WO2006064152A1

WO2006064152A1 - Adjustable clasp bodies for a safety belt

Info

Publication number: WO2006064152A1
Application number: PCT/FR2005/051059
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Pierre Legrand
Original assignee: Renault S.A.S.
Priority date: 2004-12-16
Filing date: 2005-12-08
Publication date: 2006-06-22
Also published as: EP1827923A1; FR2879539A1; FR2879539B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device comprising two clasp bodies (81, 82) for receiving pins pertaining to safety belts. According to the invention, a first clasp body (81) can be stowed away in relation to a second (82) clasp body. The invention is characterised in that it comprises displacement means (38) that can automatically displace the second clasp body (82) in order to stow away the first clasp body.

Description

ADJUSTABLE SEAT BELT BODY ADJUSTABLE IN

POSITION

GENERAL TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to the locking devices of the safety belt bolts.

More specifically, it relates to locking devices comprising two striker bodies adapted to receive safety belt bolts, the device being arranged for example in the rear seat of a motor vehicle. STATE OF THE ART

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rear seat 1 of a motor vehicle with three safety belts 5, 6 and 7 adapted to cooperate with locking devices. Each of the locking devices of the seat belts is provided with at least one striker body 81 to 84 adapted to receive latches 50, 60, 61 and 70 respectively belts 5, 6 and 7 of safety.

The rear seat 1 comprises a seat 2 which is fixed permanently, or mounted foldable against the back of the front seat, on the floor 3 of a motor vehicle in a manner known to those skilled in the art. The rear seat 1 also comprises a backrest 4 which is fixed permanently on the walls of a trunk, or mounted pivotally on the walls of the trunk or on the seat 2.

The seat 2 has three seats 9 to 10 able to accommodate three passengers. The two lateral places are referenced by 9, the central square is referenced by 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the straps of the lateral safety belts 5 and 7 are fixed by their ends respectively to the frame of the backrest and to the seat frame and comprise for example the two bolts 50 and 70 respectively. The bolt 50 is adapted to cooperate with the striker body 81 and the bolt 70 with the body 84. The ends of the straps can also be fixed to the body structure or the floor structure.

The strap of the central safety belt 6 is fixed at one end to the backrest frame and comprises for example two bolts 60 and 61. The bolts 60 and 61 cooperate with the striker bodies 83 and 82 respectively. The striker bodies 82 and 83 are distributed on either side of the central square 10 to put in position the central belt 6 and to retain the central passenger.

The devices of the prior art have disadvantages. Indeed, the striker bodies 81 to 84 are grouped in pairs on either side of the central square 10.

Figure 1 shows that the striker bodies 81 to 84 are arranged substantially side by side along a longitudinal axis A relative to the seat and which is perpendicular to a receiving axis of the bolts in the striker body.

The longitudinal axis A corresponds to a transverse axis of the vehicle as a whole. The point of attachment of a striker body is then either too far forward or too far back along the axis A depending on the number of passengers on the seat or their build. This longitudinal misalignment risks degrading the quality of the restraint of at least one of the passengers, and consequently the safety of said passenger. In addition, the striker bodies occupy a significant position that affects the comfort of the passengers, both on the side seats 9 and the central square 10. The passengers are generally partially seated on the striker bodies 81 to 84 when the three places 9 to 10 are occupied.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION The invention proposes to overcome at least one of these disadvantages.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a device comprising two striker bodies adapted to receive safety belt bolts, a first striker body being retractable relative to a second striker body, characterized in that it comprises means movable to automatically move the second body of striker during the retraction of the first strike body.

