EP0249910B1 — Vertically adjustable mounting device for a guide…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 126 words

Apparatus for the level adjustment of the upper deflection or fixation fitting for the shoulder belt of a safety belt system, in particular in motor vehicles, comprising a latch device fitted to a body portion of a vehicle, including a guide rail (10) having ratchet rebates (12) provided therein engaged by an associated ratchet member (15) of a ratchet means mounted pivotally between a locking and a sliding position in a slider member (14) which is longitudinally movable in the profile of the guide rail and is coupled to an operating means (26), characterised in that a means (21) is provided for establishing positive mechanical interlocking of the ratchet means (slider member 14, ratchet member 15) with the guide rail (10) whenever the fitting is readjusted.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 126 words

Apparatus for the level adjustment of the upper deflection or fixation fitting for the shoulder belt of a safety belt system, in particular in motor vehicles, comprising a latch device fitted to a body portion of a vehicle, including a guide rail (10) having ratchet rebates (12) provided therein engaged by an associated ratchet member (15) of a ratchet means mounted pivotally between a locking and a sliding position in a slider member (14) which is longitudinally movable in the profile of the guide rail and is coupled to an operating means (26), characterised in that a means (21) is provided for establishing positive mechanical interlocking of the ratchet means (slider member 14, ratchet member 15) with the guide rail (10) whenever the fitting is readjusted.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 49 words

Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the means takes the form of a cam profile (21) provided in the guide rail (10) for the positive mechanical interlocking of the ratchet member (15) with each of the ratchet positions (12, 50) successively passed during readjustment of the fitting.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 46 words

Apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that the cam profile (21) comprises a succession of elevations (23) and recesses (22), the recesses (22) in the locking position of the ratchet member (15) being adapted to accommodate a control projection (25) provided on the ratchet member.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 65 words

Apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that the elevations (23) of the cam profile (21) are provided in relation to the ratchet member (15) and its projection (25), and their heights being so dimensioned, that the ratchet member (15) whenever it rises onto any one of the elevations (23) is guided into its interlock condition with the recesses (12) of the guide rail (10).

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 43 words

Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the ratchet member (15) comprises locking projections (19) projecting into the plane of the guide rail (10) and which by means of an incline (20) pass through the recesses (12).

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 64 words

Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the ratchet member (15) at its lower end is mounted in a lug (17) of the slider member (14) by way of a support projection (16) and at its free end coacts with an unlocking lever (28) mounted in the operating means (26) pivotally against the bias of a spring (30).

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 54 words

Apparatus according to claim 6, characterised In that the unlocking lever (28) Is pivoted over a stop formation (43) associated with the cam profile (21) to a downward direction on displacement of the operating means (26) and prior to reaching the next following interlocking position releases the free end of the ratchet member (14).

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 66 words

Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the slider member (14) comprises stop formations (36, 37) mutually spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail (10) projecting from the plane of the guide rail (10) and coating with an extension (27) of the operating means (26), between which a projection (38) of the operating means extension (27) projects.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 54 words

Apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in that in the interlocking position of the fitting the projection (38) of the operating means (26) adopts an intermediate position between the stop formations (36, 37) of the slider member (14), a spring (40) being provided between the projection (38) and the respective stop formations (36, 37).

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 76 words

Apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in that for each of the stop formations (36, 37) of the slider member (14) and directed towards these a pin (39) is provided on the projection (38) of the operating means (26), the spacing between the end of such pin (39) and the stop formations (36, 37) corresponding to the relative movement between the operating means (26) and the slider member (14) required for unlocking the ratchet member (14).

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 80 words

Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the ratchet member (15) comprises a locking projection (34) for shock protection which in the interlocking position rests against a latch member (33) of the operating means (26) and that on movement of the operating means (26) from the interlocking position the ratchet protection (34) is released from the latch member (33) due to the relative movement between the ratchet member (15) and the operating means (26).

