GB2204780A

GB2204780A - Height adjustment device

Info

Publication number: GB2204780A
Application number: GB08812119A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jan Kierzkowski
Original assignee: Autoflug GmbH
Current assignee: Autoflug GmbH
Priority date: 1987-05-22
Filing date: 1988-05-23
Publication date: 1988-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 2008-05-23
Also published as: FR2615463A3; IT8820592A0; FR2615463B3; GB8812119D0; IT1222304B; DE8717537U1; DE3717177A1; GB2204780B; DE3717177C2

Description

OL 52 896 2'104780 411 Height adjustment device The invention relates to a

device for adjusting the height of the upper fixing or guide fitting for the shoulder belt of a safety belt system, particularly in motor vehicles.

It is known to provide such a device which comprises a locking mechanim adapted to be mounted on a structural part of the vehicle and having a guide rail provided with detents in which an associated locking member is engagable, the locking member being mounted so as to be pivotable by means of actuation means provided on a sliding member longitudinally movable within the profile of the guide rail, between position of engagement in a respective detent and position allowing longitudinal movement of the sliding member.

A height adjusting device of this kind is known from German OLS 35 16 059, in which a bolt which is spring loaded in the direction of the base of the guide rail is pivotally mounted between a release position and a locking position in the sliding member which is the carrier for the fitting. In any engagement of a bolt with the associated recesses in the guide rail, which occurs solely as a result of the action of a locking spring, it cannot be ruled out that when the height adjusting device is actuated, the bolt will come to rest between two detents in the guide rail, whilst the sliding member will be held in position by the frictional forces and consequently the user will not realise that the bolt is incorrectly latched. If a dangerous situation then occurs in which there is a downwardly directed tensile force acting on the sliding member, with the associated shoulder belt pulling on the fitting, it is possible 2 - that the downward movement of the sliding member will start with such acceleration that the force of the locking spring acting on the bolt will not be sufficient to cause the bolt to latch under load. The fitting may then move downwards in the guide rail and release a length of belt over the body of the wearer, so that that the safety of the wearer cannot be guaranteed.

According to the invention there is provided a device for adjusting the height of the upper fixing or guide fitting for the shoulder belt of a safety belt system, comprising a locking mechanim adapted to be mounted on a structural part of the vehicle and having a guide rail provided with detents in which an associated locking member is engagable, the locking member being mounted so as to be pivotable by means of actuation means provided on a sliding member longitudinally movable within the profile of the guide rail, between a position of engagement in a respective detent and a position allowing longitudinal movement of the sliding member, wherein the detents in the guide rail are arranged in planes offset from each other and each such detent plane is associated with a correspondingly offset plane of release in which a respective support for the actuation means is located.

At least in the preferred embodiments of the invention, the arrangement ensures that when the fitting is adjusted it is securely locked at each associated detent in the guide rail. The sliding member is downwardly movable in the guide rail after actuation of the actuation means, e.g. a handle, only until it reaches the next detent at the next offset detent plane and at this point is arrested by cooperation of the locking member with the detent; it can only be moved further downwards by movement of the locking member away from the detent plane 1 1 after the actuating means has been released and re actuated after resetting thereof, since only then is it possible to release the locking member by use of the associated support for the actuating means.

In this way, in the preferred embodiments at least, forced control for the locking member is advantageously achieved; when the fitting is adjusted downwardly the locking member cannot be moved through two successive positions of engagement but only from one detent to the next with deliberate actuation of the handle in between; on the other hand, upwards adjustment can be carried out simply by pushing up the fitting without having to release the handle, because of the action of the re-setting spring forces.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 shows the engagement mechanism of the height adjuster in longitudinal section in the position of displacement; Fig. la shows the mechanism of Fig. 1 in front elevation; Fig. 2 shows the mechanism when the next plane of release is reached; Fig. 3 shows the mechanism in the position of Fig. 2 in the locked state; and Fig. 4 shows the mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 3 after resetting of the actuation means (ready for releasing again).

