GB2609164A

GB2609164A - Strap guiding device with enhanced safety performance

Info

Publication number: GB2609164A
Application number: GB2216408.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Liang Zhang Da
Original assignee: Bambino Prezioso Switzerland AG
Current assignee: Bambino Prezioso Switzerland AG
Priority date: 2018-03-21
Filing date: 2019-03-21
Publication date: 2023-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2039-03-21
Also published as: DE102019203841B4; GB2600897B; SE1950354A1; GB202202280D0; GB2573867B; FR3124772B1; GB2600897A; GB201903858D0; FR3079186B1; GB2609164B; GB2573867A; FR3079186A1; NO20230349A1; GB202216408D0; GB2605740A; GB2605740B; SE543235C2; NO20190383A1; GB202211030D0; CN208264189U

Abstract

A belt guiding device for a soft belt, such as a vehicle seat belt, comprises: a base 1 and a pivot member 2. A receiving slot 12 is formed on the base, the belt slidably passes through the receiving slot, which is configured to provide a pulling channel for the belt. The base comprises a guide member 10 and a support member 11. The receiving slot and a guide channel (13, figure 2) communicating with the receiving slot are formed between the guide member and the support member. The guide channel is disposed at one end of the receiving slot and is configured for guiding the belt to enter or exit the receiving slot. The pivot member is mounted at a position at which the guide channel communicates with the receiving slot. The pivot member is pivotally connected to the support member. The pivot member blocks communication of the guide channel with the receiving slot when the pivot member is pivoted into a closed position. The pivot member unblocks the communication of the guide channel with the receiving slot when the pivot member is pivoted into an open position.

Description

STRAP GUIDING DEVICE WITH ENHANCED SAFETY PERFORMANCE

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a strap guiding device, and more particularly, to a strap guiding device with enhanced safety performance.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A seat belt is one of the most common safety tools adapted for equipment to ensure a user's safety when the user is riding on a vehicle, such as a car or an aircraft, working at a high place or performing. With development of economy, cars become an important means of transportation for families, and people are concerned about safety of riding and use the seat belt in a safety belt assembly. People have constantly investigated design and installation technology of the seat belt to enhance safety performance of the safety belt assembly. The seat belt is usually made of polyester, polypropylene or nylon and disposed on the car by other fixture, such as a guiding component and a fixing component. When a car accident or an emergency brake occurs, a pre-tensioning device can tighten the seat belt to pull a driver or a passenger firmly into a seat for preventing a second collision. Therefore, the safety performance of the safety belt assembly is related to not only tensile strength of the seat belt but also the guiding component and the fixing component. For example, if the seat belt is disengaged from the guiding component during a collision, it may result in death or serious injury of the driver or the passenger because the seat belt cannot be restrained by the guiding component. Therefore, there is a need to provide an improved strap guiding device with enhanced safety performance and easy operation.

Summary of the Invention

It is an objective to provide a strap guiding device with enhanced safety performance and easy operation for solving the aforementioned problem.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention discloses a strap guiding device for a soft strap. The strap guiding device Includes a base and a pivoting component. An accommodating 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 soft strap slidably passes through the accommodating slot. The accommodating slot is configured to provide a pulling passage to the soft strap. The base Includes a guiding component and a supporting component. The accommodating slot and a guiding passage communicated with the accommodating slot are formed between the guiding component and the supporting component. The guiding passage is located at an end of the accommodating slot, and the guiding passage is configured to guide the soft strap to enter into or depart from the accommodating slot. The pivoting component is installed on a position where the guiding passage is communicated with the accommodating slot. The pivoting component is pivotally connected to the supporting component. The pivoting component blocks communication of the guiding passage and the accommodating slot when the pivoting component is pivoted to a closing position, and the pivoting component allows the communication of the guiding passage and the accommodating slot when the pivoting component is pivoted to an opening position.

Preferably, the pivoting component moves along a direction parallel to an axial direction of a pivoting axis of the pivoting component for preventing interference between the pivoting component and the supporting component when the pivoting component pivots from the closing position to the opening position around the pivoting axis.

Preferably, an end of the guiding component near the guiding passage is bent toward the supporting component to form a guiding portion, and the guiding portion is formed in an arc shape.

Preferably, a blocking portion protrudes from an end of the supporting component near the guiding passage and toward the guiding portion, and the guiding passage is formed between the guiding portion and the blocking portion.

Preferably, the blocking portion is formed in an arc shape.

