GB2505308A - Seat belt anchor with load limiting element - Google Patents

Seat belt anchor with load limiting element Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2505308A
GB2505308A GB201312442A GB201312442A GB2505308A GB 2505308 A GB2505308 A GB 2505308A GB 201312442 A GB201312442 A GB 201312442A GB 201312442 A GB201312442 A GB 201312442A GB 2505308 A GB2505308 A GB 2505308A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
seat belt
anchor
vehicle
anchor element
load limiting
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB201312442A
Other versions
GB201312442D0 (en
Inventor
Gopal Krishnan Chinnaswamy
Kalyan Cheruvu
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mercedes Benz Group AG
Original Assignee
Daimler AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Daimler AG filed Critical Daimler AG
Priority to GB201312442A priority Critical patent/GB2505308A/en
Publication of GB201312442D0 publication Critical patent/GB201312442D0/en
Publication of GB2505308A publication Critical patent/GB2505308A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R22/00—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles
    • B60R22/18—Anchoring devices
    • B60R22/24—Anchoring devices secured to the side, door, or roof of the vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R22/00—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles
    • B60R22/28—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles incorporating energy-absorbing devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R22/00—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles
    • B60R22/28—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles incorporating energy-absorbing devices
    • B60R2022/286—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles incorporating energy-absorbing devices using deformation of material

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Automotive Seat Belt Assembly (AREA)

Abstract

An anchor assembly 24 for a vehicle seat belt system (14, Figure 1) of a vehicle comprises an anchor element 36 for attaching a seat belt 16 of the system to a component (48, Figure 3) of the vehicle and a base element 40 to which anchor element 36 is pivotably attached about a rotation axis 46 preferably parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Assembly 24 comprises a load limiting element 50, for example a stiffener, capable of deforming to support anchor element 36 in the event of a collision, for example in response to rotation of anchor element 36 due to seat belt 16 exerting excessive force on anchor element 36. Load limiting element 50 may comprise a compressed knitted mesh and/or a spring, which may be a linear, non-linear or disc spring.

