GB2239043A

GB2239043A - Safety belt fastener

Info

Publication number: GB2239043A
Application number: GB9023571A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerhard Sedlmayr; Peter Eckmann; Alfred Liensdorf; Jan Baumann
Original assignee: Autoflug GmbH
Current assignee: Autoflug GmbH
Priority date: 1989-11-01
Filing date: 1990-10-30
Publication date: 1991-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 2010-10-30
Also published as: DE3936306C2; ZA908715B; GB2239043B; JP3211088B2; JPH03208753A; IT9021906A0; FR2653724A1; DE3936306A1; IT1246483B; IT9021906A1; GB9023571D0; FR2653724B1

Abstract

In a safety belt fastener for a safety belt system having a belt-tightening device, a lock tongue (12) is latched in the fastener by a locking mechanism (14) and a spring-loaded release button acts on the locking mechanism. To ensure that even after belt-tightening the operating button is in an accessible position, the button is formed in two portions (17, 18) which are coupled together and relatively movable. One button portion (17) moves with the fastener body (10) during the belt-tightening process and the other button portion (18) at the end of the belt-tightening process stands in the operating position preset by the rest position of the fastener (10). <IMAGE>

Description

i SAFETY BELT FASTENER The invention relates to a safety belt fastener for

a safety belt system having a belt-tightening device which causes the belt to act on the wearer of the belt, having a lock tongue which can be latched in the fastener, a locking mechanism for the lock tongue and a spring-loaded release button which acts on the locking mechanism.

A safety belt system having a belt-tightening 10 arrangement which causes the belt to act on the wearer of the belt is shown, for example, in EP-A0 300 469 which proposes that during tightening the wearer of the belt is drawn by way of a mechanical drive in the direction of the underbody of the motor vehicle, whereby the belt portion of the safety belt system which acts on the fastener tongue is tightened. In so far as, in the case of such a safety belt system, there is used a standard safety belt fastener with a lock tongue which can be latched in the fastener, a locking mechanism and a spring-loaded release button acting on the locking mechanism. it follows, as a disadvantage, that the safety belt fastener as a whole at the end of the belt-tightening movement is concealed, for example, within the seat pad of the vehicle seat or between a bracket and the vehicle seat and is no longer accessible for release by freeing of the fastener tongue. because the release button provided on the fastener for the passenger, who is strapped in. is no longer within reach after a belt-tightening process has been carried out.

The underlying object of the invention is therefore to make available a safety belt fastener for a safety belt system with a belt-tightening device which causes the belt to act on the wearer of the belt, the release button of which fastener is accessible at the end of the belt- tightening movement, as an operating element.

The solution to the problem of achieving this object, including advantageous arrangements and developments, follows from the content of the claims which are placed after this description.

According to the present invention there is provided a safety belt fastener for a safety belt system having a belt-tightening device which causes the belt to act on the wearer of the belt. having a lock tongue which can be latched in the fastener, a locking mechanism for the lock tongue and a spring-loaded release button which acts on the locking mechanism. the release button being formed in two parts with two button portions which are coupled together, are movable in relation to each other and of which one button portion follows the movement of the fastener body in the belt-tightening process and the other button portion at the end of the belt-tightening process stands in an operating position preset by the rest position of the fastener. The advantage resulting from the two-part release button is that one button portion. despite the movement of the fastener, remains in the operating position usual for the person strapped in so that the person who is strapped in is able to actuate this button portion even after a belt-tightening process has occurred. -and.-by so doing can easily undo the fastener and thus take off the safety belt.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the release button is composed of a first button portion which is accessible for operation and a second button portion which is connected with the fastener body, with the second button portion following the movement of the fastener body during the belt-tightening process. For the purpose of compensating the opposed movement connected therewith of the two button portions. the first button portion is inserted into the second button portion and is coupled with the second button portion by way of a connection which can be undone in opposition to the direction of the unlocking movement of the button and is made fast in the direction of the unlocking movement of the button, preferably by way of interlocking tooth constructions.

For the purpose of actuating the locking mechanism, clearance is provided between the first button portion and the second button portion in a guide housing, with the clearance area being fixed in the directions of movement of the first button portion by means of stops arranged on the guide housing. The first button portion, in this connection, is loaded by means of a spring, which is supported on the guide housing, into its initial position. The advantage connected with this is that if the first button portion moves on account of friction in relation to the second button portion during the belt-tightening process jointly with the second button portion in the first instance in the belt- tightening direction, the first button portion meets with a stop of the guide housing and is thereby released from the second button portion, whereby the desired relative movement between the button portions comes about. Thereafter the spring which is provided between the first button portion and the guide housing brings the first button portion back into the initial operating position in which it is held fast by means of a further projection of the guide housing.

In a f urther embodiment of the invention, the first button portion is inserted with a guide rod into a coordinated channel which is formed on the second button portion. with the two button portions being connected with each other by means of a pin in the initial position of the fastener. For effecting cancellation of this connection in the belt-tightening process, the pin Is provided with an inertia mass so that during the belttightening movement the acting inertial forces release the pin from its connection with the first button portion so that the first button portion is freed and can be displaced relatively in relation to the second button portion under the effect of a relevant spring so that the first button portion remains in the operating position of the lock, whilst the second button portion follows the belt-tightening movement of the fastener body.

