GB2244079A - "Improvements in or relating to a safety belt arrangement" - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety belt arrangement for use in a motor vehicle incorporates a safety belt. The safety belt passes through a pillar loop or through an aperture 12 provided in the tongue of a safety belt. A clamping element 18 is provided, movable from a release position (fig 2) in which the belt is free to move through the aperture to a clamping position (fig 3) in which the clamping element traps pan of the belt against a fixed surface. The clamping element may be pivotally (as shown) or slidably mounted in position. The safety belt may totally surround the clamping element when in the clamping condition. <IMAGE>

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 motor car.

It has been proposed previously to provide a safety belt arrangement within a motor vehicle or car, to restrain a person in their seat in the event of an accident. On some occasions a safety belt arrangement in a motor vehicle or car has to perform a dual function. Firstly it must act as an ordinary safety belt in order to restrain a person wearing the safety belt, and secondly the safety belt must be capable of being used to anchor a seat specifically designed to accommodate a child, restraining the seat in position on the main seat provided in the motor vehicle. In such a case the portion of the safety belt that is inserted into the restraining buckle must be fixed, so that the safety belt cannot move relative to the buckle.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved buckle.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a safety belt arrangement for use in a motor vehicle, said arrangement comprising a safety belt, a member associated with the safety belt and adapted to be secured directly or indirectly to the chassis of the vehicle, said member being formed of metal and defining an aperture therethrough, the safety belt extending through the aperture, wherein a clamping element is provided, mounted on said member, the clamping element being movable from a release position, in which the belt is free to move through the aperture in said member, to a clamping position in which the clamping element clampingly traps part of the belt against a fixed surface, the clamping element being pivotally mounted in position.

Preferably the clamping element has a portion adapted to be engaged by part of the belt to which tension is applied and a portion to effect the clamping with the fixed surface.

Conveniently a separate element or housing is mounted on the metal member, defining a fixed surface against which clamping is effected.

Advantageously a separate element or housing defines an aperture or passage through which part of the safety belt passes, the clamping element being adapted to move to a clamping position in which part of the clamping element traps part of the belt against one side of the aperture or passage.

Conveniently the separate element or housing defines a transversely extending aperture through which the belt passes, the clamping element comprising a plate having a portion adapted to engage part of the safety belt, arms extending from the plate to a pivot point, and an upstanding lip extending from the plate at a position spaced from the arms, the upstanding lip being adapted to be driven into the said aperture to clamp the belt against part of the housing defining the aperture when another part of the belt is engaged with the end of the plate adjacent the said arms.

Alternatively the portion of the clamping element to be engaged by the belt is on one side of the metal member and the portion to effect clamping is on the opposite side of the metal member, the housing defining a passage through which the belt passes, aligned with an aperture in the metal member through which the belt passes.

Preferably when the clamping element is in the clamping condition, the clamping element is surrounded by a loop of belt and effects clamping against a fixed surface which is on the exterior of the loop.

In an alternative embodiment the portion of the clamping element to be engaged by the said part of the belt is on one side of the metal member and the portion to effect clamping is on the other side of the metal member, the belt passing between the portion to effect clamping and the metal member then passing through the aperture in the metal member and subsequently passing the portion to be engaged by the part of the belt to which tension is applied, the clamping element serving to effect clamping against part of the metal member in the region of the aperture through the metal-member.

According to a second aspect of this invention there is provided a safety belt arrangement for use in a motor vehicle, said arrangement comprising a safety belt, a member associated with the safety belt and adapted to be secured directly or indirectly to the chassis of the vehicle, said member being formed of metal and defining an aperture therethrough, the safety belt extending through the aperture, wherein a clamping element is provided, mounted on said member, the clamping element being movable from a release position, in which the belt is free to move through the aperture in said member, to a clamping position in which the clamping element clampingly traps part of the belt against a fixed surface, the belt forming a loop surrounding the clamping element when the clamping element is in the clamping position, the fixed surface being located on the exterior of the loop.

Preferably the fixed surface is defined by a separate element or housing mounted on the metal member which defines the fixed surface.

Conveniently the housing or separate element defines at least one aperture through which the belt passes, that aperture being aligned with the said aperture through the metal member.

Advantageously the separate element or housing defines two apertures through which the belt passes, one being aligned with the aperture in the metal member, and one being spaced therefrom so that the belt passes a tortuous path as it extends through the two apertures.

Preferably the clamping element is slidably mounted in position on part of the 'metal element and moves slidably to and from the clamping position.

Conveniently the said housing defines a flat surface and the clamping element defines a flat surface located in spaced parallelism therewith, the clamping element being adapted to move in a plane which is inclined to the plane of the two flat surfaces to effect clamping of the belt between the two flat surfaces.

Alternatively the clamping element is provided with a serrated portion adapted to engage the belt when the clamping element is moved to the clamping position.

Preferably the clamping element is slidably mounted on part of the metal member immediately adjacent the aperture therethrough.

Conveniently the clamping member is spring biassed to the release position.

In an alternative embodiment the clamping member is pivotally mounted in position.

Preferably the clamping element has a portion adapted to be engaged by part of the belt to which tension is applied and a separate portion to effect the clamping with a fixed surface, the fixed surface bounding a passage or aperture defined by the separate element or housing through which the belt passes.

Preferably the metal member forms a tongue to be inserted into a seat belt buckle.

Alternatively the metal member forms part of a shoulder loop for a safety belt.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof will be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a tongue to co-operate with a safety belt buckle provided with a clamping arrangement, in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 2 is a side view of the tongue of Figure 1, partly in section, illustrating the arrangement in an unclamped condition, FIGURE 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 but showing the arrangement in a clamped condition, FIGURE 4 is a view of the clamping element that is mounted on the tongue as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of a tongue in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 6 is a side view, partly in section, of the arrangement shown in Figure 5, FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view of part of the movable clamping element illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of part of another embodiment of the invention, FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the clamping element present in the embodiment of Figure 8, FIGURE 10 is a sectional view of yet another embodiment of the invention, FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the clamping element of the arrangement shown in Figure 10, FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of the invention, FIGURE 13 is a vertical sectional view taken through the embodiment of Figure 12, and FIGURE 14 is a further sectional view taken on the line A-A of Figure 13.

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, a tongue 1 is provided which is adapted to be inserted into a conventional safety belt buckle. The tongue 1 is in the form of a metal plate 2 having a forwardly projecting portion 3 in which a central aperture 4 is provided. This part of the tongue is intended to be inserted into the buckle. Of course, this part of the tongue may have any other conventional design, as is app-ropriate.

The metallic plate 2 defines a transverse elongate aperture 5 therein, there being a portion 6 of the plate which forms a transverse bar defining the edge of the aperture 5 that is remote from the portion 3 of the plate 2.

A plastics material element 7 is provided which is moulded or mounted in position with part of the element 7 surrounding the transverse bar 6. The plastics material element 7 has a portion 8 which engages the main area of the plate 2, and which also supports a pair of bearings 9,10 for a purpose which will be described hereinafter in greater detail. The plastics material element 7 extends beyond the transverse bar 6, and there defines a further -transversely extending portion 11. An aperture 11 is defined between' the portion 11 and the transverse bar 6.

A clamping element is provided which is pivotally mounted in position, the clamping element having a pair of outwardly directed trunions 13,14 which engage the bearings 9,10. The clamping element comprises two arms 15,16, each associated with one of the trunions, the arms being interconnected by a transverse plate 17 which carries an upwardly directed lip 18 at the free end thereof. The clamping element is adapted to pivot to a position in which the upper edge of the lip 18 is inserted into the aperture 12.

The tongue may be mounted on a safety belt 19, with the safety belt passing through the aperture 12 over the bar 6 (on the side thereof opposed to the clamping element 17), and then downwardly through the aperture 5. With the safety belt in this condition (as illustrated in Figure 2) the tongue 1 may slide relatively freely along the safety belt. There will be a certain frictional effect against the safety belt 19 as it follows the tortuous path through the two apertures 11 and 5. The safety belt will have this condition when the tongue is being moved up and down the safety belt.

