Vehicle floor-side belt outlet panel for a vehicle and vehicle with a body and a safety belt system

Abstract

Vehicle floor-side belt outlet panel (1) for a vehicle (2), comprising a panel body (3) for covering a partial area of ​​a body (4) of the vehicle (2) and a recess (5) formed in the panel body (3) for guiding through a vehicle floor-side end area (6) of a safety belt system, wherein the recess has a first width (B1), wherein the belt outlet panel (1) has a first longitudinal panel (7) which can be inserted into the recess (5) and is designed to reduce the first width (B1) of the recess to a second width (B2), characterized in that the belt outlet panel (1) has a second longitudinal panel (8) which can be inserted into the recess (5) and is designed to reduce the second width (B2) of the recess (5) to a third width (B3), wherein the third width (B3) lies between the first Length aperture (7) and the second length aperture (8).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle floor-side belt outlet panel for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with a body and a safety belt system.

[0002] For fastening and to ensure a restraining force, it is known to mechanically connect seat belt systems to the body of a motor vehicle. One end of the seat belt system on the vehicle roof, which usually has a retractor mechanism, is attached to a central area of ​​a body pillar, in particular to a B-pillar or C-pillar. The seat belt is deflected via a belt deflector arranged on a roof-side area of ​​the pillar. In modern vehicles, the belt deflector is held on the respective pillar so that it can be adjusted in height or moved vertically to accommodate drivers of different heights. One end of the seat belt system on the vehicle floor is attached to a area of ​​the pillar on the vehicle floor.

[0003] There are essentially two standard safety belt systems known for motor vehicles: a North American (NAR) standard safety belt system and a European (EU) standard safety belt system. The European standard safety belt system is used almost worldwide and is therefore also referred to as the rest of the world (RDW) standard safety belt system. The European standard safety belt system has a fastening device at the end area near the vehicle floor for permanently attaching the safety belt system to the pillar. The North American standard safety belt system differs from the European standard safety belt system in that it has a belt pretensioner located at the end area of ​​the standard safety belt system near the vehicle floor. The North American standard safety belt system can be attached to the pillar using the belt pretensioner.The pretensioner of the North American standard seat belt is wider than the fastening device of the European standard seat belt, although it is almost the same length.

[0004] Particularly to improve the visual appearance of a motor vehicle interior, many areas of the body facing the interior are covered by cover elements. Therefore, a vehicle roof-side end region of the seat belt system, from the vehicle roof-side end region to the belt deflector, as well as the vehicle floor-side end region of the seat belt system, are often covered by belt exit covers. The belt exit covers each have a recess for the passage of an end region of the seat belt system. Various belt exit covers for motor vehicles are known from the documents US 2016 / 0 101 761 A1, JP 2016 - 55 752 A, and JP 2011 - 131 843 A.

[0005] Due to the different widths of the fastening device and the belt tensioner, European standard seat belt systems require vehicle floor-mounted belt exit panels with a narrower cutout than North American standard seat belt systems. This has the disadvantage of requiring higher tooling costs as well as higher storage and handling costs for the different belt exit panels.

[0006] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a vehicle-floor-side belt exit panel and a vehicle that do not have, or at least partially do not have, the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the object of the present invention is to create a vehicle-floor-side belt exit panel for a vehicle and a vehicle with a vehicle-floor-side belt exit panel, by means of which a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, can be converted between the North American (NAR) standard safety belt system and the European (EU) standard safety belt system in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0007] The above object is achieved by the patent claims. Accordingly, the object is achieved by a vehicle floor-side belt outlet panel according to claim 1 and by a vehicle, in particular by a motor vehicle, according to claim 9. Further features and details of the invention emerge from the subclaims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the belt outlet panel according to the invention for a vehicle are of course also deemed to be disclosed in connection with the vehicle according to the invention with such a belt outlet panel, and vice versa, so that with regard to the disclosure, reciprocal reference is and can always be made to the individual aspects of the invention.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a vehicle-floor-side belt outlet panel for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle. The belt outlet panel has a panel body for covering a partial region of a vehicle body and a recess formed in the panel body for passing through a vehicle-floor-side end region of a safety belt system. The recess has a first width. Furthermore, the belt outlet panel has a first longitudinal panel which can be inserted into the recess and is designed to reduce the first width of the recess to a second width. According to the invention, the belt outlet panel has a second longitudinal panel which can be inserted into the recess and is designed to reduce the second width of the recess to a third width, wherein the third width is formed between the first longitudinal panel and the second longitudinal panel.

