GB2323581A

GB2323581A - A restraint system

Info

Publication number: GB2323581A
Application number: GB9706437A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leif Ennerdal
Original assignee: Autoliv Development AB
Current assignee: Autoliv Development AB
Priority date: 1997-03-27
Filing date: 1997-03-27
Publication date: 1998-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 2017-03-27
Also published as: GB2323581B; GB9706437D0

Abstract

A restraint system 4 is provided for restraining an item 5 in the boot 2 or equivalent load carrying space of a motor vehicle. The system consists of a retractor mechanism 6 and an associated belt 7 which extends from the retractor mechanism. The belt is arranged so that two belt portions 11, 12 engage and retain an item which is to be retained, the two belt portions being spaced apart with one belt portion being located substantially vertically above the other belt portion.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A RESTRAINT SYSTEM" THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a restraint system and more particulary relates to a restraint system intended for use in restraining luggage or other items within the boot or trunk of a motor vehicle such as a motor car.

It is often the case that only one or two relatively small items, such as, for example, one or more bags of shopping, are located in the boot or trunk of a motor vehicle such as a car. Often the boot or trunk provides ample space for such a small load, but the item or items can be displaced, due to the motion of the motor vehicle, within the boot or trunk space, as the motor vehicle is driven along. If the item or items comprise bags of shopping, the bags of shopping can topple over, and spill their contents, which is inconvenient. If the items are fragile they can be damaged.

The present invention seeks to provide a restraint system for restraining items within a boot or trunk space of a motor vehicle.

According to this invention there is provided a restraint system for restraining an item in a vehicle, the restraint system comprising a retractor mechanism arrangement, belt means extending from the retractor mechanism arrangement to an anchorage spaced from the retractor mechanism arrangement, the belt means comprising two belt portions spaced apart with one belt portion being located substantially vertically above the other belt portion, the spaced apart belt portion being adapted to engage and retain an item to be retained.

Preferably the retractor mechanism and the said anchor point are located adjacent a wall, the arrangement being such that, in use, the belt urges the item or items to be retained against the wall.

Conveniently the retractor arrangement comprises a retractor reel on which one end of a belt is wound and an anchorage on which the other end of the belt is secured.

Preferably the retractor arrangement comprises two vertically spaced apart retractors.

In one embodiment a single belt is provided having opposed ends mounted on the respective retractors.

Alternatively a separate belt is provided on each retractor.

Conveniently the anchorage comprises a hook adapted to receive an intermediate part of the belt.

Preferably the anchorage serves to anchor an intermediate part of the belt in position.

In one embodiment the anchorage anchors the two free ends of the respective belts in position.

In another embodiment the free ends of the respective belts are connected to an engagement means, the anchorage comprises hook means adapted releasably to engage the engagement means.

Preferably the anchorage comprises a buckle adapted to co-operate with a tongue provided on the belt.

Conveniently means are provided to resiliently bias the buckle to a retracted position.

Advantageously a retainer plate is carried by the belt portions.

Conveniently the retaining arrangement may be mounted in the boot, trunk or load-carrying space of a motor 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 schematic perspective view of the trunk of a motor vehicle, with the lid shown in the open condition, illustrating a restraint system in accordance with the invention when in use, FIGURE 2 is a view, from above, of the system shown in Figure 1 when in use, FIGURE 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 illustrating the system when not in use, FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view of the elements of an embodiment of the invention similar to that illustrated in Figure 1, FIGURE 5 is a view of the elements of a further alternative embodiment of the invention, FIGURE 6 is a view illustrating the elements of a further embodiment of the invention, and FIGURE 7 is a view illustrating the elements of yet another embodiment of the invention.

Referring initially to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a vehicle 1 is provided with a boot or trunk 2 having a lid 3. Mounted within the boot or trunk 2 is a restraint system 4 which is provided to restrain, for example, a bag of shopping 5. It is to be appreciated that the restraint system could equally be provided in the loadcarrying space of an estate vehicle or multi-purpose vehicle, or even a load-carrying vehicle such as a van, lorry, truck or the like. The system could also be provided in other vehicles such as trailers, caravans or even boats or ships.

The restraint system 4 comprises a retractor mechanism assembly comprising a retractor mechanism 6, for example a retractor mechanism of a type conventionally used with a vehicle seat-belt, on which is wound a belt 7, and, located vertically beneath the retractor mechanism 6, an anchorage 8 for the other end of the belt 7. The retractor mechanism assembly is located on the side wall of the boot space towards the front of the boot. The belt 7 carried on the retractor 6 is provided with a tongue 9, and a buckle 10 is provided adapted to receive the tongue 9, the buckle 10 being mounted in position adjacent the rear wall of the boot.

As can be seen, in Figure 1, in use of the restraint system 4 the belt 7 is withdrawn from the retractor 6 and the tongue 9 is inserted into the buckle 10, with the belt 7 providing two belt portions 11,12 which surround the bag of shopping 5 which is to be restrained. It is to be appreciated that the belt portion 11 is located substantially vertically above the belt portion 12, thus providing contact with the item to be retained at two vertically spaced apart regions, thus adding substantially to the stability of the item to be retained.

The arrangement of Figure 1 is illustrated, from above, in Figure 2. It can be seen that the belt 7 retains the bag of shopping 5 firmly in position, biassing the bag of shopping 5 against the side wall 13 of the boot or trunk of the motor vehicle.

It is to be appreciated that when the restraint arrangement is not in use, the tongue 9 could be disconnected from the buckle 10 enabling the belt to be retracted within the retractor mechanism 6. The belt, when retracted within the retractor mechanism 6, will extend solely from the anchorage 8 to the retractor mechanism 6.

