MODULAR FIXATION OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE SOCKETS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE
A modular adapter plate system with keying devices and adjustable thickness facilitates standardized installation of seat belt buckle sockets across different vehicle models, addressing the need for individual adaptations and reducing costs.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2020000890
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2020-01-29
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-12
- Estimated Expiration
- 2040-01-29
AI Technical Summary
Existing seat belt buckle sockets in motor vehicles require individual adaptation to varying vehicle models, leading to increased costs due to differences in seat base thickness and floor configurations, necessitating specific strap and support adjustments.
A modular system comprising an adapter plate with keying devices and adjustable thickness, allowing shared use of seat belt buckle sockets and supports across multiple vehicle models by ensuring proper angular positioning and height adjustment through a single fixing screw.
Enables cost-effective and standardized installation of seat belt buckle sockets by allowing universal fitment and height adjustment, reducing adaptation costs and simplifying installation processes.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: MODULAR FIXING OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE SOCKETS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE Technical field
[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, more particularly to the field of seat belts in motor vehicles. Prior art
[0002] Motor vehicles have been equipped as standard and for many years with seat belts, not only at the front for the driver and front passenger but also at the rear for the rear passengers. The seat belts are essentially retractable and of the three-point type, that is to say with three anchoring points in the vehicle, namely a fixed lower point, an upper point which may be adjustable in height and forming a return of the belt towards the retractor, and a lower buckle point, located laterally opposite the fixed lower and upper points relative to the seat. This lower buckle point is formed by a socket fixed to the floor of the vehicle or to the seat and configured to receive and engage with a buckle of the seat belt.In the front seats, this seat belt buckle socket is usually attached to the seat so that it moves longitudinally with the seat when it is adjusted by the driver or front passenger. In the rear, the seat belt buckle sockets are usually attached directly to the floor of the motor vehicle, especially when the rear seats are formed by a rear bench seat that is not longitudinally adjustable.
[0003] A seat belt buckle socket is usually secured, via a short portion of strap, to a support which is itself fixed to the floor by a fixing screw. This fixing screw is usually a single one, meaning that the support must then be correctly oriented relative to the floor. Also, from one vehicle to another, the distance between an upper face of the seat belt buckle socket and the floor varies, essentially depending on the thickness and configuration of the seat base or bench seat. This means that the short portion of strap securing the seat belt buckle socket to the support must be adapted. Also, from one vehicle to another, the floor varies, particularly in terms of the foolproofing means with the seat belt buckle socket support, meaning that the support must also be adapted to the vehicle model. However, these adaptations generate costs. Statement of the invention
[0004] The invention aims to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned state of the art. More particularly, the invention aims to simplify and, therefore, make more economical, the adaptation from one vehicle model to another, of the seat belt buckle sockets fixed to the floor of the vehicle in question.
[0005] The subject of the invention is a motor vehicle comprising: a floor; and at least one seat belt buckle socket, secured to a support fixed to the floor by a screw passing through an orifice in said support; remarkable in that said motor vehicle further comprises an adapter plate arranged between the support and the floor, comprising a first orifice crossed by the screw for fixing the support to the floor, a second orifice crossed by a rod fixed to the floor, and a key engaging with a corresponding key on the support so as to orient said support around the fixing screw.
[0006] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the adapter plate has an L-shaped cutout with a first branch and a second branch, the first orifice being located on the first branch and the second orifice being located on the second branch.
[0007] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the keying device of the adapter plate is formed at an edge of said adapter plate.
[0008] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the keying device of the adapter plate forms a notch at the edge of said adapter plate and the keying device of the support forms a finger engaging in said notch.
[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the keying device of the adaptation plate forms a finger and the keying device of the support forms a notch engaging with said finger.
[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the edge of the adaptation plate where the keying device is formed is an edge of the first branch of said adaptation plate.
[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the adapter plate is made up of a main plate comprising the keying device of said adapter plate and a thickness plate superimposed on said main plate on a lower face of said main plate, the first and second orifices being formed in each of the main and thickness plates. The thickness plate can be secured to the main plate by an adhesive and / or by welding.
[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support is a stamped part forming a base through which the fixing screw passes, and at least one eyelet projecting from the base, to which the at least one seat belt buckle socket is secured.
[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one eyelet comprises two eyelets on either side of the base and the at least one belt buckle socket of safety includes two seat belt buckle sockets attached to the two eyelets, respectively.
[0014] The invention also relates to a method for dimensioning at least one seat belt buckle socket of a motor vehicle secured to a support intended to be fixed to a floor of said motor vehicle by a screw passing through an orifice of said support, the method consisting in adjusting the height of the at least one seat belt buckle socket according to the motor vehicle; remarkable in that the motor vehicle is according to the invention, and the adjustment of the height of the at least one seat belt buckle socket consists in adapting the thickness of the adaptation plate.
