STRAP GUIDE DEVICE WITH IMPROVED SAFETY PERFORMANCE

Abstract

A flexible strap guiding device comprises a base (1) and a pivoting member. A housing slot (12) penetrates through the base (1) from a front side of the base to a rear side of the base (1) to allow the flexible strap to pass through. The base (1) comprises a guiding member (10) and a supporting member (11). A guiding passage (13) is formed on the base (1) for guiding the flexible strap to enter or leave the housing slot (12). The pivoting member (2) is installed in a position in which the guiding passage communicates with the housing slot (12) and is pivotally connected to the base (1). A locking portion (110) protrudes from one end of the supporting member (11) near the guiding passage and toward a guiding portion (100) of the guiding member. Figure to be published with the abstract: Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: STRAP GUIDE DEVICE WITH IMPROVED SAFETY PERFORMANCE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a strap guiding device, and more particularly to a strap guiding device with increased safety performance. State of the prior art

[0002] A seat belt is one of the most common safety tools suitable for equipment to ensure the safety of the user when riding in a vehicle, such as a car or an airplane, working or performing a task at a high place. With the development of the economy, the automobile becomes an important means of transportation for families, and people are concerned about the safety of driving and the use of the seat belt in a seat belt assembly. People have constantly studied the design and installation technology of the seat belt to improve the safety performance of the seat belt assembly. The seat belt is generally made of polyester, polypropylene or nylon and is arranged on the car by other fixing means, such as a guide member and a fixing member.When a car accident or emergency braking occurs, a pretensioning device can tighten the seat belt to firmly pull a driver or passenger into a seat to prevent a second collision. Therefore, the safety performance of the seat belt assembly is related not only to the tensile strength of the seat belt, but also to the guide member and the fastening member. For example, if the seat belt is disengaged from the guide member during a collision, it may result in death or serious injury to the driver or passenger because the seat belt cannot be retained by the guide member. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an improved webbing guide device with increased safety performance and easy operation. Summary of the invention

[0003] The objective is to provide a strap guiding device with improved safety performance and easy operation to solve the above-mentioned problem.

[0004] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, the present invention discloses a strap guiding device for a flexible strap. The strap guiding device comprises a base and a pivoting member. A housing slot is formed on the base and penetrates through the base from a front side of the base to a rear side of the base. The flexible strap slides through the housing slot. The housing slot is configured to allow a pulling passage to the flexible strap. The base includes a guide member and a support member. The housing slot and a guide passage that communicates with the housing slot are formed between the guide member and the support member. The guide passage is located at one end of the housing slot, and the guide passage is configured to guide the flexible band to enter or leave the housing slot. The pivoting member is installed in a position in which the guide passage communicates with the housing slot. The pivoting member is pivotally connected to the support member.The pivoting member blocks communication between the guide passage and the receiving slot when the pivoting member pivots to the closed position, and the pivoting member allows communication between the guide passage and the receiving slot when the pivoting member pivots to the open position.

[0005] Preferably, the pivoting member moves in a direction parallel to an axial direction of a pivot axis of the pivoting member to avoid interference between the pivoting member and the support member when the pivoting member pivots from the closed position to the open position about the pivoting axis.

[0006] Preferably, one end of the guide member near the guide passage is bent toward the support member to form a guide portion, and the guide portion has an arc shape.

[0007] Preferably, a locking portion protrudes from one end of the support member near the guide passage and toward the guide portion, and the guide passage is formed between the guide portion and the locking portion.

[0008] Preferably, the blocking portion has the shape of an arc.

[0009] Preferably, the strap guide device further comprises a pivoting mechanism. The pivoting member comprises a mounting portion and a pivoting portion extending from one end of the mounting portion. The mounting portion is pivotally connected to the support member by the pivoting mechanism and the pivoting portion abuts the guide member when the pivoting member is in the closed position.

[0010] Preferably, the pivoting element is biased by the pivoting mechanism to return from the open position to the closed position.