The tongue, mounted on the safety belt may be inserted in a buckle, when the tongue forms part of a conventional 3-point safety belt arrangement. The safety belt 19 will then be bent back on itself, as illustrated in Figure 3, so that part of the safety belt extends between the two arms 15,16 on the clamping element, passing over a rounded rear edge of the plate 17.

When a force is applied to this part 20 of the safety belt, as indicated by the arrow 21 the clamping element will be caused to move in a clockwise direction about the pivot point defined by the trunions 13,14, and consequently the free lip 18 will be driven upwardly into the aperture 12. Part of the safety belt will then b-e clamped between the lip 18 and the transverse portion 11. Consequently the clamping.will be effected by moving a clamping element, the operative part of which is contained within the loop defined by the safety belt, so that the clamping element traps part of the safety belt against a fixed point located on the exterior of the loop, defined on the transverse portion 11.

It is to be noted that the safety belt surrounds the transverse bar 6 so that even if the clamping element breaks or fails in some other way, the full force applied to the safety belt may be transmitted directly to the metal of the tongue 1.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of the invention. A similar tongue 1 is provided, carrying a further similar plastics material element 7.

These components will not be described again in detail.

Mounted on the transverse bar 6 is a movable clamping element 22. The clamping element is in the form of a sleeve which surrounds the bar 6, there being a leaf spring 23 located between part of the interior of the sleeve, and that face of the transverse bar 6 which faces the main area 2 of the plate forming the tongue 1 across the aperture 5. The spring serves to bias the clamping member 22, so that the clamping member 22 extends to the minimum possible extent into the aperture 12.

As can be seen, the safety belt 19 again follows a tortuous path through the apertures 12 and 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the upper right-hand corner (as seen in Figure 6) of the clamping element 22. It can be seen that the described portion of the clamping element 22 is provided with two teeth in the form of serrations 24.

It can be appreciated, from Figure 6, that when the embodiment of the invention illustrated in that Figure is in the condition illustrated, the tongue 1 may slide relatively freely relative to the belt 19, although there will be a certain frictional effect.

However, when the tongue is in use and a force is applied to the belt (corresponding to the force 21 applied to the belt portion 20 of Figure 3), the clamping member 22 will move against the bias of the spring 23, thus trapping part of the belt 19 between the serrated portion 24 of the clamping element 22 and the transverse portion 11. Thus, again, the clamping element is located within the loop defined by the belt and clamps part of the belt against a fixed surface on the exterior of the loop defined by the belt.

Figure 8 illustrates another embodiment of the invention, which can again be mounted on a tongue, such as the tongue 1. In this embodiment of the invention a plastics material housing 25 is formed on the tongue, the housing defining a passage therethrough 26 aligned with the aperture 5 formed in the tongue 1. A clamping member 27 is provided which is pivotally mounted relative to the housing 25. The clamping element consists of two spaced apart arms 28,29 which have a spacing greater than the width of the tongue 1. Extending between the arms are, at one end, a belt sensor 30 in the form of a depending plate and, at the other ends of the arms, a clamping element 31. The sensor 30 and the element 31 both extend transversely to the axis of the belt and each has a length equal to or greater than the width of the belt.

It can be seen that the clamping element 31 is mounted in position within part of the aperture.26 defined by the housing 8 adjacent an inclined face 32 defined by the housing 25. The belt sensor plate 30 is provided on the other side of the plate 1 and part of the belt 19 touches the belt sensor 30. It can be appreciated that when a force is applied to the belt 19, as indicated by the arrow 21, the belt sensor will tend to move upwardly. The clamping element will thus pivot about the pivot points 33,34 on the arms 28,29, these pivot points being located adjacent the plane of the plate. The clamping element 31 will move downwardly, thus clampingly trapping the belt 19 against the inclined surface 32.Thus, in this embodiment also the clamping element is totally contained within the loop defined by the belt and, on operation of the clamp, the belt is clamped against a fixed surface on the exterior of the loop.

