GB2242608A

GB2242608A - Safety belt arrangement for a motor vehicle.

Info

Publication number: GB2242608A
Application number: GB9004359A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Per-Olof Wemen
Original assignee: GEN ENGINEERING
Current assignee: GEN ENGINEERING
Priority date: 1990-02-27
Filing date: 1990-02-27
Publication date: 1991-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 2010-02-27
Also published as: GB2242608B; WO1991012979A1; GB9004359D0

Abstract

A safety belt arrangement for use in a two-door motor car has an elongate bar or rod (8) extending longitudinally of the vehicle adjacent the seat (1) one end of the safety belt (16) being connected to the bar or rod (8) so that the said one end of the safety belt can move axially of the rod to facilitate entry to the rear seats (6) of the vehicle. Means are provided to engage the safety belt (14), or an element associated therewith, to retain the safety belt (16) in a predetermined position relative to the seat (1) regardless of the adjusted position of the seat, so that the safety belt, in use, presents the desired geometry.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION "Improvements in or relating to a safety belt arrangement" THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a safety belt arrangement and more particularly relates to a safety belt arrangement for use in a motor vehicle such as a car.

Vehicles such as cars usually incorporate safety belts to be worn by the driver of the car and by a front-seat passenger in the car. Such a safety belt must, in use, have one end anchored adjacent the seat on t which the driver or front-seat passenger is sitting.

When the car is a two-door car, the front seat may be folded down to permit entry to the rear of the car.

However, people gaining access to the rear seats of the car may become entangled in the safety belts provided for the driver and the front-seat passenger of the car, unless special steps are taken.

USA-A-4244601 discloses an arrangement which seeks to overcome this problem in which one end of the safety belt is in the form of a loop which surrounds a horizontal bar which is mounted immediately adjacent the door sill, and which extends longitudinally of the vehicle. The situation is such that the loop may, when the safety belt is in the fully retracted posItion, slide to the rear of the bar, so that the safety belt does not hinder persons gaining access to the rear seats of the vehicle. However, when the safety belt is worn the loop travels to the front of the bar, so that the loop is located in substantially the correct position, so that the complete safety belt, when worn, has the desired geometry.

It is to be noted, however, that in the arrangement of US-A-4244601, the loop can slide forwardly of the bar until it reaches a cranked portion of the bar. The loop generally occupies this position when the seat belt is being worn. However, this cranked portion of the bar is fixed, relatively to the chassis of the vehicle and so the position of the driver (or front-seat passenger) which depends upon the precise positioning of the front seat, can vary, relative to the cranked portion. Thus, in some cases, when the seat is fully adjusted either forwardly or backwardly, the safety belt may not have the desired geometry.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved safety belt arrangement.

According to this invention there is provided a safety belt arrangement for use in a motor vehicle such as a motor car, the safety belt arrangement being adapted for use by a front-seat passenger or driver, and thus to be associated with a front seat in the vehicle which is adjustable, longitudinally of the vehicle, the arrangement comprising an elongate bar or rod extending longitudinally of the vehicle adjacent the seat, a safety belt, means being provided to connect one end of the safety belt to the bar or rod, the said one end of the safety belt being movable axially of the rod, means being provided to engage the safety belt or an element associated therewith to retain the safety belt in a predetermined position relative to the seat, regardless of the adjusted position of the seat.

Preferably said bar or rod has one end thereof securely fixed to the seat.

Conveniently the bar or rod has the rear end thereof securely fixed to the chassis of the vehicle or an element connected to the chassis of the vehicle.

In one embodiment both the front and the rear ends of the bar or rod are securely fixed to the chassis of the vehicle or an element connected to the chassis of the vehicle.

In another embodiment the bar or rod is telescopic.

In a further embodiment the said end of the safety belt is connected to a retractor mechanism which is movable along the rod by means of a carriage.

In another embodiment the said one end of the belt ls in the form of a loop which surrounds the bar or rod.

Preferably the means defining the predetermined position comprise a stop which is fixed in position relative to the seat engageable by the belt or said element associated with the belt.

Alternatively the means defining said predetermined position comprise a bent part of the bar or rod.

Conveniently the bent part of the bar or rod is bent to extend upwardly and rearwardly from the point of bending.

Alternatively the bent part of the bar or rod is bent to extend downwardly and rearwardly from the point of bending.