The invention is advantageously completed by the following characteristics, taken alone or in any of their technically possible combination: the displacement means are able to move the second striker body from a first stable position to a second stable position in which it substantially takes a first position of the first striker body before its retraction; - Retraction means for moving the first striker body from a first stable position to a second retracted stable position;

- Retaining means are adapted to retain the keeper bodies relative to each other a first stable position;

the retaining means further comprise means able to automatically move the first striker body from its second retracted position to its first position when the second striker body is moved from its second position to its first position; - The striker bodies are, in their first position, arranged substantially side by side along a longitudinal axis perpendicular to a bolt receiving axis;

the retraction means allow the first striker body to move in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis perpendicular to a bolt receiving axis;

- The second striker body is movably mounted in translation on a rod whose extension axis is parallel to a longitudinal axis perpendicular to a bolt receiving axis;

the retaining means comprise a lug fixed to a lug for fixing the first keeper body to the retraction means; and

- A protection part of the displacement means is fixed to the second keeper body.

The invention has many advantages.

When the central seat is not used in a rear seat of the vehicle, at least one of the striker bodies can be retracted under the seat back to make it inaccessible for locking the belt. The other body of strike is automatically positioned at a locking position corresponding to a good retention of the seat belt side.

This retracted position also corresponds to a better accessibility of the striker body for locking the bolt of the belt for the side seat.

Finally, this position corresponds to an area where the average passenger is not sitting on the striker body, which also improves its comfort. When the central square is used, the two strike bodies are placed side by side. The striker body of the side seat is then no longer retracted under the seat back. We favor a good position for the restraint of all passengers. Security is thus preserved. This position is at the expense of a little comfort of the passengers, they can possibly be partially seated on the body of waste.

The use of the device is very simple, the movement of the striker bodies between their positions is easily done by manipulation of one or the other of the waste body. PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, which is purely illustrative and nonlimiting, and which should be read with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1, already commented, is a perspective view of a known rear seat with three seat belts, each being provided with a device comprising two striker body for locking the bolts seatbelts;

FIG. 2 represents an example of an embodiment of a device according to the invention; FIGS. 3A to 3C show the transition of a device according to the invention between a first use position and a second use position;

- Figure 4A shows the device in a side view, Figure 4A corresponding to the position of the device shown in Figure 3C; - Figure 4B shows a device according to Figure 4A in position in a rear seat of a motor vehicle;

FIG. 5A represents a perspective view of a device according to the invention, FIG. 5A corresponding to the position of the device represented in FIG. 3A; and - Figure 5B shows the embodiment of Figure 5A in position in a rear seat of a motor vehicle.

In all the figures, similar elements bear identical reference numerals. DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 2, 3A to 3C, 4A and 5A in particular show a possible embodiment of a device according to the invention.

The device mainly comprises two striker bodies 81 and 82 adapted to receive bolts of seat belts of a motor vehicle. The waste bodies 81 and 82 as such are known to those skilled in the art and are not described in more detail in the following description. Preferably, the striker bodies are associated with a rear seat of the vehicle, also known to those skilled in the art and for example described in the presentation of the state of the art, in particular with reference to FIG. Strike 81 and 82 are arranged on a support 30 to be movable between two stable positions of use of the device.

The support 30 connects the striker bodies to a floor 3 of the vehicle. It mainly comprises a plate 31 having an orifice 36 for fixing the plate 31 to the floor 3. The plate 31 has fins 32 and 33 integral with the plate 31 and extending substantially perpendicular to the plate 31.

FIG. 3A and FIG. 5A show that the device preferably comprises retaining means able to retain the striker bodies 81 and 82 relative to one another in a first position.

Advantageously, the striker bodies 81 and 82 are, in their first position, arranged substantially side by side along a longitudinal axis A perpendicular to an axis of reception of the bolts in the bodies 81 and 82.

Figure 5B shows the striker bodies 81 and 82 in said first position in the rear seat of the motor vehicle. FIG. 5B shows that a first striker body 81 is then located in a recess 90 made in the seat of the side seat 9, a second striker body 82 being in a recess 100 made in the seat of the central square 10. The two striker bodies 81 and 82 are therefore able to receive safety belt bolts. In the first position of the striker bodies 81 and 82, the lateral 9 and central places 10 can be used.