[0015] The measures of the invention are interesting in that they make it possible to share, for several vehicle models, the seat belt buckle sockets with their support and securing to said support. Indeed, from one vehicle model to another, it is sufficient to provide, when fitting the body of the motor vehicle, the rods intended to engage in the second holes of the adapter plates. For each vehicle model, the adapter plate makes it possible to ensure rotational indexing of the support around the fixing screw and also to carry out a height adjustment. Brief description of the drawings
[0016] [fig. 1] is a perspective view of two seat belt buckle sockets fixed to the floor of a motor vehicle according to the invention;
[0017] [fig.2] is a perspective view of the adapter plate of figure 1;
[0018] [fig.3] is a perspective view of two seat belt buckle sockets, of their support and of an adaptation plate according to a variant of the invention;
[0019] [fig.4] is a perspective view of the adapter plate of figure 3. Detailed description
[0020] Figure 1 illustrates, in perspective, a part of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle 2, more precisely the floor 4 of the motor vehicle 2. On this floor 4 are fixed two seat belt buckle sockets 6. These sockets are conventional and known per se. They each comprise a generally rectangular cavity open upwards and capable of receiving an openwork male part of a seat belt buckle. When this openwork male part is inserted into the open cavity, against an elastic force, an internal part of the seat belt buckle socket 6 engages in the opening of the male part so as to ensure retention of the male part. The latter can be released by pressing a push button adjacent to the cavity. This mechanism is well known per se.
[0021] The two seat belt buckle sockets 6 are fixed to the floor via the bracket 8. The latter is fixed to the floor 4 via a fixing screw passing through the hole 8.1, said screw not being shown but conventional in itself and well known to those skilled in the art. The two seat belt buckle sockets 6 are secured to the support 8 via short portions of strap 10, of the type forming the seat belt. More specifically, the support 8 is a stamped part, that is to say a portion of sheet metal deformed by folding and / or stamping, forming a generally flat base 8.2 intended to contact the floor 4 and on which the orifice 8.1 is formed. The stamped part also forms two eyelets 8.3 projecting from the base and arranged on either side of the base 8.2. The short portions of strap securing the seat belt buckle sockets 6 to the support 8 pass through the eyelets 8.3 to form sewn loops. The same applies to the seat belt buckle sockets 6 also forming passages through which the short portions of webbing pass, also forming loops.
[0022] Still in Figure 1, it can be seen that an adaptation plate 12 is arranged between the support 8 and the floor 4. This plate 12 comprises a first orifice 12.1 aligned with the orifice 8.1 of the support and crossed by the fixing screw (not shown), and a second orifice 12.2 engaging around a rod 14 projecting from the floor 4. The adaptation plate 12 comprises a keying device intended to cooperate with the support 8 in order to allow adequate angular positioning of said support around the fixing screw. This keying device is in this case a finger 12.3 projecting from the general plane of the adaptation plate 12. The support 8 also comprises a corresponding keying device 8.4 cooperating with the keying device 12.3 of the adaptation plate 12. In this case this keying device 8.4 of the support 8 is a notch in which the finger 12.3 of the adaptation plate engages.
[0023] Still with reference to Figure 1, it can be observed that the presence of the first and second orifices 12.1 and 12.2 in the adapter plate allows the latter to take a fixed and unique angular position around the first orifice 12.1 (crossed by the fixing screw not shown). This thus allows the support 8, by the engagement of the respective keying devices 8.4 and 12.3, to take a fixed and unique angular position around the orifice 8.1 and the fixing screw (not shown).
[0024] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the adapter plate 12 of Figure 1. It can be seen that the adapter plate has a general L-shape with a first branch comprising the first orifice 12.1 and a second branch comprising the second orifice 12.2. The finger-shaped keying device 12.3 is formed by folding at one edge of the first branch of the L-shape of the adapter plate 12.
[0025] Still in Figure 2, it can be seen that the adaptation plate comprises a main plate 12.4 and may comprise a plate of thickness 12.5 superimposed on the main plate 12.4, against a lower face of said main plate 12.4. In In other words, the 12.5 thick plate is arranged between the main plate 12.4 and the floor 4 (Figure 1). The 12.5 thick plate has the same general shape as the main plate 12.4, except that it does not include the keying device 12.3, the latter being specifically formed on the main plate 12.4. The 12.5 thick plate can be secured to the main plate 12.4 by various means such as for example by gluing and / or welding. The 12.5 thick plate can be selected from different thicknesses in order to be able to adapt the final height of the seat belt buckle sockets according to the configuration of the seats concerned and the floor.