[0009] A vehicle floor-side belt outlet cover is a cover in the interior of a vehicle that covers part of a vehicle floor-side end region of a safety belt system, for example on a pillar of a motor vehicle body, as well as a partial region of the body. Provision can be made for one or more intermediate layers, such as heat and / or sound insulation layers, to be arranged between the body and the belt outlet cover. For covering purposes, the belt outlet cover has a cover body that is preferably plate-shaped or flat and more preferably adapted to a contour of the vehicle floor-side end region of the safety belt system to be covered or of an intermediate layer. The cover body can therefore be flat and / or curved and / or wave-shaped.In one area, preferably in a central area, the panel body has a recess for passing through the vehicle floor-side end area of ​​the safety belt system.

[0010] The recess is preferably rectangular or substantially rectangular, with corners preferably being rounded. Furthermore, the recess preferably has a length that is greater than a first width of the recess. In a vehicle-floor-side end region of the safety belt system guided through the recess, a width of a safety belt of the safety belt system is arranged in the length direction of the recess. The recess has a first width and a first length, with the first width being designed such that both a vehicle-floor-side end region of a North American standard safety belt system and a vehicle-floor-side end region of a European standard safety belt system can be guided through the recess.When a vehicle floor end portion of a European standard safety belt system is passed through the recess, a larger remaining gap is formed between the safety belt system and the panel body than when a North American standard safety belt system is passed through.

[0011] To avoid such a gap, the belt outlet panel has a first longitudinal panel that can be inserted into the recess, wherein, when the first longitudinal panel is inserted in the recess, the first width is reduced to a second width. The second width is designed such that a vehicle floor-side end region of a European standard safety belt system can be passed through the recess, preferably in a tight-fitting manner, and a vehicle floor-side end region of a North American standard safety belt system cannot be passed through the recess. The longitudinal panel is preferably designed to overlap a region of the panel body adjacent to the recess, in particular on a side of the panel body that faces away from the interior of the vehicle when installed.

[0012] The first longitudinal cover preferably has the same material and / or the same surface finish as the cover body and is, for example, pivotably or displaceably mounted on the cover body. The first longitudinal cover is thus preferably movable between at least two positions, wherein in a first position the first longitudinal cover exposes the recess and in a second position covers one side of the recess. The covering is preferably carried out in such a way that the recess is merely reduced in size by the first longitudinal cover and is not divided into several recesses. The first longitudinal cover is preferably designed to extend at least over the entire length of the recess. A side of the first longitudinal cover facing the recess preferably has a flexible region for flexible contact with the safety belt system or the safety belt.According to the invention, the first longitudinal aperture may be made of a thinner material than the aperture body. This allows for material savings.

[0013] The belt outlet panel preferably comprises a plastic, such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), and / or a metal, such as aluminum.

