Patent US5340046A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5340046A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Energy converter for a safety belt
Assignee: Carl F Schroth GmbH
•
Filing: 1992-10-19
•
Granted: 1994-08-23
•
Expires: 2012-10-19
Abstract
Abstract An energy converter comprises a sleeve with a sleeve channel. A longitudinal groove is configured in the wall of the sleeve channel. A shank of a bolt is introduced into the sleeve channel. An L-shaped deformation member having an arresting leg is introduced into a lateral bore of the bolt shank, wherein then the sleeve leg comes to rest in the longitudinal groove of the sleeve and at the outer surface of the bolt shank. The sleeve and the bolt are thus secured against rotation. The bolt has a hexagonal bolt head, which can be positionally fixed in a matchingly configured aperture in the cheek of the belt fitting. If a predetermined force F acts upon the belt band, the sleeve and the bolt turn relative to one another and the deformation member pulls out of the longitudinal groove while rolling around the bolt shank.
Inventors
- 👤 Karl-Jurgen Schroth
- 👤 Rolf Jeche
- 👤 Stefan Meier-Armdt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:47
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/28; B60R22/34; B60R2022/3427
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
An energy converter for a safety belt, the energy converter comprising a sleeve having an interior defined by an interior surface, a belt band of the safety belt being attached to the sleeve, a bolt having a bolt shank extending into the interior of the sleeve, the bolt having an end mounted so as to be non-rotatable in a stationarily attached belt fitting, at least one deformation member comprising a wire section having a sleeve leg and an arresting leg, the sleeve leg and the arresting leg extending at angle relative to each other, the sleeve having an end face, the arresting leg being fixedly attached to the bolt shank at the end face of the sleeve, the bolt shank having an axis, the interior surface of the sleeve defining a groove extending in an axial direction, the sleeve leg extending in the axial direction and being slidably supported in the groove of the sleeve, wherein the groove has a cross-section which coincides with the cross-section of the sleeve leg, and wherein the arresting leg contacts the bolt shank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
An energy converter for a safety belt, the energy converter comprising a sleeve having an interior defined by an interior surface, a belt band of the safety belt being attached to the sleeve, a bolt having a bolt shank extending into the interior of the sleeve, the bolt having an end mounted so as to be non-rotatable in a stationarily attached belt fitting, at least one deformation member comprising a wire section having a sleeve leg and an arresting leg, the sleeve leg and the arresting leg extending at angle relative to each other, the sleeve having an end face, the arresting leg being fixedly attached to the bolt shank at the end face of the sleeve, the bolt shank having an axis, the interior surface of the sleeve defining a groove extending in an axial direction, the sleeve leg extending in the axial direction and being slidably supported in the groove of the sleeve, wherein the groove has a cross-section which coincides with the cross-section of the sleeve leg, and wherein the arresting leg contacts the bolt shank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The energy converter of claim 1, wherein at least two deformation members having sleeve legs, which are offset from each other through 180°, are provided on a circumference of said bolt shank and are fixed in position with their arresting legs respectively in said bolt shank at said end face of said sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The energy converter of claim 2, wherein said bolt further comprises: a plurality of longitudinal segments which are non-rotationally pinned together, wherein each arresting leg of said deformation members is fixed in position in each of said longitudinal segments.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The energy converter of claim 2, wherein said arresting leg of said deformation member, which has a rectangular cross-section, is bent in an S-shaped manner and is fixed in position in a recess in said belt fitting on a circumference of a receiving bore of said bolt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The energy converter of claim 1, wherein said arresting leg of said deformation member is fitted into a radially lateral bore of said bolt shank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The energy converter of claim 1, wherein a transition of said groove, in regions of an end face of said sleeve which adjoins a mouth of said sleeve interior, is rounded to match a cross-section of said deformation member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The energy converter of claim 1, wherein said sleeve has a recess in said end face, in a plane of said arresting leg which extends laterally to said axis of said bolt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The energy converter of claim 1, wherein said arresting leg secures a closure piece having a positioning disk and a leg to an end face of said bolt, wherein said leg is inserted into said end face of said bolt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The energy converter of claim 1, wherein said arresting leg of said deformation member, which has a rectangular cross-section, is bent in an S-shaped manner and is fixed in position in a recess in said belt fitting on a circumference of a receiving bore of said bolt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The energy converter of claim 1, wherein said bolt has a longitudinal channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The energy converter of claim 1, wherein said sleeve has an annular collar on each end face.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The energy converter of claim 11, further comprising: a driver around which said belt band the driver wrapped, is being fixed in said annular collars.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The energy converter of claim 12, wherein said driver has a convex end face extending between said annular collars in a direction perpendicular to the sleeve axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The energy converter of claim 12, wherein said sleeve is flattened beneath said driver.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The energy converter of claim 1, wherein said sleeve has longitudinal grooves at an external circumference.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The energy converter of claim 1, further comprising: an automatic belt roll-up device, wherein said bolt is a component of said device and wherein said bolt is connected at least on one end face with a toothed blocking wheel which cooperates with a locking pawl.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3741494A
Cited
US3857528A
Cited
US3881667A
Cited
US3927846A
Cited
US3961761A
Cited
US3970265A
Cited
US3952967A
Cited
US4256273A
Cited
US4323205A
Cited
US4322046A
Cited
US4394992A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-08-22 | 1998-02-21 | 1998-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-22 | 2002-02-21 | 2002-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-22 | 2006-02-21 | 2006-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |