Abstract:
A pivotally or foldably mounted belt end fitting device is provided to secure a seatbelt. The belt end fitting device minimally obstructs and/or disturbs a vehicle passenger, in particular when the passenger is getting into or out of a rear seat of the vehicle.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a belt end fitting device for securing a seatbelt.  
         [0002]     It is well known that, when getting into (when entering a vehicle) or out of (when exiting the vehicle) a rear seat or backseat bench (hereinafter “rear seat”) of a three-door vehicle, a passenger must enter/exit via the front door. To facilitate this movement, the seatback of the particular front seat is typically folded forward in the direction of travel. However, as the seatbelt, which is secured to the belt end fitting device, associated with the particular front seat is permanently anchored to the vehicle floor, the seatbelt often hinders the passenger&#39;s ability to enter/exit the rear seat.  
         [0003]     Accordingly, the present invention has been made in light of the aforementioned problem. Specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a belt end fitting device that enables a seatbelt affixed thereto to minimally obstruct and/or disturb a vehicle passenger, in particular when the passenger is getting into or out of the vehicle.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     An embodiment of the invention addresses a belt end fitting device for securing a seatbelt. The belt end fitting device is pivotably or foldably mounted at a location on a vehicle body or a vehicle seat.  
         [0005]     In a further embodiment, the belt end fitting device may be configured to pivot at the mount location from a predetermined normal position in the direction of the vehicle floor.  
         [0006]     In another further embodiment, the belt end fitting device may be coupled in such a manner to a seatback of the vehicle seat that, when the seatback is pivoted, the belt fitting device also pivots automatically.  
         [0007]     In another further embodiment, the pivoting movements of the belt end fitting device and that of the seatback may be in opposite directions.  
         [0008]     In another further embodiment, the belt end fitting device and the seatback may be coupled in such a manner that, when the seatback is pivoted forward in the direction of travel, the belt end fitting device automatically pivots rearward.  
         [0009]     In another further embodiment, the belt end fitting device may include a spring drive that exerts a pivoting force to pivot the belt end fitting device.  
         [0010]     In another further embodiment, the spring drive may include a torsion spring.  
         [0011]     In another further embodiment, the belt end fitting device may include a locking device that is configured to lock the belt end fitting device in its predetermined normal position and that is configured to prevent a pivoting of the belt end fitting device by the spring drive.  
         [0012]     In another further embodiment, the locking device may be connected to a seat-side release element that is configured to unlock the locking device and that is configured to release a pivoting of the belt end fitting device by the spring drive when the seatback is unlocked and/or is pivoted forward in the direction of travel.  
         [0013]     In another further embodiment, the seat-side release element may be connected to the seatback or to a seat-side unlocking device that is configured to enable the seatback to pivot.  
         [0014]     In another further embodiment, the locking device and the release element may form a mechanism.  
         [0015]     In another further embodiment, the release element may be formed by a release lever that is connected to the seatback or to the seat-side unlocking device. Further, the locking device of the belt end fitting device may be configured to be unlocked by the release lever when the seatback is pivoted or is unlocked for pivoting.  
         [0016]     In another further embodiment, the belt end fitting device may include a belt-tensioning device with which the seatbelt is tensioned in the event of an accident.  
         [0017]     In another further embodiment, the belt-tensioning device may include a gas generator and a tensioning tube that is connected to the gas generator.  
         [0018]     In another further embodiment, a tensioning piston, which may be guided in the tensioning tube, may be connected to a belt-connecting device via a tensioning cable. Further, the tensioning piston may tension the tensioning cable and the seatbelt when driven by the gas generator.  
         [0019]     In another further embodiment, a first pivot bearing of the belt end fitting device may be arranged at an end of the tensioning tube that is away from the gas generator.  
         [0020]     In another further embodiment, a second pivot bearing of the belt end fitting device may be arranged in the vicinity of a deflecting point of the tensioning cable.  
         [0021]     In another further embodiment, the second pivot bearing of the belt end fitting device may be arranged in the vicinity of a B-pillar of the vehicle.  
         [0022]     In another further embodiment, the belt end fitting device may be mounted behind or under the vehicle seat.  
         [0023]     A substantial advantage of the belt end fitting device according to the invention is that it permits optimum accessibility to the rear seat of the vehicle, for example when used in a three-door vehicle. Specifically, the problem associated with conventional belt end fitting devices, which was previously discussed, is avoided in the case of the belt end fitting device according to the invention because the belt end fitting device can be pivoted or folded (if it is in the way) in the direction toward the rear seat when a passenger gets into (or out of) the vehicle.  