[0026] Again in Figure 2, it can be seen that the key 12.3 is integrally formed with the main plate 12.4, by cutting and folding. The shape of the key, in this case in the form of a finger, is exemplary, it being understood that other shapes and configurations are possible, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.
[0027] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a variant of the embodiment of the invention of Figures 1 and 2. The reference signs of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 are used to designate identical or corresponding elements, in the latter case the reference signs being supplemented by a sign (') commonly called 'prime'. Reference is also made to the description of these elements in relation to Figures 1 and 2.
[0028] In Figure 3, it can be seen that the support 8' differs from the support 8 of Figure 1, apart from the inclination of the eyelets 8'.3, essentially in that the key 8'.4 of the support 8' forms a finger engaging in a notch 12'.3 formed in the adapter plate 12'.
[0029] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the adapter plate 12' of Figure 3, similar to Figure 2. The adapter plate 12' differs from the adapter plate 12 of Figure 2 essentially in that the key 12'.3 forms a notch and not a finger.
[0030] Generally speaking, the configuration of the seat belt buckle socket(s) support and its attachment to the floor via the adapter plate allows said support to remain unchanged and therefore common for different vehicle models, the adapter plate thus providing a dual function, namely a foolproof function for the angular positioning of the support fixed by means of a single fixing screw, and a function for adjusting the height of the seat belt buckle socket(s) relative to the directly adjacent seat(s), by selecting the appropriate thickness of the adapter plate. This thickness can be easily adjusted by providing a main plate and several plates of different thicknesses. The superposition of one or more plates of selected thickness on the main plate makes it possible to obtain a desired total thickness. Also, the adapter plates, in this case the main plates and the thickness plates, can be shared between several vehicle models.
Claims
Claims
1. Motor vehicle (2) comprising: - a floor (4); and - at least one seat belt buckle socket (6), secured to a support (8; 8') fixed to the floor (4) by a screw passing through an orifice (8.1; 8'.1) of said support (8; 8'); characterized in that said motor vehicle (2) further comprises: - an adapter plate (12, 12') arranged between the support (8; 8') and the floor (4), comprising a first orifice (12.1; 12'.1) crossed by the screw for fixing the support (8; 8') to the floor (4), a second orifice (12.2; 12'.2) crossed by a rod (14) fixed to the floor (4), and a key (12.3; 12'.3) engaging with a corresponding key (8.4; 8'.4) on the support (8; 8') so as to orient said support (8; 8') around the fixing screw.
2. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter plate (12; 12') has an L-shaped cutout with a first branch and a second branch, the first orifice (12.1; 12'.1) being located on the first branch and the second orifice (12.2; 12'.2) being located on the second branch.
3. Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the keying device (12.3; 12'.3) of the adapter plate (12; 12') is formed at an edge of said adapter plate.
4. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the key (12'.3) of the adapter plate (12') forms a notch at the edge of said adapter plate (12') and the key (8'.4) of the support (8') forms a finger engaging in said notch.
5. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the key (12.3) of the adapter plate (12) forms a finger and the key (8.4) of the support (8) forms a notch engaging with said finger.
6. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 2 and according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the edge of the adapter plate (12; 12') where the foolproofing device (12.3; 12'.3) is formed is an edge of the first branch of said adapter plate (12; 12').
7. Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the adapter plate (12; 12') consists of a plate main plate (12.4; 12'4) comprising the key (12.3; 12'.3) of said adapter plate (12; 12') and a thickness plate (12.4; 12'4) superimposed on said main plate (12.4; 12'.4) on a lower face of said main plate, the first and second orifices (12.1, 12.2; 12'. 1, 12'.2) being formed in each of the main plates (12.4; 12'4) and thickness plates (12.4; 12'4).
8. Motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the support (8; 8') is a stamped part forming a base (8.2; 8'.2) through which the fixing screw passes, and at least one eyelet (8.3; 8'.3) projecting from the base (8.2; 8'.2), to which the at least one seat belt buckle socket (6) is secured.
9. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least one eyelet comprises two eyelets (8.3; 8'.3) on either side of the base (8.2; 8'.2) and the at least one seat belt buckle socket (6) comprises two seat belt buckle sockets (6) secured to the two eyelets (8.3; 8'.3), respectively.
10. Method for dimensioning at least one seat belt buckle socket (6) of a motor vehicle (2), secured to a support (8; 8') intended to be fixed to a floor (4) of said motor vehicle (2) by a screw passing through an orifice (8.1; 8'.1) of said support (8; 8'), the method consisting in adjusting the height of the at least one seat belt buckle socket (6) according to the motor vehicle (2); characterized in that the motor vehicle (2) is according to one of claims 1 to 9; and the adjustment of the height of the at least one seat belt buckle socket (6) consists in adapting the thickness of the adaptation plate (12; 12').