GB2244638A

GB2244638A - Arrangement for connecting seat belt anchor

Info

Publication number: GB2244638A
Application number: GB9110166A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eiichi Maruyama
Original assignee: Ikeda Bussan Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ikeda Corp
Priority date: 1990-05-25
Filing date: 1991-05-10
Publication date: 1991-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-10
Also published as: GB2244638B; GB9110166D0; ITRM910347A0; FR2662401B1; JPH0413454U; IT1248330B; FR2662401A1; JPH0723319Y2; DE4116245A1; ITRM910347A1

Abstract

A seat slide device 12 includes a movable rail 16 which mounts a seat cushion part 10 and is to slidably enage with a stationary rail 14. A base plate 34 of a reclining device 32 has one end pivotally connected to the movable rail 16. An arm 36 pivotally connected to the base plate 34 is secured to the seatback (not shown). A latch member 40 pivotally connected to the base plate 34 is latchingly engageable with a striker 44 connected to the movable rail 16. The seat belt anchor 46 is secured to the striker 44. <IMAGE>

Description

ARRANGEMENT FOR CONNECTING SEAT BELT ANCHOR The present invention relates

in general to a vehicular seat assembly having a safety seat belt, and more particularly to an arrangement for connecting a seat belt anchor to a movable rail of a seat slide device.

In order to clarify the task of the present invention, one conventional arrangement for connecting a seat belt anchor to a movable rail of a seat slide device will be outlined with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

As is seen from Fig. 4, a vehicular seat has a seat cushion part 10 and a seatback part (not shown). The seat is disposed on a seat slide device 12.

As is seen from Fig. 5, the seat slide device 12 has a pair of parallel stationary rails 14 (only one is shown) and a pair of parallel movable rails 16 (only one is shown) which mount thereon the seat cushion part 10 and slidably engage with the stationary rails 14. The stationary rails 14 are secured to a vehicular floor (not shown). Each stationary rail 14 is of a channel structure, which comprises a bottom wall portion 18, first side wall portions 20 which extend vertically upwardly from both sides of the bottom wall portion 18, upper wall portions 22 which extend inwardly horizontally from upper ends of the first side wall portions 20, and second side wall portions 24 which extend vertically downwardly from inner ends of the upper wall portions 22. Each movable rail 16 is generally T-shaped, which comprises vertical wall portions 26 welded to each other, bottom wall portions 28 which extend outwardly horizontally from lower ends of the vertical wall portions 26, and side wall, portions 30 which extend vertically upwardly from outer ends of the bottom wall portions 28. The vertical wall portions 26 of the movable rail 16 upwardly vertically project from a longitudinally extending slot defined between the upper wall portions 22 of the stationary rail 14.

As is seen from Fig. 4, the seat has a reclining device 32 mounted thereto. The reclining device 32 includes a base plate 34 connected to an outside portion of the vertical wall portion 26 of the movable rail 16, and a pivotal arm 36 pivotally connected to the base plate 34. The pivotal arm 36 is secured to a side portion of the seatback part (not shown) of the seat. A known locking mechanism which is described in Japanese Patent First Provisional Publication 63-318911 is provided for locking the pivotal arm 36 at a desired angular position relative to the base plate 34.

The seat has further a so-called "seatback inclining mechanism" which can largely incline the seatback part forward. Thus, such seat is very convenient when used as a front seat (viz., driver's seat or assistant driver's seat) of a tmo-door type motor vehicle. In fact, the seatback part is inclined forward when a rear seat passenger intends to get on or off the vehicle.

As is seen from Fig. 4, the seatback inclining mechanism comprises a pivot pin 38 through which the base plate 34 is pivotally connected to the vertical wall portion 26 of the movable rail 16.

A generally J-shaped latch member 40 is pivotally connected at its base end to a front portion of the base plate 34 through a pivot pin 42.

A striker 44 is secured to the vertical wall portion 26 of the movable rail 16, to which a hook part of the latch member 40 is latchingly engageable, as shown.

The latch member 40 and the striker 44 are so positioned that once latching engagement is achieved therebetween, the base plate 34 is prevented from pivoting upward about the pivot pin 38. 1 A spring (not shown) is arranged between the pivot pin 38 and the latch member 40 to bias the latch member 40 in a direction to achieve the engagement with the striker 44.

1 0 A wire (not shown) extends from the latch member 40 to a given position of the seat so that when the wire is pulled, the latching engagement between the latch member 40 and the striker 44 is cancelled against the biasing force of the spring.

