Seatbelt retractor and vehicle seat

Abstract

The present invention relates to a seat belt retractor (2) for mounting in and / or on a backrest (3) of a vehicle seat (1), the seat belt retractor (2) having a housing (4) in which a seat belt shaft (6) is supported rotatably around a rotation axis (S), a seat belt (7) of the seat belt retractor (2) can be wound around the seat belt shaft, the seat belt (7) is guided and led out from the seat belt retractor (2) through a lead-out port (8), and the housing (4) is provided with two mounting arms (9, 10) that protrude radially relative to the rotation axis (S) of the seat belt shaft (6) and are arranged at a distance from each other in order to mount the seat belt retractor (2) in or on the backrest (3) of the vehicle seat (1), the mounting arms (9, 10) being configured to be rotatably mounted on the backrest (3).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat belt retractor having the features set forth in the preamble of claim 1 and to a vehicle seat having the features set forth in the preamble of claim 11 .

[0002] In addition to airbags, restraint devices for automobiles include seat belt systems that directly restrain occupants with seat belts. For example, the seat belt system may be configured as a three-point belt. In this case, one end of the seat belt can be wound around a belt shaft of a lockable seat belt retractor in the withdrawal direction, and the other end is fixed to the vehicle via an end fitting. Furthermore, the seat belt has a belt tongue that can be locked to a belt buckle fixed to the vehicle, and in the locked position, the belt webbing of the seat belt is divided into a diagonal belt portion that crosses the occupant's chest and a waist belt portion that crosses the occupant's pelvis. If the seat belt system is configured as a two-point belt or a four-point belt, the free end may alternatively be locked directly to the belt buckle fixed to the vehicle with the belt tongue.

[0003] Since the restraining force acting in the event of an accident is transmitted from the seat belt to the vehicle structure via the attachment points, i.e., the seat belt retractor, end fittings, and / or belt buckle, these components and their attachment to the vehicle structure must be designed to support the corresponding loads. Furthermore, as the seat belt unwinds from the seat belt shaft of the seat belt retractor, it may be necessary to re-deflect the seat belt so that it is guided at an angle that is favorable for restraining the occupant. Similar problems arise when, due to mounting space constraints, the seat belt retractor must be fixed in a specific position and the seat belt must be guided over a longer distance before being deflected and guided to the occupant.

[0004] In this regard, seat-integrated seat belt systems, which are installed in convertible, swivel, or bench seats, are particularly problematic. The problem with these seat-integrated seat belt systems is that the available space inside the vehicle seat is extremely limited. Furthermore, the restraining force from the seat belt retractor must be transmitted to the vehicle seat through a correspondingly dimensionally stable connection point on the vehicle seat, which complicates the mechanical connection of the seat belt retractor. This is particularly true for vehicle seats without a steel base frame and so-called bench seats, i.e., seats with two or three seats arranged side by side.

[0005] Under such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a seat belt retractor for a vehicle seat that can improve the seating comfort of an occupant, and a vehicle seat equipped with the same.

[0006] To achieve this object, a seat belt retractor is proposed having the features of claim 1 and a vehicle seat having the features of claim 11. Further advantageous developments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims, the drawings and the associated description.

[0007] According to the basic idea of ​​the invention, a seat belt retractor is proposed having the features set forth in the preamble of claim 1, in which for mounting the seat belt retractor in or on the backrest of a vehicle seat, two mounting arms are provided on the housing, which protrude radially relative to the rotation axis of the seat belt shaft and are spaced apart from each other, and which are configured to be pivotably mounted on the backrest.

[0008] The mounting arm, which is configured to pivotally mount the seat belt retractor, allows the seat belt retractor to have at least a small range of pivotal movement relative to the seat back, thereby allowing the occupant to individually adjust the orientation of the seat belt retractor relative to or within the seat back for improved seating comfort. This allows the occupant to adjust the orientation of the seat belt retractor to take into account their height and their individual current seating position. The occupant can pivot the seat belt retractor toward them for improved neck support, and can also pivot the seat belt retractor into the plane of the seat back to form a flat bearing surface against the seat back, for example when pivoting the seat back rearward.

[0009] It is further proposed that the mounting arm be pivotally mounted about a pivot axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the seat belt shaft. Due to the proposed orientation of the pivot axis of the pivotal mounting, when the seat belt retractor is rotated about the axis of rotation of the seat belt shaft, the seat belt withdrawn from the seat belt shaft is displaced only in the vertical direction while maintaining its angular orientation relative to the seat belt retractor.

[0010] It is further proposed that the mounting arms be arranged at the ends of the housing in relation to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis of the seat belt shaft. This proposed arrangement of the mounting arms maximizes the distance between the mounting arms, and therefore the seat belt retractor has its housing arranged between the mounting arms. This means that the seat belt retractor receives maximum support against the seat back via the mounting arms and is supported by the mounting arms across its entire width.