Preferably, the strap guiding device further includes a pivoting mechanism. The pivoting component includes a mounting portion and a pivoting portion extending from an end of the mounting portion. The mounting portion is pivotally connected to the supporting component by the pivoting mechanism, and the pivoting portion abutting against the guiding component when the pivoting component is in the closing position.

Preferably, the pivoting component is biased to recover from the opening position to the closing position by the pivoting mechanism.

Preferably, the pivoting mechanism includes a pivoting shaft, a pivoting hole portion and a resilient component. The pivoting shaft is disposed on the mounting portion of the pivoting component. The pivoting hole portion is formed on the supporting component for pivotally engaging with the pivoting shaft. The resilient component is sleeved on the pivoting shaft for biasing the pivoting portion to abut against the guiding component.

Preferably, the resilient component is a spring.

Preferably, a screw surface is formed on an inner periphery of the pivoting hole portion. The pivoting component is driven by the screw surface to move along a direction parallel to an axial direction the pivoting shaft when the pivoting component pivots relative to the supporting component.

Preferably, at least one protrusion protrudes from an inner periphery of the pivoting hole portion. The pivoting shaft includes at least one restraining component for cooperating with the protrusion, and the at least one protrusion abuts against the at least one restraining component for restraining a pivoting range of the pivoting component relative to the supporting component.

Preferably, the base further includes a fixing component for fixing the strap guiding device onto a workpiece.

Preferably, the fixing component includes a fixing seat and a fixing hole portion formed on the fixing seat, and the fixing seat is located at an end of the accommodating slot away from the guiding passage and formed in a bending manner.

In summary, the present invention utilizes the

accommodating slot for providing the pulling passage to the soft strap, so as to restrain a range of sliding movement of the soft strap. Besides, the present invention utilizes the guiding passage for guiding the soft strap to enter into or depart from the accommodating slot and further utilizes the pivoting component for blocking or allowing the communication of the guiding passage and the accommodating slot. The soft strap is prevented from being disengaged from the strap guiding device when the pivoting component is pivoted to the closing position to block the communication of the guiding passage, which enhances safety performance of the soft strap. When the pivoting component is pivotally operated to the opening position to allow the communication of the guiding passage and the accommodating slot, the soft strap is allowed to enter into or depart from the accommodating slot, which makes assembly and disassembly of the soft strap. easier.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are schematic diagrams of a strap guiding device in different states according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the strap guiding device as shown in FIG. 1 at another view according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded diagram of the strap guiding device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an exploded diagram of the strap guiding device at another view according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the strap guiding device is installed on a seat according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In order to illustrate technical specifications and structural features as well as achieved purposes and effects of the present invention, relevant embodiments and figures are described as follows.

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as "top," "bottom," "front," "back," etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. The components of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 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 includes a base 1 and a pivoting component 2. An accommodating 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 soft strap, such as a seat belt, which is not shown in the figures, slidably passes through the accommodating slot 12. The accommodating slot 12 can provide a pulling passage to the soft strap for restraining the soft strap within the accommodating slot 12 during sliding movement of the soft strap. The base 1 includes a guiding component 10 and a supporting component 11. The accommodating slot 12 is formed between the guiding component 10 and the supporting component 11. The supporting component 11 can provide support for the sliding movement of the soft strap within the accommodating slot 12. The guiding component 10 can guide the soft strap to enter into the accommodating slot 12 from the top of the accommodating slot 12. Furthermore, a guiding passage 13 is formed between the guiding component 10 and the supporting component 11. The guiding passage 13 is located at an end of the accommodating slot 12 and communicated with the accommodating slot 12. The guiding passage 13 can guide the soft strap to enter into or depart from the accommodating slot 12. The pivoting component 2 is Installed on a position where the guiding passage 13 is communicated with the accommodating slot 12. The pivoting component 2 is pivotally connected to the supporting component 11. The pivoting component 2 blocks communication of the guiding passage 13 and the accommodating slot 12 when the pivoting component 2 is pivoted to a closing position as shown in FIG. 1. The pivoting component 1 allows the communication of the guiding passage 13 and the accommodating slot 12 when the pivoting component is operated to pivot toward the inside of the accommodating slot 12 to an opening position.

In this embodiment, the soft strap can be a seat belt of a safety belt assembly. During assembly of the soft strap, the soft strap can be moved along the guiding passage 13 to push the pivoting component 2 to pivot relative to the supporting component 11 to the opening position for allowing the communication of the guiding passage 13 and the accommodating slot 12, so that the soft strap is allowed to enter into the accommodating slot 12 by crossing over the top of the pivoting component 2. Afterwards, the pivoting component 2 can be operated to pivot to the closing position to block the communication of the guiding passage 13 and the accommodating slot 12, so that the soft strap can be restrained within the accommodating slot 12 and be prevented from departing from the accommodating slot 12 via the guiding passage 13 during the sliding movement of the soft strap. Therefore, the strap guiding device of the present invention has not only enhanced safety performance but also easy operation.