Description

Seat Belt Anchor Assembly for a Seat Belt Restraining System of a Vehicle The invention relates to a seat belt anchor assembly for a seat belt restraining system of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
Such a seat belt anchor assembly for a seat belt restraining system of a vehicle can be found in US 7,445,244 B2. The seat belt anchor assembly comprises an anchor element adapted for attaching a seat belt of the seat belt restraining system to at least one component of the vehicle. This means that the seat belt or a webbing of the seat belt can be attached to the anchor element. Moreover, the seat belt or the webbing can be attached to the component via the anchor element. The seat belt anchor assembly also comprises at least one base element to which the anchor element is pivotably attached about a rotation axis.
Furthermore, the seat belt anchor assembly comprises an intermediate plate including a pair of stop tabs, the stop tabs defining a range of rotational motion for the anchor element. This means that the stop tabs limit the movement of the anchor elements so that the anchor element cannot move beyond the range of rotational motion.
A seat belt anchor assembly for a motor vehicle belt restraint system can also be found in US 7,878,547 B2, the seat belt anchor assembly being adapted for a connection with a webbing of the restraint system.
US 6,869,104B2 discloses an apparatus for adjusting the position of a movable seat belt anchor, the apparatus comprising a motor operatively attached to the movable seat for providing a motor belt anchor.
Commonly, the seat belt attached to the component via the anchor element serves for restraining a seat passenger in the event of an accident. Forces exerted by the safety belt upon the seat passenger in the event of an accident can be high unless appropriate counter measures are applied.
It is the object of the present invention to further develop a seat belt anchor assembly of the aforementioned kind in such a way that forces exerted by a seat belt upon a seat passenger in the event of an accident can be kept particularly low.
This object is solved by a seat belt anchor assembly having the features of patent claim 1.
Advantageous embodiments with expedient and non-trivial further developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.
In order to provide a seat belt anchor assembly of the kind indicated of the preamble of patent claim 1, by means of which forces and loads exerted by a seat belt upon a seat passenger can be kept particularly low, the seat belt anchor assembly according to the present invention comprises at least one load limiting element, the anchor element being capable of being supported on the load limiting element in the event of an accident thereby deforming the load limiting element. In the event of an accident, for example, a frontal impact, a seat passenger sitting in a seat having the seat belt anchor assembly and the seat belt is accelerated towards the front in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
The seat passenger is restrained by the seat belt. Thus, a force is exerted by the seat passenger upon the seat belt, and a reaction force is exerted by the seat belt upon the seat passenger. The reaction force acting on the seat passenger can be limited by the load limiting element in such a way that the load limiting element supporting the anchor element at least in the event of an accident can be deformed purposefully so that the load limiting element gives way purposefully to allow a rotational movement of the anchor element about the rotation axis since the force exerted by the seat passenger upon the seat belt it is transferred via the seat belt and the anchor element to the load limiting element. Pursuant to the deformation of the load limiting element the anchor element can rotate about the rotation axis, thus the seat belt attached to the anchor element can give way, too, so that forces and thus loads exerted by the seat belt upon the seat passenger can be kept low.
The load limiting element is deformed by the anchor element in the event of an accident if loads exerted by the anchor element upon the load limiting element reach or exceed a predeterminable threshold or threshold value. Said threshold or threshold value can be predetermined by the design of the load limiting element. This means that the threshold can be predetermined by, for example, the geometry and/or the material of the load limiting element.
Using different load limiting elements having, for example, different geometries and/or materials, the loads exerted by the seat belt upon the seat passenger as well as displacement characteristics of the seat belt and thus the seat passenger can be varied.
The load limiting element deforming in the event of an accident whilst supporting the anchor element can also act as an energy absorption element by means of which crash energy acting on the load limiting element via the seat belt and the anchor element can be absorbed, thus limiting loads exerted by the seat belt upon the seat passenger in the event of an accident.
Further advantages, features and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawing. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respective indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.
The drawing shows in: Fig. 1 a schematic top view of a seat and a seat belt restraining system of a vehicle in the form of a motor vehicle, the seat belt restraining system having a seat belt anchor assembly comprising an anchor element, a base element and a load limiting element, the anchor element being capable of being supported on the load limiting element in the event of an accident thereby deforming the load limiting device; Fig. 2 a schematic and perspective view of the seat belt anchor assembly according to a first embodiment; Fig. 3 a schematic front view of the seat belt anchor assembly according to the first embodiment; Fig. 4 a schematic side view of the seat belt anchor assembly according to a second embodiment; and Fig. 5 a schematic front view of the seat belt anchor assembly according to the second embodiment.
In the figures the same elements or element having the same functions are equipped with the same reference.
Fig. 1 shows a seat 10 for a vehicle, for example, a motor vehicle in the form of a passenger vehicle. For example, the seat 10 can be a rear seat for a passenger 12, the passenger 12 being a rear occupant of the vehicle. Fig. 1 also shows a seat belt restraining system 14 for restraining the passenger 12 in the event of an accident, for example, a frontal impact. The seat belt restraining system 14 comprises a seat belt 16 having a torso portion 18 and a lap portion 20.
The seat belt 16 is attached to the body in white or a structure or, in general, a of the vehicle via a so called D-ring 22 and a seat belt anchor assembly 24. The seat belt 16 can be moved between at least one non-use position and at least one restraining position shown in Fig. 1. In the restraining position a seat belt tongue connected to the seat belt 16 is releasably attached to a seat belt buckle 26, the seat belt buckle 26 being attached to the body in white or the structure or the component of the vehicle.