[0011] It is further proposed that the pivotable mounting of the mounting arms is formed by bearing openings in each mounting arm, which are arranged coaxially with respect to one another. The coaxially arranged bearing openings prevent twisting of the seat belt retractor, particularly in the mounting arm and housing parts, when the seat belt retractor is rotated, thereby avoiding the occurrence of additional material stresses.

[0012] It is further proposed that the mounting arm is configured as a rigid U-section. The proposed design of the mounting arm allows for a low self-weight while ensuring very high dimensional stability, especially against external bending moments.

[0013] It is further proposed that each U-shaped cross section has a base plate and two legs extending parallel to one side from the base plate, the mounting arms being oriented such that the legs of one mounting arm point towards the other mounting arm.

[0014] It is further proposed that the legs are connected to one another by a part-annular web that surrounds the bearing opening, which stiffens the mounting arm also in the area of ​​the bearing opening and also ensures a uniform shape of the mounting arm at the transition to the bearing opening.

[0015] It is further proposed that the housing has two receiving sections spaced apart from each other and oriented radially relative to the rotation axis of the seat belt shaft, to which the mounting arm is fixed. The mounting arm and the housing are thus separate components that are connected to each other via the receiving sections to form the overall shape of the seat belt retractor. The shapes of the housing and the mounting arm can be individually designed depending on their function, and can be configured as multi-stage molded parts, for example. The receiving sections and their orientations allow the mounting arm to be individually attached to the housing according to a predetermined orientation of the mounting arm.

[0016] It is further proposed that the mounting arms taper radially outward from the housing. The proposed mounting arm configuration allows the seat belt retractor to be designed with a wider or thicker housing and yet be mounted to a narrower structure, such as a narrow longitudinal strut in a seat back.

[0017] Furthermore, it is proposed that the seat belt retractor be mounted via a mounting arm at a distance of 20 to 40 cm from the rotation axis of the seat belt shaft. The proposed distance of 20 to 40 cm allows the seat belt retractor, together with its housing, to be rotated over a range of adjustment that is clearly perceptible to the occupant, even at small rotation angles.

[0018] Furthermore, to achieve the object, a vehicle seat is proposed, which includes a seat back having a seat belt retractor according to any one of claims 1 to 10 attached thereto, wherein the seat back has at least two longitudinal struts arranged parallel to each other at a distance from each other, and the seat belt retractor is pivotally attached to the longitudinal struts via a mounting arm. The seat belt retractor, together with the mounting arm, essentially forms an extension of the longitudinal struts of the seat back, while the housing of the seat belt retractor connects the extended longitudinal struts by the mounting arm to form a closed frame at least in that region. In this case, the seat belt retractor, together with its housing, forms the upper edge of the seat back structure.

[0019] It is further proposed that one of the longitudinal struts is arranged at one edge of the seat back, and the other longitudinal strut is arranged at the opposite edge of the seat back. The longitudinal struts and the seat belt retractor, which connects the longitudinal struts via the mounting arms, thus form the outer frame of the seat back structure. Due to the pivotable mounting of the seat belt retractor achieved via the mounting arms and the proposed form of the seat back structure integrated with the seat belt retractor, the pivotally mounted seat belt retractor itself forms a pivot part of the seat back, which the occupant can use to actively adjust the seat geometry and thus improve seating comfort.

[0020] It is further proposed that the seat belt retractor be arranged so that the rotation axis of the seat belt shaft is parallel to the upper edge of the seat back. Due to the proposed orientation of the seat belt retractor, the extension plane of the seat belt is preferably parallel to the upper edge of the seat back. When the seat belt shaft in the seat belt retractor is blocked by the radial blocking device when a predetermined seat belt withdrawal acceleration or a predetermined vehicle deceleration is exceeded, a reaction force acting perpendicular to the rotation axis when the seat belt shaft is blocked is generated in the seat back structure. Due to the proposed orientation of the rotation axis, this reaction force is directed radially perpendicular to the rotation axis and therefore in the direction of the longitudinal struts of the seat back structure, which are oriented perpendicular to the upper edge of the seat back. This makes it particularly easy for the longitudinal struts to absorb the reaction force and transmit it to the vehicle structure.