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram of the strap guiding device as shown in FIG. 1 at another view according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, an end of the guiding component 10 near the guiding passage 13 is bent toward the supporting component 11 to form a guiding portion 100. The guiding portion 100 is formed in an arc shape. Furthermore, a blocking portion 110 protrudes from an end of the supporting component 11 near the guiding passage 13 and toward the guiding portion 100. The blocking portion 110 is formed in an arc shape. The guiding passage 13 is formed between the guiding portion 100 and the blocking portion 110 and also formed in an arc shape, so that the soft strap can enter into the accommodating slot 12 by the arc-shaped guiding passage 13 easily and can be prevented from departing from the accommodating slot 12 even if the pivoting component 2 does not work correctly due to the arc-shaped guiding passage 13. In other words, the present a invention utilizes the arc-shaped guiding portion 100 and arc-shaped blocking portion 110 for forming the arc-shaped guiding passage 13, so as to enhance the safety performance and make the assembly of the soft strap easier.

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 5. FIG. 4 is an exploded diagram of the strap guiding device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an exploded diagram of the strap guiding device at another view according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the strap guiding device further Includes a pivoting mechanism. The pivoting component 2 Includes a mounting portion 20 and a pivoting portion 21 extending from an end of the mounting portion 20. The mounting portion 20 is pivotally connected to the supporting component 11 by the pivoting mechanism. The pivoting portion 21 abuts against the guiding component 10 for blocking the communication of the guiding passage 13 and the accommodating slot 12 when the pivoting component 2 is in the closing position. The pivoting portion is separated from the guiding component 10 for allowing the communication of the communication of the guiding passage 13 and the accommodating slot 12 when the pivoting component 2 is in the opening position. Furthermore, the pivoting component 2 is biased to recover from the opening position to the closing position by the pivoting mechanism. In other words, the pivoting mechanism can drive the pivoting component 2 to recover to the closing position to block the communication of the guiding passage 13 and the accommodating slot 12 after the soft strap enters into the accommodating slot 12, so as to restrain the soft strap within the accommodating slot 12 during the sliding movement of the soft strap.

Specifically, the pivoting mechanism includes a pivoting shaft 22, a pivoting hole portion 23 and a resilient component 24. The pivoting shaft 22 is disposed on the mounting portion 20 of the pivoting component 2. The pivoting hole portion 23 is formed on the supporting component 11 for pivotally engaging with the pivoting shaft 22. The resilient component 24 is for biasing the pivoting portion 21 to abut against the guiding component 10. In this embodiment, the pivoting hole portion 23 can be located on the blocking portion 110 of the supporting component 11, and the resilient component 24 can be sleeved on the pivoting shaft 22. Furthermore, during assembly of the pivoting shaft 22, the pivoting shaft 22 can be inserted into the pivoting hole pocion 23 and fixed with the pivoting hole portion 23 with a screw component 26. When the soft strap is guided to move by the guiding passage 13 to reach the pivoting component 2, the soft strap pushes the pivoting portion 21 of the pivoting component 2, so that the pivoting component 2 is driven to pivot toward the inside of the accommodating slot 12 around the pivoting shaft 22 to the opening position for allowing the communication of the guiding passage 13 and the accommodating slot 12. When the pivoting component 2 pivots toward the inside of the accommodating slot 12, the resilient component 24 is resiliently deformed. After the soft strap enters into the accommodating slot 12, the deformed resilient component 24 can resiliently recover the pivoting component 2 to pivot to the closing position, so as to restrain the soft strap inside the accommodating slot 12. Preferably, in this embodiment, the resilient component can be a spring. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