[0011] Preferably, the pivoting mechanism comprises a pivoting shaft, a pivoting hole, and an elastic member. The pivoting shaft is disposed on the mounting portion of the pivoting member. The pivoting hole portion is formed on the support member for pivotally engaging the pivoting shaft. The elastic member is sheathed on the pivoting shaft to bias the pivoting portion to abut against the guide member.

[0012] Preferably, the elastic element is a spring.

[0013] Preferably, a screw surface is formed on an inner periphery of the pivot hole portion. The pivot member is driven by the screw surface to move in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the pivot shaft when the pivot member pivots relative to the support member.

[0014] Preferably, at least one protrusion protrudes from an inner periphery of the portion of the pivot hole. The pivot shaft includes at least one retaining member for cooperating with the protrusion, and the at least one protrusion bears against the at least one retaining member to restrict a pivoting range of the pivoting member relative to the support member.

[0015] Preferably, the base further comprises a fixing element for fixing the strap guide device to a workpiece.

[0016] Preferably, the fixing member comprises a fixing seat and a fixing hole portion formed on the fixing seat, and the fixing seat is located at one end of the housing slot away from the guide passage and formed with a curvature.

[0017] In summary, the present invention uses the housing slot to allow the pulling passage to the flexible strap, so as to limit the amplitude of the sliding movement of the flexible strap. In addition, the present invention uses the guide passage to guide the flexible strap to enter or leave the housing slot and also uses the pivoting member to block or allow the communication between the guide passage and the housing slot. The flexible strap cannot be disengaged from the strap guide device when the pivoting member pivots to the closing position to block the communication of the guide passage, thereby improving the safety performance of the flexible strap.When the pivoting member pivots to the open position to allow communication between the guide passage and the housing slot, the flexible strap can enter or exit the housing slot, which facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the flexible strap.

[0018] These and other objects of the present invention will undoubtedly become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment which is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. Brief description of the figures

[0019] [Fig.l] and [Fig.2] are schematic diagrams of a strap guiding device in different states according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] [Fig.3] is a diagram of the strap guide device as illustrated in the [Fig.l] according to another view according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] [Fig.4] is an exploded functional diagram of a strap guiding device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] [Fig.5] is an exploded diagram of the strap guide device under another viewing angle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] [Fig.6] is a diagram illustrating the strap guiding device on a seat in depending on the embodiment of the present invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0024] In order to illustrate the technical specifications and structural features as well as the objectives and effects of the present invention, relevant embodiments and figures are described below.

[0025] In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which are a part hereof and which illustrate, by way of example, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as "up", "down", "front", "rear", etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the figure(s) depicted. The components of the present invention may be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for illustrative purposes and is in no way limiting. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions shall be considered illustrative and not restrictive in nature.

[0026] Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 2] are schematic diagrams of a strap guiding device in different states according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 2], the strap guiding device comprises a base 1 and a pivoting member 2. A housing slot 12 is formed on the base 1 and penetrates through the base 1 from a front side of the base 1 to a rear side of the base 1. A flexible strap, such as a seat belt, which is not shown in the figures, slidably passes through the housing slot 12. The housing slot 12 can serve as a pulling passage to the flexible strap to retain the flexible strap inside the housing slot 12 during the sliding movement of the flexible strap. The base 1 comprises a guiding member 10 and a supporting member 11.The housing slot 12 is formed between the guide member 10 and the support member 11. The support member 11 can serve as a support for the sliding movement of the flexible strap inside the housing slot 12. The guide member 10 can guide the flexible strap to enter the housing slot 12 from the top of the housing slot 12. In addition, a guide passage 13 is formed between the member . guide passage 10 and the support member 11. The guide passage 13 is located at one end of the housing location 12 and is connected to the housing location 12. The guide passage 13 can guide the flexible strap to enter or leave the housing slot 12. The pivoting member 2 is mounted at a position where the guide passage 13 is in communication with the housing slot 12. The pivoting member 2 is pivotally connected to the support member 11. The pivoting member 2 blocks the communication between the guide passage 13 and the housing slot 12 when the pivoting member 2 pivots to the closing position as shown in [Fig. 1]. The pivoting member 1 allows the communication between the guide passage 13 and the housing slot 12 when the pivoting member is used to pivot inwardly of the housing slot 12 to an opening position.