[0021] The present invention will now be described by way of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1A-1D are two different views of a seat belt retractor according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 2A and 2B are front and rear views of the seat belt retractor of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of the seat belt retractor of FIG. [Figure 4] A mounting arm with separate frame legs. [Figure 5] 1A and 1B are two different views of a seat frame of a vehicle seat according to the present invention; [Figure 6] 1 shows a vehicle seat with the seat back and seat belt retractor in an upright position. [Figure 7] 1 shows a vehicle seat with the seat back in a rearwardly rotated position and the seat belt retractor in a forwardly rotated position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] 1 and 2 show a seat belt retractor 2 according to the present invention in different perspectives. The seat belt retractor 2 has a housing 4, which is composed of a plurality of elongated profile members that define an elongated space within which a seat belt shaft 6 is rotatably mounted. In addition to the rotatably supported seat belt shaft 6, additional assemblies such as a load limiting device, a reversible belt tensioner, or an irreversible belt tensioner (including corresponding sensors, actuators, bearing plates, control units, etc.) may be provided within the housing 4. The housing 4 has an outlet 8 through which a seat belt 7, which can be wound around the seat belt shaft 6, is guided outward to restrain the occupant. The seat belt shaft 6 is rotatably supported about a rotation axis S oriented along the longitudinal extension direction of the housing 4.

[0024] The housing 4 has receiving portions 21 and 22 at each end thereof which extend radially outward relative to the axis of rotation of the seat belt shaft, and mounting arms 9 and 10 are fixed to each receiving portion, respectively, which extend radially outward in the same direction.

[0025] Mounting arms 9 and 10 each have circular bearing openings 11 and 12 at their radially outer ends, which allow for pivotal mounting to vehicle seat 1, as described below. Bearing openings 11 and 12 are aligned and coaxial with one another, thereby defining a pivot axis W of seat belt retractor 2 in its mounted position relative to vehicle seat 1.

[0026] The mounting arms 9 and 10 are formed with a conical tapering shape radially outward in the direction of the bearing openings 11 and 12. In cross section, the mounting arms 9 and 10 are each U-shaped and include a base plate 13 and 14 and two legs 15, 17 and 16, 18 extending axially from the same side. The bearing openings 11 and 12 are provided in the base plates 13 and 14 of the mounting arms 9 and 10, respectively, and are surrounded by part-annular webs 19 and 20 connecting the opposite legs 15, 17 and 16, 18 to each other. The mounting arms 9 and 10 are arranged such that the axially extending legs 15, 17 and 16, 18 point toward the opposite mounting arm 9 and 10, respectively. Thus, the mounting arms 9 and 10 each form a hollow cross section, with the opening cavity facing toward the other mounting arm 9 and 10. Overall, this makes the entire structure of the seat belt retractor 2 particularly torsionally rigid, and also makes the attachment of the seat belt retractor 2 to the vehicle seat 1 particularly torsionally rigid.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows the seat belt retractor 2 in a side view from the mounting arm 9 side, and FIG. 4 shows the mounting arm 9 with a retaining member 25. The mounting arm 9 is held by a retaining portion 26 of the retaining member 25 at its end remote from the bearing opening 11. The retaining member 25 further includes a bearing plate 27 for supporting the seat belt shaft 6. In the assembled position of the seat belt retractor 2, the retaining member 25 is firmly clamped between the various parts of the housing 4. The retaining member 25 thus constitutes part of the housing 4 and, together with the retaining portion 26, forms a receiving portion 21 for the mounting arm 9 on the housing 4, which opens radially outward. To absorb bearing and restraining forces that occur in the event of an accident, the bearing plate 27 supporting the seat belt shaft 6 can be reinforced and further strengthened by an additional reinforcing plate. The same applies to a second bearing plate (not shown) for the seat belt shaft 6, which is arranged opposite the bearing plate 27 in the seat belt retractor 2 and forms a second bearing for the seat belt shaft 6. The reinforcing plate can be designed as a closed cross-section with two legs that stiffen one or both bearing plates, thereby intentionally stiffening the seat belt retractor 2 in the area of ​​the seat belt shaft 6 and its bearing, so as to absorb the bearing and restraining forces acting unilaterally on the seat belt retractor 2 in the area of ​​the seat belt shaft 6 in the event of an accident.

[0028] 5 shows a vehicle seat 1 according to the present invention and a seat belt retractor 2 according to the present invention attached thereto in various perspective views. Only the seat structure of the vehicle seat 1 is shown, and the vehicle seat 1 will become a completed vehicle seat 1 by providing an appropriate cushioning material thereto.

[0029] The vehicle seat 1 comprises a seat surface 5 and a backrest 3, the backrest 3 being rotatable relative to the seat surface 5 in a known manner. The backrest 3 includes two longitudinal struts 23 and 24 oriented parallel to one another, which form the side edges of the backrest structure. The seat belt retractor 2 is pivotally mounted to the upper ends of the longitudinal struts 23 and 24 via bearing openings 11 and 12 in its mounting arms 9 and 10. The seat belt retractor 2 thereby connects the longitudinal struts 23 and 24 to form an upper closed frame, and is positioned such that the axis of rotation of the seat belt shaft is parallel to the upper edge of the backrest 3, or the seat belt retractor 2 itself forms the upper edge of the backrest structure.