However, in an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 3, the tongue 9 may be intended to be retained within the buckle 10. The buckle 10 may be associated with a spring 14 adapted to resiliently bias the buckle 10 to a position in which it extends parallel with the rear part 15 of the boot or trunk, thus causing the belt 7 to extend substantially parallel with the side wall 13 of the boot, occupying a minimum of space.

Figure 4 illustrates a modified embodiment of the invention in which the belt 7 is provided with an additional retaining plate 16. The retaining plate 16 may be moulded of an appropriate plastics material and is substantially rectangular in form. The plate is provided with two pairs of apertures 17 through which the upper and lower portions 11 and 12 of the belt 7 pass. The plate 16 is adapted firmly to engage an item to be retained by the described arrangement, with a substantial area of the plate engaging the item to give it stability.

Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the retractor mechanism assembly comprises two retractor mechanisms 20,21 which are located substantially vertically above one another. A single belt is provided, the belt having one end wound on the upper retractor 20 and the lower end wound on the lower retractor 21. An upper portion of belt 22 extends from the upper retractor 20 to a fixed anchorage point 23. A lower length of belt 24 extends from the lower retractor 21 to the fixed anchorage 23 in the form of an anchoring hook.

A metal loop or ring is slidably mounted on the belt and releasably engages the anchorage 23.

In this embodiment of the invention the upper and lower retractors 20,21 and the fixed anchorage 23 may be mounted in position on the side wall 13 of the boot or trunk, and then when the arrangement is not in use, the upper and lower belt portions 22,24 will lie substantially flush against the side wall 13, thus being located in an unobstructive position. Should the retaining arrangement need to be utilised, either the metal loop or ring may be disengaged from the hook, or the central parts of the belt portions 22 and 24 may be grasped and moved away from the side wall 13 of the trunk, thus providing room between the side wall 13 of the boot or trunk and the belt portions 22 and 24 to receive an item to be retained.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of Figure 5 may be modified by having two totally separate belts, one being associated with each of the two retractors 20,21, the anchorage 23 serving to retain, in a fixed position, the free ends of both of the two belts.

Referring now to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings, a further modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In this embodiment of the invention, two retractor mechanisms 25,26 are provided located immediately above one another within a retractor mechanism assembly. The two retractors are spaced apart by means of a spacer element 27. A single belt 28 is provided, having one end connected to the retractor 25 and the other connected to the retractor 26. A hook 30 is provided as a fixed anchorage, and when the illustrated arrangement is to be utilised, a portion of the belt 28 is withdrawn from the retractors and hooked over the hook 30.

It is to be appreciated that, when engaged with the hook, the seat-belt 28 has two portions, namely an upper portion 31 and a lower portion 32, the two belt portions being spaced vertically above one another.

Figure 7 illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the retractor mechanism arrangement incorporates two retractors 33,34 which are located immediately above one another and which are spaced apart by means of a spacer 35. The upper retractor 33 is provided with a belt 36 and the lower retractor 34 is provided with a belt 37. The free ends of the belts 36,37 are each engaged with a respective loop 38,39 formed at the end of a cross-bar 40. The loops on the cross-bar 40 may be releasably engaged with two hooks 41,42 which are mounted vertically above one another.

It is to be appreciated that when the embodiment of Figure 7 is not in use, the cross-bar 40 may be disengaged from the hooks 41,42, enabling the belts 36,37 to be retracted on to the retractors 33,34.

It is to be appreciated that a retaining plate corresponding to the retaining plate 16 may be provided for use with any of the illustrated embodiments of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A restraint system for restraining an item in c vehicle, the restraint system comprising a retractoi mechanism arrangement, belt means extending from ths retractor mechanism arrangement to an anchorage spaced fron the retractor mechanism arrangement, the belt meanS comprising two belt portions spaced apart with one belt portion being located substantially vertically above the other belt portion, the spaced apart belt portions beinc adapted to engage and retain an item to be retained.

2. A system according to Claim 1 wherein the retractoi mechanism and the said anchor point are located adjacent e wall, the arrangement being such that, in use, the belt urges the item or items to be retained against the wall.

3. A system according to any one of the precedinc Claims wherein the retractor arrangement comprises a retractor reel on which one end of a belt is wound and ar anchorage on which the other end of the belt is secured.

4. A system according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the retractor arrangement comprises two vertically spaced apart retractors.

5. A system according to Claim 4 wherein a single belt is provided having opposed ends mounted on the respective retractors.

6. A system according to Claim 5 wherein a separate belt is provided on each retractor.

7. A system according to Claim 3 or 5 wherein the anchorage comprises a hook adapted to receive an intermediate part of the belt.

8. A system according to Claim 3 or 5 wherein the anchorage serves to anchor an intermediate part of the belt in position.

9. A system according to Claim 6 wherein the anchorage anchors the two free ends of the respective belts in position.

10. A system according to Claim 6 wherein the free ends of the respective belts are connected to an engagement means, the anchorage comprises hook means adapted releasably to engage the engagement means.

11. A system according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the anchorage comprises a buckle adapted to cooperate with a tongue provided on the belt.

12. A system according to Claim 11 wherein means are provided to resiliently bias the buckle to a retracted position.

13. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein a retainer plate is carried by the belt portions.

14. A system according to any one of the preceding Claims in the boot, trunk or load-carrying space of a motor vehicle.

15. A retaining restraint system substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A restraint system substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A restraint system substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A restraint system substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A restraint system substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

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