WO2008120230A1

WO2008120230A1 - Improved safety belt mounting system

Info

Publication number: WO2008120230A1
Application number: PCT/IN2008/000183
Authority: WO
Inventors: M. S. Mahendrakumar; Sarang Kshirsagar
Original assignee: Tata Motors Limited
Priority date: 2007-03-29
Filing date: 2008-03-25
Publication date: 2008-10-09

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety belt mounting system comprising of belt webbing (7), retractor spool (3), anchor plate (8), tongue (9a), buckle (9b) with or without pillar loop (4), wherein said retractor spool (3) is mounted on the cant rail (2), said anchor plate (8) is mounted on the side sill (11), said buckle (9b) is mounted to the floor structure (10) or seat structure (6), said pillar loop (4) is mounted on the side pillar (5), one end of said belt webbing (7) is rigidly attached to the said retractor spool (3); other end may pass through said pillar loop (4) and is rigidly attached to the said anchor plate (8) said belt webbing (7) is provided with tongue (9a) with can freely move on it, said tongue (9a) is adopted to be engaged with said buckle (9b) to form occupant restraint.

Description

IMPROVED SAFETY BELT MOUNTING SYSTEM

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to safety features of automobile and more particularly to three point safety belt mounting system i.e. safety belt anchorages.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

In case of body designing for an automobile, configuration of the occupant restraints are very important to ensure safety of an occupant during the event of crash. The occupant restraints consist of seats, safety belts, safety belt anchorages & the bodyshell structure.

Safety belt anchorages are the mounting or anchoring points of the safety belts to the bodyshell. The strength & location of these anchorages are very important for the safety belt to function as occupant restraint.

The safety belt requires anchorages for the following elements -

Retractor - it is a spool to store the unused length of the safety belt ,

D ring - the safety belt passes through this part before it touches the occupant body. Location of this part is important to decide the safety belt positioning over the occupant body. Provision of this part relieves constraints on the position of retractors,

Free end or anchor plate - this is at the non retractor end of the safety belt.

Buckle - the safety belt has a tongue & buckle arrangement to provide quick engagement & disengagement of the safety belt for an occupant. In the buckle tongue engaged condition, the safety belt part on account of the buckle & free end is known as lap belt and the safety belt part on account of buckle & D ring is known as torso belt. Both lap & torso belt provide the necessary body restraints for lower & upper body extremities respectively.

GBl 169349 describes a safety belt installation incorporated in a vehicle with a lap belt portion, a diagonal belt portion & an inertia reel mounted on the roof structure of the vehicle & partially concealed by the head lining of the roof.

The drawback associated with the prior art is -

The location of safety belt retractor anchorage on roof has limitations owing relative positioning of occupant vis-a-vis the roof structural member as roof does not have structural members at all the locations.

OBJECTS OF INVENTION

The main object of this invention is to provide an improved safety belt mounting system with flexibility to structural design.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide safety belt mounting system which is cost effective.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

Safety belt mounting system comprising of belt webbing, retractor spool, anchor plate, tongue, buckle and pillar loop_^ wherein said retractor spool is mounted on the cant rail, said anchor plate is mounted on the side sill, said buckle is mounted to the floor structure or seat structure, said pillar loop is mounted on the side pillar, one end of said belt webbing is rigidly attached to the said retractor spool; other end passes through said pillar loop and is rigidly attached to the said anchor plate, said belt webbing is provided with tongue which can freely move on it, said tongue is adopted to be engaged with said buckle to form occupant restraint. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Safety belt mounting system in accordance with this invention basically comprises of belt webbing, retractor spool, anchor plate, tongue, buckle and pillar loop. Wherein said retractor spool is mounted on the cant rail, said anchor plate is mounted on the side sill. Said buckle is mounted either to the floor structure or seat structure on inboard side. Said pillar loop is mounted on the side pillar. One end of said belt webbing is rigidly attached to the said retractor spool; other end passes through said pillar loop and is rigidly attached to the said anchor plate. Said belt webbing is provided with tongue which can freely move on it. Said tongue is adopted to be engaged with said buckle to form occupant restraint.

