Patent ID: 12194953

DESCRIPTION

FIG.1illustrates a vehicle10comprising a seat belt system12that is provided in the vehicle interior14of the vehicle10.

The vehicle10may be any vehicle for passenger transport such as a car, a truck or a coach.

The seat belt system12has a seat16(seeFIG.2), a seat belt18and a belt tensioner20(seeFIG.4).

The seat16includes a seating area22and a seat back24which together define a sitting direction A corresponding to the orientation of a vehicle occupant seated in the seat16and, resp., to the viewing direction of the vehicle occupant when he/she looks straight ahead.

Moreover, the seat16has a seat frame26by means of which the seating area22and the seat back24are fastened to the bottom in the vehicle interior14.

The seat frame26comprises two seat frame side parts28,29disposed on opposite sides of the seat16, and a seat cross tube30connecting the two seat frame side parts28,29to each other.

The seat cross tube30extends in the direction B through the seat16, with the direction B being transverse to the sitting direction A.

In the present embodiment, the direction B extends horizontally as well as perpendicularly to the sitting direction A.

As a matter of course, the seat cross tube30may extend, in an alternative embodiment, in any direction through the seat16.

The seat cross tube30has a hollow cylindrical design with a circular cross-section, the cavity inside the seat cross tube30forming a mount32for the belt tensioner20.

Basically, the seat cross tube30may have any design as long as it includes a mount32for the belt tensioner20.

The seat frame side part28has a passage34extending in the direction B through the seat frame side part28and opens into the outer face38of the seat frame side part28facing the vehicle interior14via an opening36.

The seat cross tube30is connected to the seat frame side part28so that the seat cross tube30opens into the vehicle interior14via the passage34and the opening36forms an access to the mount32.

The seat frame26is made from steel, with the seat frame side parts28,29being welded to the seat cross tube30.

In an alternative embodiment, each of the seat frame side parts28,29and/or the seat cross tube30can be made from any, preferably high-strength, material.

In addition, or alternatively, the seat frame side parts28,29may be connected, particularly integrally, to the seat cross tube30in any way.

As a matter of course, the seat cross tube30optionally may be a separate component which is not part of the seat frame26and/or is not integrally connected to the seat frame side part28.

In an alternative embodiment, the seat16may have any design as long as it includes at least one seat frame side part28,29and one seat cross tube30whose mount32is connected to the vehicle interior14via the seat frame side part28,29and opens into the vehicle interior14, respectively.

The seat belt18, only a portion of which is shown in the Figures, comprises a webbing40with an end42(seeFIG.5).

In one embodiment, the seat belt18is a three-point seat belt.

The end42is formed by a webbing loop of the webbing40.

Basically, the end42of the webbing40may have any design.

The belt tensioner20has a tensioning unit44and a tension transmitter46including a fastener48for the webbing40.

The fastener48is a fitting in the form of a webbing eyelet through which the webbing loop extends, thereby the end42of the webbing40being fastened to the tension transmitter46.

Basically, the fastener48may have any design and the end42of the webbing40may be fastened to the tension transmitter46in any way.

The tension transmitter46in this case is a steel cable.

As a matter of course, in an alternative embodiment the tension transmitter46may have any design such as a rod or a cable.

The belt tensioner20is arranged to pull the end42of the webbing40, in the case of restraint such as during a collision, in the direction B to tension the webbing40and, thus, the seat belt18.

For this purpose, the belt tensioner20has a home position shown inFIG.5, as well as a restraint position at which the fastener48is adjusted in the direction B vis-à-vis the home position via the tension transmitter46by means of the tensioning unit44.

The energy required to tension the webbing40is provided by a drive of the tensioning unit44, for example in the form of a pyrotechnical gas generator.

The belt tensioner20is a linear end fitting tensioner in the present embodiment.

In an alternative embodiment, the belt tensioner20may be any belt tensioner.

The belt tensioner20is disposed in the mount32and is fastened in the seat cross tube30by means of a mounting fitting50.

Basically, the belt tensioner20may be fastened in any way within the seat cross tube30.

