Sealing housing for seat belt retractor and vehicle equipped with such a housing.

Abstract

[Sealing housing (1) for receiving a vehicle seat belt retractor, comprising an internal volume for fully housing the retractor, an opening (10) for the passage of the seat belt (51) between the internal volume and the exterior of the housing (1), and a sealing means (4) extending at the opening (10) to prevent the introduction of foreign bodies into the internal volume of the housing (1) when the seat belt (51) passes through the opening (10). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 2]

Description

Title of the invention: Sealing housing for a seat belt reel and vehicle equipped with such a housing.

[0001] The invention relates to a sealing housing for protecting a seat belt reel, as well as to a vehicle comprising a seat belt reel protected by such a housing.

[0002] In order to restrain the passengers of a vehicle in the event of an impact, for example in the event of a frontal impact or a rollover of the vehicle, it is known to install seat belts with reels. The reels allow, when the belt is not in use, to rewind the belt and put it in a storage position, and to unwind the belt by pulling on it when in use. Such a reel also includes a locking device for locking the seat belt in the event of an impact in order to prevent it from unwinding, and thus retain the passenger. The reel is generally arranged behind interior trim, in areas protected from dust. However, in some vehicles, it is not possible to install the seat belt reel in areas protected from dust. However, the seat belt reel must lock in the event of an impact to retain the passage.If dust gets into the locking device, it may not work properly and may not properly restrain the passenger in the event of an impact. In addition, rewinding the belt when not in use may be more difficult because of this dust. There is therefore a need to protect the retractor from dust.

[0003] It is also known, for example from document CN212604978, to place brushes on a seat belt reel to clean the belt when it is being unwound or wound. The role of these brushes is to clean the belt in order to wind a clean belt and avoid storing a dirty wound belt, but these brushes do not protect the reel.

[0004] The objective of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks. In particular, one of the aims of the invention is to propose a device for protecting the seat belt reel from dust while allowing the seat belt to be used, i.e. unwinding and rewinding it without hindrance.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention, thanks to a sealing housing intended to receive a vehicle seat belt reel, comprising an interior volume intended to entirely receive the reel, an orifice intended for the passage of the seat belt between the interior volume and the exterior of the housing, a sealing means extending at the orifice so as to prevent the introduction of foreign bodies into the interior volume. the internal volume of the case when the belt passes through the hole.

[0006] Thus advantageously, the entire seat belt reel is protected from dust in a simple manner, a single housing being sufficient to protect it, and the sealing means preventing the introduction of foreign bodies into the interior volume through the orifice. The belt can be used in a simple manner, thanks to the orifice comprising the sealing means, and through which the belt can be unwound or can be wound onto the reel.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the orifice is a slot. That is to say that the orifice is of elongated shape whose width is much less than the length, the width representing less than 20% of the length of the slot. Thus advantageously, the dimension of the sealing means is reduced. In addition, the elongated shape, for example straight, allows the sealing means to be produced in a simple manner.

[0008] In another embodiment of the invention, the sealing means comprises two brushes with soft bristles, arranged opposite each other, on either side of the orifice, so that the bristles of each brush extend into the orifice or opposite the orifice. The bristles of the brushes are preferably arranged so as to block the entry of foreign bodies through said orifice when the seat belt passes through the orifice.

[0009] Thus, the sealing means is produced in a simple manner, and allows passage of the belt with a minimum of friction, while adapting to the shape of the belt and blocking the entry of foreign bodies into the housing thanks to the flexible bristles of the brushes extending into the orifice or opposite it. The bristles preferably extend until they are in contact with the seat belt which passes through the orifice.

[0010] In another embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises a first shell assembled to a second shell, preferably the orifice being delimited by an edge of the first shell and an edge of the second shell.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first shell comprises an opening forming at least part of the orifice.

[0012] Thus, advantageously, the housing can be easily installed on the reel already fixed on the vehicle, by first installing the first shell then the second shell on the first shell, covering the reel.

[0013] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first shell comprises a first substantially planar wall, and a second substantially planar wall, the second wall forming an angle with the first wall, oriented towards the second shell, the opening being on the second wall.

[0014] In another embodiment of the invention, the opening extends to an edge of the first shell such that the opening opens onto said edge, the portion of the opening opening onto said edge forming an opening entrance.