As shown in FIG. 4, a screw surface 230 is formed on an inner periphery of the pivoting hole portion 23. The pivoting component 2 is driven by the screw surface 230 to move along a direction parallel to an axial direction the pivoting shaft 22, i.e., a direction parallel to a pivoting axis of the pivoting component 2, when the pivoting component 2 pivots relative to the supporting component 11. Specifically, in this embodiment, the screw surface 230 can drive the pivoting shaft 22 to rotate in a clockwise direction when the pivoting shaft 22 enters into the pivoting hole portion 23. Therefore, the pivoting shaft 22 can be driven to move along a direction away from the pivoting hole portion 23 when the pivoting component 2 pivots around the pivoting shaft 22 in a counterclockwise direction toward the inside of the accommodating slot 12, which can effectively prevent interference between the pivoting component 2/the pivoting portion 21 and the supporting component 11 during the pivotal movement of the pivoting component 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, the screw surface can be replaced by another inclined surface to drive the pivoting component to move along the direction parallel to the pivoting axis of the pivoting component during the pivotal movement of the pivoting component.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in order to prevent damage of the resilient component 24 caused by an excessive pivotal movement of the pivoting component 2, two protrusions 25 protrude from the inner periphery of the pivoting hole portion 23. The pivoting shaft 22 includes two restraining components 220 for respectively cooperating with the two protrusions 25. The two protrusions 25 respectively abut against the two restraining components 220 for restraining a pivoting range of the pivoting component 2 relative to the supporting component 11. In other words, when the pivoting component 2 pivots at a predetermined angle, the two restraining components 220 abut against the two protrusions 25, for stopping the pivotal movement of the pivoting component 2, which can prevent permanent deformation of the resilient component 24 caused by the excessive pivotal movement of the pivoting component 2. However, the numbers of the protrusion and the restraining component are not limited to this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, there can be one protrusion on the inner periphery of the pivoting hole portion and one restraining component on the pivoting shaft.

In order to facilitate assembly of the strap guiding device, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, the base 1 further includes a fixing component for fixing the strap guiding device onto a workpiece, such as a hand rail of a car seat 3. Specifically, the fixing component includes a fixing seat 140 and two fixing hole portions 141 formed on the fixing seat 140. The fixing seat 140 is located at an end of the accommodating slot 12 away from the guiding passage 13 and formed in a bending manner. Therefore, the strap guiding device can be installed onto the hand rail of the car seat 3 by bolts or screws passing through the two fixing hole portions 141. However, the number and location of the fixing hole portion are not limited to this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, there can be one fixing hole portion located on a middle part of the fixing seat.

In contrast to the prior art, the present invention utilizes the accommodating slot for providing the pulling passage to the soft strap, so as to restrain a range of sliding movement of the soft strap. Besides, the present invention utilizes the guiding passage for guiding the soft strap to enter into or depart from the accommodating slot and further utilizes the pivoting component for blocking or allowing the communication of the guiding passage and the accommodating slot. The soft strap is prevented from being disengaged from the strap guiding device when the pivoting component is pivoted to the closing position to block the communication of the guiding passage, which enhances safety performance of the soft strap. When the pivoting component is pivotally operated to the opening position to allow the communication of the guiding passage and the accommodating slot, the soft strap is allowed to enter into or depart from the accommodating slot, which makes assembly and disassembly of the soft strap easier.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.

For the avoidance of doubt, the following numbered statements set out embodiments of the disclosure: 1. A strap guiding device for a soft strap comprising: a base, an accommodating slot being formed on the base and penetrating through the base from a front side of the base to a rear side of the Lase, the soft strap slidably passing through the accommodating slot, the accommodating slot being configured to provide a pulling passage to the soft strap, the base comprising a guiding component and a supporting component, the accommodating slot and a guiding passage communicated with the accommodating slot being formed between the guiding component and the supporting component, the guiding passage being located at an end of the accommodating slot, and the guiding passage being configured to guide the soft strap to enter into or depart from the accommodating slot; and a pivoting component installed on a position where the guiding passage is communicated with the accommodating slot, the pivoting component being pivotally connected to the supporting component, the pivoting component blocking communication of the guiding passage and the accommodating slot when the pivoting component is pivoted to a closing position, and the pivoting component allowing the communication of the guiding passage and the accommodating slot when the pivoting component is pivoted to an opening position.

2. The strap guiding device of embodiment 1, wherein the pivoting component moves along a direction parallel to an axial direction of a pivoting axis of the pivoting component for preventing interference between the pivoting component and the supporting component when the pivoting component pivots from the closing position to the opening position around the pivoting axis.

3. The strap guiding device of embodiment 1, wherein an end of the guiding component near the guiding passage is bent toward the supporting component to form a guiding portion, and the guiding portion is formed in an arc shape.

4. The strap guiding device of embodiment 3, wherein a blocking portion protrudes from an end of the supporting component near the guiding passage and toward the guiding portion, and the guiding passage is formed between the guiding portion and the blocking portion.

