GB2518037A

GB2518037A - Arrangement of a web guide fitting for a safety belt on a vehicle structure

Info

Publication number: GB2518037A
Application number: GB1411593.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Klaas Hillmann; Johannes Diehl
Original assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Current assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Priority date: 2013-09-05
Filing date: 2014-06-27
Publication date: 2015-03-11
Also published as: DE102013014707A1; GB201411593D0

Abstract

An arrangement of a web guide fitting 8 for a vehicle safety belt (7, see fig.1), wherein the fitting is connected to a vehicle structure 2 by a screw 11 through a hole (10, see fig.5). The fitting is not pivotable in relation to structure 2 and has a curved, closed passage opening 15 for the safety belt. Said opening is arranged above the hole and its middle region 17 is oriented toward said hole. Preferable features: fitting 8 is inclined to vertical axis 20; arranged in one symmetrical piece; directly contacts the seatbelt; has a flat metal plate section 13 with the hole 10. Opening 15 is a gap with lesser curvature towards the middle region and is implemented in the region of a deformed plate section 14. Interlocking means comprising at least a projection 12 and a setback provide non-pivoting arrangement of fitting 8 and structure 2.

Description

Arrangement of a web guide fitting for a safety belt on a vehicle structure

Description

Technical Area The present invention relates to an arrangement of a web guide fitting for a safety belt of a motor vehicle on a vehicle structure.

Background

Web guide fittings for safety belts, which are used in motor vehicles, in particular a passenger automobiles, are generally arranged in relation to a vehicle structure such that the fastening of the web guide fitting is arranged above a passage opening for the safety belt in the web guide fitting and the web guide fitting is mounted so it is pivotable in the vehicle structure. Due to this pivotable mounting of the web guide fitting in the vehicle structure, the web guide fitting aligns itself optimally in relation to its passage opening to the vehicle occupants during the application of the safety belt. The web guide fittings are connected to the vehicle structure in particular by means of a single screw, which penetrates a hole in the web guide fitting. This vehicle structure is in particular a B column or C column of a motor vehicle.

An arrangement of a web guide fitting for a safety belt of a motor vehicle on a vehicle structure, which is a B column or C column of the motor vehicle, is known from US 2005/0127660 Al. The web guide fitting is connected to the column by means of a single screw, which penetrates a hole in the web guide filling, wherein the web guide filling is pivotable around the axis of the hole or the screw.

The web guide fitting has a linearly implemented, closed passage opening for the safety belt. The hole is arranged above the passage opening in relation to the vertical axis of the vehicle.

Invention The object of the invention is to refine an arrangement of a web guide fitting for a safety belt of a motor vehicle on a vehicle structure in such a way that the web guide filling ensures a unique alignment of the safety belt in the web guide fitting with the simplest structural design and simplest installation.

The object is achieved by an arrangement which is implemented according to the features of Patent Claim 1.

In the arrangement according to the invention of web guide fitting and vehicle structure, the web guide filling is arranged so it is not pivotable in relation to the vehicle structure. The web guide filling is connected by means of a single screw, which penetrates a hole in the web guide fitting, to the vehicle structure. In this way, a solid and additionally rotationally-fixed connection of web guide filling and vehicle structure results. The web guide fitting therefore cannot be rotated around the axis of the hole or around the axis of the screw in relation to the vehicle structure. The web guide fitting additionally has a curved, closed passage opening for the safety belt. A middle region of the passage opening is oriented toward the hole, The passage opening is located above the hole.

The web guide fitting is therefore arranged in relation to the vehicle structure such that the safety belt is located in the redirection region, therefore in the region of the web guide fitting above the fastening region of the web guide filling on the vehicle structure. This arrangement allows the use of the web guide filling in motor vehicles, in particular passenger automobiles, in which no column is provided, whether a B column or C column. The arrangement according to the invention is used in particular in the region of an outer seat of the rear or second row of seats of a motor vehicle, in particular a station wagon. Furthermore, a field of application of the arrangement according to the invention is a cabriolet, in which web guide fillings for the safety belts cannot be attached in the region of columns.

The fastening of the web guide filling below the passage opening for the safety belt enables it to manage with relatively little structural space in the vertical extension, because no fastening region of the web guide fitting is to be provided above the passage opening in the web guide fitting. Accordingly, the fastening region can be displaced into a region of the vehicle structure, which is located below a panel of the vehicle structure and is arranged relatively low.

The implementation of the passage opening of the web guide filling such that the passage opening is curved and closed, and in addition a middle region of the passage opening is oriented toward the hole, ensures a defined guide of the safety belt in the region of the passage opening. The curved shape, in contrast to a linear shape of the passage opening, thus ensures that the safety belt is aligned in the web guide fitting in the region of the passage opening. Therefore, the safety belt does not form folds or waves.