[0015] Thus advantageously, when installing the housing, the belt can be inserted into the opening by passing it through the opening entrance, and then the second housing is attached to the first housing. When the belt reel is already attached to the vehicle, the housing is thus easily installed on the belt reel, so that the reel is inside the housing, the belt being easily inserted into the opening without the need to disassemble the reel and the belt.

[0016] In another embodiment of the invention, the second shell comprises a closing wall extending in front of the opening inlet so as to leave free the part of the opening located opposite said opening inlet, the orifice being formed by the part of the opening left free.

[0017] In other words, the orifice 10 is delimited by edges of the second wall around the opening and by an edge of the closing wall. Thus, advantageously, the orifice is not open on an edge of the housing, improving the sealing of the housing. In addition, the assembly of the housing is simple, since it is sufficient to first install the first shell, the belt being inserted into the opening through the opening inlet, then the second shell is placed against the first shell so as to form the orifice by placing the closing wall opposite the opening inlet.

[0018] In another embodiment of the housing, the housing being intended to be installed in a vehicle, at least one of the walls of said housing is an interior wall of the vehicle, the other wall(s) of the housing being carried by a gusset, the interior volume of the housing being delimited by the cooperation of the interior wall and the walls of the gusset. The gusset comprises the first shell and the second shell when the housing comprises these two shells. Preferably, the interior wall of the vehicle is an interior trim wall of said vehicle. Preferably, a sealing device is arranged between the gusset and the interior wall(s) of the vehicle in order to block the entry of foreign bodies, such as dust particles, into the housing.

[0019] Thus advantageously, the housing may be of simplified design and use less material, at least one of the walls of the housing being formed by an interior wall of the vehicle. In addition, this design makes it possible to create a sealed encapsulation of the seat belt reel in areas with little space, one or more of the walls of the housing being formed by one or more internal walls of the vehicle, such as walls forming the interior trim of the vehicle.

[0020] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a seat belt reel and a housing as described above, the reel being in the interior volume of the housing and the belt exiting the housing through the orifice, the sealing means being in contact with the belt so as to block the introduction of foreign bodies into the interior volume.

[0021] For example, the housing is fixed to the reel. Alternatively, the first shell 2 and / or the second shell 3 is fixed for example to a support of the reel intended to be fixed to the vehicle and / or to the reel.

[0022] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a sealing housing as described above, enclosing a seat belt reel in its interior volume, the belt exiting the housing through the orifice.

[0023] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0024] [Fig. 1] represents in perspective a sealing housing according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0025] [Fig.2] represents in perspective the housing of [Fig. 1] enclosing a winder of seat belt, the seat belt coming out of the housing.

[0026] [Fig.3] shows an exploded view of the sealing housing with the belt reel according to the embodiment of [Fig.l].

[0027] [Fig.4] represents a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

[0028] [Fig.5] represents an exploded view of the second embodiment of [Fig.4].

[0029] The drawings are schematic representations to facilitate understanding of the invention. Components are not necessarily drawn to scale. The same references correspond to the same components from one figure to another.

[0030] The X axis represents the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the Y axis the transverse direction and the Z axis the vertical direction. The forward, backward, up, down directions are taken in the vehicle's reference frame.

[0031] [Fig. 1] illustrates a sealing housing 1 according to the invention, intended to receive a seat belt reel 5, illustrated in [Fig. 3]. The sealing housing 1 comprises an interior volume intended to entirely receive the reel 5, an orifice 10 intended for the passage of the seat belt 51 between the interior volume and the exterior of the housing 1 as illustrated in [Fig. 2], and a sealing means 4 extending into the orifice 10 so as to prevent the introduction of foreign bodies into the interior volume of the housing 1 when the belt passes through the orifice 10.

[0032] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, the orifice 10 is a slot, that is to say that the orifice has an elongated shape, with a width much smaller than the length. For example, the width representing less than 20% of the length of the slot, or even less than 10% of the length. In the variant illustrated in the figures, the slot 10 is a straight slot, and allows the belt 51 to pass through without deforming it.