The height adjusting device consists of a C-shaped guide rail 10 slotted on one side, which can be fixed to a structural part of the vehicle (bodywork) by means of fixing elements (not shown) Slidably mounted in the guide rail 10 is a sliding member 11 which is adapted to the profile thereof and which carries, by means of a fixing device 12 shown, a fixing or guide fitting which is not ShoWn in Qetgll, A lockin? member 13 which cooperates with detents located in the bottom of the guide rail 10 in the locking position is pivotally mounted 5 in the sliding member 11.

Actuation means in the form of a handle 14 is pivotally mounted on the sliding member 11 and can be actuated by means of a covering key 15. The handle 14 is connected to the locking member 13 by means of a rocker 16 so that any rotary movements of the handle 14 can be transmitted to the locking member 13. The rocker 16 is connected to the handle 14 at one end via an upper pivotal joint 17 in the form of a pivot pin and at its bottom end to the locking member 13 via a lower pivotal joint 18, so that, by means of these pivotal arrangements 17, 18, it is possible to adjust the locking member 13 carried by the sliding member 11 to different angular positions.

The handle 14 has, at its end facing the rocker 16, a support lip 19 which is able to bear on the planes of release provided on the guide rail. In order to create the desired lever conditions, the lip 19 is arranged between the pivotal joints 17, 18 and below the joint 17, so that when the handle 14 is pivoted about the support lip 19 the joint 17 is displaced. The downward pivoting distance of the handle 14 is limited by a stop 30 carried by the sliding member 11.

In the embodiment shown, the stop can be set in three different vertical positions, the first and uppermost detent or locking position being formed by a locking recess 20 stamped out in the base of the guide rail 10 in which the locking member 13 can engage; the plane of release 22 which corresponds to the first locking plane 21 thus formed by the base of the guide rail 10 is the surface of the guide 1 rail 10 on which the support lip 19 of the handle 14 slides in the intermediate position (Figure 1).

The central or second detent or locking position is formed by a locking projection 23 stamped out of the base of the guide rail 10 and projecting into the interior of the guide rail 10, the upper edge of this projection forming the second plane of engagement 24 over which the bolt has to be raised when released from this locking position; the plane of release 25 associated with this locking plane 24 is formed by a strip or opening 26 fixedly located on the surface of the guide rail 10 and disposed with its start slightly above the locking projection 23. The necessary raising of the surface of the guide rail may also be achieved by means of elevated portions in the legs of the rail, in the manner of an embossed portion.

The third and lowest detent or locking position is formed by an end stop 31 on the guide rail 10, which fixes the sliding member 11 in this position.

The engagement device of the height adjuster according to the preceding description of the drawings operates as follows: Figure 1 shows the position of the sliding member 11 when the locking member 13 is disengaged in the position between the first detent 20 and the second detent 23. By pressing the key 15 in the direction of the arrow 27 the handle 14 is pressed up to the stop 30 and in this way raises the locking member 13 out of the detent opening 20 by means of the rocker 16. For this purpose, the lip 19 has rested on the first plane of release 22 in the form of the upper surface of the guide rail 10 and, when the sliding member 11 is displaced in the guide rail 10, it slides downwards along this first plane of release 22.

Shortly before reaching the second locking position 23, the lip 19 makes contact with the strip 26 (Figure 2) and as the key 15 continues to be pressed in the direction of displacement 27, as a result of the abutment of the handle 14 on the strip 26, the rocker 16 presses the locking member 13 into engagement with the detent projection 23 on account of the leverage conditions selected. In this position, further movement of the parts is impossible (Figure 3).

Further manoeuvring of the engaging mechanism can only be carried out if the key 15 is released, as a result of which the handle 14 returns to its original position under the effect of the recoil spring 29 acting on its lip 19 (Figure 4); as a result of the spring acting on the locking member 13 and not shown in detail, the locking position of the handle 14 with the locking projection 23 is obtained.

At the same time, as the handle 14 returns to its starting position as a result of the rocker connection between the locking member and handle, the lip slides onto the surface of the strip 26 as the plane of release 25 associated with the second plane of engagement 24, so that only if the key 15 is actuated again will the handle 14 be supported on the surface of the strip 26 and move the locking member 13 away over the second plane of engagement 24 on the locking projection, as a result of the leverage conditions selected by means of the joints 17, 18, after which the sliding member 11 is freely movable up to the end of the guide rail.