The web guide filling is preferably formed from a metal plate, which consists of steel in particular. The web guide fitting may therefore be designed in the simplest manner. Only one metal plate is required as a starting material.

The web guide filling preferably has a flat plate section, which has the hole, and also a deformed plate section, in the region of which the passage opening is implemented. The flat plate section allows the web guide fitting to be mounted on the vehicle structure in a particularly simple manner, since it typically also has a flat surface, which contacts the flat plate section of the web guide filling. Due to the deformation of the web guide fitting in the region of the plate, which has the passage opening, the possibility exists of forming a sufficiently large contact surface for the safety belt, so that it does not wear during the application and detachment, wherein the safety belt is drawn through the passage opening, and in addition the safety belt is not subjected to sharp edges of the web guide fitting in case of crash.

If the web guide filling is formed from a metal plate, the web guide fitting, which has the flat plate section and the deformed plate section, can be formed by a simple reshaping operation.

To implement the non-pivotable arrangement of the web guide fitting in relation to the vehicle structure, it is proposed in particular that means be provided for the form-filled interlocking of web guide filling and vehicle structure. For this purpose, the web guide fitting can have at least one projection for engaging in a setback of the vehicle structure. One or more, in particular two projections, which are oriented in the same direction, and which engage in setbacks of the vehicle structure in the installed position of the web guide fitting, can be implemented on the web guide fitting by reshaping the metal plate, preferably in the region which is adjacent to the flat plate section.

It is considered to be particularly advantageous if the web guide fitting is implemented as symmetrical. This permits, without change of the web guide fitting, it to be placed both on the left and also on the right in the vehicle, therefore in the region of the left seat and of the right seat of the vehicle.

For optimum alignment of the safety belt in the passage opening of the web guide fitting, it is provided in particular that the passage opening has a lesser curvature in a middle region than in the end regions facing away from the middle region.

It is particularly advantageous if the passage opening is implemented in the form of a gap. This is understood as a passage opening in which the length of the passage opening is much greater than the height of the passage opening.

For the optimum mounting of the safety belt in the redirection region, it is provided according to a refinement of the invention that the web guide filling has a support surface for a safety belt in the region of the passage opening, on its side facing toward the hole. In this way, the contact surface pressure between belt and web guide fitting in case of crash and a high redirection force of the safety belt thus resulting are also reduced.

It is considered to be particularly advantageous if the web guide fitting S directly contacts the safety belt and is implemented in one piece. The web guide fitting is therefore produced from one part, it therefore does not have any additional components, for example, parts which can be placed on the web guide fitting in the region of the passage opening, in particular plastic parts to enlarge the support surface of the safety belt and reduce the friction of the safety belt.

The longitudinal axis of the screw is preferably arranged in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The web guide filling therefore extends essentially in the vehicle transverse direction and the vehicle vertical direction.

It is considered to be particularly advantageous if the web guide filling is arranged in relation to the vehicle structure such that the axis of symmetry of the web guide fitting is inclined in relation to a vertical axis of the vehicle. In particular, in relation to the transverse extension of the motor vehicle, the passage opening is arranged further to the outside than the hole. This causes the safety belt, which runs off from a winding roller, and which is guided through the redirection region of the web guide fitting, to be able to run off in the direction of the belt buckle, to which the belt is connected, from the web guide fitting. This is made possible by the alignment of the passage opening.

The vehicle structure is in particular the vehicle structure of a passenger automobile. The vehicle structure is located in particular in the region of a backrest of an outer seat of a second row of seats, in particular a backrest which adjoins a cargo space, for example, a cargo space of a station wagon. The use of the web guide filling in a vehicle structure of a cabriolet is considered to be a further

preferred field of application.

The vehicle structure is expediently provided on top with a panel and the safety belt rests on a horizontal support of the panel in the non-usage position. If the safety belt is applied by the vehicle occupant, the safety belt, depending on the size of the vehicle occupant, can still rest on the panel or can be lifted off of the panel in the case of a person having a longer upper body.

Brief Description of the Figures

Advantageous possible applications, goals, and features of the present invention will be described on the basis of the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. In the figures: Figure 1 shows a partial region of a motor vehicle, which is implemented as a station wagon, for the region of the right rear seat facing toward the outside of the vehicle, having safety belt located there, which is not applied, and a web guide filling, which is fastened on a vehicle structure, for the safety belt, illustrated with backrest located in the functional position, Figure 2 shows the arrangement according to Figure 1, illustrated with backrest folded forward to enlarge the cargo space, Figure 3 shows a view of the arrangement used in the vehicle according to Figures 1 and 2 of the web guide fitting on the vehicle structure, viewed in longitudinal extension of the vehicle, Figure 4 shows a section through the web guide filling, in section in its axis of symmetry, wherein a screw for fastening the web guide filling and the safety belt guided through a passage opening of the web guide fitting are also illustrated over a partial length, Figure 5 shows a spatial illustration of the web guide filling.

