WO2014019669A1

WO2014019669A1 - Height adjuster

Info

Publication number: WO2014019669A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/002237
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernhard Scheuermann; Beate HERTAEG
Original assignee: Trw Automotive Gmbh
Priority date: 2012-08-01
Filing date: 2013-07-29
Publication date: 2014-02-06
Also published as: CN104703847B; CN104703847A; DE102012015126A1; DE102012015126B4

Abstract

In the case of a height adjuster (10) for a retaining part (12) of a seat belt in a vehicle, with a vehicle-mounted guide rail (14), in which a retaining device (16) for the retaining part (12) of the seat belt is mounted displaceably in the longitudinal direction (L) of the guide rail (14), and with a locking device (28) which can fix the retaining device (16) in the guide rail (14), wherein the locking device (28) has a bolt (32) which is displaceable in a displacement direction (S) between a fixing position, in which the bolt (32) fixes the retaining device (16) to the guide rail (14), and a release position, and also a lever (36) which can actuate the bolt (32), provision is made for the lever (36) to move the bolt (32) on a rectilinear path between the fixing position and the release position.

Description

Height adjuster

The invention relates to a height adjuster for fitting a seat belt in a vehicle, with a vehicle-fixed guide rail, in which a holding device for the holding part of the seat belt is slidably mounted in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, and with a locking device which can fix the holding device in the guide rail, wherein the locking means comprises a latch which is displaceable in a displacement direction between a fixing position in which the latch fixes the holding device on the guide rail, and a release position, and a lever which can actuate the latch.

Height adjusters are used to adjust the position of a holding part of a seat belt, for example a deflection fitting, to the respective vehicle occupant or his sitting position. Such a height adjuster has a guide rail, in which the holding part is displaceably mounted. In order to fix the holding part in the desired position, a lever-operated locking device is provided. The locking device has, for example, a latch which is pressed against the guide rail by spring loading. The guide rail has a suitable structure, for example latching lugs, in which the bolt can engage and thus fixes the holding part in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail. To operate the locking device, a lever is provided, which can be operated either directly or indirectly via an additional, slidably mounted in the vehicle interior facing facing element, the vehicle occupant to pull the bolt against the spring tension of the rail and thus release the lock. The lever is usually supported on the locking device with a bearing point and is pivoted when actuated about this bearing point. The latch, which is coupled to the lever is pulled by the pivoting not only in a direction of displacement away from the guide rail, but following the support point on the lever moves on a circular path. However, this has the consequence that the bolt can tilt in his leadership on the locking device, so that it can not be moved almost frictionless between the fixing position and the release position.

The object of the invention is to provide a height adjuster, which allows a more reliable operation and reliably prevents tilting of the bolt on the locking device. In addition to a shortest possible displacement of an actuating element, which is preferably actuated by a displaceably mounted in a trim panel control button, a bolt can be controlled as far as possible and so a complete locking and unlocking can be ensured even over a high tolerance range of the components. Furthermore, it should be ensured that the actuation forces can be maintained within specified narrow limits over the largest possible tolerance of the components and also after environmental simulation.

To solve the problem is provided in a height adjuster of the type mentioned that the lever moves the bolt in a straight line between the fixing position and the release position. In a conventional lever, the receptacle for the bolt and thus also the contact point at which the latch abuts the lever, pivoted along a trajectory. As a result, not only tensile forces in the displacement direction, but also transverse forces acting perpendicularly thereto, which can lead to tilting of the bolt in its guide, act on the latch. The invention is therefore intended to form the lever or the receptacle of the lever for the bolt such that the pulling direction of the lever on the bolt always runs independently of the position of the lever exclusively in the direction of displacement. This prevents lateral forces from acting on the latch. Often, the bolt is rigid or limited movable mounted on the lever, so that the position of the bolt is predetermined to the lever and the bolt is pivoted together with the lever.

Preferably, the bolt or the lever is provided with a bolt which is mounted in a lever-side or latch-side recess. As a result, the bolt can rotate relative to the lever, so that always an orientation of the bolt in the direction of displacement is possible.

In particular, the bolt is displaceable and rotatably mounted on the lever. The bolt can therefore not only be pivoted but also moved to always ensure alignment in the direction of displacement. The receptacle is designed to allow the displacement of the bolt in the recess, whereby the contact point of the bolt moves on the lever to always extend in extension to the leadership of the bolt and apply exclusively to the bolt tensile forces in the direction of displacement.

The lever may, for example, be supported counter to the direction of displacement of the bolt on a support surface provided on the locking device, wherein this bearing surface is preferably arranged perpendicular to the displacement direction. The support surface forms an abutment which can absorb the forces acting against the direction of displacement during pivoting of the lever.

