Adjusting device for a safety belt with an extendable belt guiding element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10399537-B2
Application number	US-201515302149-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 10, 2015
Priority date	Apr 11, 2014
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

An adjusting device for a safety belt in a vehicle comprises at least one extendable belt guiding element which is provided for guiding a portion of the safety belt and at least one supporting element which is connected to the belt guiding element and which is able to be at least partially extended together with the belt guiding element. The belt guiding element is able to be extended from a resting position in a direction of extension in order to facilitate the grasping of the safety belt by a vehicle occupant when fastening the safety belt. The supporting element is flexible but in the extended state of the belt guiding element is sufficiently rigid at least in one portion transversely to the direction of extension such that the belt guiding element is held in an extended position via the now rigid portion of the supporting element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An adjusting device for a safety belt in a vehicle, the adjusting device comprising at least one extendable belt guiding element which is provided for guiding a portion of the safety belt and at least one supporting element which is connected to the belt guiding element and which is able to be at least partially extended together with the belt guiding element, wherein;
the belt guiding element is able to be extended from a resting position in a direction of extension in order to facilitate the grasping of the safety belt by a vehicle occupant when fastening the safety belt;
the supporting element is flexible, but in the extended state the belt guiding element is sufficiently rigid in at least in portion traverse to a direction of extension such that the belt guiding element is held in an extended position via the now rigid portion of the supporting element;
the belt guiding element is mounted so as to be extendable on an adjustable belt guiding subassembly which is able to be adjusted in a direction of adjustment which is different from the direction of extension of the belt guiding element and the supporting element being deflected thereon at least once when the belt guiding element is in its resting position, and
the belt guiding element forms a cladding portion, an outlet opening for the safety belt being at least partially covered thereby when the belt guiding element is in its resting position.

2. The adjusting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein via an adjusted position of the belt guiding subassembly the position of a deflection point for the safety belt is able to be adjusted, the safety belt extending from said deflection point in the direction of the shoulder of a vehicle occupant who is fastened in by the safety belt.

3. The adjusting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the belt guiding element is provided for guiding a portion of the safety belt in the region of a shoulder of a vehicle occupant fastened in by the safety belt.

4. The adjusting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flexible supporting element is deflected on the belt guiding subassembly at least once by at least 60°.

5. The adjusting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flexible supporting element is mounted on a guide of the belt guiding subassembly so as to be extendable, such that the supporting element protrudes from an outlet opening of the guide at least with a now rigid portion when the belt guiding element is extended.

6. The adjusting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a drive is provided, the extension of the belt guiding element and/or the adjustment of the adjustable belt guiding subassembly, on which the belt guiding element is mounted so as to be extendable, being able to take place by an externally applied force.

7. An adjusting device for a safety belt in a vehicle, the adjusting device comprising at least one extendable belt guiding element which is provided for guiding a portion of the safety belt and at least one supporting element which is connected to the belt guiding element and which is able to be at least partially extended together with the belt guiding element, wherein;
the belt guiding element is able to be extended from a resting position in a direction of extension in order to facilitate the grasping of the safety belt by a vehicle occupant when fastening the safety belt;
the supporting element is flexible, but in the extended state the belt guiding element is sufficiently rigid in at least in portion transverse to a direction of extension such that the belt guiding element is held in an extended position via the now rigid portion of the supporting element;
the belt guiding element is mounted so as to be extendable on an adjustable belt guiding subassembly which is able to be adjusted in a direction of adjustment which is different from the direction of extension of the belt guiding element and the supporting element being deflected thereon at least once when the belt guiding element is in its resting position;
wherein the supporting element comprises a chain which is flexible, but in the extended state of the belt guiding element is rigid due to links of the chain connected together,
wherein the links of the chain are pretensioned relative to one another such that links of the chain in the extended state of the belt guiding element are fixed together in a rigid chain portion transverse to the direction of extension, the belt guiding element is held in an extended position; and
wherein when adjusting the belt guiding element into its resting position, a fixing of the links together is able to be released so that the previously rigid chain portion becomes flexible again.

8. The adjusting device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein at least one magnet and/or an elongated traction means is provided for fixing the links together.

9. The adjusting device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein one end of the at least one traction means is connected to the belt guiding element or a link of the chain fixed thereto and the traction means extends along the links of the chain.

Assignees

• Brose Fahrzeugteile

Inventors

• Stegerer Mario
• Hoeppel Michael
• Bauernfeind Markus

Classifications

• B60R22/20 Primary

  adjustable in position, e.g. in height · CPC title

• B60R2022/1818

  Belt guides · CPC title

• B60R2022/207

  Horizontally or transversally adjustable · CPC title

• B60R2022/208

  by automatic or remote control means · CPC title

• B60R22/03 Primary

  Means for presenting the belt or part thereof to the wearer {, e.g. foot-operated} · CPC title