For a better understanding of the invention and to sh6w how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made. by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a safety belt fastener in longitudinal section in its normal functional position; Figure 2 shows the fastener of Figure 1 at the end of a belt-tightening movement; Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 1 but of a different embodiment of safety belt fastener; Figure 4 shows the fastener of Figure 3 at the end of a belt-tightening movement.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2f the safety belt fastener consists of a fastener body 10 which is connected, by way of an anchoring portion 11f with the vehicle or with a drive arrangement, which is not 1 j 1 further represented, for a belt-tightening movement (arrow 35) of the fastener 10. It is possible to insert into an insert path 20 between two parallel fastener plates 10a, 10b a fastener tongue 12 on which acts the belt band 13 of a safety belt system. There is diagrammatically indicated as a locking arrangement a locking bar 14 which can be moved perpendicularly to the movement path of the fastener tongue 12 and which is loaded by means of a locking spring 15 into its locking position in which it penetrates a recess 16 of the fastener tongue 12 and holds the latter fast in the fastener body 10.

A two-part release button with a first upper button portion 18 and a second lower button portion 17 is arranged in the fastener as an operating element for the actuation of the locking bar 14. The lower button portion 17 cooperates with the locking bar 14 by way of a butting slope 19 when unlocking. For this purpose, the lower button portion 17 is movable in a recess 21 of the fastener plates 10a, 10b and is loaded by way of a pressure spring 22 into the initial position corresponding with the locking position of the locking bar 14.

There is arranged parallel to the fastener body 10 a guide housing 24 for the button portions 17. 18, which housing has a slot 25, corresponding to the length of the belt-tightening stroke exerted on the anchoring portion 11, for the purpose of guiding the button portion 17.

The lower button portion 17 has. in the guide housing 24, a leg 26 with a tooth construction 27. The upper portion 18 can be moved in the insert path thus established. the upper button portion 18 including an 4 extension 28 which is arranged parallel to the leg 26 and which has for cooperation therewith a coordinated tooth construction 29. The tooth constructions 27. 29 interlock In a formlocking manner and are aligned with regard to their tooth flanks so that the tooth flanks are bevelled in opposition to the operating direction 30 for the unlocking movement of the release button. Thus sliding-off of the tooth constructions 27, 29 wit h a relative movement of the two button portions 17. 18 in relation to each other is possible only in opposition to the direction (arrow 30) of button movement for effecting unlocking, the two button portions being locked in each position in relation to each other for effecting unlocking.

The upper button portion 18 is arranged so as to be movable in the guide housing 24 between two projections 31, 32. which limit its path, with clearance under the action of a spring 33.

The normal functional position of the safety belt fastener in which the upper button portion 18 is inserted into the lower button portion 17 is in the first instance as shown in Figure 1. Pressure on the operating area of the upper button portion 18 displaces the upper button portion 18 on account of the tooth construction locking system 27/29 jointly with the lower button portion 17 in the recess 21, in the direction of arrow 30, so that the butting slope 19 lifts the locking bar 14 out of the insert path 20 and frees the fastener tongue 12. Subsequently, the spring 22 guides the two-part release button 17, 18 back into its initial position again.

In the case of a belt-tightening movement, the lower button portion 17, which is connected with the 1 i fastener body 10 by way of the recesses 21 in a form locking manner, is moved in the tightening direction 35. At the same time, the upper button portion 18 remains in its position on account of its mass inertia.

with the tooth constructions 27, 29 sliding off one another and a relative movement takes place between the two button portions. At the end of the belt-tightening movement, on account of the tooth constructions 27, 29r the upper button portion 18 and lower button portion 17 are locked for movement together in the operating direction 30 so that by means of pressure on the upper button portion 18 the lower button portion 17 executes normal unlocking movement.

If the upper button portion 18. on account of prevailing friction, should first also be moved in the operating direction 30/tightening direction 35, this movement is restricted by the stop 32 and is cancelled by the spring 33.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the lower button portion 17 forms a channel 40 in which an extension rod 41 of the upper button portion 18 can move with a guide portion 42 against the action of a pressure spring 43.

The lower button portion 17 and the upper button portion 18 are connected with each other by means of a pin 44 which penetrates the portions 40, 41 and the free end of which projects out of the guide housing 24 and there bears an inertia mass 45. The pin 44 has a joint 46 which is outside the guide housing 24 and which is encompassed by a shear sleeve 47 so that the pin 44 is held in its extended position between two abutments 48, 49. In the guide housing 24 a slot 50 is formed for the guidance of the parts 44, 48, 49. For i the purpose of fixing the upper button portion 18 at the end of the relative movement in relation to the lower button portion 17 when the belt-tightening process takes place there are holding lugs 51 which project Into the channel 40 and which, for permitting extraction of the upper button portion 18, allow the guide portion 42 to pass in the channel 40 and f irst fix It in the counter-direction, that is in the operating direction 30.