Accordingly, the seat belt system12is configured such that the belt tensioner20is completely accommodated in the mount32both in the home position and in the restraint position.

In particular, the fastener48is disposed in the home position in the direction B ahead of the opening36so that the webbing40extends from the fastener48through the opening36into the vehicle interior14.

For ensuring reliable and comfortable extension of the seat belt18, the seat belt system12has two webbing guide means52in the form of a belt guide54and a webbing deflector56, which will be illustrated in the following based onFIG.3.

The webbing guide means52are one-piece fittings made from steel and thus are particularly robust.

Basically, the belt guide54and/or the webbing deflector56may have any design, in particular may be made from any material.

Each of the belt guide54and the webbing deflector56is attached to the outer face38of the seat frame side part28using a screw58,59and, in this way, are fastened particularly simply and reliably to the seat frame side part28.

As a matter of course, the belt guide54and/or the webbing deflector56can be fastened in any way in an alternative embodiment.

The belt guide54is provided at the opening36and has a circular guide passage60extending in the direction B through the belt guide54.

At the position where the guide passage60opens into the vehicle interior14, the belt guide54includes a guide portion62which circularly surrounds the opening and is provided as a contact face for the webbing40.

In this case, the guide portion62is formed by a chamfer at the end of the guide passage60facing the vehicle interior14.

In an alternative embodiment, the guide portion62may have any design such as a fillet.

Furthermore, the guide portion62need not extend completely, but only in portions, around the opening so that the guide portion62takes the shape of a ring portion instead of a closed ring.

In this case, the guide portion62is preferably interposed between the opening36and the webbing deflector56so that the webbing40contacts the guide portion62, when it extends from the belt tensioner20to the vehicle occupant.

Opposite to the guide portion62, the belt guide54includes a sleeve-type connection piece64(seeFIG.5) extending into the passage34. In connection with the screw58, the belt guide54is thus arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the seat frame side part28.

In an alternative embodiment, the connection piece64may have any design.

Further, the belt guide54may be configured without a connection piece64.

Basically, the belt guide54may have any design, in particular the guide passage60.

The webbing deflector56is provided on the vehicle occupant side from the belt guide54. That is, the webbing40extends from the vehicle occupant via the webbing deflector56through the belt guide54to the belt tensioner20.

In the present embodiment, no further webbing guide means52are provided between the webbing deflector56and the vehicle occupant.

As a matter of course, in an alternative embodiment further webbing guide means52may be provided, in particular ahead of and/or behind the webbing deflector56, as illustrated in the embodiments ofFIGS.6to9.

The webbing deflector56includes a guide opening66(seeFIG.5) through which the webbing40extends from the vehicle occupant to the belt guide54.

The guide opening66is ring-shaped and thus circumferentially closed.

As an alternative, the guide opening66may be circumferentially opened, for example in the form of a lateral recess in the webbing deflector56.

The guide opening66is arranged on the seat frame side part28to be pivoting about the axis of rotation D vis-à-vis the seat frame side part28, thus allowing the orientation of the webbing deflector56and, consequently, the orientation of the guide opening66to adapt to different webbing extensions of the seat belt18.

The guide portion62and the guide opening66are preferably configured so that they guide the webbing40with low friction to minimize wear of the webbing40and to ensure high functional safety of the seat belt system12.

Based onFIGS.6and7, a seat belt system12according to another embodiment shall be described. For the components that are known from the above embodiment, the same reference numerals are used and, insofar, the preceding explanations are referred to.

In this embodiment, the seat belt system12includes another webbing guide means52in the form of a second belt guide68that is provided on the vehicle occupant side from the webbing deflector56. That is, the webbing40extends from the vehicle occupant via the second belt guide68to the webbing deflector56and from there through the belt guide54to the belt tensioner20.

Moreover, in contrast to the embodiment illustrated inFIGS.2to5, the guide passage60is not circular but merely ring-shaped, which may also be different, of course.

The second belt guide68has an elongate guide opening70(seeFIG.7) through which the webbing40extends from the vehicle occupant to the webbing deflector56.