[0014] Furthermore, the belt outlet panel is provided according to the invention with a second longitudinal panel which, according to the invention, can be inserted into the recess and is designed to reduce the second width of the recess to a third width, wherein the third width is formed between the first longitudinal panel and the second longitudinal panel. The second longitudinal panel is furthermore preferably designed in accordance with the first longitudinal panel. The second longitudinal panel preferably has the same material and / or the same surface finish as the first longitudinal panel and / or the panel body and is, for example, pivotably or displaceably mounted on the panel body. The second longitudinal panel is thus preferably movable between at least two positions, wherein in a first position the second longitudinal panel exposes the recess and in a second position covers one side of the recess.The covering is preferably carried out in such a way that the recess is merely reduced in size by the second longitudinal panel and not divided into a plurality of recesses. The second longitudinal panel is preferably designed to extend at least over the entire length of the recess. A side of the second longitudinal panel facing the recess preferably has a flexible region for flexible contact with the safety belt system or the safety belt. Accordingly, the first longitudinal panel and the second longitudinal panel are preferably held on the panel body and can be arranged on the recess in such a way that the recess is merely reduced in size by the first longitudinal panel and the second longitudinal panel and not divided into a plurality of recesses. The region of the recess that is thus not covered has the third width. According to the invention, it can be provided that the first longitudinal panel is formed integrally with the second longitudinal panel.According to the invention, it can be provided that the second longitudinal panel has a thinner material thickness than the panel body. This allows material to be saved. The third width is preferably designed such that a vehicle floor-side end region of a European standard safety belt system can be passed through the recess, preferably in a tight fit, and a vehicle floor-side end region of a North American standard safety belt system cannot be passed through the recess. Therefore, the third width of this preferred embodiment preferably corresponds to a second width of an embodiment with only a first longitudinal panel. The second longitudinal panel is preferably designed to overlap a region of the panel body adjacent to the recess, in particular on a side of the panel body that faces away from the interior of the vehicle when installed.A second length-adjustable cover has the advantage that the recess can be reduced in size so that the passage of the safety belt system is not displaced to the edge of the recess. This allows the precise location of the passage of the safety belt system through the recess to be determined.

[0015] A vehicle floor-side belt outlet panel according to the invention has the advantage over conventional belt outlet panels that it enables a partial area of ​​a vehicle body, in particular of motor vehicles, with different standard safety belt systems to be covered using simple means and at low cost. The belt outlet panel according to the invention makes it possible to cover a partial area of ​​the body of a vehicle with a North American standard safety belt system as well as the body of a vehicle with a European standard safety belt system. By providing the belt outlet panel according to the invention, different belt outlet panels are no longer required for North American standard safety belt systems and European standard safety belt systems.Consequently, instead of two tools for producing two different belt exit panels, only one tool is required to produce a belt exit panel according to the invention. This has the advantage of reducing manufacturing, storage, and handling costs. Such a vehicle-floor-mounted belt exit panel allows a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, to be easily and cost-effectively converted between the North American (NAR) standard safety belt system and the European (EU) standard safety belt system.

[0016] The belt outlet panel preferably has a width panel which can be inserted into the recess and is designed to reduce a first length of the recess to a second length. The width panel is also preferably designed to match the first length panel. The width panel preferably has the same material and / or the same surface finish as the first length panel and / or the panel body and is, for example, pivotably or displaceably mounted on the panel body. The width panel is thus preferably movable between at least two positions, wherein in a first position the width panel exposes the recess and in a second position covers one side of the recess. The covering is preferably carried out in such a way that the recess is merely reduced in size by the width panel and not divided into multiple recesses.The width panel is preferably designed to extend at least over the entire width of the recess. A side of the width panel facing the recess preferably has a flexible region for flexible contact with the safety belt system or the safety belt. Accordingly, the width panel is preferably held on the panel body and can be arranged on the recess in such a way that the recess is only reduced in size by the width panel and not divided into several recesses. The region of the recess that is thus not covered has the second length. The invention can provide that the width panel is formed in one piece with the first length panel and / or the second length panel. The invention can provide that the width panel has a smaller material thickness than the panel body. This can save material.A width panel has the advantage that the length of the recess can be easily, cost-effectively and flexibly adapted to a safety belt system.