Preferably, the lever is pivotally mounted against the support surface and slidably mounted perpendicular to the direction of displacement. The possibility of additionally moving the lever on the support surface, the lever can be aligned perpendicular to the direction of displacement so that the contact point of the bolt on the lever always on an imaginary straight line that runs in the direction of displacement, is arranged.

The lever has at least a first pivot bearing point, with which the lever rests against the support surface. The lever is pivotally mounted on the first pivot bearing point on the locking device. This first pivot bearing point is preferably displaceable perpendicular to the displacement direction of the bolt (ie, the pivot bearing point "wanders" on the pad), so that an ideal alignment of the lever is always possible the pivot bearing point is carried out either by rolling the lever on its base so that the contact and thus the pivot bearing point is not ortfsfest, and / or by sliding the lever on the pad. In addition, a second bearing surface may be provided on the locking device, which is preferably arranged perpendicular to the first bearing surface. On the lever, a second pivot bearing point is provided, with which the lever bears against the second bearing surface, wherein the second pivot bearing point when pivoting the lever moves thereon, for example by the lever slides on the support surface. The lever is supported during pivoting at the second pivot bearing point.

The contact surfaces of the second bearing surface and the lever, where it comes to the contact between the two upon pivoting of the lever relative to each other have such a geometry that with increasing pivoting of the lever to the first pivot bearing point from the fixing position in the direction of release position of the first pivot bearing point further in Direction is moved to the latch. This shift in the direction of the bolt compensates for the displacement of the support point of the bolt by the pivoting of the lever and the actually existing arc on which the bolt would migrate during pivoting of the lever _T partially off, resulting in a more linear movement of the bolt , This movement can be additionally positively influenced by the contour of the recess of the bolt or bolt.

The second bearing surface may for example be formed integrally with the first bearing surface, thus forming a common component.

But it is also possible that the second bearing surface is a separate component from the first bearing surface.

If the second bearing surface is flat and perpendicular to the first, then the contact surface on the lever, on which the second pivot bearing points are located, a curved path or surface whose distance from the first pivot bearing point increases steadily with increasing pivoting of the lever.

The support point of the bolt in the recess of the lever according to the invention is regardless of the position and the angle of the lever always on a virtual line, in the direction of displacement or parallel to it runs. This ensures that the tensile forces acting against the spring tension of the lever always run in the direction of displacement and no lateral forces can act on the bolt.

The bearing point of the bolt is preferably in each position of the lever at the closest to the guide rail point of the recess.

The recess may be formed in the region in which the bolt rests against the recess, concave and height adjustment with play to the driver, so that a displacement and rotation of the bolt and thus the bolt against the lever is possible. The recess has, for example, a U-shaped contact surface for the bolt whose smallest curvature has a radius which is greater than the radius of the bolt in its contact area by at least the factor 1, 0, preferably at least 1.3.

The curvature of the contact surface may be smaller in a first region in which the bolt in the fixing position, as in a second region in which the bolt when moving into the release position or in the release position, in particular where the curvature of the first region continuously increased to the second area.

On the height adjuster, an operating button with a contact surface may be provided, on which the lever rests in any position of the lever, wherein the plane of the contact surface is inclined at an angle of at most 15 ° to the path of the bolt, in particular parallel to this web.

Further advantages and features will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 1 shows a sectional view through a height adjuster according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the height adjuster from FIG. 1 without cover elements, FIGS. 3a to 3c show a conventional lever for adjusting the bolt of a height adjuster according to the prior art in various positions,

FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the contact points of the bolt on the lever according to FIGS. 3 a to 3 c,

- Figure 5 is a lever for a height adjuster according to the invention of FIG

1 ,

FIGS. 6a to 6c show the lever from FIG. 5 in different positions,

7 shows a detailed view of the contact points of the bolt on a lever according to FIGS. 6a to 6c, FIG.

- Figure 8 is a detail view of the lever of Figure 6, and

- Figure 9 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a height adjuster according to the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a height adjuster 10 for a retaining part 12 of a safety belt in a vehicle. The holding part 12 is here a bolt to which a deflection fitting of a seat belt can be attached. The height adjuster has a guide rail 14, which can be mounted with two fastening elements, here two screws 18, fixed to the vehicle, and on which a holding device 16 is slidably mounted in the longitudinal direction L.

As can be seen in Figure 1, a trim panel 20 is mounted on the height adjuster 10, which covers the height adjuster 10 to the vehicle interior. The covering part 20 is coupled via a receptacle 21, in which the holding part 12 protrudes, with the holding part 12, so that the covering part 20 can be moved together with the holding part 2.