         [0024]     The belt end fitting device may be designed in such a manner that it can be pivoted or folded from its “normal position” to the vehicle floor. The “normal position” is to be understood as the position of the belt end fitting device during “normal operation” of the vehicle (i.e., when the vehicle is driving). In the “normal position”, the seatbelt, which is secured by the belt end fitting device, can be used in the customary manner and employed for buckling a person.  
         [0025]     The belt end fitting device may be coupled in such a manner to the seatback of the vehicle seat assigned to the seatbelt that, when the seatback is pivoted, the belt end fitting device is likewise pivoted. In this case, the pivoting movements of the seatback and that of the belt end fitting device may be opposed or in opposite directions. As a result, when the seatback is pivoted forward in the direction of travel, the belt end fitting device may be pivoted rearward.  
         [0026]     According to an advantageous refinement of the belt end fitting device, the belt end fitting device may include a spring drive that exerts a pivoting force to pivot the belt end fitting device. The spring drive may have, for example, a torsion spring. Furthermore, the belt end fitting device may be provided with a locking device that locks the belt end fitting device in its “normal position” and that prevents a pivoting of the belt end fitting device by the spring drive.  
         [0027]     The locking device may be connected to a release element that unlocks the locking device and that releases a pivoting of the belt end fitting device when the seatback of the vehicle seat is unlocked and/or is pivoted forward in the direction of travel. The release element can be connected, for example, indirectly or directly to the seatback or else to a seat-side unlocking device that enables the seatback to pivot. To couple the belt end fitting device and the seatback, the locking device and the release element can form a mechanism, for example. As an alternative, the release element may also be formed, for example, by a release lever that is connected to the seatback or to the seat-side unlocking device of the seatback; the release lever may unlock the locking device of the belt end fitting device when the seatback is pivoted or is unlocked for pivoting.  
         [0028]     It is regarded as particularly advantageous if the belt end fitting device includes a belt-tensioning device with which the seatbelt may be tensioned in the event of an accident. The belt-tensioning device may have a gas generator and a tensioning tube that is connected to the gas generator. A tensioning piston, for example, may be guided in the tensioning tube. Further, the tensioning piston may be connected to a belt-connecting device of the belt end fitting device via a tensioning cable and may tension the tensioning cable and the seatbelt, when driven by the gas generator.  
         [0029]     A first pivot bearing for pivoting the belt end fitting device may be arranged at an end of the tensioning tube that is away from the gas generator. A second pivot bearing of the belt end fitting device may be arranged, for example, in the vicinity of a deflecting point of the tensioning cable.  
         [0030]     The belt end fitting device may be fitted in the direct vicinity of the vehicle seat, e.g., behind or under the seat. For example, the belt end fitting device may be arranged directly on the vehicle seat, so that it is moved when the vehicle seat is displaced. As an alternative, the belt end fitting device may also be arranged on the vehicle body. Moreover, the belt end fitting device&#39;s second bearing point, which is arranged in the vicinity of the deflecting point of the tensioning cable, may then be situated in the vicinity of the B-pillar of the vehicle.  
         [0031]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0032]     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, appended claims, and  FIG. 1 , which is a perspective view of an embodiment of a belt end fitting device according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0033]     An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the  FIG. 1 . Like numbers are used throughout the drawing to refer to the same or similar parts.  
         [0034]     The passenger&#39;s side  10  of a motor vehicle can be seen in  FIG. 1 . A passenger&#39;s seat  20 , which is fitted with a seatback  30 , is arranged on the passenger&#39;s side  10 . In addition, the FIGURE shows an outer wall  40  of the vehicle on the passenger&#39;s side  10  along with a B-pillar  50 .  
         [0035]     A belt end fitting device  60 , which forms an “end fitting tensioner”, is fitted directly behind or below the passenger&#39;s seat  20 . The belt end fitting device  60  has a belt-connecting device  70  (or “anchor”) to which a seatbelt (not illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) of the passenger&#39;s seat  20  is secured. The belt-connecting device  70  fixedly engages an end of the seatbelt that is away from a seatbelt retractor (likewise not illustrated in  FIG. 1  for reasons of clarity).  