The elongate guide opening70is ring-shaped and, thus, is circumferentially closed.

Alternatively, the elongate guide opening70can be circumferentially opened, such as by means of a lateral recess of the second belt guide68.

The elongate guide opening70further has a width E that is larger than the width e of the webbing40, thus allowing the same to be guided from the second belt guide68in full width to the vehicle occupant.

Analogously to the guide portion62and to the guide opening66, also the elongate guide opening70is preferably configured to guide the webbing40with low friction so as to minimize wear of the webbing40and to ensure high functional safety of the seat belt system12.

The second belt guide68and the webbing deflector56are connected to each other via a support72and jointly form a holder74of the seat belt system12.

In the shown embodiment, the holder74is formed in one piece, for example as a cut and bent part, thus making it particularly inexpensive and compact.

The holder74includes a mounting opening76disposed at an end of the support72opposed to the second belt guide68.

The holder74is attached, via the mounting opening76, to the seat frame side part28to be pivoting about the axis of rotation vis-à-vis the seat frame side part28. In this way, the orientation of the webbing deflector56and of the second belt guide68and, thus, the orientation of the guide opening66and the elongate guide opening70can adapt to different webbing extensions of the seat belt18.

In the shown embodiment, the holder74is fastened to the seat frame side part28together with the belt guide54via the screw58, thus allowing the seat belt system12to have a particularly compact and low-mass design.

Basically, the holder74may be arranged at any position and in any way on the seat frame side part28, particularly by a separate fastener.

Accordingly, the guide opening66is arranged vis-à-vis the vehicle occupant beneath the elongate guide opening70such that the webbing deflector56guides the webbing40toward the opening36and, in the case of restraint, absorbs load from the webbing40.

As a matter of course, in an alternative embodiment, the holder74may be arranged rigidly, i.e., not pivotally, on the seat frame side part28.

Based onFIGS.8and9, a seat belt system12according to another embodiment shall be described. For the components that are known from the foregoing embodiments the same reference numerals are used and, insofar, the preceding explanations are referred to.

In contrast to the embodiment shown inFIGS.6and7, the webbing deflector56is arranged on the support72to be pivoting about the axis of rotation F vis-à-vis the support72.

For this purpose, the webbing deflector56may be pivotally fastened on the support72by a fastener such as a screw58,59or a rivet.

As the holder74is arranged pivotally about the axis of rotation D and, additionally, the webbing deflector56is arranged pivotally about the axis of rotation F vis-à-vis the seat frame side part28, the orientation of the webbing deflector56and the orientation of the second belt guide68and, thus, the orientation of the guide opening66as well as the orientation of the elongate guide opening70can adapt independently of each other to different webbing extensions of the seat belt18, thus ensuring a particularly inexpensive and effective belt guide.

In an alternative embodiment in which the holder74is rigidly attached to the seat frame side part28, the pivoting webbing deflector56ensures the orientation of the webbing deflector56and, thus, the orientation of the guide opening66to nevertheless adapt to different webbing extensions of the seat belt18.

In all embodiments, a seat belt system12that does not require any space on the side of the seat16for the belt tensioner20is provided in this way.

The tensioning unit44and, consequently, the drive of the belt tensioner20are installed completely within the seat cross tube30so that hot gas or particles from the drive of the belt tensioner20, in particular in the case of a pyrotechnical drive, is/are reliably prevented from getting into contact with combustible or heat-sensitive materials.

The tensioning unit44is not visible for a vehicle occupant even without any additional cover. Merely the webbing40and the webbing guide means52are visible, analogously to applications without a belt tensioner20.

The required webbing extension toward the vehicle occupant can be adjusted as required by flexible positioning of the webbing deflector56and/or the second belt guide68so as to avoid submarining and to increase the comfort for the vehicle occupant.

The seat belt system12may further include a cover (not shown) for covering the webbing guide means52from the vehicle interior14to meet requirements in terms of function, safety and/or design.

The invention is not limited to the shown embodiment. In particular, individual features of one embodiment can be freely combined with any features of other embodiments, in particular independently of the other features of the respective embodiments.