The cowling 20 further has an opening 26 through which the safety belt or strap for the seat belt can be guided into the vehicle interior, as well as a slidably mounted control button 22 for the height adjuster 10, which is held by a spring 24 in an initial position. In the area of the operating button, a cap 23 is formed in the lining, in which the receptacle 21 is provided. The cap 23 forms a vertical guide for the operating button 22. In addition, the front in the longitudinal direction L surface of the cap 23 forms a counter-holder, against which the operator can move the control button 22. The cap 23 and the operating button 22 thus jointly serve as a handle to move the holding device 16.

The holding device 16 has a locking device 28, which can fix the holding device 16 in the longitudinal direction L on the guide rail 14. The locking device 28 has for this purpose a latch 32 which can engage in detents 30 which are provided on the guide rail 14.

The guide rail 14 has a plurality of latching lugs 30 which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of displacement L and on which the latch 32 can latch in each case. The latching lugs 30 have a counter to the longitudinal direction L obliquely to the locking device 28 rising surface 33 and a perpendicular to the displacement locking surface 35. The front in the direction of displacement L end of the bolt 32 is also partially bevelled in the longitudinal direction S.

The bolt 32 is slidably mounted in a guide 38 in a horizontal displacement direction S and is urged by a spring 34 in the direction S against the guide rail 14.

If the holding device 16 is displaced counter to the longitudinal direction L, the bolt 32 slides along the rising surfaces 33 and is moved against the spring 34 and thus against the displacement direction S, until the latch 32 is latched to the latching surface 35 of the next latching lug 30. Once the latch 32 is latched to the locking surface 35, a displacement in the longitudinal direction L is prevented.

On the inside of the guide rail 14, an additional damping pad 37 is provided here, which reduces noise when moving the bolt 32 in the guide rail 14.

To release the bolt 32 and thus to cancel the locking of the holding device 16, a lever 36 is provided which is pivotally mounted in a pivoting direction D to the locking device 28. The lever 36 has two parallel receiving arms which receive the latch 32 between them. Each pickup arm has a recess 42 (see Figures 3a to 3c). On the holding device 16 directed against the direction of displacement S bearing surface 44 is provided, against which the lever 36 bears with a first pivot bearing point 46.

The lever 36 is coupled to the bolt via two bolt-side, oppositely projecting bolts 40 which each engage in a recess 42 on a receiving arm of the lever 36 (see Figures 2 and 6a to 6c).

Furthermore, the lever 36 is coupled to the operating button 22 such that the lever 36 is pivoted in the pivoting direction D by pressing the operating button 22. The latch 32 mounted on the lever 32 is thereby lifted counter to the displacement direction S and pulled out of the latching lugs 30, so that a displacement of the holding device 16 is possible.

FIGS. 3a to 3c show a lever 36 'of a prior art height adjuster. In Figure 3a, the latch 32 'in a fixing position in which the latch 32', the locking device 28 'fixed to a guide rail. By actuating an actuating key, the lever 36 'is pivoted in the pivoting direction D' (FIG. 3b). Since the latch 32 'is coupled to the lever 36' via the bolts 40 'mounted in the recesses 42', the latch 32 'is thereby moved counter to the displacement direction S' into a release position, in which the latch 32 'is no longer in the Guide rail 14 'engages (Figure 3c).

The straight line g 'in FIGS. 3a to 3c identifies the central axis of the guide 38', ie the ideal displacement direction, in order to lift the latch 32 'against the spring 34'. As can be seen in FIGS. 3b and 3c, however, the latch 32 'becomes lifted by the pivoting of the lever 36 'not only against the direction of displacement S in the guide 38', but also in the direction of rotation D 'tilted. This is done on the one hand in that the recess 42 'of the lever 36' is formed so small that a pivoting of the bolt 40 'and thus of the bolt 32' against the lever 36 'is not possible.

Mainly this tilting of the bolt 32 'but takes place in that by the pivoting of the lever 36' of the support point 48 'of the bolt 40' in the recess 42 'is displaced on a path K' running around the first pivot bearing point 46 '(see FIG. 4).

That is, even if the bolt 40 'would be freely pivotally mounted in the recess 42', the bolt 32 'would not straight out of the guide 38' are pulled out, as by moving the support point 48 'perpendicular to the direction S' transverse forces on the Latch 32 'act, which can lead to a tilting of the bolt 32' in the guide 38 '.

In order to prevent this, the lever 36 shown in FIG. 5 is provided in the case of a height adjuster 10 according to the invention. The operation of this lever 36 substantially corresponds to the operation of a previously known lever 36 '.