A seat belt anchor 46 has a buckle portion 48 with which a tongue portion of a seat belt proper (not shown) is detachably engaged and a plate portion 50 which has at its leading end a bolt hole 52. The seat belt anchor 46 is connected at the leading end of its plate portion to the vertical wall portion 26 of the movable rail 16 through a bolt 54 which passes through the bolt hole 52 of the seat belt anchor 46 and a bolt hole 55 of the vertical wall portion 26 of the movable rail 16. A nut 56 and a collar 58 are incorporated with the bolt 54 to achieve the connection between the anchor 46 and the wall portion 26 (see Fig. 4). In other conventional arrangements, the seat belt anchor 46 is secured to the vertical wall portion 26 of the movable rail 16 by means of welding.

Usually, with the biasing force of the spring, the latch member 40 is latchingly engaged with the striker 44 thereby to latch the base plate 34 to the movable rail 16. Thus, under this condition, the pivotal arm 36 of the reclining device 32 is only permitted to pivot relative to the latched base plate 34 for inclination of the seatback part.

When the wire is pulled, the latch member 40 is disengaged from the striker 44. Thus, under this condition, the seatback can be largely inclined forward together with the base plate 34 about the pivot pin 38.

However, the arrangement for connecting the seat belt anchor 46 as mentioned hereinabove has the following drawback.

Because the latch member 40 and the striker 44 occupy a marked space, they tend to become obstacles to the positioning of seat belt anchor 46. Therefore, it sometimes becomes difficult to place the seat belt anchor 46 to an optimum position on the movable rail 16.

Therefore, it would be desirable to be able to provide an arrangement for connecting a seat belt anchor, which is free of the above-mentioned drawback.

According to the present invention, the positioning of the the seat belt anchor relative to a movable rail is not obstructed by a striker and a latching member. Thus, the seat belt anchor can be placed on an optimum position relative to the movable rail to securely hold a seat occupant.

According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicular seat assembly including a seat cushion part, a seatback part, a seat slide device including a movable rail which mounts thereon the seat cushion part and is to slidably engage with a stationary rail, a base plate having one end pivotally connected to the movable rail, a pivotal arm pivotally connected to the base plate and secured to the seatback part, a striker connected to the movable rail to move therewith, a latch member pivotally connected to the base plate, the latch member being latchingly engageable with the striker, and a seat belt anchor secured to the striker.

Preferred features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side, but partial, view of a first embodiment of a vehicular seat assembly of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of an essential part of the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a second embodiment of the vehicular seat assembly; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a conventional arrangement for connecting a scat belt anchor; and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing ffle conventional arrangement.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a vehicular seat assembly of a first embodiment of the present invention.

1 1 Since the seat assembly of the first embodiment is similar in construction to the abovementioned conventional seat assembly, the following description will be directed to only the parts and constructions which are different from those of the conventional scat assembly. Similar parts and constructions are denoted by the same numerals.

As is seen from Fig. 1, a generally C-shaped latch member is pivotally connected at its one end to the base plate 34 through a pivot pin 42. A projection 60 is provided on the latch member 40 for connecting the aforementioned wire thereto.

As is seen from Fig. 2, a striker 44 has a flange portion 62 and a shaft portion 64. The shaft portion 64 has a threaded hole 66 formed therein. The shaft portion 64 passes through a hole 68 of the vertical wall portion 26 of the movable rail 16 and projects is outwardly horizontally. The flange portion 62 is welded to the vertical wall portion 26 of the movable rail 16.

Usually, with the biasing force of a spring 70 (see Fig. 1), the latch member 40 is latchingly engaged with the shaft portion 64 of the striker 44 thereby to latch the base plate 34 to the movable rail 16.

The bolt hole 52 of the seat belt anchor 46 is mated with the threaded hole 66 of the striker 44, and a threaded bolt '1 2 passes through the bolt hole 52 of the seat belt anchor 46 and is screwed into the threaded hole 66 of the striker 44 to secure the seat belt anchor 46 to the striker 44. If desired, the seat belt anchor 46 may be secured to the striker 44 by means of welding.

Referring to Fig. 3, there is shown a vehicular seat assembly of a second embodiment of the present invention.

Since the seat assembly of the second embodiment is similar in construction to the above-mentioned first embodiment, the following description will be directed to only the parts and constructions which are different from those of the, first embodiment. Similar parts and constructions are denoted by the same numerals.

As is seen from Fig. 3, a striker 44 which is the same as that of the first embodiment is secured to a bracket 74. The 1 1 6- bracket 74 is L-shaped, extends along stationary and movable rails 76 and 78 and is secured to an upper wall portion 80 of the movable rail 78.

A stationary rail 76 is of a channel structure, which comprises a bottom wall portion 82, side wall portions 84 which extend vertically upwardly from both sides of the bottom wall portion 82 and upper wall portions 86 which extend outwardly horizontally from upper ends of the side wall portions 84.