Figures 2 and 4A show that the device further comprises retraction means adapted to allow the movement of the first keeper body 81 to a second position corresponding to a retracted position. The Figure 4B shows the device in place in the rear seat of the motor vehicle. The keeper body 81 is shown in its retracted position. The first striker body is then in a housing 40 formed in the backrest 4 of the seat. The device further comprises displacement means 38 able to move automatically and to maintain the second striker body 82 in a second position in which it preferably takes substantially the first position of the first striker body 81. It is clear in FIGS. , 4A and 4B that the second striker body 82 takes the first position of the first striker body, which is then in its second retracted position. Figure 4B shows that the second strike body is located in the housing 90.

Advantageously, the retraction means allow the first striker body 81 to move in a plane perpendicular to the axis A. Advantageously, the displacement of the first striker body 81 is a rotation about an axis parallel to the axis. AT.

Advantageously, the movement of the second striker body 82 from its first position to its second position is a translation parallel to the longitudinal axis A.

For this purpose, the striker bodies 81 and 82 are respectively mounted on a bracket 811 and 821.

The shape and length of the fastening tabs 81 1 and 821 depend on the motor vehicle on which the device is intended to be mounted. Note however that the tabs 811 and 821 are preferably of bent shape. The tab 81 1 further allows the first keeper body 81 to be further away from the floor 3 than the second keeper body 82, in order to facilitate the locking of a bolt corresponding to a lateral belt on the first striker body 81 and facilitating the locking of a bolt of a central belt on the second striker body 82.

The fixing lug 81 1 has at its end opposite to the striker body 81 a plate 812 rotatably mounted on the fin 32 of the support 30. The rotation of the lug 81 1 takes place around a rod 34, the plate 812 being held against the fin 32 by means of a head 35. The plate 812 is pierced and its orifice cooperates with the outer contour of the rod 34. A lug 813 is attached to the plate 812. The lug 813 may be integral on the plate 812 or be attached to said plate. The lug 813 extends perpendicularly to the plate 812, to the lug 821 of the second striker body 82. The fastening lug 821 has an end 822 mounted to move in translation on a rod 34. The end 822 is in the form of form of a pierced plate whose orifice cooperates with the outer contour of the rod 34.

The rod 34 is mounted between the fins 32 and 33 of the support 30. The rod 34 passes for example through the fins 32 and 33 and is locked between the fins by means of heads 35, at least one of which is screwed onto the rod 34.

The figures show that, preferably, the axis of the rod 34 coincides with the axis of rotation of the first striker body. The rod 34 is common at the end 822 and the plate 812. The first striker body 81 could however be rotatable about another axis. The displacement means 38 are mounted between the end plate

822 and the fin 33, in order to urge the striker body 82 against the fin 32. The displacement means 38 is preferably in the form of a helical spring.

Figure 5A shows that the elbows of the tabs 811 and 821 allow the end of the pin 813 to be positioned at the right of the tab 821 in the first position. The spring means 38 bias said tab 821 against the end of the lug 813. The length of the lug 813 is such that the keeper bodies 81 and 82 of the device are held in their first position of use, corresponding to the Figure 5B and Figure 3A. We will now describe the transition of the bodies 81 and 82 from their first position to their second position.

When a user biases the first striker body 81 according to the arrow 201 shown in FIG. 3B, the first striker body 81 then moves into its retracted position by rotation and begins to enter the location 40 visible in FIG. 5B.

The bent shape of the tab 821 causes the lug 813 to be no longer in line with the lug 821 after a certain displacement of the first keeper body in the direction 201. The spring means 38 then urge the end 822 so that that the strike body 82 moves in translation along the arrow 202, along the rod 34. The displacement along the arrow 202 is no longer prevented by the lug 813.

When the movement of the first striker body 81 is completely finished and that it is entirely in the location 40 visible in FIG. 4B, the second body 82 has also finished its displacement biased by the spring means 38.