Figure 10 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which, in many ways, is similar to that of Figure 8, in that a pivotally mounted clamping arrangement 27 is provided, having two arms or plates 28,29 with pivot points 33,34, the arms or plates 28,29 being interconnected by a clamping element 31 and a belt sensor element 30. Again the clamping element 31 is mounted on one side of the tongue 1 adjacent the aperture 5, and the sensor 30 is again provided on the other side, adjacent the aperture 5 so that the belt 19, passing through the aperture 5, engages the belt sensor 30. However, the belt passes through a relatively narrow passage between the clamping element 31 and part of the cross-bar 6 which defines the aperture 5.The arrangement is such that as the clamping element pivots due to applied tension, as indicated by the arrow 21, in the belt 19, in a clockwise. direction the clamping element 31 moves towards and traps the belt against part of the cross-bar 6 provided on the tongue 1. In this arrangement the spacing between the arms or plates 28,29 is greater than the with of the safety belt. Thus, in this arrangement, a pivotally mounted clamping element is used, but the clamping element operates to clamp the belt against part of the tongue itself, rather than to clamp the belt against a fixed surface on the exterior of the loop defined by the belt.

Figure 12 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which a housing 35 is mounted on the tongue 1. The housing 35 engages the opposed side edges of the plate 2 in the region of the cross-bar 6. The housing defines a relatively large passage 36 which accommodates firstly a slidable clamping element 37 which is mounted for sliding movement on the cross-bar 6, and secondly, a pass of the safety belt 19. The clamping element 37 presents a face 38 which is disposed parallel with but spaced from a corresponding face 39 defined by the housing 35. The safety belt 19 passes between these two opposed faces and then passes through the aperture 5 formed in the tongue 1.

The plane defined by the opposed faces 38,39 is inclined to the plane defined by the cross-bar 6. The plane defined by the cross-bar 6 determines the axis of movement of the clamping element 37, since the clamping element 37 is mounted on the cross-bar 6 by means of an elongate slot which accommodates the cross-bar 6.

The clamp, as described, may have an initial condition as illustrated in Figure 13. It can be seen that the opposed faces 38,39 are separated from one another thus permitting the safety belt 19 to pass relatively freely the.rebetween. However, when the illustrated tongue is in use the safety belt will -be bent back to form a loop surrounding the clamping ele ment 37. When a force is applied, for example, in the direction of the arrow 21 as indicated in Figure 13, the clamping element 37 will move upwardly and to the left (as shown in Figure 13) thus bringing the face 38 towards the face 39 and effecting a clamping of part of the belt between these faces.Thus, in this embodiment of the invention, again a clamping element is provided which is located substantially within the loop defined by the safety belt, the clamping element moving to clamp part of the belt against a fixed surface provided on the exterior of the loop defined by the belt.

Whilst the invention has been described solely with reference to a clamping device mouted on a tongue to be inserted in a safety belt buckle, it is to be appreciated that in modified embodiments of the invention clamping arrangements as described above may be mounted on an element defining a loop, through which the safety belt may pass, the element being adapted to be mounted substantially directly to the chassis of the vehicle on the door pillar or "B-post". Such a loop conventionally forms a "shoulder loop" for a safety belt. Of course, the position of such a shoulder loop may be adjustable.

Claims (27)

CLAIMS:

1. A safety belt arrangement for use in a motor vehicle, said arrangement comprising a safety belt, a member associated with the safety belt and adapted to be secured directly or indirectly to the chassis of the vehicle, said member being formed of metal and defining an aperture therethrough, the safety belt extending through the aperture, wherein a clamping element is provided, mounted on said member, the clamping element being movable from a release position, in which the belt is free to move through the aperture in said member, to a clamping position in which the clamping element clampingly traps part of the belt against a fixed surface, the clamping element being pivotally mounted in position.

2. An arrangement according to Claim 1 wherein the clamping element has a portion adapted to be engaged by part of the belt to which tension is applied and a portion to effect the clamping with the fixed surface.

3. An arrangement according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein a separate element or housing is mounted on the metal member, defining a fixed surface against which clamping is effected.