[0027] In this case, the flexible strap may be a seat belt of a seat belt assembly. When mounting the flexible strap, the flexible strap may be moved along the guide passage 13 to urge the pivoting member 2 to pivot relative to the support member 11 to the open position to allow communication between the guide passage 13 and the housing slot 12, so that the flexible strap can enter the housing slot 12 by passing over the top of the pivoting member 2. Then, the pivoting member 2 may be used to pivot to the closed position to block the communication between the guide passage 13 and the housing slot 12, so that the flexible strap can be retained inside the housing slot 12 and cannot leave the housing slot 12 via the guide passage 13 during the sliding movement of the flexible strap.Therefore, the strap guiding device of the present invention has not only improved the safety performance but also the ease of use.

[0028] Please refer to Figs. 1, 3. [Fig. 3] is a diagram of the strap guide device as shown in [Fig. 1] according to another view of the embodiment of the present invention; As shown in Figs. 1, 3, one end of the guide member 10 near the guide passage 13 is curved toward the support member 11 to form a guide portion 100. The guide portion 100 has an arc shape. In addition, a locking portion 110 protrudes from one end of the support member 11 near the guide passage 13 and toward the guide portion 100. The locking portion 110 has an arc shape.The guide passage 13 is formed between the guide portion 100 and the locking portion 110 and also arc-shaped, so that the flexible strap can easily enter the housing slot 12 through the arc-shaped guide passage 13 and can be prevented from leaving the housing slot 12 even if the pivoting member 2 does not operate properly due to the arc-shaped guide passage 13. In other words, the present invention uses the arc-shaped guide portion 100 and the arc-shaped locking portion 110 to form . the arc-shaped guide passage 13, so as to improve the safety performance and facilitate the mounting of the flexible strap.

[0029] Please refer to Figs. 1 to 5. [Fig. 4] is an exploded block diagram of a strap device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Fig. 5] is an exploded block diagram of the strap guide device from another angle of view according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the strap guide device further comprises a pivoting mechanism. The pivoting member 2 comprises a mounting portion 20 and a pivoting portion 21 extending from one end of the mounting portion 20. The mounting portion 20 is pivotally connected to the support member 11 by the pivoting mechanism. The pivoting portion 21 bears against the guide member 10 to block the communication between the guide passage 13 and the housing slot 12 when the pivoting member 2 is in the closing position.The pivoting portion is separated from the guide member 10 to allow communication between the guide passage 13 and the housing slot 12 when the pivoting member 2 is in the open position. In addition, the pivoting member 2 is biased by the pivoting mechanism to return from the open position to the closed position. In other words, the pivoting mechanism can drive the pivoting member 2 to return to the closed position to block communication between the guide passage 13 and the housing slot 12 after the flexible strap has entered the housing slot 12, so as to retain the flexible strap in the housing slot 12 during the sliding movement of the flexible strap.