Strike bodies 81 and 82 are in the configuration shown in Figures 3C and 4A. FIG. 4B further shows that the striker body 81 is retracted into the recess 40 of the backrest 4 of the seat and the second striker body 82 is available for locking a bolt of a seatbelt in the recess 90.

The elbow of the lug 81 1 further allows the keeper body 81 to not be in line with the second striker body 82 in its retracted position. The second body 82 can therefore take almost entirely the first position of the first body 81 in the housing 90.

In addition, a side wall of the lug 813 abuts against a side wall of the bend of the lug 821, so that when the second leash body is in its second position, a displacement of the first keeper body in one direction reverse to the 201 arrow is not possible. Very preferably, the device further comprises means 37 able to automatically move the first striker body 81 from its second retracted position to its first position when the second striker body is moved from its second position to its first position.

FIG. 5A shows that the device then comprises a helical spring 37 able to urge the first striker body 81 in a direction opposite to that represented by the arrow 201 in FIG. 3B.

It is recalled that the cooperation of the side wall of the pin 813 abuts against the side wall of the elbow of the tab 821 prevents movement of the first keeper body in a direction opposite to the arrow 201 when the second keeper body is in his second position.

The spring means 37 are mounted between the head 35 and the plate 812. If from the position of FIG. 3C, the second striker body 82 is urged against the spring means 38 in a direction opposite to the arrow 202 of FIG. 3B, when the leg 812 has finished moving along the side wall of the pin 813, the spring means 37 will urge the first striker body 81 in a direction opposite to that represented by the arrow 201. The two striker bodies 81 and 82 are then automatically found in their first position shown in Figure 3A, the end of the pin 813 then coming into abutment against the tab 821.

FIG. 4B shows that advantageously the second striker body 82 is integral with a closure element of a portion of the housing of said striker bodies 81 and 82. The closure element can be formed for example of a piece of fabric 101 homogeneous to the seat upholstery fabric. The piece of fabric 101 is fixed on the one hand to the upper part of the striker body 82 and on the other hand to the upper part of the housing 100, so that when the second striker body 82 is in its second position, the housing 100 is covered by the piece of fabric 101. When the second striker body 82 is in the housing 100, the piece of fabric is folded between the striker body 82 and the inner walls of the housing 100. This improves the aesthetic qualities. of the seat when the striker bodies are in their second position. In addition, the part 101 prevents an object from being placed in the housing 100 when the second 82 keeper body is in its second position, which would hinder the operation of the device. A passenger, for example a child, is also prevented from pinching his fingers in the spring means 38.

When the keeper body 81 is in the retracted position, it can be partially or completely hidden by the base of the seat back, thus prohibiting its use.

Claims

1. Device comprising two striker bodies (81, 82) adapted to receive safety belt bolts, retraction means (812, 34) for moving the first striker body (81) from a first position towards a second position retracted relative to the second (82) striker body, and moving means (38) able to automatically move the second striker body (82) during the retraction of the first striker body, characterized in that the retraction means (812, 34) allow the first striker body (81) to move in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (A) perpendicular to a bolt receiving axis.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the displacement means (38) are able to move the second striker body from a first position to a second position in which it substantially takes a first position of the first striker body (81). ) before his retraction.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising retaining means (813) adapted to retain the keeper bodies relative to each other a first position.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the retaining means (813) further comprises means (37) adapted to automatically move the first striker body (81) from its second retracted position to its first position when the second body keeper (82) is moved from its second position to its first position.

5. Device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the keeper bodies (81, 82) are, in their first position, arranged substantially side by side along a longitudinal axis (A) perpendicular to a bolt receiving axis.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second striker body (82) is mounted to move in translation on a rod (34) whose axis extension is parallel to a longitudinal axis (A) perpendicular to a bolt receiving axis.

7. Device according to one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the retaining means comprise a lug (813) fixed to a tab for fixing the first keeper body to the retraction means.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a closure member (101) of the displacement means (38) is fixed to the second keeper body.

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first striker body (81) is adapted to be retracted under the base of a seat back of a motor vehicle.