Fig. 2 and 3 show the seat belt anchor assembly 24 according to a first embodiment.
From Figs. 2 and 3 a webbing 28 of the seat belt 16 can be seen. The longitudinal direction (x-direction) of the vehicle is indicated by a directional arrow 30. The transverse direction (y-direction) of the vehicle is indicated by a directional arrow 32, and the vertical direction (z-direction) of the vehicle is indicated by a directional arrow 34.
The seat belt anchor assembly comprises an anchor element 36 adapted for attaching the seat belt 16 to at least one component of the vehicle. For example, the component is a component of the body in white or the structure of the vehicle. The anchor element 36 has a fastening element in the form of a through opening 38 by means of which the seat belt 16 can be attached to the anchor element 36. Thereby, the seat belt 16 can be attached to said component of the vehicle via the anchor element 36 and the seat belt anchor assembly 24. The through opening 38 is arranged in a top portion 39 of the anchor element 36, the seat belt 16 being rigidly connected to the top portion 39 by means of the through opening 38.
The seat belt anchor assembly 24 also comprises a base element in the form of a flange element 40 having a flange 42 and a flange arm 44 connected to the flange 42. The anchor element 36 is pivotably attached to the flange element 40 (base element) about a rotation axis 46.
In a further embodiment, the base element can be, for example, the component to which the seat belt 16 is to be attached via the anchor element 36. For example, the base element can be another component, for example, a component of the body in white or the structure of the vehicle. As can be seen from Figs. 2 and 3, the rotation axis 46 extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The component to which the seat belt anchor assembly 24 is attached can be seen from Fig. 3, wherein said component is designated by reference number 48.
The seat belt anchor assembly 24 comprises a load limiting element in the form of a so called stiffener 50. The stiffener 50 has ends 52 and 54, the ends 52, 54 being rigidly connected to the anchor element 36 and the flange 42 respectively. The seat belt 16 is configured as a three-point safety belt since the safety belt 16 is attached to the body in white or the structure or the component of the vehicle in three areas in the restraining position, the three areas being the 0-ring 22, the seat belt anchor assembly 24 and the buckle 26.
In the event of an accident, for example, a frontal impact, the seat passenger 12 is accelerated towards the front of the vehicle, wherein the seat passenger 12 is restrained by the seat belt 16 being in its restraining position. Pursuant to the acceleration of the seat passenger 12 towards the front, forces are exerted by the seat passenger 12 upon the seat belt 16. These forces are transferred from the seat belt 16 to the buckle 26, the 0-ring 22 and the anchor element 36.
A force exerted by the seat belt 16 upon the anchor element 36 due to the accident is indicated by an arrow 61. With regard to Fig. 3, the anchor element 36 is pulled in counterclockwise direction by the force exerted by the seat belt 16 upon the anchor element 36. As can be seen from Fig. 3, the anchor element 36 is capable of being supported on the stiffener 50. In the first embodiment the anchor element 36 is supported on the stiffener 50 since the stiffener 50 is attached to the anchor element 36 on the one side and the component 48 on the other side. Hence, the force exerted by the seat belt 16 upon the anchor element 36 is transferred to the stiffener 50 via the anchor element 36.
If the force exerted by the seat belt 16 upon the anchor element 36 and thus the stiffener reaches or exceeds a predeterminable threshold, the stiffener 50 is deformed by the anchor element 36 so that the stiffener 50 gives way and allows for the rotation of the anchor element 36 about the rotation axis 46, this rotation being indicated by a directional arrow 55 in Fig. 3. This means that the anchor element 36 rotates about the rotation axis 46 thereby compressing the stiffener 50 as the force is applied on the anchor element 36 via the seat belt 16 due to the accident. Thus, the anchor element 36 is capable of being supported on the stiffener 50 in the event of an accident thereby deforming the stiffener 50.
If a force is exerted by the seat belt 16 upon the anchor element 36 in such a way that the anchor element 36 is pulled in clockwise direction with regard to Fig. 3, the stiffener 50 connected to the anchor element 36 and the component 48 constraints or prevents the rotation of the anchor element 36.
The amount of compression of the stiffener 50, i.e. the threshold can be controlled or predetermined by, for example, the material characteristics of the stiffener 50. For example, at least a portion of the stiffener 50 can be made of a compressed knitted mesh, a linear or non-linear spring, a disc spring, or a combination of a compressed knitted mesh and a linear or a non-linear spring or a combination of a compressed knitted mesh and a disc spring.
The rotation of the anchor element 36 in the event of an accident is purposefully or specifically controlled by the deformation of the stiffener 50. Thus, the movement of the seat belt 16 attached to the anchor element 36 and thus the movement of the seat passenger 12 can be controlled so that serious injuries can be avoided. Moreover, loads exerted by the seat belt 16 upon the seat passenger 12 can be kept particularly low since the stiffener 50 gives way thus allowing for a rotation of the anchor element 36 and a controlled movement of the scat belt 16.
For example, the shape of the anchor element 36 can be customized according to requirements so that loads acting on the seat passenger 12 can be kept to a minimum whilst restraining the seat passenger 12 in the event of an accident.
Fig. 4 and 5 show the seat belt anchor assembly 24 according to a second embodiment.
The anchor element 36 according to the second embodiment has an upper arm 56 and a lower arm 58. The upper arm 56 and the lower arm 58 are formed in one piece. The base element according to the second embodiment is the component 48. This means that the anchor element 36 is pivotably attached to the component 48 about the rotation axis 46 so that the anchor element 36 can rotate in relation to the component 46 if the force exerted by the seat belt 16 upon the anchor element 36 reaches or exceeds the predeterminable threshold. In the event of an accident the anchor element 36 is supported on the stiffener 50 being supported on a component 60 of the vehicle. For example, the component 60 can be the component 48 and/or a component of the body in white or the structure of the vehicle.
In the event of a frontal impact the force exerted by the seat belt 16 upon the anchor element 36 effects a clockwise rotation of the anchor element 36 with the regard to Fig. 5 if the force exceeds the predeterminable threshold. As the force is applied on the anchor element 36 the stiffener 50 is compressed by the anchor element 36 rotating about the rotation axis 46 in clockwise direction.