Preferably the rod or bar is adjustably mounted in position, the bar being movable between two positions, in one of which the bar slopes upwardly towards the front of the vehicle and in the other of which the bar slopes upwardly towards the rear of the vehicle.

Conveniently one end of the bar can move upwardly and downwardly.

Advantageously the said one end of the bar engages with an arcuate slot, the other end of the bar passing through an aperture formed in the chassis of the vehicle or an element connected to the chassis of the vehicle.

Preferably the bar is a cranked 'bar, means being provided to rotate the cranked bar.

Conveniently means are provided to drive the cranked bar in a rotational sense.

Advantageously means are provided to adjust the position of the bar under the control of the driver.

Preferably means are provided to adjust the position of the bar in response to lowering the back part of the front seat of the vehicle.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the inventIon will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a seat in a motor vehicle provided with a safety belt arrangement in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the arrangement of Figure 1, FIGURE 3 is a side view, corresponding to Figure 1, but showing a modified embodiment of the invention, FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the arrangement of Figure 3, FIGURE 5 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention, FIGURE 6 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention, FIGURE 7 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention, FIGURE 8 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention, FIGURE 9 is an end elevational view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 8, FIGURE 10 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention, FIGURE 11 is an end elevational view of the embodiment shown in Figure 10, FIGURE 12 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention, FIGURE 13 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention, FIGURE 14 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention, FIGURE 15 is a top view of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 14.

FIGURE 16 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention, and FIGURE 17 is a top view of the embodiment of Figure 16.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a seat 1 to be occupied by a front-seat passenger or driver of a motor vehicle comprising a squab 2 and a back 3. The seat is mounted for forward and rearward adjustment on parallel rails 4, as is conventional. The seat is mounted adjacent a door opening 5 in a two-door vehicle. Thus, the door opening 5 is used not only to gain access to the seat 1 but also to gain access to a rear seat 6 for the motor vehicle.

As indicated by the arrow 7, the seat 1 can be adjusted in position, forwardly and rearwardly.

An elongate rod or bar 8 is provided which extends horizontally adjacent the door sill 9 whicn is located beneath the door opening 5. The rear end of the bar 8 extends through an aperture 10, which is of significantly greater diameter than the diameter of the rod or bar 8, formed in part 11 of the chassis of the vehicle, the rod or bar then extending freely into a space 12 located under the rear seat 6. The aperture 10 is provided with a sleeve 13 of low friction material, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, through which the rod passes.

The front end of the bar 8 is cranked 14 to form a downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion which is secured to the side of the seat 1 by means of a bolt or the like.

It will be appreciated that as the seat 1 moves backwardly and forwardly along the rails 4 as the position of the seat is being adjusted the rod or bar 8 will also move forwardly and rearwardly, passing freely through the aperture 10.

A safety belt 16 is provided having a loop 17 formed at one end which passes around the bar or rod 8.

When the safety belt is being worn, the loop is brought forwardly to abut the downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion of the bar 8, as illustrated in solid lines in Figure 1. The cranked portion 14 forms a stop, to prevent further forward movement of the loop 17, and serves to retain the loop in a substantially predetermined position, relative to the seat, regardless of the actual adjusted position of the seat on the rails 4.

Should an accident arise, force will be transferred from the safety belt 16 to the bar 8. The force will be resisted by the bolt 15, and by the engagement of the bar 8 and the aperture 10. The seat 1 must be securely mounted on the rails 4, since this mounting must ultimately absorb the forces generated during the accident.

When the safety belt is not in use, the loop 17 may be moved back down the bar 8 so that the safety belt 16 occupies a substantially vertical position ad jacent the edge of the door opening 5, as shown in phantom in Figure 1. When in this position the safety belt will not impede any person trying to gain access to the rear seat 6 of the vehicle.

It is to be noted that the safety belt will occupy a predetermined position relative to the seat, regardless of the actual position of the seat on the rails 4. Thus the geometry of the safety belt can be the same, regardless of the position of the seat.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a modified embodiment of the invention, but similar reference numerals will be used in tnis embodiment (and all the subsequently described embodiments) as used in Figure 1.

In the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 the front end of the bar 8 passes through an aperture 18 formed in a stop 19 which is mounted on the side of the seat 1.

