Safety belt device for a vehicle

Claim 2

A safety device in combination with a seat having a generally horizontal occupant-supporting portion, and a vehicle body having a fixed part supporting the seat and having a doorway at the side of the seat, said device comprising a safety belt having a first portion and a second portion remote from the first portion and connected to said fixed part, retaining means located remote from said doorway and combined with the first belt portion for retaining the first belt portion relative to said fixed part in the event of collision of the vehicle, said belt including an intermediate portion between said first and second portions, shifting means movable in an area between the seat and the doorway for shifting the intermediate belt portion downwardly to a position extending across an occupant on the seat so as to put the belt in a position of utilization, the shifting means comprising a rigid elongated arm having a first portion pivotably mounted to said fixed part at the forward side of said doorway and having a second arm portion spaced from said first portion, and means on the second arm portion for engaging the intermediate belt portion and causing the intermediate belt portion to move with the arm, the arm being pivotable between an upper position in which the belt is suspended in an inoperative position in front of and in spaced relation to the seat and a lower position in which the intermediate belt portion is lowered, thereby placing the belt in the position of utilization applied against an occupant on said seat, said arm being disposed at a height above said generally horizontal seat portion and having a greater length than said doorway such that when said arm is in said lower position the arm is between said doorway and said seat forming a barrier for an occupant on said seat, first support means and first locking bar extends above seat means supported on the vehicle body at the rearward side of said doorway and second support means and second locking means carried by the arm adjacent an end of the arm opposed to said first arm portion and cooperable with the first support means and first locking means so as to support and maintain the arm in said lower position.

Claim 3

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm is tubular and has an end portion spaced from said first portion a distance greater than said second portion, said end portion having a first support face constituting said second support means, said first support means including a support member secured on said vehicle body at the rearward side of said doorway, said support member having a second support face cooperable with the first support face so as to support the arm in said second position, a hook pivoted to the end portion, said first locking means including a hooking face on said support member and hookable by the hook in said second position on the arm.

Claim 4

A device as claimed in claim 2, comprising resiliently yieldable means for biasing the hook to a position for hooking the hooking face, and abutment means on the arm for limiting the travel of the hook when it is not engaged with the hooking face.

Claim 5

A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support member defines a ramp facilitating the engagement of the hook.

Claim 6

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second locking means comprise a hook pivoted to the arm the first locking means comprise a fixed lug on the vehicle body, the first support means comprise a pivotal element which is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the vehicle body and has a first support face, said end of the arm opposed to said first arm portion having a second face comprising said second support means which is engageable with the first face to support the arm in said lower position.

Claim 7

A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for releasably maintaining the arm in the upper position.

Claim 8

A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for yieldingly biasing the arm into said upper position.

Claim 9

A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a torsion spring for biasing the arm to the upper position.

Claim 10

A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a resiliently yieldable pneumatic device for biasing the arm to the upper position.

Claim 11

A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a resiliently yieldable detent device for maintaining the arm in the first position.

Claim 12

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm in said lower position constitutes a strut between posts of a door of the vehicle body so as to increase the strength of the vehicle body as concerns lateral and front shocks on the vehicle body.

Claim 13

A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said arm is tubular, said arm carrying a manual actuating member extending laterally from the arm, and internal linkage interconnecting the actuating member and the locking means for affording manual unlocking of the arm.

Claim 14

A safety device in combination with a seat having a generally horizontal occupant-supporting portion, and a vehicle body having a fixed part supporting the seat and having a doorway at the side of the seat, said device comprising a safety belt having a first end and a second end and an intermediate portion, first retaining means located on a first side of the seat and connected to the first end for retaining the first end in the event of collision of the vehicle, second retaining means located on said first side of the seat and combined with the second belt end for retaining the second belt end in the event of collision of the vehicle, shifting means for shifting the intermediate belt portion downwardly to a position on a second side of the seat opposite to said first side so as to put the belt in a position of utilization, the shifting means comprising an arm located on said second side of the seat and having a first portion pivotably mounted on said fixed part of the vehicle body at the forward end of said doorway and a second portion, and means connecting the intermediate belt portion to the second arm portion, the arm being pivotable between a first arm position in which first arm position the second arm portion is in an upper position and the belt is suspended between the second arm portion and the first and second retaining means in an inoperative position in front of and in spaced relation to the seat occupant and a second arm position in which the arm maintains the belt applied against the occupant in said position of utilization, said arm being disposed at a height above said generally horizontal seat portion and having a greater length than said doorway such that when said arm is in said second position the arm is between said doorway and said seat and serves as a barrier for an occupant on said seat, first support means and first locking means supported relative to a fixed part of the vehicle body and second support means and second locking means carried by the arm adjaceNt an end of the arm opposed to said first arm portion and cooperable with the first support means and first locking means so as to support and maintain the arm in said second arm position.