Claims (5)

  1. Claims A seat belt anchor assembly (24) for a seat belt restraining system (14) of a vehicle, the seat belt anchor assembly (24) comprising: -an anchor element (36) adapted for attaching a seat belt (16) of the seat belt restraining system (14) to at least one component (48) of the vehicle; -at least one base element (40, 60) to which the anchor element (36) is pivotably attached about a rotation axis (46); characterized in that the seat belt anchor assembly (24) comprises at least one load limiting element (50), the anchor element (36) being capable of being supported on the load limiting element (50) in the event of an accident thereby deforming the load limiting element (50).
  2. 2. The seat belt anchor assembly (24) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotation axis (46) extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
  3. 3. The seat belt anchor assembly (24) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least a portion of the load limiting element (50) is made of a compressed knitted mesh.
  4. 4. The seat belt anchor assembly (24) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the load limiting element (50) comprises at least one linear or non-linear spring.
  5. 5. The seat belt anchor assembly (24) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the load limiting element (50) comprises at least one disc spring.
GB201312442A 2013-07-11 2013-07-11 Seat belt anchor with load limiting element Withdrawn GB2505308A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB201312442A GB2505308A (en) 2013-07-11 2013-07-11 Seat belt anchor with load limiting element

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB201312442A GB2505308A (en) 2013-07-11 2013-07-11 Seat belt anchor with load limiting element

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201312442D0 GB201312442D0 (en) 2013-08-28
GB2505308A true GB2505308A (en) 2014-02-26

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GB201312442A Withdrawn GB2505308A (en) 2013-07-11 2013-07-11 Seat belt anchor with load limiting element

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10369962B2 (en) 2017-05-15 2019-08-06 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Restraint system

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3482872A (en) * 1968-02-12 1969-12-09 Thomas E Chamberlain Seat belt assembly
GB2275175A (en) * 1993-02-17 1994-08-24 Honda Motor Co Ltd Anchor device for seat belt
GB2312149A (en) * 1996-04-15 1997-10-22 Daimler Benz Ag Belt force limiter for a vehicle seat belt
US5704645A (en) * 1996-03-28 1998-01-06 Ford Global Technologies, Inc. Occupant restraint system
US20040253048A1 (en) * 2003-06-13 2004-12-16 Kurt Schulz D-ring assembly with a load limiting device
US20050012319A1 (en) * 2003-07-14 2005-01-20 Kurt Schulz Load limiting structure for vehicle occupant restraint system
US20100045015A1 (en) * 2008-08-22 2010-02-25 Borislav Martinovic Reusable safety apparatus for reducing the forward velocity of an occupant of a vehicle

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3482872A (en) * 1968-02-12 1969-12-09 Thomas E Chamberlain Seat belt assembly
GB2275175A (en) * 1993-02-17 1994-08-24 Honda Motor Co Ltd Anchor device for seat belt
US5704645A (en) * 1996-03-28 1998-01-06 Ford Global Technologies, Inc. Occupant restraint system
GB2312149A (en) * 1996-04-15 1997-10-22 Daimler Benz Ag Belt force limiter for a vehicle seat belt
US20040253048A1 (en) * 2003-06-13 2004-12-16 Kurt Schulz D-ring assembly with a load limiting device
US20050012319A1 (en) * 2003-07-14 2005-01-20 Kurt Schulz Load limiting structure for vehicle occupant restraint system
US20100045015A1 (en) * 2008-08-22 2010-02-25 Borislav Martinovic Reusable safety apparatus for reducing the forward velocity of an occupant of a vehicle

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10369962B2 (en) 2017-05-15 2019-08-06 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Restraint system

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Publication number Publication date
GB201312442D0 (en) 2013-08-28

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)