To increase safety still further, the two legs of the C-shaped guide rail 10 together with corresponding stops on the rocker 16 may be arranged so as to open stepwise, so that in the region between the first detent 20 until shortly before it reaches the second detent 23 the locking member 13 can only be positively released through the first plane of engagement.

Although this is not shown in detail, according to another embodiment of the invention the strip 26 may be movably mounted on the surface of the guide t 1 rail 10 and be acted upon by a spring. The strip 26 is arranged in the same position as shown in Figure 2. If in this position the lip 19 of the handle 14 strikes.the strip 26 during the downward movement, this strip 26 is pushed along by a certain amount until the locking member 13 reaches the detent projection ?3 and is arrested. In this position, similarly, no further movement of the sliding member is possible. If the key 15 is then released in accordance with Figure 4, the strip 26 moves back into its upper position, under the action of the spring, as a result of which its surface comes to rest under the lip 19 of the handle 14 and consequently the second plane of release shown in Figure 4 is again fixed. In this embodiment the articulated arrangement of the rocker 16 as a transfer member between the handle 14 and locking member 13 with its levering functions is no longer required, thus simplifying the construction. It is to be clearly understood that there are no particular features of the foregoing specification, or of any claims appended hereto, which are at present regarded as being essential to the performance of the present invention, and that any one or more ofsuch features or combinations thereof may therefore be included in, added to, omitted from or deleted from any of such claims if and when amended during the prosecution of this application or in the filing or prosecution of any divisional application based thereon. Furthermore the manner in which any of such features of the specification or claims are described or defined may be amended, broadened or otherwise modified in any manner which falls within the knowledge of a person skilled in the relevant art, for example so as to encompass, either implicitly or explicitly, equivalents or generalisations thereof.

Claims

1. A device for adjusting the height of the upper fixing or guide fitting for the shoulder belt of a safety belt system, comprising a locking mechanim adapted to be mounted on a structural part of the vehicle and having a guide rail provided with detents in which an associated locking member is engagable, the locking member being mounted so as to be pivotable by means of actuation means provided on a sliding member longitudinally movable witin the profile of the guide rail, between a position of engagement in a respective detent and a position allowing longitudinal movement of the sliding membe r, wherein the detents in the guide rail are arranged in planes offset from each other and each such detent plane is associated with a correspondingly offset plane of release in which a respective support for the actuation means is located.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detents are formed by stamped portions in the base of the guide rail.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the associated planes of release are formed by the surface of the guide rail remote from its base and at least one elevated portion provided thereon.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein three detents are provided, the uppermost detent being formed by a recess in the base of the guide rail and the associated support for the actuation means being formed by said surface of the guide rail remote from its base, the central detent being formed by a stamped locking projection which protrudes into the interior of the guide rail and the associated p 1 support for the actuation means being formed by said elevated portion provided on said surface of the guide rail, and the lowermost detent being formed by a stop on the guide rail.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the support for the actuation means associated with the central detent, in the direction of downward displacement of the sliding member, begins a certain amount above said central detent.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the actuation means has a lip portion arranged to engage the supports located in the planes of release and to pivot about such supports, such pivoting causing movement of the locking member.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the locking member is connected to the actuation means by means of a rocker, there being a first pivotal joint between the actuation means and the rocker and a second pivotal joint between the rocker and the locking member, the arrangement being such that when the actuation means engages the various supports located in their respective planes of release, the locking member assumes different angular positions relative to the sliding member, the distance moved by the locking member between such positions corresponding to the spacing between the detent planes.

8. A device as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein a fixed stop is provided on the sliding member at a spacing from the lip portion for limiting movement of the actuation means relative to the sliding member.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein both the locking member and the actuation means are acted upon by return springs.

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10. A device as claimed in claims 6 and 9, wherein the spring for returning the actuation means acts on the lip portion thereof.

1

11. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one plane of release is formed by a strip arranged so as to be longitudinally movable, under the effect of a spring, relative to the guide rail.

12. A device for adjusting the height of the upper fixing or guide fitting for the shoulder belt of a safety belt system, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings -1 Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66P71 High Holborn, London WC1R 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch. St Mary Cray, Orpington, Rent BR5 3RD- Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1/87.