[0017] According to the invention, it can be provided that the first length panel and / or the second length panel and / or the width panel are designed as a tab. According to the invention, a tab is a component that can be arranged such that its longitudinal extent faces away from the panel body. It is preferred according to the invention that the tab is flexible and preferably elastically deformable in order to facilitate arrangement or at least temporary fixing to the recess. A tab is easy to handle and has only a relatively narrow connection to the panel body. Thus, the tab can be easily removed from the panel body if necessary. The tab is preferably pivotable between a first position, in which it is arranged next to the recess, and a second position, in which it is arranged in the recess. A tab has the further advantage that it can be manufactured using simple means and cost-effectively.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first length panel and / or the second length panel and / or the width panel are formed in one piece with the panel body. The belt outlet panel according to the invention can therefore be produced easily and cost-effectively using a plastic injection molding tool in a plastic injection molding process. In a one-piece design, it is preferred that a coupling area is formed between the panel body and the first length panel or the second length panel or the width panel, which facilitates relative pivoting of the components. The coupling area preferably has a smaller material thickness than the first length panel or the second length panel or the width panel. Complex assembly processes for the first length panel or the second length panel or the width panel to the panel body are therefore no longer necessary, whereby easy pivoting of the first length panel orthe second length panel or the width panel into the recess is ensured.

[0019] The belt exit panel further preferably has a holding device designed to hold the first length panel and / or the second length panel and / or the width panel in the recess. The holding device is preferably formed entirely or at least partially on the first length panel and / or on the second length panel and / or on the width panel, but can also be formed entirely or at least partially on the panel body. A holding device preferably enables the first length panel and / or the second length panel and / or the width panel to be locked in the recess. A holding device has the advantage that unintentional detachment of the first length panel and / or the second length panel and / or the width panel from the recess is prevented using simple means. The installation of the belt exit panel is thus facilitated.

[0020] According to the invention, it can be provided that the holding device has a locking mechanism. A locking mechanism comprises, for example, a spring element and a hook which is designed to engage behind a surface, e.g. of the panel body. When the first longitudinal panel or the second longitudinal panel or the width panel is inserted into the recess, the hook can be deflected by the spring, e.g. by means of a sliding surface of the hook sliding along an edge of the recess, and can then spring back, engaging behind the panel body, due to the spring force stored in the spring as a result of the deflection of the spring. The locking mechanism is preferably formed completely or at least partially in one piece with the first longitudinal panel or with the second longitudinal panel or with the width panel. A locking mechanism has the advantage that holding on to the recess can be ensured using simple means and at low cost.

[0021] The panel body is preferably designed as a door sill strip for a vehicle door frame, in particular for a motor vehicle door frame. A door sill strip can be arranged in a vehicle-floor-side section of a door frame of the body and preferably extends substantially across the entire width of the door frame. The door sill strip preferably extends at least over a vehicle-floor-side section of a pillar of the body.

[0022] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the object is achieved by a vehicle, in particular by a motor vehicle, having a body and a safety belt system, wherein a belt outlet panel according to the invention is arranged on a partial area of ​​the body on the vehicle floor. A vehicle floor-side end area of ​​the safety belt system is guided through the recess of the belt outlet panel.

[0023] The vehicle according to the invention has the same advantages that have already been described above with regard to the belt exit panel according to the invention. Accordingly, the vehicle has the advantage over conventional vehicles that it enables a partial area of ​​the body to be covered using simple means and at low cost, even with different standard safety belt systems. The vehicle according to the invention has a belt exit panel for covering a partial area of ​​its body that is designed to accommodate both a North American standard safety belt system and a European standard safety belt system. Consequently, instead of two tools for producing two different belt exit panels, only one tool is required to produce a belt exit panel according to the invention.This has the advantage that the manufacturing, storage and handling costs of the belt outlet panels can be reduced and thus the series production costs of the vehicle can be lowered.

[0024] Various preferred embodiments of vehicle floor-side belt outlet panels according to the invention for a vehicle, as well as a vehicle according to the invention with a belt outlet panel according to the invention, are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. They each show schematically: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first belt outlet panel according to the prior art, Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a second belt outlet panel according to the prior art, Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a belt outlet panel according to the invention, Fig. 4 in another perspective view the belt outlet panel from Fig. 3, Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a belt outlet panel according to the invention, Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of a belt outlet panel according to the invention, and Fig. 7 shows a side view of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0025] In Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are two different embodiments of belt outlet panels 1 for a motor vehicle 2 (cf. Fig. 7) according to the prior art is schematically depicted in a perspective view. The belt outlet cover 1 has a cover body 3, which corresponds to the contour of a pillar of a body 4 (cf. Fig. 7) of the motor vehicle 2. A recess 5 is formed in the panel body 3, through which a vehicle floor-side end region 6 of a safety belt system is passed. Fig. The recess 5 shown in Figure 1 has a second width B2 and a first length L1, so that the belt outlet panel 1 is designed for a European standard safety belt system. Fig. The recess 5 shown in Figure 2 has a first width B1 and a second length L2, wherein the second length L2 is shorter than the first length L1 and the first width B1 is wider than the second width B2. The belt outlet panel 1 according to Fig. 2 is therefore designed for a North American standard seat belt system.