Claim 15

A safety device in combination with a seat having a generally horizontal occupant-supporting portion, and a vehicle body having a fixed part supporting the seat and having a doorway at the side of the seat, said device comprising a safety belt having a first end and a second end and an intermediate portion, first retaining means located on a first side of the seat and connected to the first end for retaining the first end in the event of collision of the vehicle, second retaining means located on said first side of the seat and combined with the second belt end for retaining the second belt end in the event of collision of the vehicle, shifting means for shifting the intermediate belt portion downwardly to a position on a second side of the seat opposite to said first side so as to put the belt in a position of utilization, the shifting means comprising an arm located on said second side of the seat and having a first portion pivotably mounted on said fixed part of the vehicle body at the forward end of said doorway and a second portion, and means connecting the intermediate belt portion to the second arm portion, the arm being pivotable between a first arm position in which first arm position the second arm portion is in an upper position and the belt is suspended between the second arm portion and the first and second retaining means in an inoperative position in front of and in spaced relation to the seat occupant and a second arm position in which the arm maintains the belt applied against the occupant in said position of utilization, said arm being disposed at a height above said generally horizontal seat portion and having a greater length than said doorway such that when said arm is in said second position the arm is between said doorway and said seat and serves as a barrier for an occupant on said seat, first support means and first locking means supported relative to a fixed part of the vehicle body and second support means and second locking means carried by the arm adjaceNt an end of the arm opposed to said first arm portion and cooperable with the first support means and first locking means so as to support and maintain the arm in said second arm position.

Claim 16

A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein one of the retaining means comprises a member fixed to said fixed part of the vehicle body and the other retaining means comprises an inertia winding device.

Claim 17

A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the means for connecting the intermediate belt portion to the arm comprise a clasp in which the belt is engaged.

Claim 18

A safety device in combination with a seat having a generally horizontal occupant-supporting portion and a vehicle body having a frame supporting the seat and having a doorway at the side of the seat, said device comprising a safety belt, means attaching the belt to the vehicle frame to anchor the belt in the event of a collision, said belt including a safety portion remote from the attaching means, the safety portion being movable toward and away from a position of utilization in which said safety portion extends across the seat and engages an occupant on said seat, shifting means movable in an area between the seat and the doorway for shifting the safety portion downwardly so as to put the safety portion in the position of utilization, the shifting means comprising a rigid elongated arm having a first portion pivotably mounted to said fixed part at a location forward of the forward side of said doorway and having a second arm portion receiving the safety portion for causing the safety portion to move with the arm, the arm being pivotable between an upper position in which the safety portion is suspended in an inoperative position in front of and in spaced relation to an occupant on the seat and a lower substantially horizontal position in which the safety portion is placed in the position of utilization, said arm, when in said lower position, being disposed between said doorway and said seat and having at least a substantial portion thereof disposed above said generally horizontal seat portion and extending rearwardly at least beyond said horizontal occupant supporting portion to form a barrier for an occupant on said seat, first support means and first locking means carried by the fixed frame at the rearward side of said doorway and second support means and second locking means carried by the arm adjacent an end of the arm opposed to said first portion and cooperable with the first support means and first locking means so as to support and maintain the arm in said lower position.

Claim 19

A safety device in combination with a seat having a generally horizontal occupant-supporting portion and a vehicle body having a frame supporting the seat and having a doorway at the side of the seat, said device comprising a safety belt, means attaching the belt to the vehicle frame to anchor the belt in the event of a collision, said belt including a safety portion remote from the attaching means, the safety portion being movable toward and away from a position of utilization in which said safety portion extends across the seat and engages an occupant on said seat, shifting means movable in an area between the seat and the doorway for shifting the safety portion downwardly so as to put the safety portion in the position of utilization, the shifting means comprising a rigid elongated arm having a first portion pivotably mounted to said fixed part at a location forward of the forward side of said doorway and having a second arm portion receiving the safety portion for causing the safety portion to move with the arm, the arm being pivotable between an upper position in which the safety portion is suspended in an inoperative position in front of and in spaced relation to an occupant on the seat and a lower substantially horizontal position in which the safety portion is placed in the position of utilization, said arm, when in said lower position, being disposed between said doorway and said seat and having at least a substantial portion thereof disposed above said generally horizontal seat portion and extending rearwardly at least beyond said horizontal occupant supporting portion to form a barrier for an occupant on said seat, first support means and first locking means carried by the fixed frame at the rearward side of said doorway and second support means and second locking means carried by the arm adjacent an end of the arm opposed to said first portion and cooperable with the first support means and first locking means so as to support and maintain the arm in said lower position.