[0033] The sealing means 4 is for example formed by two brushes 41, 42 with flexible bristles, arranged opposite each other, on either side of the orifice 10. The bristles of each brush 41, 42 extend into the orifice 10 as illustrated in [Fig.l]. Alternatively, the brushes 41, 42 may be placed on the surface of the housing 1, outside the housing or inside the housing, so that the bristles extend opposite the orifice 10, i.e. in front of the orifice 10. The seat belt 51 passes through the orifice 10, with on one side the bristles of one of the brushes 41 rubbing against one of the faces of the belt 51, and on the other side the bristles of the other brush 42 rubbing against the other face of the belt 51. Thus, the belt 51 is sandwiched between the brushes 41 and 42, at the orifice 10, so that the bristles of said brushes 41 and 42 create a seal preventing the introduction of foreign bodies, such as for example dust, inside the housing 1, thereby protecting the reel 5 dust.

[0034] The housing 1 is formed of at least two shells: a first shell 2 assembled to a second shell 3.

[0035] As illustrated in [Fig. 3], the first shell 2 comprises an opening 20. Once the first shell is assembled to the second shell, the opening 20 forms at least part of the orifice 10. The first shell 2 comprises a substantially planar first wall 21, and a substantially planar second wall 22, the second wall 22 forming an angle with the first wall 21, oriented on the side of the second shell 3. For example, as illustrated in the figures, the first wall 21 forms an angle of approximately ninety degrees with the second wall 22. The opening 20 is arranged on the second wall 22. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the opening 20 extends to an edge of the first shell 2, that is to say an edge of the second wall 22 in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, so that the opening 20 opens onto said edge. The part of the opening 20 opening onto this edge forms an opening entrance 24.In the case of a slot-shaped orifice 10, the opening 20 is also slot-shaped and opens onto the lateral edge of the second wall 22. The second shell 3 comprises a closing wall 35 extending in front of the opening inlet 24, when the second shell 3 is installed on the first shell 2, so as to leave free the part of the opening 20 located opposite said opening inlet 24. The orifice 10 is then formed by the part of the opening 20 left free. Thus, when the second shell 3 is assembled to the first shell 2, the orifice 10 is formed by the association of the opening 20 and the closing wall 35 which is positioned opposite the opening inlet 24 of the opening 20.

[0036] For example, as illustrated in the figures, the first wall 21 forms one of the vertical walls of the housing 1, and the second wall 22 forms a part of a substantially horizontal upper wall of said housing 1. The vertical direction corresponds to the vertical direction Z taken in the reference frame of the vehicle when the housing 1 is installed in the vehicle. The horizontal corresponds to a plane perpendicular to this vertical axis. Z, parallel to the longitudinal axes X and transverse Y to the vehicle.

[0037] For example, as illustrated in [Fig. 3], the second wall 22 forms a fork, that is to say has a general U shape whose branches are parallel to the connection between the first wall 21 and the second wall 22, the interior of the U forming the opening 20. The two branches of the U are connected by a base 23, opposite the opening entrance 24. The safety belt 51 passes through the opening 20, between the branches of the U.

[0038] The brushes 41, 42 are for example fixed to the branches of the U. In one variant, the bristles of the brushes 41, 42 are overmolded onto the second wall 22, along the edges of the second wall 22 delimiting in the opening 20, that is to say on the branches of the U, in the thickness of the second wall 22. In other words, the bristles of the brushes 41, 42 have ends directly fixed to the second wall 22, the opposite ends being in the opening 20. In another variant, the bristles of the brushes are fixed to supports, themselves fixed to the second wall 22, on either side of the opening 20, on a face of the second wall 22 located on the outside of the housing 1, or in another variant on the inside of the housing 1.

[0039] The second shell 3 is hollow in shape. It is assembled against the first shell 2 so as to form the housing 1 with an interior volume. The belt winder 5 is arranged entirely in the interior volume, and therefore protected from dust. The second shell 3 comprises an upper wall 31 placed against the second wall 22 of the first shell 2, without being entirely opposite the opening 20 so as to leave free passage in at least part of this opening 20, between the interior volume and the exterior of the housing 1.

