EP0186880B1 — Tightening device for a back seat safety belt in …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 213 words

Tightening device for a rear seat belt in a motor vehicle, having at least one lap belt which is secured at one end to a component integral with the vehicle and is provided at its other end with a belt buckle portion, and an anchorage part (15) consisting of a length of wire cable as the carrier of the other belt buckle portion (16), the anchorage part (15) being guided through guide means (11) mounted fixedly on the vehicle and thereafter being connected to a pyrotechnic drive mechanism (18) arranged to be actuated in the event of an emergency in order to move the anchorage part (15), characterised in that the guide means are constructed as a guide block (1) having a curved (14) channel (13), the degree of curvature of the channel (13) corresponding to the degree of guiding of the anchorage part (15) required by the design of the vehicle, and the drive mechanism (18) consisting of a piston unit, acted upon by pressure medium, having a piston chamber (19) and a piston (20) movable therein, is mounted directly at the exit of the channel (13) from the guide block (11) and the free end of the anchorage part (15) guided through the channel (13) is attached to the piston (20).

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 213 words

Tightening device for a rear seat belt in a motor vehicle, having at least one lap belt which is secured at one end to a component integral with the vehicle and is provided at its other end with a belt buckle portion, and an anchorage part (15) consisting of a length of wire cable as the carrier of the other belt buckle portion (16), the anchorage part (15) being guided through guide means (11) mounted fixedly on the vehicle and thereafter being connected to a pyrotechnic drive mechanism (18) arranged to be actuated in the event of an emergency in order to move the anchorage part (15), characterised in that the guide means are constructed as a guide block (1) having a curved (14) channel (13), the degree of curvature of the channel (13) corresponding to the degree of guiding of the anchorage part (15) required by the design of the vehicle, and the drive mechanism (18) consisting of a piston unit, acted upon by pressure medium, having a piston chamber (19) and a piston (20) movable therein, is mounted directly at the exit of the channel (13) from the guide block (11) and the free end of the anchorage part (15) guided through the channel (13) is attached to the piston (20).

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 60 words

Tightening device according to claim 1, characterised in that the piston (20) which is guided in the tubular piston chamber (19) and connected to the anchorage part (15) has a recess (26) on its outer circumference in which is mounted a blocking element (27) supported between the piston (20) and tube (19), in order to serve as return prevention means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 63 words

Tightening device according to claim 2, characterised in that there are provided, as return prevention means, two clamping jaws (30) disposed in a chamber (29) formed in the guide block (12) and enclosing the anchorage part (15) between them, the chamber (29) and the clamping jaws (30) widening out in a conical shape in the direction of movement of the anchorage part (15).

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 62 words

Tightening device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that a central drive mechanism (18) is provided for a plurality of anchorage parts (15), each of which is guided through an associated guide means (11) integral with the vehicle and thereafter attached to the drive mechanism (18) which is arranged to be actuated in the event of an emergency.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 91 words

Tightening device according to claim 4, characterised in that two spaced belt buckles (16) are fixed to a common anchorage part (15) leading to the associated belt buckle (16) via associated guide means (11), the drive mechanism (18) which is constructed as a pyrotechnic linear tightening device known per se and which is connected to the anchorage part (15) via a connecting member (14) acts on said anchorage part (15) between the guide means (12), whilst the connecting member (14) acts on the anchorage part (15) via a sliding member (48).

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 59 words

Tightening device according to claim 4, characterised in that two anchorage parts (15), each carrying an associated belt buckle (16), are guided through guide means (11) common to both and are subsequently connected to the drive mechanism (18) and the drive mechanism (18) has energy sources (21) associated with the belt buckles (10) and capable of being actuated separately.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 57 words

Tightening device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the channel (13) formed in the guide mechanism (11) is constructed as a pre-bent tube and the guide block (12) is shaped to surround the tube (13), and is preferably injection moulded around the tube (13) from a material capable of being injection moulded.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 40 words

Tightening device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the channel (13) formed in the guide block (12) of each guide element (11, 36) has a funnel (17) at its end facing the belt buckle (16).

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 41 words

Tightening device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the return prevention means provided in each case is constructed in the manner of a shock absorber for yielding a defined amount when subjected to predetermined load peaks.

Tightening device for a back seat safety belt in vehicles

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