[0030] Figure 6 shows the vehicle seat 1 with the backrest 3 upright and the seat belt retractor 2 not rotated, so that together with the longitudinal struts 23 and 24 the seat belt retractor 2 forms a planar, flat back structure of the backrest 3. Figure 7 shows the same vehicle seat 1 with the backrest 3 rotated rearward in the direction of the arrow, while the seat belt retractor 2 is rotated forward in the direction of the arrow, i.e., towards the occupant, for example, to improve neck support for the occupant. The seat belt retractor 2 is pivotably attached to the longitudinal struts 23 and 24 and thereby forms an additional adjustment element in the backrest 3, which allows the occupant to adjust the backrest together with the seat belt retractor 2 to obtain an improved comfort position.

[0031] Furthermore, one or both of the mounting arms 9 and 10, or one or both of the longitudinal struts 23 and 24, may be provided with a releasable locking device that locks the position of the seat belt retractor 2 after adjustment and that can be released by the occupant before adjustment. Alternatively, the seat belt retractor 2 may be allowed to rotate relative to the longitudinal struts 23 and 24 with corresponding resistance, and may be provided with an acceleration-sensitive locking device that locks the rotation of the seat belt retractor 2 in the seat back 3 in the event of an accident. This prevents the seat belt retractor 2 from rotating in the event of an accident, and the occupant is restrained via the locked seat belt 7 in a well-known manner.

Claims

1. A seat belt retractor (2) for mounting in and / or on a backrest (3) of a vehicle seat (1), the seat belt retractor (2) having a housing (4) in which a seat belt shaft (6) is supported rotatably around a rotation axis (S), a seat belt (7) of the seat belt retractor (2) can be wound around the seat belt shaft, and the seat belt (7) is led out of the seat belt retractor (2) through an outlet (8). and the housing (4) is provided with two mounting arms (9, 10) arranged spaced apart and projecting radially relative to the rotation axis (S) of the seat belt shaft (6) for mounting the seat belt retractor (2) in or on the backrest (3) of the vehicle seat (1), the mounting arms (9, 10) being configured for pivotal mounting on the backrest (3).

2. 2. The seat belt retractor (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting arms (9, 10) are fixed to be rotatable about a rotation axis (W) extending parallel to the rotation axis (S) of the seat belt shaft (6).

3. 3. The seat belt retractor (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mounting arms (9, 10) are arranged on the end side of the housing (4) with respect to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis (S) of the seat belt shaft (6).

4. 3. A seat belt retractor (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pivotable fixation of the mounting arms (9, 10) is formed by bearing openings (11, 12) in each of the mounting arms (9, 10), and that the bearing openings (11, 12) are arranged coaxially with respect to one another.

5. 5. A seat belt retractor (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the mounting arms (9, 10) are configured as dimensionally stable U-shaped cross sections.

6. 6. A seat belt retractor (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that each of the U-shaped cross-sections has a base plate (13, 14) and two legs (15, 16, 17, 18) extending parallel to each other on one side from the base plate (13, 14), and the mounting arms (9, 10) are oriented so that the legs (15, 16, 17, 18) of one mounting arm (9, 10) point towards the other mounting arm (9, 10).

7. 7. A seat belt retractor (2) according to claims 4 and 6, characterized in that the legs (15, 16, 17, 18) are connected to one another via part-annular webs (19, 20) containing the bearing openings.

8. 8. The seat belt retractor (2) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (4) has two receiving portions (21, 22) arranged at a distance from each other and oriented radially with respect to the rotation axis (S) of the seat belt shaft, and mounting arms (9, 10) are fixed to the receiving portions.

9. A seat belt retractor (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the mounting arms (9, 10) taper conically as they extend radially outward from the housing (4).

10. The seat belt retractor (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the seat belt retractor (2) is fixed by the mounting arms (9, 10) at a distance of 20 to 40 cm from the rotation axis (S) of the seat belt shaft (6).

11. A vehicle seat (1) comprising a backrest (3) and a seat belt retractor (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 attached to the backrest (3), characterized in that the backrest (3) has at least two longitudinal struts (23, 24) arranged parallel to and spaced apart from each other, and the seat belt retractor (2) is pivotally attached to the longitudinal struts (23, 24) by the attachment arms (9, 10).

12. 12. A vehicle seat (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that one of the longitudinal struts (23, 24) is arranged on one edge side of the backrest (3) and the other longitudinal strut (23, 24) is arranged on the opposite edge side of the backrest (3).

13. 13. The vehicle seat (1) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the seat belt retractor (2) is arranged so that the rotation axis (S) of the seat belt shaft (6) is parallel to the upper edge of the backrest (3).

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