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 44 words

Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that two cam profiles (21) are provided symmetrically in the bottom end corners of the C-shaped guide rail (10) and are associated with two cams (25) provided on the ratchet member (15).

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 41 words

Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, caracterised in that the cam profiles (21) are provided alongside the upright side faces of the guide rail (10) and that the ratchet member (15) comprises correspondingly associated lateral control cams.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 43 words

Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the cam profiles (21) coact with guide cams on the slider member (14), the enforced movement control of the ratchet member (15) being brought about by the slider member (14).

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 72 words

Apparatus according claims 2 and 3, characterised in that the ratchet member (15) coacting with ratchet projections (50) embossed into the bottom of the guide rail (10) is adapted to be pivoted by means of an operating lever (55) supported on the operating means (26) and the movement of which is controlled by a relative movement between the slider member (14) and the ratchet member (15) and operating means (26) fitted thereto.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus according to claim 15, characterised in that the operating lever (55) is pivotally mounted (54) on the operating means (26) and is spring-loaded (56) in relation thereto.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 45 words

Apparatus according to claim 15, characterised in that the operating means (26) is coupled to the slider member (14) by way of a return spring (53) provided inside the operating means (26) and directly bearing against the slider member (14) and the operating means (26).

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 54 words

Apparatus according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterised in that the load absorbing ratchet member (15) mounted in the slider member (14) is connected to a lever device (59) which extends into the operating means (26) and there by way of a support projection (58) coacts with the operating lever (55).

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 40 words

Apparatus according to claim 18, characterised in that the lever device (59) comprises a stop projection (60) which coacts with the operating lever (55), a tensile spring (61) being provided between the stop projection (60) and the operating means (26).

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 65 words

Apparatus according to any one of claims 15 to 19, characterised in that the operating means (26) comprises a rib (63) and the ratchet member (15) or respectively the lever device (53) comprises a locking projection (62) which in the locked position of the level adjustment device are mutually associated with one another in a common plane in the transverse direction of the guide rail.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 55 words

Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20, characterised in that the operating means (26) in the unlocking position finds support against the guide rail (10) and the support formations (72) of the operating means (26) and its connection to the locking member (15) or the slider member (14) are mutually spaced apart.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 45 words

Apparatus according to claim 21, characterised in that the operating means (26) comprises projections (72) on both sides of the guide slot provided in the guide rail (10) which when the lever means is pivoted, finds support on the surface of the guide rail (10).

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 34 words

Apparatus according to claim 21 or 22, characterised in that the operating means (26) comprises an extension which when the lever means is pivoted is supported on the bottom of the guide rail (10).

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 68 words

Apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 23, characterised in that the guide rail (10) as well as the operating means (26) in the region of the ratchet formations (50) of the guide rail (10) comprise such mutually associated formations (72, 80) that a support of the operating means (26) against the guide rail (10) can take place only at the positions provided for that purpose.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 30 words

Apparatus according to claim 24, characterised in that the support projections (72) are provided on the operating means (26) at a distance from the surface of the guide rail (10).

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 54 words

Apparatus according to claims 24 and 25, characterised in that the surface of the guide rail (10) comprises elevations (80) opposite to the ratchet formations of the guide rails and the maximum height of which corresponds to the spacing of the support projections (72) of the operating means (26) from the guide rail surface.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus according to claim 26, characterised in that the elevations (80) are provided with downwardly directed sliding declines (31) in the ad- justement direction.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 32 words

Apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 27, characterised in that the slider member (14) comprises a stop member (75) which limits the pivoting movement of the operating means (26).

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 70 words

Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 28, characterised in that the ratchet member (15) comprises a centre of gravity (90) provided with such a lever arm (91) in relation to its pivoting point (52) on a slider member (14) that in the event of downwardly directed (92) accelerating forces a torque results which turns the ratchet member (15) into the interlocking position with the ratchet formations (50).

Vertically adjustable mounting device for a guide or attachment fitting

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