[0026] In Fig. 3 is a first embodiment of a belt outlet panel 1 according to the invention for a motor vehicle 2 (cf. Fig. 7) is shown schematically in a perspective view. The belt outlet panel 1 has a panel body 3, which corresponds to the contour of a pillar of a body 4 (cf. Fig. 7) of the motor vehicle 2. In the panel body 3, a recess 5 is provided for the passage of an end region 6 on the vehicle floor side (cf. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) of a safety belt system. The recess 5 has a first length L1 and a first width B1. A first longitudinal panel 7, designed as a tab, is pivotably arranged on the panel body 3 and is preferably formed integrally with the panel body 3. In the Fig. In the state shown in Figure 3, the first longitudinal aperture 7 is in a first position, hangs down from the remaining aperture body 3, and is thus spaced apart from the recess 5. In the first position of the first longitudinal aperture 7, the recess 5 is thus exposed from the first longitudinal aperture 7.

[0027] Fig. 4 shows the first embodiment of a belt outlet panel 1 according to the invention from Fig. 3 in another perspective view. In this illustration, the first longitudinal aperture 7 is shown in a second position. In the second position of the first longitudinal aperture 7, the first longitudinal aperture 7 is arranged in the recess 5 such that it covers a longitudinal edge strip of the recess 5 and thus the first width B1 (cf. Fig. 3) of the recess 5 is reduced to the second width B2. The first length aperture 7 is preferably secured by means of a holding device 10 (cf. Fig. 3) fixed to the recess 5.

[0028] In Fig. 5 is a second embodiment of a belt outlet panel 1 according to the invention for a motor vehicle 2 (cf. Fig. 7) is shown schematically in a perspective view. The belt outlet panel 1 has a panel body 3, which corresponds to the contour of a pillar of a body 4 (cf. Fig. 7) of the motor vehicle 2. In the panel body 3, a recess 5 is provided for the passage of an end region 6 on the vehicle floor side (cf. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) of a safety belt system. The recess 5 has a first length L1 and a first width B1. A first longitudinal panel 7 and a second longitudinal panel 8, each designed as a tab and preferably integral with the panel body 3, are pivotably arranged on the panel body 3. In the Fig. In the state shown in Figure 5, the first longitudinal aperture 7 and the second longitudinal aperture 8 are each arranged in their second position. In their second position, the first longitudinal aperture 7 and the second longitudinal aperture 8 are arranged in the recess 5 in such a way that they each cover a longitudinal edge strip of the recess 5 and thus define the first width B1 (cf. Fig. 3) of the recess 5 to a third width B3. Preferably, the third width B3 corresponds to the second embodiment of the Fig. 5 of the second width B2 of the first embodiment of the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, in order to create a gap that is as tight as possible for a bottom-side end area 6 (cf. Fig. 1) a European standard safety belt system.

[0029] The first length aperture 7 and / or the second length aperture 8 are preferably secured by means of a holding device 10 (cf. Fig. 3) fixed to the recess 5.

