Sheet metal bracket for the rear seat belt retractor of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a sheet metal support for a rear seat belt retractor in a motor vehicle, comprising a shelf (11) elongated along the longitudinal direction of said vehicle and intended to be positioned substantially horizontally in said vehicle, said shelf (11) being laterally bordered on the outer side by an external folded edge (12) intended to be fixed to a quarter panel lining of the vehicle's body structure, said shelf (11) further having a flat-bottomed recess (20) for receiving said retractor and in which at least one fixing hole (21) is provided for this retractor; characterized in that said shelf (11) also comprises at least one stiffening rib (26, 27) extending over said flat-bottomed recess (20) and over the remainder of the surface of this shelf (11). Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Sheet metal support for a rear seat belt retractor in a motor vehicle technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a support for a rear seat belt retractor. Previous technique

[0002] Motor vehicles must be equipped with safety belts capable of restraining passengers in the seats in the event of a collision with the vehicle.

[0003] For passenger comfort, these seat belts are equipped with a retractor fitted with a spring-loaded tensioner with automatic locking under the control of an inertia unit.

[0004] In this way, the belt strap, which is usually taut and applied against the passenger, has a certain degree of mobility if the movements to which it is subjected are not too abrupt.

[0005] Otherwise, in the event of sudden movements exerted on the strap, the latter is automatically blocked under the action of an inertial unit which is sensitive both to the horizontal component of deceleration of the vehicle and to the tangential component of acceleration of the unwinding of the strap against the stress of the return spring of the tensioner.

[0006] Rear seat belt retractors are generally fixed to the vehicle body structure by means of a retractor support, so that the stresses experienced by the belt webbing when it is locked are transferred to this structure.

[0007] Such a rear seat belt retractor support is known, in particular from document FR 2 862 034 A1, comprising a shelf formed by an elongated sheet metal panel along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and intended to be positioned substantially horizontally in that vehicle. Bordered laterally on the outer side by an external folded edge intended to be spot-welded to a quarter panel lining of the vehicle's body structure, this shelf has holes for attaching the retractor.

[0008] During an accident, such a seat belt retractor is subjected to significant tensile forces via the strap.

[0009] The regulations concerning safety belts (ECE R14 regulation) require that the support of this retractor resist certain stresses tending to deform it.

[0010] In order to limit its deformations during a significant pull on the retractor, it is known from document FR 3 030 405 Al to provide on the tablet a flat bottom imprint receiving from below this safety belt retractor and in which a fixing hole is provided for this retractor.

[0011] This document also provides for the addition of a reinforcement extending in a substantially transverse direction. This reinforcement has a general shape of profile or angle with an L-shaped cross-section, one arm of which is spot-welded to this shelf and one bent end of which is fixed to the outer lateral fold.

[0012] However, the addition of such reinforcement has the disadvantages of significantly increasing the mass of the reel support and lengthening the assembly time (need to carry out numerous weld points).

[0013] In addition, it requires, at the logistical level, the referencing of a new part, which entails additional management and storage costs. Description of the invention

[0014] The present invention therefore aims to improve the situation.

[0015] It proposes for this purpose a sheet metal support for a rear seat belt retractor of a motor vehicle, comprising an elongated shelf along the longitudinal direction of said vehicle and intended to be arranged substantially horizontally in said vehicle, said shelf being bordered laterally on the external side by an external dropped edge intended to be fixed on a quarter panel lining of the body structure of said vehicle, said shelf further having a flat-bottomed recess intended to receive said retractor and in which at least one fixing hole for said retractor is provided; characterized in that said shelf also comprises at least one stiffening rib extending over said flat-bottomed recess and over the rest of the surface of this shelf.

[0016] The addition of at least one such stiffening rib extending over the flat bottom footprint and over the rest of the surface of this tablet makes it possible, without increasing the mass of the support or adding an additional part, to stiffen the tablet sufficiently to meet regulatory requirements in terms of mechanical strength and to dampen vibration phenomena during rolling phases.

[0017] According to preferred characteristics of said reel support according to the invention: - said tablet comprises at least one said straddle stiffening rib extending in a substantially longitudinal direction; - said tablet includes at least one said stiffening rib extending along a substantially transverse direction; - said flat-bottomed imprint extends in relief opposite the upper face of the remainder of the surface of said tablet; - said flat-bottomed imprint extends along a parallel plane offset vertically from that of the rest of the surface of said tablet by a gap of between 10 and 20 mm; - said flat-bottomed imprint has at least one stiffening rib extending substantially transversely across its entire width; - said tablet is bordered at the rear by a rear dropped edge intended to be fixed on a rear shutter gutter lining; - said tablet is bordered at the front by a dropped front edge intended to be fixed to a protruding fixing reinforcement above this tablet; and / or - said shelf is bordered laterally on the inner side by an internal dropped edge extending behind said shelf by a longitudinal strip intended to be fixed on a rear shutter gutter lining.