Detailed Description

The figures show a motor vehicle 1, which is a station wagon, in the region of a second row of seats, the right side of the row of seats viewed in the vehicle direction therein. A vehicle structure 2, which is a component of the vehicle body, is provided on top with a panel 3 here. This terminates on top essentially with a lateral window opening 4 of the motor vehicle 1. An inner structure 5, on which a backrest 6 of a second row of seats of the motor vehicle I presses in the functional position of the backrest 6, as shown in Figure 1, is connected to the vehicle structure 2.

A winding device (not shown) for a safety belt 7 assigned to the vehicle seat is arranged with the vehicle structure 2 behind the backrest 6 located in the functional position. This safety belt 7 is guided from the winding device forward through a web guide fitting 8 mounted in the vehicle structure 2, and from there further forward to a flat, horizontal section 9 of the panel 3.

The arrangement of the web guide fitting 8 for the safety belt 7 on the vehicle structure 2 and also the implementation of the web guide filling 8 result in particular from the illustration of Figures 3 to 5: The web guide fitting 8 is thus arranged so it is not pivotable in relation to the vehicle structure 2 and is connected by means of a single screw 11, which penetrates a hole 10 in the web guide filling 8, to the vehicle structure 2. To prevent the ability of the web guide fitting 8 to pivot in relation to the vehicle structure 2, the web guide filling 8 has two identical projections 12, which are oriented in the same direction, and which engage in setbacks (not shown) of the vehicle structure 2.

The web guide fitting 8 is formed from a metal plate, specifically made of steel. The web guide fitting 8 has a flat plate section 13, which has the hole 10.

Furthermore, the web guide fitting 8 has a deformed plate section 14, in the region of which a passage opening 15 for the safety belt 7 is implemented.

The web guide fitting 8 is implemented as symmetrical. The axis of symmetry is identified in Figure 3 with the reference sign 16. Accordingly, the passage opening 15 is also implemented as symmetrical in relation to the axis of symmetry 16 and the hole 10 is also implemented as symmetrical in relation to the axis of symmetry 16.

The passage opening 15 has in a middle region 17 a lesser curvature than in the two end regions 18 facing away from the middle region 17. The passage opening 15 is implemented in the form of a gap here. The gap has a constant width over the entire length of the passage opening 15. On the side of the passage opening 15 facing toward the hole 10, the web guide fitting 8 has a support surface 19, which is widened in relation to the plate thickness, for the safety belt 7. The safety belt 7 directly contacts the web guide fitting 8, which is implemented in one piece.

In the web guide fitting 8, the middle region 17 of the passage opening 15 is oriented toward the hole 10. The web guide fitting 8 is arranged in relation to the vehicle structure 2 such that the passage opening 15 is arranged above the hole 10.

In this case, the longitudinal axis of the screw 11, which is arranged perpendicularly to the flat plate section 13 of the web guide fitting 8, is arranged in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The axis of symmetry 16 of the web guide fitting 8 is arranged inclined in relation to a vertical axis 20 of the motor vehicle I such that, in relation to the transverse extension of the motor vehicle, the passage opening 15 is further to the outside than the hole 10, as can be inferred from the illustration of Figure 3.

The curved, closed embodiment of the passage opening 15, which is penetrated nearly completely by the safety belt 7 in the directions on both sides of the axis of symmetry 16, ensures a defined alignment of the safety belt 9 in the region of the passage opening 15, and thus prevents the safety belt 7 from forming waves or folds in this region. This is prevented because the safety belt 7 experiences centering in relation to the axis of symmetry 16 as a result of the curved implementation of the passage opening 15. The inclined arrangement of the axis of symmetry 16 in relation to the vertical axis 20 ensures that, in the case of solid connection of web guide filling & and vehicle structure 2, the safety belt 7, in the applied state, is oriented toward the belt buckle originating from the web guide filling 8. The axis of symmetry 16 therefore points in the direction of the vehicle-fixed belt buckle, using which the safety belt 7 is to be locked.

The illustrated embodiments only show possible embodiments of the invention, for which numerous further variants are conceivable and are in the scope of the invention. The exemplary embodiments shown as examples are not to be interpreted in any way as restrictive with respect to the scope, the applicability, or the possible configurations of the invention. The present invention only shows a person skilled in the art a possible implementation of an exemplary embodiment according to the invention. Greatly varying modifications can thus be performed on the function and arrangement of described elements without leaving the scope of protection defined by the following patent claims or the equivalents thereof.

List of reference numerals motor vehicle 2 vehicle structure 3 panel 4 window opening internal structure 6 backrest 7 safety belt 8 web guide fitting 9 section hole 11 screw 12 projection 13 plate section 14 plate section passage opening 16 axis of symmetry 17 middle region 18 end region 19 support surface vertical axis -11 -