direct adjustment thereof.

22. A safety seat according to claim 21, wherein the automatic mechanism is connected fixedly to the seat part of the safety seat.

23. A safety seat according to claim 21, or 22 wherein the vehicle-sensitive system is arranged within the automatic retracting mechanism pivotably about its winding axis and is remotely adjustable.

24. A safety seat according to claim 23, wherein the vehicle-sensitive system has a portion extending from the housing, of the part turnable about the winding axis.

25. A safety seat according to claim 24 wherein the compensating device has a Bowden cable transmitting the pivoting movement of the seat to the said portion of the vehicle-sensitive system.

26. A safety seat according to claim 25, wherein there are arranged on the seat part a rod part connected fixedly thereto and a guide bush which is held pivotably via a bearing point on the seat part and holds one end of the wire core of the Bowden cable, while the other end of the wire core is fastened to the section of the vehiclesensitive system.

27. A safetv seat according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle-sensitive system of the automatic mechanism is keDt in the working orientation via a pendulum influenced by gravitational acceleration wherebv the pendulum can oscillate freely unon actuation of the seat adjustment facility and is fixable in the assumed position at the end of the seat adjusting movement and a fixing device actuable with the back-rest or seat adjusting lever is fastened to the automatic mechanism in order to fix the pendulum.

28. A safety seat according to claim 27, wherein the fixing device consists of an electromagnet.

29. A safety seat according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the vehicle-sensitive system is arranged pivotably about the winding axis and is kept in the direction of gravitational acceleration by a pendulum weight with free oscillating capacity.

30. A safety seat according to claim 27, 28 or 29, in which the fixing device consists of toothed strip which engages on the vehicle-sensitive system and into which a blocking pin engages.

31. A safety seat according to claim 28 and 30, wherein the blocking pin is designed as the core of the electromagnet.

32. Safety seat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. - -