Adjustable shoulder belt anchor mechanism

Abstract: An adjustable shoulder anchor mechanism for use in a vehicle chassis (1) having an engaging hole (31) comprises an elongated adjustment base (2) having a plurality of engaging sections (8) arranged in the longitudinal direction thereof, an adjustble anchor (3) adapted to be guided along the adjustment base (2), and the adjustment base (2) formed at one end thereof with a hook section (20), the hook section (20) adapted to be inserted into the engaging hole (31) and moved to come into engagement with the vehicle chassis (1) on an peripheral portion of the engaging hole (31).

Description: The invention relates to an adjustable shoulder belt anchor mechanism according to the preamble part of claim 1. Such a shoulder belt anchor mechanism is known from DE-U-8 709 069. With the shoulder belt anchor mechanisms of this citation one of the bolts has been replaced with a hook section which engages a hole of the vehicle chassis. This arrangement significally reduces the cost for parts since a bolt may be eliminated and it reduces the cost for assembly since only one bolt needs to be fastened. However, the generic shoulder belt anchor mechanism fails to solve the problem of vibration or noise. If No gap ever appeared between the hook section and the edge of the hole of the vehicle chassis, then no vibration noise would be generated. However, producing parts with tolerances that accurate would cost even more than would be saved by eliminating the bolt. It is therefore an object underlying the present invention to provide an adjustable shoulder belt anchor mechanism according to the preamble part of claim 1 which is able to reduce the manufacturing costs by loosening the tolerances necessary for vibration-free connection between the hook and the engaging hole. The solution of this object is achieved by the features of claim 1, which are effective to absorb the looseness in X-Y-directions caused by tolerances in production. The dependent claims contain advantageous embodiments of the present invention. These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3a is a front elevational view of the male engaging section of the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3b is a cross-sectional view of the male engaging portion of the first embodiment; Fig. 4a is a front elevational view of the male engaging section of a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4b is a cross-sectional view of the male engaging portion of the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5a is a front elevational view of the front engaging section of a third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5b is a cross-sectional view of the male engaging section of the third embodiment of the present invention. Figs. 1 and 2 depict an adjustable shoulder belt anchor mechanism of the present invention which is mounted onto a vehicle chassis 1 and comprised of an adjustment base or guiding member 2, an adjustable anchor or runner 3, a slip joint 4, a movable lock pin 5, a spring 6 and a knob 7. The adjustment base 2 is formed with a plurality of engaging sections or openings 8. Provided on one end of the adjustment base or the guiding member 2 is a male engaging section 13 which comprises a hook section 20 and a projection 12 provided close to the hook section 20. As illustrated in Figs. 3a and 3b, the hook section 20 is made in such a manner that a cutout is formed at the end of the adjustment base 2 to form a tongue section 20a which is turned up to form a tapered section 25, and the tongue section 20a is shaped parallel to the center section of the adjustment base 2. The projection 12 is formed by cutting out the center section of the adjustment base 2 and the edge portion thereof, such that the projection 12 is projected in substantially the same direction as the tongue section 20a. The hook section 20 of the main engaging section 13 is inserted into an engaging hole 31 in the chassis 1, so that it contacts the back surface of the chassis 1 at the tongue section 20a and the projection 12 contacts the front or room side of the chassis 1. The chassis 1 specifically the edge of the engaging hole 31 is thus flexibly interposed between the hook section 20 and the projection 12. Even if the male engaging section 13 shifts downward resulting in that a clearance is formed between this male engaging section 13 and the chassis 1, since the chassis 1 is interposed between the tongue section 20a and the projection 12, the adjustment base 2 cannot slip in the direction of the thickness of the chassis 1. Accordingly, the male engaging section 13 cannot separate from the chassis 1 whereby the creation of interference noise can be prevented. Figs. 4a and 4b show details of the male engaging section of the second embodiment of the present invention. The center section of the adjustment base 2 and the hook section 20 are formed with a cutout to form a projection 12 and a tongue section 20a, respectively, and the cutouts are connected with each other to form a single opening. Therefore, the projection 12 is projected from the center section of the adjustment base 2 toward the hook section 20 comprising the tapered section 25 raised from the tongue section 20a. Figs. 5a and 5b show details of the male engaging section of a third embodiment of the present invention. The projection 12 is formed by providing a pair of parallel cuts with a section between the cuts remained at both ends in connection with the adjustment base 2, and the portion between the cuts is bent to form a projection 12 like a wrinkle. In the second and third embodiments of the present invention, the chassis 1, specifically the edge of the engaging hole 31 is interposed between the hook section 20 and the projection 12 as in the same manner as in the first embodiment. In the first to third embodiments of the present invention, the case is shown whether the hook section 20 is provided on the bottom side of the adjustment base or guiding member 2. However, it is also possible to provide the hook section 20 on the top side to the adjustment base 2. As outlined above, by means of the present invention, it is possible without using a coupling means such as a screw and the like, to secure one end of the adjustment base or guiding member by simply inserting the hook section of the adjustment base into the engaging hole of the chassis of the vehicle and causing it to move, which is extremely simple in comparison with the conventional devices. Therefore, the adjustment base can be installed in a very short time, which can greatly improve productivity. In addition, because it is not necessary to position a bolt or similar connecting device within the path of the movement of the adjustable anchor, the vehicle production process is simplified. Further, by providing a projection projected from the adjustment base toward the chassis side in contact with the chassis, the play between the adjustment base and the chassis is eliminated without adding particular parts, so that it is possible to prevent abnormal noise generation.

Claims: An adjustable shoulder anchor mechanism for use in a vehicle chassis (1) having an engaging hole (31), comprising an elongated adjustment base (2) having a plurality of engaging openings (8) arranged in a longitudinal direction thereof, an adjustable anchor (3) adapted to be guided along said adjustment base (2), a joint (4) connected to said adjustable anchor (3) to support a webbing (11), and a lock pin (5) provided in said adjustable anchor (3) and adapted to come into engagement with one of said engaging openings (8), and said adjustment base (2) formed at one end thereof with a hook section (20), said hook section (20) adapted to be moved to come into engagement with said vehicle chassis (1) on a peripheral portion of said engaging hole (31), said hook section having a tongue section (20a); characterized in that said hook section (20) is adapted to be inserted into said engaging hole (31) and has an interlocking means to come into engagement with said vehicle chassis (1) on said peripheral portion of said engaging hole (31), said interlocking means comprising said tongue section (20a) and a section (25) raised from and inclined to said tongue section (20a); and in that a projection (12) projects from the adjustment base (2) towards the chassis side to contact the chassis (1). A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said chassis (1) is pinched between said tongue section (20a) and said projection (12). A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said projection (12) is a portion of said adjustment base (2) raised from a cutout.

Inventors: TOKUGAWA OSAMU, TOKUGAWA, OSAMU
Applicants: NIPPON SEIKO KK, NIPPON SEIKO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B60R22
IPC codes: B60R22