The bearing of the lever 36 on the locking device 28 and the recess 42, via which the latch 32 is coupled to the lever 36, however, are designed such that the latch 32 on a straight path K, which here corresponds to the straight line g, from the 6a is moved into the release position shown in FIG. 6c.

This is achieved in that the first pivot bearing point 46, as can be seen in Figures 6b and 6c, is moved in the longitudinal direction L during this movement of the lever 36 in the pivoting direction D on the support surface 44, so that the bearing point48 of the bolt 40 at the recess 42 is substantially on the direction of displacement S extending straight line g, as shown in particular in Fig. 7.

To the locking device 28 to a second, here only schematically illustrated support surface 52 is provided which is perpendicular to the first support surface 44. On the lever 36, a second pivot bearing point 54 is provided, which bears against the second bearing surface 52. When pivoting the lever 36, the lever 36 is supported on the second support surface 52 and is displaced by the shape of the lever 36 and the second pivot bearing point 54 on the first support surface 44 in the longitudinal direction L. The second pivot bearing point 54 moves vertically on the second bearing surface 52 during this movement. The lever 36 is supported during pivoting at the migrating second pivot bearing point 54. The contact surfaces of the second bearing surface 52 and the lever 36, where it comes to the contact between lever 36 and bearing surface 52 during pivoting of the lever 36, relative to each other have such a geometry that the recess 42 of the lever 36 with its increasing pivoting about the first Pivot bearing point 46 is moved from the fixing position in the direction of the release position further toward the latch 32. Ideally, therefore, the horizontal distance x between the second pivot bearing point 54 and the support point 48 remains constant with respect to FIGS. 6 a to c during the entire latch movement.

This displacement in the direction of the recess 42 and the particular contour of the recess 42 on the one hand, the displacement of the pivot bearing point 46 by the pivoting and rolling of the lever 36 and on the other hand the arc shown in Figure 4 (lane K ') on which the latch 32 at a pivoting of the lever 36 would migrate, so that it comes to a linear movement of the bolt 32.

Since the second abutment surface 52 is flat and perpendicular to the first, the contact surface on the lever 36, on which the second pivot bearing points 54 lie, is a curved path or surface whose distance from the first pivot bearing point 46 increases steadily with increasing pivoting of the lever 36.

Furthermore, in contrast to lever 36 'according to FIGS. 3 a to 3 c, the recess 42 is made larger, so that the bolt 40 of the bolt 32 is mounted in it completely rotatable and displaceable (see FIGS. 6 a to 6 c and FIG. 7).

By moving the first pivot bearing point 46 so caused by the pivoting of the lever 36 position change of the support point 48 in the longitudinal direction L is compensated. Due to the larger recess 42, the bolt 32 or the bolt 40 of the bolt 32 can additionally move relative to the lever 36.

Since the support point 48 is always on the direction of displacement S extending straight line g act on the latch 32 exclusively tensile forces against the Displacement direction S and no shear forces. The bolt 32 is thus moved in a rectilinear movement against the displacement direction S in the guide 38, whereby tilting of the bolt 32 is reliably prevented. This also has the advantage that the spring 34 is also compressed only in the direction S and no transverse forces acting on this spring 34, whereby the life of the spring 34 can be significantly extended.

As can be seen in particular in Figure 7, the recess 42 is concave and forms a U-shaped bearing surface 50, wherein the curvature of this contact surface has a radius which is substantially greater than the radius of the bolt 40, the bolt 40 of course no Circular cylinder must be. In the figures 6a to 6c, the bolt 40 is a half cylinder. Ideally, the factor by which the radius of curvature of the contact surface 50 is greater than the radius of the bolt 1, 0, preferably 1, 3.

As can be seen in particular in Figure 8, the contact surface on a first portion 52, in which the bolt 40 abuts in the fixing position of the bolt 32 and a second portion 54, in which the bolt 40 when moving the lever 36 in the release position and in the release position of the lever 36 is present. The curvature of the second region 54 is preferably greater than the curvature of the first region 52, the curvature continuously increasing from the first region 52 to the second region 54. In the region of the first region, the radius of the curvature is 1, 1 times the radius of the bolt 40 and widens to the second region up to a radius R2, which is 1, 3 times the radius of the bolt 40.

The lever 36 is also curved, so that an enlargement of the lever arm is possible, whereby the operating forces can be reduced. Ideally, the operating button 22 is always tangential to the area 36 with a contact surface 56 over the entire pivoting path of the lever. The contact point 60 between the lever 36 and the operating button 22 migrates here to lever 36. Ideally, this is the friction angle between lever 36 and control button 0 °, the angle can also be between -15 ° and + 15 °.