         [0036]     In addition to the belt-connecting device  70 , the belt end fitting device  60  also includes a belt-tensioning device  80  that directly interacts with the belt-connecting device  70 . The belt-tensioning device  80  is used specifically, in the event of an accident, to pull the belt-connecting device  70  downward in the arrow direction P, i.e. in the direction of the vehicle floor, thereby tensioning the seatbelt.  
         [0037]     The belt-tensioning device  80  may include a gas generator  90  and a tensioning tube  100 , which is connected to the gas generator. A tensioning piston  110 , which is connected to the belt-connecting device  70  via a tensioning cable  120 , is indicated schematically in  FIG. 1  in the tensioning tube  100 . The tensioning cable  120  may be deflected by means of a deflecting point (or deflecting member)  130 . To tension or to pull down the belt-connecting device  70 , the tensioning piston  110  may be deflected by means of the gas generator  90  to a distal end  200  of the tensioning tube  100 , i.e., the end that is away from the gas generator  90 .  
         [0038]     As previously discussed, it is well known that, when getting into (when entering the vehicle) or out of (when exiting the vehicle) the rear seat of a three-door vehicle, a passenger must enter/exit via the front door. To facilitate this movement, the seatback  30  of the particular front seat is typically folded forward in the direction of travel, i.e., in the direction of arrow S 1 . When the seatback  30  is folded, the belt end fitting device  60  is correspondingly (and automatically) pivoted in the opposite direction, i.e., in the direction of arrow S 2 .  
         [0039]     In other words, the pivoting movement of the seatback  30  and that of the belt end fitting device  60  are coupled. Specifically, when the seatback  30  is pivoted forward in the direction of travel, the belt end fitting device  60  is automatically pivoted rearward. This dual (and opposite) rotation facilitates a passenger&#39;s ability to get into (when entering the vehicle) or out of (when exiting the vehicle) the rear seat of the vehicle, by moving the seatbelt to which the belt-connecting device  70  is connected out of the typical path of the entering/exiting passenger.  
         [0040]     To permit a pivoting of the belt end fitting device  60 , the belt end fitting device  60  has a bearing  210  that is arranged in the vicinity of the end  200  of the tensioning tube  100  and that is secured on the inside of the vehicle. A second bearing  220  is provided in the vicinity of the deflecting point  130  of the tensioning cable  120 , i.e., in the vicinity of the outer wall  40  on the passenger&#39;s side and, more specifically, in the vicinity of the B-pillar  50 .  
         [0041]     To permit an automatic pivoting of the belt end fitting device  60 , the belt end fitting device  60  has a spring drive  400  that is pretensioned in such a manner that it always exerts a pivoting force on the belt end fitting device  60 . In normal operation, the belt end fitting device  60  is locked in its “normal position”, to avoid an undesirable pivoting of the belt end fitting device  60 . For this purpose, the belt end fitting device  60  is also equipped with a locking device  500  that locks the spring drive  400  or the belt end fitting device  60  in its normal position and that prevents a pivoting of the belt end fitting device  60 . The locking device  500  is connected to a seat-side release element  600  that unlocks the locking device  500  and that releases a pivoting of the belt end fitting device  60  (by the spring drive  400 ), when the seatback  30  is unlocked and/or is pivoted forward in the direction of travel. The release element  600  may be fitted, for example, to the seatback  30  or else may be connected to a seat-side seatback-unlocking mechanism.  
         [0042]     When the locking device  500  is unlocked, the spring drive  400  can release the pivoting movement of the belt end fitting device  60 . As a result, the belt end fitting device  60  pivots in such a manner that the belt-connecting device  70  is pivoted rearward and downward onto the vehicle floor.  
         [0043]     The locking device  500  and the release element  600  can jointly form a mechanism that controls the coupling between the pivoting movements of the seatback  30  and the belt end fitting device  60 . As an alternative, the release element  600  can be formed by a release lever, which is connected to the seatback  30  or to the seat-side unlocking device and with which the locking device of the belt end fitting device  60  is unlocked, when the seatback  30  is pivoted or is at least unlocked. For this purpose, the locking device  500  may have, for example, a stop that interacts with the release lever.  
         [0044]     The priority application, German Application No. 10 2004 041 810.1, which was filed on Aug. 26, 2004, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
         [0045]     Given the disclosure of the present invention, one versed in the art would appreciate that there may be other embodiments and modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, all modifications attainable by one versed in the art from the present disclosure that are within the scope and spirit of the present invention are to be included as further embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is to be defined as set forth in the following claims.