4. An arrangement according to Claim 3 wherein separate element or housing defines an aperture or passage through which part of the safety belt passes, the clamping element being adapted to 'move to a clamping position in which part of the clamping element traps part of the belt against one side of the. aperture or passage.

5. An arrangement according to Claim 4 wherein the separate element or housing defines a transversely extending aperture through which the belt passes, the clamping element comprising a plate having a portion adapted to engage part of the safety belt, arms extending from the plate to a pivot point, and an upstanding lip extending from the plate at a position spaced from the arms, the upstanding lip being adapted to be driven into the said aperture to clamp the belt against part of the housing defining the aperture when another part of the belt is engaged with the end of the plate adjacent the said arms.

6. An arrangement according to Claim rl wherein the portion of the clamping element to be engaged by the belt is on one side of the metal member and the portion to effect clamping is on the opposite side of the metal member, the housing defining a passage through which the belt passes, aligned with an aperture in the metal member through which the belt passes.

7. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 3 to 6 wherein when the clamping element is in the clamping condition, the clamping element is surrounded by a loop of belt and effects clamping against a fixed surface which is on the exterior of the loop.

8. An arrangement according tp- Claim 2 wherein the portion of the clamping element to be engaged by the' said part of the belt is on one side of the metal member and the portion to effect clamping is on the -other side of the metal member, the belt passing between the portion to effect clamping and the metal member then passing through the aperture in the metal member and subsequently passing the portion to be engaged by the part of the belt to which tension is applied, the clamping element serving to effect clamping against part of the metal member in the region of the aperture through the metal member.

9. A safety belt arrangement for use in a motor vehicle, said arrangement comprising a safety belt, a member associated with the safety belt and adapted to be secured directly or indirectly to the chassis of the vehicle, said member being formed of metal and defining an aperture therethrough, the safety belt extending through the aperture, wherein a clamping element is provided, mounted on said member, the clamping element being movable from a release position, in which the belt is free to move through the aperture in said member, to a clamping position in which the clamping element clampingly traps part of the belt against a fixed surface, the belt forming a loop surrounding the clamping element when the clamping element is in the clamping position, the fixed surface being located on the exterior of the loop.

10. An arrangement according to Claim 9 wherein the fixed surface is defined by a separate element or housing mounted on the metal member which defines the fixed surface.

11. An arrangement according to Claim 10 wherein the housing or separate element defines at least one aperture through which the belt passes, that aperture being aligned with the said aperture through the metal member.

12. An arrangement according to Claim 11 wherein the separate element or housing defines two apertures through which the belt passes,' one being aligned with the aperture in the metal member, and one being spaced therefrom so that the belt passes a tortuous path as it extends through the two apertures.

13. An arrangement according to Claim 9, 10 and 11 wherein the clamping element is slidably mounted in position on part of the metal element and moves slidably to and from the clamping position.

14. An arrangement according to Claim 13 wherein the said housing defines a flat surface and the clamping element defines a flat surface located in spaced parallelism therewith, the clamping element being adapted to move in a plane which is inclined to the plane of the two flat surfaces to effect clamping of the belt between the two flat surfaces.

15. An arrangement according to Claim 13 wherein the clamping element is provided with a serrated portion adapted to engage the belt when the clamping element is moved to the clamping position.

16. An arrangement according to Claim 13, 14 or 15 wherein the clamping element is slidably mounted on part of the metal member immediately adjacent the aperture therethrough.

17. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 13 to 16 wherein the clamping member is spring biassed to the release position.

18. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 9 to 12 wherein the clamping member is. pivotally mounted in position.

19. An arrangement according to Claim 18 wherein the clamping element has a portion adapted to be engaged by part of the belt to which tension is applied and a separate portion to effect the clamping with a fixed surface, the fixed surface bounding a passage or aperture defined by the separate element or housing through which the belt passes.

20. A safety belt arrangement according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the metal member forms a tongue to be inserted into a seat belt buckle.

21. A safety belt arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 19 wherein the metal member forms part of a shoulder loop for a safety belt.

22. A safety belt arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

23. A safety belt arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

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

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

26. A safety belt arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 12 to 14 of the accompanying drawings.

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