5. The strap guiding device of embodiment 4, wherein the blocking portion is formed in an arc shape.

6. The strap guiding device of embodiment 1, further comprising a pivoting mechanism, the pivoting component comprising a mounting portion and a pivoting portion extending from an end of the mounting portion, the mounting portion being pivotally connected to the supporting component by the pivoting mechanism, and the pivoting portion abutting against the guiding component when the pivoting component is in the closing position.

7. The strap guiding device of embodiment 6, wherein the pivoting component is biased to recover from the opening position to the closing position by the pivoting mechanism.

8. The strap guiding device of embodiment 7, wherein the pivoting mechanism comprises: a pivoting shaft disposed on the mounting portion of the pivoting component; a pivoting hole portion formed on the supporting component for pivotally engaging with the pivoting shaft; and a resilient component sleeved on the pivoting shaft for biasing the pivoting portion to abut against the guiding component.

9. The strap guiding device of embodiment 8, wherein the resilient component is a spring.

10. The strap guiding device of embodiment 8, wherein a screw surface is formed on an inner periphery of the pivoting hole portion, the pivoting component is driven by the screw surface to move along a direction parallel to an axial direction the pivoting shaft when the pivoting component pivots relative to the supporting component.

11. The strap guiding device of embodiment 8, wherein at least one protrusion protrudes from an inner periphery of the pivoting hole portion, the pivoting shaft comprises at least one restraining component for cooperating with the protrusion, and the at least one protrusion abuts against the at least one restraining component for restraining a pivoting range of the pivoting component relative to the supporting component.

12. The strap guiding device of embodiment 1, wherein the base further comprises a fixing component for fixing the strap guiding device onto a workpiece.

13. The strap guiding device of embodiment 12, wherein the fixing component comprises a fixing seat and a fixing hole portion formed on the fixing seat, and the fixing seat is located at an end of the accommodating slot away from the guiding passage and formed in a bending manner.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is: 1. A belt guiding device for a soft belt, characterized in that the belt guiding device comprises: a base, a receiving slot being formed on the base and penetrating the base from a front side of the base to a rear side of the base, the soft belt slidably passing through the receiving slot, the receiving slot being configured to provide a pulling channel for the soft belt, the base comprising a guide member and a support member, wherein the receiving slot and a guide channel communicating with the receiving slot are formed between the guide member and the support member, the guide channel being disposed at one end of the receiving slot, the guide channel being configured for guiding the soft belt to enter or exit the receiving slot; and a pivot member mounted at a position at which the guide channel communicates with the receiving slot, the pivot member being pivotally connected to the support member, the pivot member blocking communication of the guide channel with the receiving slot when the pivot member is pivoted into a closed position, and the pivot member unblocking the communication of the guide channel with the receiving slot when the pivot member is pivoted into an open position.
2. A belt guide device according to claim 1, characterized in that one end of the guide member is bent in the vicinity of the guide channel toward the support member to form a guide section.
3. A belt guiding device according to claim 2, characterized in that the guiding section is arc-shaped.
4. A belt guiding device according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that a blocking portion projects from one end of the support member in the vicinity of the guide channel, and the guide channel is formed between the guide section and the blocking portion.
5. A belt guiding device according to claim 4, characterized in that the blocking portion is formed in an arc shape.
6. A belt guiding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the belt guiding device further comprises a pivot mechanism, wherein the pivot member comprises a mounting portion and a pivot portion extending from one end of the mounting portion, wherein the mounting portion is pivotally connected to the support member by the pivot mechanism, and the pivot portion abuts the guide member when the pivot member is in the closed position.
7. A belt guiding device according to claim 6, characterized in that the pivot member is biased by the pivoting mechanism to return from the opening position to the closing position.
8. A belt guiding device according to claim 7, characterized in that the pivoting mechanism comprises: a pivot shaft disposed on the mounting portion of the pivot member; a pivot opening portion formed on the support member for pivotally engaging with the pivot shaft; and an elastic element fitted to the pivot shaft to bias the pivot portion to abut against the guide member.
9. A belt guiding device according to claim 8, characterized in that the elastic element is a spring.
10. A belt guiding device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the base further comprises a fastening member for fastening the belt guiding device to an object.
11. A belt guiding device according to claim 10, characterized in that the fastening member comprises a fastening seat and a fastening opening portion formed on the fastening seat, and the fastening seat is arranged at an end of the receiving slot opposite to the guide channel and is bent.
12. A belt guiding device according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the guide channel is arc-shaped.
13. A belt guiding device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the guide element and the support element are formed integrally with one another.
14. A headrest comprising a belt guiding device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.CNJ CNJCNJCLD CNJ