The rear end of the bar 8 is bolted 20 or otherwise secured to part 11 of the chassis of the motor vehicle.

The belt 16 is connected to a metal loop or ring forming a carriage that will slide forwardly along the rod 8, when the belt is in use, until it engages the stop 19.

Thus again, the position of the belt relative to the seat is predetermined. The seat may still slide freely forwardly and rearwardly along the rails 4 with the free end of the rod 8 passing freely through the aperture 18.

Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which the rod 8 is of telescopic form. The rod 8 thus comprises a rear-most portion 21 which is bolted or otherwise secured 20 to part 11 of the chassis of the vehicle. This portion 21 of the rod is telescopically received within a rearwardly extending tubular portion 22 which is secured to a stop 23 mounted on the seat 1. The loop 17 is configured so that it will slide freely along the telescopic rod 8 and will thus engage the stop 23 when the safety belt 16 is being worn, so that it is in an appropriate predetermined position relative to the seat, and will adopt a vertical postion adjacent the door opening 5, when the safety belt is not being worn.

Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment which is similar to the embodiment of Figure 1 in that the rod 8 passes through an aperture 10 formed in part 11 of the chassis of the vehicle, the rod then passing into a space 12 formed under the rear seat 6. However, the front end of the rod 8 is engaged within an arcuate slot 24 which is formed in the seat. The arrangement is such that as the seat moves forwardly and rearwardly along the rails 4, the rod 8 also moves forwardly and rearwardly, but the rod 8 is effectively free to pivot about a pivot axis which is located adjacent the aperture 10, so that the front end of the rod 8 can move upwardly or downwardly in the arcuate slot 24. When the safety belt 16 is being worn a slight upward force is exerted on the loop 17, thus tending to draw the front end of the rod 8 upwardly within the arcuate slot 24.

The rod 8 then slopes upwardly towards the front of the vehicle and the loop 17 tends freely to move towards the front of the vehicle. The loop 17 engages the part of the rod 8 that passes through the slot, and so the belt 16 is retained in a predetermined posItion, relative to the seat.

When the safety belt is not being worn a lesser upward force is exerted by the belt 16, and thus, under these circumstances, the front end of the bar 8 drops until it occupies the lower part of the arcuate slot 24.

The bar then slopes upwardly towards the rear of the vehicle and the loop 17 will tend to move automatically towards the rear of the vehicle so that the safety belt occupies a position in which it is substantially vertical adjacent the rear part of the door opening 5.

Figure 7 illustrates another embodiment in which the rod 8 passes through an aperture 10 formed in part of the chassis of the vehicle so that an end of the rod is located within a space 11 formed under the rear seat 6 of the vehicle. The front end of the rod passes through a relatively large aperture 25 formed in a stop 26 formed on the side of the seat 1. The front end of the rod 8 is connected to a drive element 27 (in the form of a wire or cable) which is connected, by means of appropriate rollers 28,29 to the back 3 of the seat and the arrangement is such that when the backs of the seat 3 is folded downwardly, the front end of the rod 8 is also moved downwardly. Spring biassing means (not shown) are provided so that when the back of the seat 3 is again moved to the upright position the front end of the rod 8 moves to an upper position.It will be noted that in the upper position of the front end of the rod, the rod slopes upwardly towards the front of the vehicle so that the loop 17 will tend to slide up the rod to a position in which it engages the stop 26. However, when the back 3 of the seat 1 is lowered, so the front end of the rod 8 is lowered, causing the rod to slope upwardly towards the rear of the vehicle, thus causing the loop 17 to slide to a position in which the safety belt extends vertically substantially adjacent the rear edge 5 of the door opening. Again it will be noted that in the operative position the loop 17 engages the stop 26 which is fast with the seat 1 so that the safety belt occupies a predetermined position relative to the seat and thus, agaIn, the geometry of the safety belt, when in use, does not depend upon the adjusted position of the seat on the rails 4.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate another embodiment of the invention in which the rod 8 can pivot about a pivot axis adjacent the aperture 10. In this embodiment, as in Figure 1, the aperture 10 is associated with a sleeve 11. The safety belt 16 is provided with a metal loop or ring forming a carriage that slides along the rod 8. The forward end of the rod 8 passes through an elongate slot 30 formed in a stop plate 31 that extends laterally from the side of the seat 1 and which is connected thereto by means of a bolt 32. The forward end of the rod 8 is engaged by one end 33 of a pivotted lever 34, the other end of which is located substantially centrally of the squab 2 of the seat 1, beneath the squab of the seat. Thus the end 35 of the lever substantially engages the under-surface of the squab of the seat.