A movable rail 78 comprises the upper wall portion 80, side wall portions 88 which extend vertically downwardly from side ends of the upper wall portion 80 and bottom wall portions 90 which extend inwardly horizontally from lower ends of the side wall portions 88.

A base plate 34 is pivotally connected to a vertical wall portion of the bracket 74 through a pivot pin (not shown).

A flange portion 62 of the striker 44 is welded to the vertical wall portion of the bracket 74.

The advantages of the arrangement for connecting the seat belt anchor according to the present invention will be described in the following.

First, because the seat belt anchor 46 is connected to the striker 44, the striker 44 and the latch member 40 do not obstruct the positioning of the seat belt anchor 46 relative to the movable rail 16. Thus, the seat belt anchor 46 can be placed on an optimum position relative to the movable rail 16 to securely hold a seat occupant.

Second, since the striker 44 for the latch member 40 serves as the base for connecting the seat belt anchor 46, a member corresponding to the bolt 54 used in the above-mentioned conventional arrangement becomes unnecessary. Thus, cost reduction becomes possible.

i 1 t

Claims

1 A vehicular seat assembly comprising:

a seat cushion part; a seatback part; a seat slide device including a movable rail which mounts thereon said seat cushion part and is to slidably engage with a stationary rail; a base plate having one end pivotally connected to said movable rail; a pivotal arm pivotally connected to said base plate and secured to said seatback part; a striker connected to said movable rail to move therewith; a latch member pivotally connected to said base plate, said latch member being latchingly engageable with said striker; and a seat belt anchor secured to said striker.

2. A vehicular seat assembly as claimed in Claim 1, in which said latch member and said striker are so positioned that once latching engagement is achieved therebetween, said base plate is prevented from pivoting upward about said pivot pin.

3. A vehicular seat assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, including - a spring by which said latch member is biased in a direction to achieve latching engagement with said striker.

4. A vehicular seat assembly as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which said striker has a threaded hole formed therein, in which said seat belt anchor has a bolt hole, and in which said seat belt anchor is secured to said striker through a threaded bolt which passes through said bolt hole and is screwed into said threaded hole.

A vehicular scat assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 in combination with a stationary rail comprising:

a first bottom wall portion; 8 first side wall portions which upwardly vertically extend from side ends of said first bottom wall portion; upper wall portions which inwardly horizontally extend from upper ends of said first side wall portion; and second side wall portions which downwardly vertically extend from inner ends of said upper wall portions.

6. A vehicular seat assembly as claimed in Claim 5, in which said movable rail comprises: vertical wall portions which are welded to each other, said vertical wall portions upwardly vertically projecting from said upper wall portions of said stationary rail; second bottom wall portions which outwardly horizontally extend from lower ends of said vertical wall portions; and third side wall portions which upwardly vertically extend from outer ends of said second bottom wall portions.

7. A vehicular seat assembly as claimed in Claim 6, in which said base plate is connected to said vertical wall portions of said movable rail, and in which said striker is secured to said vertical wall portions of said movable rail.

8. A vehicular seat assembly as claimed in Claim 7, in which said striker comprises: a flange portion welded to a vertical wall portion of said movable rail; and a shaft portion which outwardly horizontally projects from said vertical wall portion of said movable rail.

9. A vehicular scat assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4.. including a bracket which is secured to said movable rail, and in which said base plate is connected to said bracket, and in which said striker is secured to said bracket.

10. A vehicular scat assembly as claimed in Claim 9, in which said striker comprises:

1 1 -g- a flange portion welded to said bracket; and a shaft portion which outwardly horizontally projects from said bracket.

11. A vehicular seat assembly as claimed in Claim 9 or 10 in combination with a stationary rail comprising:

a first bottom wall portion; first side wall portions which upwardly vertically extend from side ends of said first bottom wall portion; and first upper wall portions which outwardly horizontally extend from upper ends of said first side wall portions.

12. A vehicular seat assembly as claimed in Claim 11, in which said movable rail comprises: second upper wall portion which carries said bracket; second side wall portions which downwardly vertically extend from said second upper wall portion; and second bottom wall portions which inwardly horizontally extend from lower ends of said second side wall portions.

13. A vehicular seat asembly substantially as described with reference, and as shown in, Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A vehicle including a seat assembly according to any preceding claim.

published 1991 at The Patent Office. Concept House, Cardiff Road, Newport, Gwent NP9 I RH. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point. Cwmfelinfach. Cross Keys, Newport. NP I 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques lid, St Mary Cray, Kent.