[0030] More specifically, the pivoting mechanism comprises a pivoting shaft 22, a pivoting hole portion 23, and an elastic member 24. The pivoting shaft 22 is disposed on the mounting portion 20 of the pivoting member 2. The pivoting hole portion 23 is formed on the support member 11 to pivotally engage with the pivoting shaft 22. The elastic member 24 serves to bias the pivoting portion 21 to abut against the guide member 10. In this embodiment, the pivoting hole portion 23 may be placed on the locking portion 110 of the support member 11, and the elastic member 24 may be accommodated on the pivoting shaft 22. In addition, when mounting the pivoting shaft 22, the pivoting shaft 22 may be inserted into the pivoting hole portion 23 and fixed to the pivoting hole portion 23 with a screw element 26.When the flexible strap is guided through the guide passage 13 to reach the pivoting member 2, the flexible strap pushes the pivoting portion 21 of the pivoting member 2, so that the pivoting member 2 is driven to pivot inward of the housing slot 12 around the pivoting shaft 22 to the open position to allow communication between the guide passage 13 and the housing slot 12. When the pivoting member 2 pivots inward of the housing slot 12, . the elastic element 24 deforms elastically. After the flexible strap enters the housing slot 12, the deformed elastic element 24 can elastically recover the pivoting element 2 to pivot into the closed position, so as to retain the flexible strap inside the housing slot 12. Preferably, in this embodiment, the elastic element may be a spring. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0031] As shown in [Fig. 4], a screw surface 230 is formed on an inner periphery of the pivot hole portion 23. The pivot member 2 is driven by the screw surface 230 to move in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the pivot shaft 22, i.e., a direction parallel to a pivot axis of the pivot member 2, when the pivot member 2 pivots relative to the support member 11. In particular, in this embodiment, the screw surface 230 can drive the pivot shaft 22 in a clockwise direction when the pivot shaft 22 enters the pivot hole portion 23.Therefore, the pivot shaft 22 can be driven in a direction away from the pivot hole portion 23 when the pivot member 2 pivots around the pivot shaft 22 counterclockwise toward the inside of the housing slot 12, which can effectively prevent interference between the pivot member 2 / the pivot portion 21 and the support member 11 during the pivoting movement of the pivot member 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, the surface of the screw can be replaced with another inclined surface to move the pivot member in the direction parallel to the pivot axis of the pivot member during the pivoting movement of the pivot member.

[0032] Furthermore, as described in [Fig.4], and [Fig.5], in order to prevent damage to the elastic member 24 by excessive pivoting movement of the pivoting member 2, two protrusions 25 protrude from the inner periphery of the pivoting hole portion 23. The pivoting shaft 22 includes two retaining members 220 for respectively cooperating with the two protrusions 25. The two protrusions 25 respectively bear against the two retaining members 220 to limit a pivoting amplitude of the pivoting member 2 relative to the support member 11. In other words, when the pivoting member 2 pivots by a predetermined angle, the two retaining members 220 bear against the two protrusions 25, to stop the pivoting movement of the pivoting member 2, which can prevent permanent deformation of the elastic member 24 caused by the excessive pivoting movement of the pivoting element 2.However, the number of protrusions and retaining elements is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment . of embodiment, there may be a protrusion on the inner periphery of the pivot hole portion and a retaining member on the pivot shaft.

[0033] In order to facilitate the mounting of the strap guide device, as shown in [Fig. 1], and [Fig. 6], the base 1 further comprises a fixing member for fixing the strap guide device to a part, such as an armrest of a car seat 3. In particular, the fixing member comprises a fixing seat 140 and two fixing hole portions 141 formed on the fixing seat 140. The fixing seat 140 is located at one end of the housing slot 12 away from the guide passage 13 and is formed with a curvature. Therefore, the strap guide device can be installed on the armrest of the car seat 3 using bolts or screws passing through the two fixing hole portions 141. However, the number and location of the fixing hole portions are not limited to this embodiment.For example, in another embodiment, there may be a mounting hole portion located on a central portion of the mounting seat.

[0034] Unlike the prior art, the present invention uses the housing slot to allow the pulling passage of the flexible strap, so as to limit an amplitude of the sliding movement of the flexible strap. In addition, the present invention uses the guide passage to guide the flexible strap to enter or leave the housing slot and also uses the pivoting member to block or allow communication between the guide passage and the housing slot. The flexible strap cannot be disengaged from the strap guide device when the pivoting member pivots to the closing position to block communication with the guide passage, thereby improving the safety performance of the flexible strap.When the pivoting member pivots to the open position to allow communication between the guide passage and the housing slot, the flexible strap can enter or exit the housing slot, which facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the flexible strap.