As the cant rail is continuously running from front windshield aperture to rear windshield apertures, providing retractor anchorage on cant rail does not pose limitation for its longitudinal location for an outboard occupant at any row of the seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig 1 is a prior art safety belt mounting system mounted in vehicle.

Fig 2 shows safety belt mounting system mounted in vehicle in accordance with this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same

Referring to Fig 2, Safety belt mounting system in accordance with this invention comprises of belt webbing (7), retractor spool (3), anchor plate (8), tongue (9a), buckle (9b) and pillar loop (4). Wherein said retractor spool is mounted on the cant rail (2), said anchor plate is mounted on the side sill (11). Said buckle (9b) is mounted either to the floor structure (10) or seat structure (6) on inboard side. Said pillar loop (4) is mounted on the side pillar (5). One end of said belt webbing (7) is rigidly attached to the said retractor spool (3); other end passes through said pillar loop (4) and is rigidly attached to the said anchor plate (8). Said belt webbing (7) is provided with tongue (9a) which can freely move on it. Said tongue (9a) is adopted to be engaged with said buckle (9b) to form occupant restraint.

As the cant rail (2) is continuously running from front windshield aperture to rear windshield apertures, providing retractor anchorage on cant rail does not pose limitation for its longitudinal location for an outboard occupant at any row of the seat.

Said retractor spool (3) is located above the shoulder of the occupant.

Said retractor spool (3) is mounted on the cant rail (2) by using fasteners.

Said retractor spool (3) is mounted at an angle in the longitudinal vertical plane of vehicle.

Said retractor spool (3) is mounted at an angle in the transverse vertical plane of vehicle.

The advantages associated with invention are -

Improved safety belt mounting system requires fewer structural material on side structure of the bodyshell to react to the forces generated by restraining occupant during the event of crash.

As the distance between the retractor & the D ring is minimum, this arrangement will result into smaller safety belt length, which will reduce the cost of the safety belt system. As the cant rail is continuously running from front windshield aperture to rear windshield apertures, the retractor can be mounted at any suitable longitudinal location across the cant rail.

The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is described for purpose of illustration only, and that numerous alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. Safety belt mounting system comprising of belt webbing, retractor spool, anchor plate, tongue, buckle and pillar loop, wherein said retractor spool is mounted on the cant rail, said anchor plate is mounted on the side sill, said buckle is mounted to the floor structure or seat structure, said pillar loop is mounted on the side pillar, one end of said belt webbing is rigidly attached to the said retractor spool; other end passes through said pillar loop and is rigidly attached to the said anchor plate, said belt webbing is provided with tongue which can freely move on it, said tongue is adopted to be engaged with said buckle to form occupant restraint.

2. Safety belt mounting system comprising of belt webbing, retractor spool, anchor plate, tongue and buckle, wherein said retractor spool is mounted on the cant rail, said anchor plate is mounted on the side sill, said buckle is mounted to the floor structure or seat structure, one end of said belt webbing is rigidly attached to the said retractor spool; other end is rigidly attached to the said anchor plate, said belt webbing is provided with tongue which can freely move on it, said tongue is adopted to be engaged with said buckle to form occupant restraint.

3. Safety belt mounting system as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein said retractor spool is located above the shoulder of the occupant.

4. Safety belt mounting system as claimed in claims 1 to 3 wherein retractor spool is mounted on the cant rail by using fasteners.

5. Safety belt mounting system as claimed in claims 1 to 4 wherein said retractor spool is mounted at an angle in the longitudinal vertical plane of vehicle.

6. Safety belt mounting system as claimed in claims 1 to 4 wherein said retractor spool is mounted at an angle in the transverse vertical plane of vehicle.

7. Passenger car provided with safety belt mounting system as claimed in claims 1 to 6.

8. Commercial vehicle provided with safety belt mounting system as claimed in claims 1 to 6.

9. Safety belt mounting system substantially as herein described with reference to accompanying drawings.