[0018] The invention also relates in a second aspect to a motor vehicle equipped in the rear seats with seat belts each having such a retractor held by a retractor support fixed to the rear part of the body structure of this vehicle. Brief description of the drawings

[0019] The description of the invention will now be continued by a detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given below by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, on which:

[0020] [fig. 1] represents an interior perspective view of the rear left side of the body structure of a motor vehicle on which a reel support according to the invention is mounted; and

[0021] [fig.2] is a perspective view of the reel support of figure 1. Description of the implementation methods

[0022] Figure 1 represents an interior perspective view of the left rear side part of the body structure 1 of a motor vehicle comprising a quarter panel liner 2 located above a rear wheel arch 3 and extending from rear to front between a rear flap gutter liner 4 and a rear side door opening 5.

[0023] This left rear side part of the body structure 1 also includes a rear seat belt retractor support 10 according to the invention.

[0024] Another rear seat belt retractor support, symmetrically similar to support 10, is also present on the right rear side of this body structure 1, not shown in the figures.

[0025] In the remainder of this description and by convention, the terms “lower”, "Upper", "front" and "rear" will be defined in relation to the mounting position of the reel support 10 according to the invention in a vehicle.

[0026] The terms "external" and "internal" will be used to define the relative position of an element with reference to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle. The element closest to this plane will thus be described as internal, as opposed to the other element further from this same plane, which will be described as external.

[0027] Furthermore, the term "substantially" will be used to indicate that a slight deviation is permitted from a predetermined nominal position or arrangement, while remaining within the scope of the invention. For example, "substantially horizontal" will indicate that a deviation of approximately 15° from a strictly horizontal orientation is permitted within the scope of the invention.

[0028] The reel support 10 is obtained by bending and cold stamping from a sheet of high mechanical strength steel (preferably double-phase steel) previously cut and having a thickness preferably between 1.3 and 1.6 mm and advantageously equal to 1.45 mm.

[0029] Represented alone in figure 2, this winder support 10 comprises a substantially horizontal shelf 11 extending longitudinally along most of the quarter lining 2.

[0030] The tablet 11 is bordered laterally on the external side by an external dropped edge 12 (visible only in Figure 1) extending substantially vertically downwards and intended to be fixed by electrical welding points on the custodian lining 2 as illustrated in this Figure 1.

[0031] This tablet 11 is also bordered laterally on the inner side by an internal dropped edge 13 extending substantially vertically downwards and having a plurality of rectangular and oblong holes 14 intended to secure a support (not shown) for a side trunk trim.

[0032] The internal dropped edge 13 extends behind the shelf 11 by means of a longitudinal strip 15 intended to be fixed by electrical welding points on the rear flap gutter lining 4.

[0033] The tablet 11 is further bordered at the rear by a rear drop edge 16 extending diagonally backwards and downwards, and also intended to be fixed by electrical welding points on the rear flap gutter lining 4.

[0034] This shelf 11 is finally bordered at the front by a front drop edge 17 extending diagonally forward and downward, and intended to be fixed by electrical welding points on a sheet metal fixing reinforcement 6 projecting above this shelf and carrying at its upper end a safety belt guide 6A.

[0035] As illustrated in Figure 1, this first fixing reinforcement 6 is intended to be fixed by electric welding points onto a sheet metal plate 7 intended to serve as support stop for a side backrest of a seat or rear bench not shown and carrying a metal latch wire 7A suitable for cooperating with a lock attached to this backrest to lock it in the raised position.

[0036] This plate 7 is intended to be fixed by electrical welding points on a rear wheel arch reinforcement 8 extending against the rear wheel arch 3 to the unrepresented underbody of the vehicle.

[0037] This arrangement of parts 10, 6, 7 and 8 rigidly linked to each other thus constitutes a path of forces connecting the rear flap gutter lining 4 to the underbody of the vehicle and significantly reinforcing the rigidity of the rear lateral portion of the body structure.

[0038] It will be noted in Figure 2 that the front end of the internal dropped edge 13 defines a fixing tab 13A having a circular orifice 13B suitable for allowing its fixing by screwing to the internal dropped edges of the reinforcement 6 and the plate 7 to improve the transmission of forces between these parts.

[0039] The tablet 11 has, in its rear part, an oblong window 18 dimensioned to be crossed by a water drainage pipe as well as by an electrical supply harness running vertically to the roof of the vehicle and not shown in Figure 1.

[0040] This oblong window 18 is advantageously delimited on its four sides by dropped edges so as to avoid any shearing of the conduit or the bundle.

[0041] A circular hole 19 is provided in this rear part of the shelf 11 and near the window 18 to allow the snapping of a clamping clip not shown of the water drainage pipe.

[0042] With reference to figure 2, the tablet 11 also has, in its front part, a flat-bottomed recess 20, the upper face of which 20A is intended to receive a rear belt retractor not shown.