Due to the shape of the lever 36 and / or the shape of the control button 22 is also a larger displacement of the bolt 32, with the same displacement of the Operation button 22 possible, which allows the use of the flexible damping pad 37, in which the latch 32 can sink and / or it is possible to reduce the displacement of the control button.

A second embodiment of a lever 36 for a height adjuster 10 according to the invention is shown schematically in FIG. In this embodiment, the lever 36 is fork-shaped and has two mutually facing bolts 40 which engage in recesses 42 on the bolt 32. The recesses 42 are formed so that the bolts 40 can be slid into them, so that the bolt 32 is displaced in a rectilinear path.

Claims

claims

1. height adjuster (10) for a holding part (12) of a safety belt in a vehicle, with a vehicle-fixed guide rail (14) in which a holding device (16) of the seat belt in the longitudinal direction (L) of the guide rail (14) is slidably mounted, and with a locking device (28) which can fix the holding device (16) in the guide rail (14), wherein the locking device (28) has a bolt (32) which in a displacement direction (S) between a fixing position, in which the bolt ( 32) the holding device (16) fixed to the guide rail (14), and a release position is displaceable, and a lever (36) which can actuate the latch (32), characterized in that the lever (36) the bolt ( 32) moves in a rectilinear path between the fixing position and the release position.

2. height adjuster according to claim 1, characterized in that the bolt (32) or on the lever (36) at least one bolt (40, 40 ') is provided which is mounted in a lever-side or latch-side recess (42), in particular relatively to the bolt (32) and to the lever (36) displaceable and rotatable.

3. height adjuster according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the lever (36) against the displacement direction (S) of the bolt (32) on one of the locking device (28) provided support surface (44) is supported, preferably perpendicular to Displacement direction (S) is arranged.

4. height adjuster according to claim 3, characterized in that the lever (36) against the support surface (44) is mounted pivotably and perpendicular to the displacement direction (S) displaceable.

5. height adjuster according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever (36) has at least a first pivot bearing point (46), with which the lever (36) rests against the support surface (44).

6. height adjuster according to claim 5, characterized in that the first pivot bearing point (46) during pivoting of the lever (36) on the support surface (44) slides.

7. height adjuster according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that on the locking device (28) has a second bearing surface (52) is provided, which is preferably perpendicular to the first bearing surface (44), and that the lever (36) has a second pivot bearing point (54) is provided, with which the lever (36) on the second bearing surface (52) is applied, wherein the second pivot bearing point (54) upon pivoting of the lever (36) on this wanders.

8. height adjuster according to claim 7, characterized in that contact surfaces of the second Aufla ^' gefläche (52) and the lever (36) relative to each other have such a geometry that the lever (36) with its increasing pivoting about the first pivot bearing point (46) from the fixing position in the direction of the release position further in the direction of the bolt (32) is moved.

9. height adjuster according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the second bearing surface (52) and the first bearing surface 44 are integrally formed.

10. height adjuster according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the second bearing surface (52) is one of the first bearing surface (44) separate component

1 1. Height adjuster according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the support point (48) of the bolt (40) in the recess (42) of the lever (36) regardless of the position of the lever (36) always on a virtual line (g ), which runs in the direction of displacement (S) or parallel to it.

12. height adjuster according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the support point (48) of the bolt (40) in each position of the lever (36) on the guide rail (14) nearest point of the recess (42).

13. height adjuster according to one of claims 1 1 and 12, characterized in that the recess (42) in the region in which the bolt (40) the recess (42) rests, concave and in the longitudinal direction (L) with play to the bolt (40) is formed.

14. height adjuster according to one of claims 2 to 13, characterized in that the recess (42) has a U-shaped contact surface (50) for the bolt (40) whose smallest curvature has a radius which by at least a factor of 1, 0, preferably at least 1, 3 is greater than the radius of the bolt (40) in its investment area.

15. height adjuster according to claim 14, characterized in that the curvature of the contact surface (50) in a first region (52) in which the bolt (40) in the fixing position, is smaller than in a second region (54), in the bolt (40) when moving into the release position or in the release position, in particular wherein the curvature of the first region (52) to the second region (54) increases continuously.

16. height adjuster according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an operating button (22) having a contact surface (56) is provided, wherein the lever (36) in each position of the lever (36) at a contact point (60) on the control button (22) is applied, and wherein the plane of the contact surface (56) is inclined at an angle of at most 15 ° to the path of the bolt, in particular parallel to this track.