When a person sits on the squab of the seat the end 35 of the lever moves downwardly and thus the other end of the lever 33 moves upwardly, moving upwardly the forward end of the rod 8. Thus, when a person sits on the seat the rod is automatically moved to the operative position, with the rod sloping upwardly towards the front of the vehicle so that the safety belt 16 will move to the desired position. The weight of the rod 8, however, is such that when a person is not sitting on the squab 2 of the seat 1 the weight of the rod 8 forces the end 33 of the lever 34 downwardly, so that the rod then returns to a position in wnich it is inclined upwardly towards the rear of the vehicle, enabling the safety belt to move smoothly to a retracted position.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate another e;9odi- ment of the invention in which the rod 8 is cranked having a substantially straight portion 40 which passes through an aperture 10 formed in part 11 of the chassis of the vehicle, so that a free end of the rod 8 is located within the space 11 located under the rear seat 6. Towards its front end the rod 8 is provided with a crank 41 with a short straight portion 42 leading to a further cranked portion 43 which is pivotally received within a bearing 44 formed on the side of the seat 1. The rod 8 is rotatable about an axis defined by the linear portion 44 and the aperture 10. The effect of rotation can be seen more clearly in Figure 11.

When the rod has been rotated to the upper position, as shown in solid lines in Figures 10 and 11, the main linear portion 40 of the rod extends upwardly towards the front of the vehicle and thus the loop 17 will tend to move towards the front of the vehicle, stopping when it reaches the cranked portion 42. The belt 16 is thus retained in a predetermined position relative to the seat. When the safety belt is not in use, the rod 8 will tend to rotate to the lower position, when the linear portion extends upwardly towards the rear of the vehicle, and then the loop 17 will tend to move towards the rear of the vehicle so that the safety belt is in a substantially vertical position adjacent the rear edge of the door opening 5. It is to be noted that, in this embodiment, the linear portion 40 is fast with the seat 1 and moves, with the seat 1.Thus the position of the loop 17 is predetermined, with reference to the seat and thus again the geometry of the safety belt is not altered as the position of the seat is altered.

Figure 12 illustrates an embodiment which is very similar to that illustrated in Figure 10, save that the front end of the linear portion 43 of the rod is provided with a drive wheel 44 which is connected to a drive element 27 corresponding to that shown in Figure 7, which is associated with pullies 28 and 29, and is also connected to the back 3 of the seat 1. The arrangement is such that as the back 3 of the seat 1 is lowered, so the cranked rod 8 is positively rotated between an upper position, corresponding to the upper position of Figure 12 and a lower position, corresponding to the lower position of Figure 12.

Figure 13 illustrates an embodiment of the invention which is similar to that illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. However, in this embodiment of the invention the front end of the rod 8 is secured to the door sill or to the floor by means of a bolt 45. The rod 8 still passes through an aperture 17 formed in a stop 18. This embodiment is stronger than the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3 but otherwise operates in the same way.

Figures 14 and 15 illustrate another embodiment of the invention which is similar to that shown, for example, in Figures 1 and 5 in that the front end of the rod 8 is firmly connected to the side of the seat 1 by means of a stop 46. The rear end of the rod 8 passes through an aperture 10 formed in part 11 of the chassis of the vehicle so that it enters into the space 12 formed under the rear seat 6 of the vehicle. In this embodiment of the Invention, however, a carriage 47 is provided which slides along the rod 8, the carriage carrying a retractor mechanism 48 which serves to retract the free end of the safety belt 15. The carriage 47 engages the stop 46 when the safety belt is in the operative position, thus ensuring that the belt has a predetermined position relative to the seat, providing the safety belt with a predetermined geometry when in use.However, when a person wishes to gain access to the rear seat 6 of the vehicle the carriage may be moved to a rear-most position from which the safety belt will extend substantially vertically adjacent the rear edge of the door opening 5 of the vehicle.

Figures 16 and 17 illustrate an embodiment of the invention similar to that illustrated in Figure 1.