[0043] This flat-bottomed imprint 20 extends in relief from the upper face 1 IA of the rest of the surface of this tablet 11 (i.e. above this upper face 11 A) along a parallel plane offset vertically from that of the rest of the surface of said tablet by a spacing preferably between 10 and 20 mm,

[0044] Extending laterally from the inner side to the inner dropped edge 13, the impression 20 includes in its rear portion means for fixing the winder consisting in this case of a circular orifice 21 intended to be passed through by a screw which then screws into a tapped hole provided in the housing of this winder.

[0045] On either side of this circular orifice 21, the cavity 20 also has two square-shaped orifices 22 designed to cooperate during the placement of the reel with protruding lugs on its casing so as to ensure the pre-holding of this reel before it is screwed in and to prevent any rotation of the latter after this screwing.

[0046] The front portion of this flat-bottomed imprint 20 also has two circular bosses 23 protruding in relief from its upper face 20A (i.e. above this upper face 20A) and constituting support points under stress for the front part of the winder housing so as to limit its vibrations generating parasitic noises during the rolling phases of the vehicle.

[0047] This flat-bottomed imprint 20 further includes two stiffening ribs, namely a first rib 24 extending substantially transversely over its entire width between the orifices 21, 22 and the circular bosses 23, and a second rib 25 of smaller dimension extending substantially longitudinally near the inner dropped edge 13.

[0048] Intended to be covered by the winder, these stiffening ribs 24, 25 extend in a hollow opposite the upper face 20A of the flat bottom cavity 20 (i.e. below this upper face 20A), so as not to interfere with the winder during its installation.

[0049] The tablet 11 also includes two other stiffening ribs extending over this flat-bottomed impression 20 and over the rest of the surface of this tablet 11, namely a third rib 26 extending substantially transversely from the outer dropped edge 12 and continuing over the inner lateral portion of the impression 20, and a fourth rib 27 extending substantially longitudinally in the rear part of this tablet 11 near the inner dropped edge 13 and continuing over the rear portion of this impression 20.

[0050] Not being intended to be covered by the winder, these stiffening ribs 26, 27 extend in relief opposite the upper face 20A of this flat bottom impression 20.

[0051] As illustrated in Figure 2, the tablet 11 also has a second flat-bottomed, circular recess 28 extending along an inclined plane between the window 18 and the recess 20, and intended to receive an indexing finger (not shown) from an electronic housing. This recess 28 further has a circular opening 29 for attaching this finger.

[0052] In order to limit the risks of twisting the longitudinal band 15 around a vertical axis, the rear part of the inner dropped edge 13 also has two parallel stiffening ribs 30, 31 extending substantially longitudinally and continuing over this longitudinal band 15.

[0053] These stiffening ribs 30, 31 extend in a hollow position opposite the outer face of the longitudinal strip 15 intended to be welded onto the gutter lining of rear flap 4, so as not to interfere with it during its installation.

[0054] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the number and arrangement of the stiffening ribs is different.

[0055] Certain elements may also be absent or arranged differently, such as, for example, the second circular flat-bottomed recess, the window for the passage of the beam and cable, or the front and rear dropped edges.

Claims

Demands

1. Sheet metal support for a rear seat belt retractor of a motor vehicle, comprising a shelf (11) elongated along the longitudinal direction of said vehicle and intended to be arranged substantially horizontally in said vehicle, said shelf (11) being laterally bordered on the external side by an external dropped edge (12) intended to be fixed to a quarter panel lining (2) of the body structure of said vehicle (1), said shelf (11) further having a flat bottom recess (20) intended to receive said retractor and in which at least one fixing hole (21) is provided for this retractor; characterized in that said shelf (11) also comprises at least one stiffening rib (26, 27) extending over said flat bottom recess (20) and over the rest of the surface of this shelf (H).

2. Reel support according to claim 1, characterized in that said shelf (11) comprises at least one said straddle stiffening rib (26) extending in a substantially longitudinal direction.

3. Reel support according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said shelf (11) comprises at least one said straddle stiffening rib (27) extending in a substantially transverse direction.

4. Reel support according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said flat-bottomed imprint (20) extends in relief from the upper face (1 IA) of the rest of the surface of said tablet (11).

5. Reel support according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said flat-bottomed recess (20) extends along a parallel plane offset vertically from that of the rest of the surface of said tablet (11) by a spacing of between 10 and 20 mm.

6. Reel support according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said flat bottom recess (20) has at least one stiffening rib (24) extending substantially transversely over its entire width.

7. Roller support according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said shelf (11) is bordered at the rear by a rear dropped edge (16) intended to be fixed on a rear shutter gutter lining (4).

8. A reel support according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said shelf (11) is bordered at the front by a front drop edge (17) intended to be fixed to a fixing reinforcement (6) projecting above this shelf (11).

9. Roller support according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said shelf (11) is laterally bordered on the inner side by an internal dropped edge (13) extending behind said shelf (11) by a longitudinal strip (15) intended to be fixed on a rear shutter gutter lining (4).

10. Motor vehicle equipped in the rear seats with safety belts, each having a retractor held by a retractor support fixed to the rear part of the body structure (1) of this vehicle, characterized in that each said retractor support conforms to one of claims 1 to 9.

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