[0035] Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations to the apparatus and method may be made while still retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as being limited only by the bounds and limitations of the appended claims.

[0036] This document also relates to

[0037] Item 1. A strap guiding device for a flexible strap comprising: a base (1), a housing slot (12) being formed on the base and penetrating through the base (1) from a front side of the base (1) to a rear side of the base (1), the flexible strap slidably passing through the housing slot (12), the housing slot (12) being configured to provide a passage for pulling the strap flexible, the base (1) comprising a guide member (10) and a support member (11), the housing slot (12) and a guide passage which communicates with the housing slot (12) being formed between the guide member (10) and the support member (11), the guide passage (13) being located at one end of the housing slot (12), and the guide passage (13) being configured to guide the flexible strip to enter or leave the housing slot (12); and a pivoting member (2) installed in a position in which the guide passage communicates with the housing slot (12), the pivoting member being pivotally connected to the support member (11), the pivoting member (2) blocking communication between the guide passage and the housing slot (12) when the pivoting member (2) pivots to a closed position, and the pivoting member (2) allowing communication between the guide passage and the housing slot (12) when the pivoting member (2) pivots to an open position.

[0038] Item 2. A strap guiding device according to item 1, wherein the pivoting member moves in a direction parallel to an axial direction of a pivot axis of the pivoting member (2) to prevent interference between the pivoting member (2) and the support member (11) when the pivoting member (2) pivots from the closed position to the open position about the pivot axis.

[0039] Item 3. A strap guiding device according to item 1, wherein one end of the guiding member (10) near the guiding passage is bent toward the supporting member (11) to form a guiding portion, and the guiding portion has an arc shape.

[0040] Item 4. A strap guiding device according to item 3, wherein a locking portion (110) protrudes from one end of the support member (11) near the guide passage and toward the guide portion (100), and the guide passage is formed between the guide portion (100) and the locking portion (110).

[0041] Point 5. Strap guiding device according to point 4, in which the locking part (110) has the shape of an arc.

[0042] Item 6. A strap guide device according to item 1, further comprising a pivoting mechanism, the pivoting member comprising a mounting portion (20) and a pivoting portion (21) extending from one end of the mounting portion (20), the mounting portion (20) being pivotally connected to the support member (11) by the pivoting mechanism, and the pivoting portion (21) abutting against the guide member (10) when the pivoting member (2) is in the closed position.

[0043] Point 7. Strap guiding device according to point 6, in which the pivoting element (2) is biased by the pivoting mechanism to return from the open position to the closed position.

[0044] Item 8. Strap guiding device according to item 7, wherein the pivoting mechanism comprises: a pivoting shaft (22) disposed on the mounting portion of the pivoting member (2); a pivot hole portion (23) formed on the support member (23) for pivotally engaging with the pivot shaft (22); and an elastic element (24) sheathed on the pivoting shaft (22) to urge the pivoting portion (21) to abut against the guide element (10).

[0045] Point 9. Strap guiding device according to point 8, in which the elastic element (24) is a spring.

[0046] Item 10. A strap guide device according to item 8, wherein a screw surface (230) is formed on an inner periphery of the pivoting hole portion (23), the pivoting member (2) is driven by the screw surface (230) to move in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the pivoting shaft (22) when the pivoting member (2) pivots relative to the support member (11).

[0047] Item 11. A strap guide device according to item 8, wherein at least one protrusion protrudes from an inner periphery of the pivot hole portion, the pivot shaft (22) comprises at least one retaining member for cooperating with the protrusion, and the at least one protrusion is adjacent to the at least one retaining member for limiting a pivoting amplitude of the pivot member (2) relative to the support member (11).

[0048] Item 12. A strap guide device according to item 1, wherein the base further comprises a fixing element for fixing the strap guide device to a workpiece.