[0040] A portion of this upper wall 31 comprises a closing wall 35 extending in front of the opening inlet 24 so as to leave free the portion of the opening 20 located opposite said opening inlet 24. In other words, only a portion of the second shell 3, the closing wall 35, extends only in front of a portion of the opening, in front of the opening inlet 24, so as to form the orifice 10. That is to say that the orifice 10 is delimited by the two branches of the U and the base 23 of the second wall 22, as well as by the closing wall 35. The orifice 10 in the form of a slot is closed at one of its ends by the closing wall 35, and the other end by the base 23. The orifice 10 is therefore formed by the portion of the opening 20 left free by the upper wall 31 of the second hull 3.

[0041] The second shell 3 forms for example a substantially parallelepiped box, with a vertical open face when the housing 1 is installed in a vehicle, opposite the first wall 21 of the first shell 2, said first wall 21 also being vertical, so that when the second shell 3 is assembled to the first shell 2, the first wall 21 closes the open face of the second shell 3. The face open is framed by a lower wall 32, the upper wall 31 which is arranged opposite the lower wall 32, said upper wall 31 and lower wall 32 being substantially horizontal, and by two vertical side walls 33 and 34 arranged opposite each other. The vertical side walls 33, 34 and the lower wall 32 have edges bearing against the second wall 22, once the housing 1 is assembled. The upper wall 31 has an edge opposite the second wall 22 distant from said second wall 22 so that said upper wall 31 is not opposite the entire opening 20, and only the closing wall 35, which is an extension of the upper wall 31 towards the second wall 22, extends in front of the opening 20 at the level of the opening entrance 24.

[0042] In the embodiment of the figures, the upper wall 31 of the second shell 3 is shown under the second wall 22. Alternatively, it is arranged above.

[0043] In order to fix the reel 5 to the vehicle, said reel 5 is fixed to a support 6 as illustrated in [Fig.3]. The housing 1 has a passage allowing the support to pass through the housing and be fixed to a structural element of the vehicle outside said housing 1.

[0044] The first shell 2 and / or the second shell 3 is fixed for example to the support 6 and / or to the reel 5.

[0045] The first shell 2 is for example made from a stamped and / or folded metal part, or from a plastic material by molding or thermoforming. Similarly, the second shell 3 is a stamped and / or folded metal part, or from a plastic material by molding or thermoforming.

[0046] The figures illustrate a slot-shaped orifice. Those skilled in the art will be able to produce other shapes of orifice, as well as of the opening, depending on the need.

[0047] To install the housing 1 on the reel 5, so as to enclose the reel 5 in said housing 1, the following steps can be applied: sliding the first shell 2 against the belt 51 to insert said belt 51 in the opening 20, placing the first shell 2 opposite the reel 5, so as to be on the side of the belt 51 opposite the reel 5, then assembling the second shell 3 against the first shell 2 so as to enclose the reel 5 in the housing 1 thus formed. The first shell 2 is for example fixed to the support 6 or to the reel 5 before assembling the second shell 3. Alternatively, the second shell 3 is fixed to the first shell 2.

[0048] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention in which some of the walls of said housing 1 are formed by interior walls 101, 102, 103 of the vehicle, such as a floor wall 101 of the vehicle, a side interior trim wall 102 of the vehicle body side and a center pillar trim wall 103, and the other walls of the housing 1 are carried by a gusset 100. The floor wall 101, the side interior trim wall 102 and the center pillar trim wall middle pillar 103 join together to form a corner into which the gusset 100 is inserted, the walls of the gusset 100 also joining together to form another corner. The interior volume of the housing 1 is delimited by the cooperation between the interior walls 101, 102, 103 of the vehicle and the walls 21, 22, 31, 33 carried by the gusset 100. In the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5, the housing 1 comprises the two shells, the first shell 2 and the second shell 3. The second shell 3 comprises an upper wall 31 and a vertical side wall 33, but it does not have a lower wall 32 or a second vertical side wall 34 as in the embodiment of [Fig. 3].

[0049] The upper wall 31 extends between the first wall 21 and the lateral interior trim wall 102, opposite the floor wall 101, substantially perpendicular to the lateral interior trim wall 102, and along the B-pillar trim wall 103, substantially perpendicular thereto. The vertical side wall 33 extends between the first wall 21 and the lateral interior trim wall 102, along the floor wall 101 and opposite the B-pillar trim wall 103, substantially perpendicular to the lateral interior trim wall 102 and the floor wall 101. In the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5, the gusset 100 comprises the first wall 21 of the first shell 2, the upper wall 31 and the vertical side wall 33 of the second shell 3.The housing 1 thus comprises six walls, three of these walls being formed by interior walls 101, 102, 103 of the vehicle, and the other three walls 21, 31, 33 being formed by the gusset 100 comprising the first shell 2 and the second shell 3. In another variant, a different number of walls of the housing 1 are formed by at least one or more interior walls of the vehicle, for example one or two walls of the housing 1.