[0030] In Fig. 6 is a third embodiment of a belt outlet panel 1 according to the invention for a motor vehicle 2 (cf. Fig. 7) is shown schematically in a perspective view. The belt outlet panel 1 has a panel body 3, which corresponds to the contour of a pillar of a body 4 (cf. Fig. 7) of the motor vehicle 2. In the panel body 3, a recess 5 is provided for the passage of an end region 6 on the vehicle floor side (cf. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) of a safety belt system. The recess 5 has a first length L1 and a first width B1. A width panel 9 designed as a tab, which is preferably formed integrally with the panel body 3, is pivotably arranged on the panel body 3. In the Fig. In the state shown in Figure 6, the width aperture 9 is arranged in its second position. In the second position of the width aperture 9, the width aperture 9 is arranged in the recess 5 such that it covers a transverse edge strip of the recess 5 and thus the first length L1 (cf. Fig. 3) of the recess 5 is reduced to a second length L2. The thus reduced recess 5 is designed to pass through a bottom-side end region 6 (cf. Fig. 1) of a North American standard safety belt system. The width panel 9 is preferably secured by means of a holding device 10 (cf. Fig. 3) fixed to the recess 5.

[0031] In further embodiments, a belt outlet panel 1 according to the invention can also have a first length panel 7 and one or more width panels 9 arranged at opposite ends of the recess 5 or a first length panel 7, a second length panel 8 and one or more width panels 9 arranged at opposite ends of the recess 5.

[0032] In Fig.7 schematically shows a side view of a motor vehicle 2 according to the invention. The motor vehicle 2 has a body 4 with a motor vehicle door frame 11 (not visible in this illustration), indicated by a first dashed rectangle. The motor vehicle 2 has a belt outlet panel 1 according to the invention, indicated by a second dashed rectangle in this illustration. The belt outlet panel 1 is designed as a door sill and is concealed by a motor vehicle door 12. List of reference symbols 1 belt exit panel 2 Vehicle, in particular motor vehicle 3 aperture bodies 4 Body 5 Recess 6 vehicle floor end area 7 first length aperture 8 second length aperture 9 Width aperture 10 Holding device 11 Vehicle door frames, in particular motor vehicle door frames 12 Vehicle door, in particular motor vehicle door B1 first width B2 second width B3 third width L1 first length L2 second length

Claims

[1] Vehicle floor-side belt outlet panel (1) for a vehicle (2), comprising a panel body (3) for covering a partial area of ​​a body (4) of the vehicle (2) and a recess (5) formed in the panel body (3) for passing through a vehicle floor-side end area (6) of a safety belt system, wherein the recess has a first width (B1), wherein the belt outlet panel (1) has a first length panel (7) which can be inserted into the recess (5) and is designed to reduce the first width (B1) of the recess to a second width (B2), characterized by in that the belt outlet panel (1) has a second longitudinal panel (8) which can be inserted into the recess (5) and is designed to reduce the second width (B2) of the recess (5) to a third width (B3), the third width (B3) being formed between the first longitudinal panel (7) and the second longitudinal panel (8). [2] Belt outlet panel (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the belt outlet panel (1) has a width panel (9) which can be inserted into the recess (5) and is designed to reduce a first length (L1) of the recess (5) to a second length (L2). [3] Belt outlet panel (1) according to claim 2, characterized by that the first length aperture (7) and / or the second length aperture (8) and / or the width aperture (9) are designed as a tab. [4] Belt outlet panel (1) according to claim 2 characterized by that the first length aperture (7) and / or the second length aperture (8) and / or the width aperture (9) are formed in one piece with the aperture body (3). [5] Belt outlet panel (1) according to claim 2, characterized by that the first length aperture (7) and / or the second length aperture (8) and / or the width aperture (9) are held pivotably in the recess (5) on the aperture body (3). [6] Belt outlet panel (1) according to claim 2, characterized by that the belt outlet panel (1) has a holding device (10) which is designed to hold the first length panel (7) and / or the second length panel (8) and / or the width panel (9) in the recess (5). [7] Belt outlet panel (1) according to claim 6, characterized by that the holding device (10) has a locking mechanism. [8] Belt outlet panel (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the panel body (3) is designed as a door sill for a vehicle door frame (11). [9] Vehicle (2) with a body (4) and a safety belt system, characterized bythat a belt outlet panel (1) according to one of the preceding claims is arranged on a vehicle floor-side partial region of the body (4), wherein a vehicle floor-side end region (6) of the safety belt system is guided through the recess (5) of the belt outlet panel (1).

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