[0049] Item 13. A strap guide device according to item 12, wherein the fixing member comprises a fixing seat and a fixing hole portion formed on the fixing seat, and the fixing seat is located at one end of the housing slot (12) away from the guide passage and formed with a curvature.

Claims

1.

2. Claims A strap guiding device for a flexible strap comprising: a base (1), an accommodating slot (12) being formed on the base and penetrating through the base (1) from a front side of the base (1) to a rear side of the base (1), the flexible strap slidably passing through the accommodating slot (12), the accommodating slot (12) being configured to provide a passage for pulling the flexible strap, the base (1) comprising a guide member (10) and a support member (11), the accommodating slot (12) and a guide passage which communicates with the accommodating slot (12) being formed between the guide member (10) and the support member (11), the guide passage (13) being located at one end of the accommodating slot (12), and the guide passage (13) being configured to guide the flexible strap to enter or leave the accommodating slot (12);and a pivoting member (2) installed in a position in which the guide passage communicates with the housing slot (12), the pivoting member being pivotally connected to the support member (11), the pivoting member (2) blocking communication between the guide passage and the housing slot (12) when the pivoting member (2) pivots to a closed position, and the pivoting member (2) allowing communication between the guide passage and the housing slot (12) when the pivoting member (2) pivots to an open position, wherein a blocking portion (110) protrudes from one end of the support member (11) near the guide passage and toward a guide portion (100) of the guide member (10), one end of the guide member (10) near the guide passage is bent toward the support member (11) to form the guide portion, and the guide portion has an arc shape.; A strap guiding device according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting member moves in a direction parallel to an axial direction of a pivot axis of the pivoting member (2) to prevent interference between the pivoting member (2) and the support member (11) when the pivoting member (2) pivots from the closed position to the open position about the pivot axis.

3. A strap guiding device according to claim 1, wherein the guiding passage is formed between the guiding portion (100) and the locking portion (110).

4. A strap guiding device according to claim 3, wherein the locking portion (110) has an arc shape.

5. A strap guide device according to claim 1, further comprising a pivoting mechanism, the pivoting member comprising a mounting portion (20) and a pivoting portion (21) extending from one end of the mounting portion (20), the mounting portion (20) being pivotally connected to the support member (11) by the pivoting mechanism, and the pivoting portion (21) abutting against the guide member (10) when the pivoting member (2) is in the closed position.

6. A strap guiding device according to claim 5, wherein the pivoting element (2) is biased by the pivoting mechanism to return from the open position to the closed position.

7. A strap guide device according to claim 6, wherein the pivoting mechanism comprises: a pivoting shaft (22) provided on the mounting portion of the pivoting member (2); a pivoting hole portion (23) formed on the support member (23) for pivotally engaging the pivoting shaft (22); and an elastic member (24) sheathed on the pivoting shaft (22) for urging the pivoting portion (21) to abut against the guide member (10).

8. A strap guiding device according to claim 7, wherein the elastic element (24) is a spring.

9. A strap guiding device according to claim 7, wherein a screw surface (230) is formed on an inner periphery of the pivoting hole portion (23), the pivoting member (2) is driven by the screw surface (230) to move in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the pivoting shaft (22) when the pivoting member (2) pivots relative to the support member (11).

10. A strap guide device according to claim 7, wherein at least one protrusion protrudes from an inner periphery of the pivot hole portion, the pivot shaft (22) comprises at least one retaining member for cooperating with the protrusion, and the at least one protrusion is adjacent to the at least one retaining member

11.

12. retaining means for limiting a pivoting amplitude of the pivoting element (2) relative to the support element (11). The strap guide device of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a fastener for securing the strap guide device to a workpiece. A strap guide device according to claim 11, wherein the fixing member comprises a fixing seat and a fixing hole portion formed on the fixing seat, and the fixing seat is located at one end of the housing slot (12) away from the guide passage and formed with a curvature.