[0050] In order to ensure sealing, a sealing device 6 is arranged between the gusset 100 and the interior walls 101, 102, 103. The sealing device 6 is for example one or more strips of foam glued against the interior walls 101, 102, 103, and against which the walls of the gusset 100 bear. Thus, as illustrated in [Fig.4], the vertical side wall 33 has an edge bearing against the sealing device 6 located on the floor wall 101 and another edge bearing against the sealing device 6 located against the lateral interior trim wall 102. The upper wall 31 bears against another part of the sealing device 6 located against the lateral interior trim wall 102 and a part of the sealing device 6 located on the B-pillar trim wall 103.Finally, the first wall 21 rests on a part of the sealing device 6 located on the floor wall 101 and another part of the sealing device 6 located on the center pillar trim wall 103. [Fig.5] shows an exploded view of the housing 1, without the interior walls 101, 102, 103, with an example of cutting the sealing device 6 into 3 parts. Alternatively, the sealing device 6 is formed from a single strip, in another variant made from two strips. Other types of cutting are within the reach of those skilled in the art.

[0051] A vehicle equipped with a seat belt reel 5 enclosed in such a housing 1 makes it possible to protect the reel from dust, and to improve the safety of the passengers by improving the reliability of the reel 5, while allowing free unwinding and winding of the belt 51.

Claims

Claims

1. Sealing housing (1) intended to receive a vehicle seat belt reel (5), characterized in that it comprises an interior volume intended to entirely receive the reel (5), an orifice (10) intended for the passage of the seat belt (51) between the interior volume and the exterior of the housing (1), a sealing means (4) extending at the orifice (10) so as to prevent the introduction of foreign bodies into the interior volume of the housing (1) when the belt (51) passes through the orifice (10).

2. Housing (1) according to the preceding claim, the orifice (10) of which is a slot.

3. Housing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the sealing means (4) of which comprises two brushes (41, 42) with flexible bristles, arranged opposite each other, on either side of the orifice (10), so that the bristles of each brush (41, 42) extend into the orifice (10) or opposite the orifice (10).

4. Housing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a first shell (2) assembled to a second shell (3), preferably the orifice (10) being delimited by an edge of the first shell (2) and an edge of the second shell (3).

5. Housing (1) according to the preceding claim, the first shell (2) of which comprises an opening (20) forming at least in part the orifice (10).

6. Housing (1) according to the preceding claim, the first shell (2) of which comprises a first substantially planar wall (21), and a second substantially planar wall (22), the second wall (22) forming an angle with the first wall (21), oriented towards the second shell (3), the opening (20) being on the second wall (22).

7. Housing (1) according to one of claims 5 or 6, the opening (20) of which extends to an edge of the first shell (2) so that the opening (20) opens onto said edge, the part of the opening (20) opening onto said edge forming an opening inlet (24).

8. Housing (1) according to one of the preceding claims taken in combination with claim 4, intended to be installed in a vehicle, at least one of the walls of said housing (1) being an interior wall (101, 102, 103) of the vehicle, preferably an interior trim wall (101, 102, 103) of said vehicle, the other wall(s) of the housing (1) being carried by a gusset (100), the interior volume of the housing (1) being delimited by the cooperation of the interior wall (101, 102, 103) and the wall(s) (21, 22, 31, 33) carried by the gusset (100), the gusset (100) comprising the first shell (2) and the second shell (3) when the housing (1) comprises two shells (2, 3).

9. Assembly comprising a seat belt reel (5) and a housing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the reel (5) being in the interior volume of the housing (1) and the belt (51) exiting the housing (1) through the orifice (10), the sealing means (4) being in contact with the belt (51) so as to block the introduction of foreign bodies into the interior volume.

10. Vehicle comprising a sealing housing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, the housing (1) enclosing a seat belt (51) reel (5) in its interior volume, the belt (51) exiting the housing (1) through the orifice (10).

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