The fastener of Figures 3 and 4 thereby functions in a manner comparable with the embodiment described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. For the purposes of normal operational movement the two button portions 17, 18 are connected with each other by means of the pin 44. With a belt-tightening movement, the second lower button portion 17 follows the fastener body 10, in which case the inertia mass 45 is supported at the abutment 49 and the pin 44 maintains the connection of the button portions 17, 18.

At the end of the belt-tightening movement, the shear sleeve 47 breaks away on account of the inertial forces which originate from the inertia mass 45 and thus frees the joint 46. The inertia mass 45 swings downwards and thereby draws the pin 44 out of the extension rod 41 so that the form-locking connection of the button portions 17, 18 is cancelled. As a result, the spring 33 pushes the first upper button portion 18 back out into the initial operating position in which the upper button portion 18 is locked by means of the holding lugs 51 with the lower button portion 17 such that a pressure on the upper button portion 18 in the operating direction 30 brings about a corresponding unlocking movement of the lower button portion 17.

r 1 Although not represented further, the invention is not limited to the embodiments with an upper and a lower button portion, rather it can also be provided that the button be arranged in a longitudinal direction with two adjacent button portions, of which one button portion is held in the operating position by means of an arrangement arranged on the vehicle seat or on the vehicle itself, whilst the other button portion follows the belt-tightening movement of the fastener body. There must be provided, of course at the end of the belt-tightening path a mutual locking system of the two button portions.

According to further embodiments of the invention, the guide housing can be arranged with the two button portions and the corresponding connection arrangements or locking arrangements either in the fastener body itself or else separately therefrom, in which case the second button portion must be connected functionally with the unlocking arrangement for the fastener.

Although not represented in particular in the Figures, according to the invention it can also be provided that the respective necessary connection between the two button portions 18, 17 be established in a telescopic manner with several components which can be inserted into each other, this applying, in the case of the embodiments shown, more particularly to the extension 28 and the leg 26 or the guide rod 41 and the channel 40 respectively. With such a development, either the structural size of the fastener can be reduced or else the belt-tightening stroke can be increased.

1

Claims

1. A safety belt fastener for a safety belt system having a belttightening device which causes the belt to act on the wearer of the belt, having a lock tongue which can be latched in the fastener. a locking mechanism for the lock tongue and a spring-loaded release button which acts on the locking mechanism, the release button being formed in two parts_with two button portions which are coupled together, are movable in relation to each other and of which one button portion follows the movement of the fastener body in the belt-tightening process and the other button portion at the end of the belt-tightening process stands in an operating position preset by the rest position of the fastener.

2. A fastener according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the release button is composed of a f irst button portion which is accessible for operation and a second button portion which is connected with the fastener body, the second button portion following the movement of the fastener body in the belt-tightening process.

3. A fastener according to claim 2, wherein the first and second button portions are coupled together by way of a connection which can be undone in opposition to the direction of the unlocking movement of the release button and is made fast in the direction of the unlocking movement of the release button.

4. A fastener according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first button portion is arranged in a guide housing and can be moved with clearance in relation to the housing, the clearance area being fixed in the directions of movement of the first button portion by means of coordinated stops on the guide housing, and the first 1 j 1 button portion being loaded by means of a pressure spring, which is supported on the guide housing, into its operating position.

5. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein the release button is composed of a f irst button portion which is accessible for operation and a second button portion which is connected with the fastener body, the first button portion being coupled to the second button portion by a connecting device which can be released in the event of be lt- tightening, and being loaded by way of a pre- tensioned spring, which is arranged between the button portions, in opposition to the unlocking movement of the release button.

6. A fastener according to claim 5, wherein the first button portion is inserted into the second button portion over the length of the belt-tightening path of the fastener body and wherein at the outer end of the insert path the second button portion has a device for locking the f irst button portion in relation to the second button portion in the operating direction of the release button.

7. A fastener according to claim 5 or 6. wherein said connecting device consists of a pin penetrating both button portions which is longitudinally movable and bears an inertia mass at its free end.

8. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein the release button is divided in its longitudinal direction into two adjacent button portions. of which one button portion is held fast in the operating position by means of a holding arrangement arranged on the vehicle seat or on a portion of the vehicle and can be locked with the other button portion by way of a locking device at 1k the end of the belt-tightening stroke.

9. A f astener according to any one of claims 1 to 8 j wherein the twopart release button is arranged with coordinated connecting and locking devices in the 5 housing of the fastener.

10. A fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the twopart release button is arranged with coordinated connecting and locking devices in a separate housing, with said one button portion coupled 10 functionally with the locking device of the fastener.

11. A fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the connection between the one button portion and the other button portion is established in a telescopic manner with several components which can be 15 inserted into each other.

12. A safety belt fastener for a safety belt system. substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. or Figures 3 and 4, of the accompanying drawings.

Published 1991 atThe Patent Office. State House. 66171 High Holborn. London WC1R47P. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch. Unit a Nine Mile PotnL Cwmfelinfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NP1 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques lid, St Mary Cray, Kent.