However, towards the front of the rod 8 an upwardly directed cranked portion 50 is provided, so that the terminal part of the rod 8 is an upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 51 secured to the side of the seat by means of a bolt 15. The length of the upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 51 of the rod 8 has a length which is slightly greater than the width of the material forming the safety belt 16.

This embodiment operates in the manner described with reference to Figure 1, save that the belt, when moved to a forward position, is effectively retained on the upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 51 of the rod 8 until it is positively disengaged from that part of the rod 8. Thus this part of the rod 8 acts as a "presenter serving to retain the safety belt in the desired operational position, while permitting the belt to be moved to a rearward position should access to the rear seats of the vehicle be necessary.

It is to be understood that in many cases the rear seats provided in a motor vehicle of this type are used very seldom, since they are very small and cramped. Thus many cars of this type are only generally used by one or two people at the most. In such a case there is no real need for the safety belt to move automatically to a retracted position to permit access to the rear seats of the vehicle and it may be much more convenient, for all concerned, if the safety belt is retained in the operational position, by having the loop 17 thereof engaged with the upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 51 provided at the front end of the rod 8.

In each embodiment described above the rod 8 may be solid or tubular, and may be of round, eliptical, semi-circular or other appropriate cross-section.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A safety belt arrangement for use in a motor vehicle such as a motor car, the safety belt arrangement being adapted for use by a front-seat passenger or driver, and thus to be associated with a front seat in the vehicle which is adjustable, longitudinally of the vehicle, the arrangement comprising an elongate bar or rod extending longitudinally of the vehicle adjacent the seat, a safety belt, means being provided to connect one end of the safety belt to the bar or rod, the said one end of the safety belt being movable axially of the rod, means being provided to engage the safety belt or an element associated therewith to retain the safety belt in a predetermined position relative to the seat, regardless of the adjusted position of the seat.

2. An arrangement according to Claim 1 wherein said bar or rod has one end thereof securely fixed to the seat.

3. An arrangement according to Claim 1 wherein the bar or rod has the rear end thereof securely fixed to the chassis of the vehicle or an element connected to the chassis of the vehicle.

4. An arrangement according to Claim 1 wherein both the front and the rear ends of the bar or rod are securely fixed to the chassis of the vehicle or an element connected to the chassis of the vehicle.

5. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the bar or rod is telescopic.

6. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the said end of the safety belt is connected to a retractor mechanism which is movable along the rod by means of a carriage.

7. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the said one end of the belt is in the form of a loop which surrounds the bar or rod.

8. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the means defining the predetermined position comprise a stop which is fixed in position relative to the seat engageable by the belt or said element associated with the belt.

9. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the means defining said predetermined position comprise a bent part of the bar or rod.

10. An arrangement according to Claim 9 wherein the bent part of the bar or rod is bent to extend upwardly and rearwardly from the point of bending.

11. An arrangement according to Clalm 9 wherein the bent part of the bar or rod is bent to extend downwardly and rearwardly from the point of bending.

12. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the rod or bar is adjustably mounted in position, the bar being movable between two positions, in one of which the bar slopes upwardly towards the front of the vehicle and in the other of which the bar slopes upwardly towards the rear of the vehicle.

13. An arrangement according to Claim 12 wherein one end of the bar can move upwardly and downwardly.

14. An arrangement according to Claim 13 wherein the said one end of the bar engages with an arcuate slot, the other end of the bar passing through an aperture formed in the chassis of the vehicle or an element connected to the chassis of the vehicle.

15. An arrangement according to Claim 12 wherein the bar is a cranked bar, means being provided to rotate the cranked bar.

16. An arrangement according to Claim 15 wherein means are provided to drive the cranked bar in a rotational sense.

17. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 12 to 16 wherein means are provided to adjust the position of the bar under the control of the driver.

18. An arrangement according to Claim 17 wherein means are provided to adjust the position of the bar in response to lowering the back part of the front seat of the vehicle.

19. A safety belt arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A safety belt arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A safety belt arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A safety belt arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Fig ure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

23. A safety belt arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

24. A safety belt arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A safety belt arrangemnet substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.

26. A safet belt arrangement substantially as herein described wtih reference to and as shown in Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.

27. A safety belt arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 13 of the accompanying drawings.

28. A safety belt arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 14 and 15 of the accompanying drawings.

29. A safety belt arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 16 and 17 of the accompanying drawings.

30. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.