WO2009033612A1

WO2009033612A1 - Fixing component for the safety system of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2009033612A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/007282
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joachim Kummer; Ole Scharnberg
Original assignee: Autoliv Development AB
Current assignee: Autoliv Development AB
Priority date: 2007-09-15
Filing date: 2008-09-05
Publication date: 2009-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 2010-03-15
Also published as: DE102007044155B4; DE102007044155A1

Abstract

A fixing component for the safety belt system of a motor vehicle with a plate consisting of metal (30) is described, which exhibits a punched-out hole (38) with a circumferential edge (38a) for passing through of a belt (60), whereby a cover element (40) is provided which covers at least a part of circumferential edge (38a). In order to certainly avoid the cover element being lost over the lifetime of the vehicle, cover element (40) consists of metal and is arranged on the circumferential edge (38a) by means of plastic deformation.

Description

Fixing component for the safety belt system of a motor vehicle

Description

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to a fixing component for the safety belt system of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of Claim 1.

So-called three-point belt systems are provided in most motor vehicles, whereby the belt webbing extends from a first end connected to a winding spool to a second end and whereby the belt webbing is looped through a belt tongue, which can be inserted into a belt buckle. Both the belt buckle and also the second end of the belt strap must be connected with the internal structure of the vehicle. A fixing component often serves for this purpose. In the case of the second end of the belt webbing this fixing component is a so-called end fixing piece in the form of a metal plate which exhibits a punched-out hole through which the belt strap is looped. Such an end fixing piece is generally screwed directly to the internal structure of the vehicle. The belt buckle is often connected to the vehicle by means of a further belt.

The belt buckle also exhibits a fixing component in the form of a plate consisting of metal, whereby this plate consisting of metal at the same time forms the basis of the belt buckle. Here again, the plate exhibits a punched-out hole, through which the belt which serves to connect the belt buckle with the vehicle is looped. The second end of this belt can be fixed to a further end fixing piece, which can be constructed as described above.

The plate in which the punched-out hole is to be found is a stamped or stamped and bent part and is generally manufactured of steel. The plate is often hardened. This leads to the fact that the edge surrounding the punched out hole can be relatively sharp. Over the lifetime of the vehicle, this in turn can lead to the belt which is looped through or the belt webbing which is looped through being damaged, and in the worst case, for example during an accident, the belt or belt webbing may tear.

Prior art

From generic patent DE 35 39 538 A1 it is known that a cover element in the form of a laid-in part can be provided, which is clicked onto the circumferential edge of the punched-out hole and which covers that part of the circumferential edge against which the belt lies. A considerably larger radius results from this, and abrasion possibly leading to separation of the belt against the plastic, which is considerably softer than steel, is excluded. The disadvantage of this solution is that the cover element can slip off from the edge of the punched-out hole over the lifetime of the vehicle because of movement and vibration, so that then the belt will again lie directly against the edge of the punched-out hole.

Summary of the invention

Starting from this, the present invention sets the task of further developing a fixing component of the generic type in such a way that it is certain that the cover element cannot be lost.

This task is fulfilled by means of a fixing component with the characteristics of Claim 1.

According to the invention, the cover element consists of metal and is placed on the circumferential edge through plastic deformation of a blank. Because the cover element is placed on the edge by means of plastic deformation, it is easy to ensure that it is impossible for the cover element to get lost. This is particularly easy to achieve if the cover element covers the circumferential edge completely or at least almost completely, which in particular can be easily achieved as the blank is in the form of a ring-type sleeve. It is also advantageous if this ring-type sleeve is implemented so as to be free of gaps, so that it can be excluded that the belt could be damaged on the edge of a gap.

Because of the fact that it deforms easily, the cover element preferably consists of aluminium in a first embodiment. However, it is also possible to manufacture the cover element of steel.

Further advantageous embodiments result from the further subclaims and also from the embodiment described below with reference to the drawings. The drawings are as follows:

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 A belt buckle and a belt tongue,

Figure 2 A birds-eye view of the plate of a belt buckle,

Figure 3 A section along Plane B-B from Figure 2,

Figure 4 Detail D from Figure 3,

Figure 5a A perspective view of the punched-out hole of the plate, Figure 5b A three-dimensional representation of a blank,

Figure 6a The punched-out hole and the laid-in non-distorted blank of in a schematic view corresponding to Figure 4,

Figure 6b The items shown in Figure 6a during deformation of the blank,

Figure 7 An alternative form of the blank and Figure 8 An alternative form of a plate using the blank from Figure 7 in a view corresponding to Figure 7.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Figure 1 shows a belt tongue 10 and a belt buckle 20. The belt tongue 10 exhibits a front detent section 10a and a rear section 10b. In the rear section 10b there is a slot 12 through which a belt webbing 14 is looped. Belt buckle 20, only shown in extremely schematic form, exhibits a housing 22 and a release button 24 ar- ranged movably on the housing. The structural element of belt buckle 20 is a steel plate 30, whose end section 36, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , projects out of housing 22. In end section 36 there is a punched-out hole 38, through which the end of a belt 60 is looped. Belt 60 is sewn to itself by means of a seam 62, so that belt 60 is firmly connected to steel plate 30. The other end of belt 60 is connected to the inner structure of the vehicle, for which purpose a steel plate with a punched-out slot can also serve, whereby the steel plate serves as end fixing plate (not shown).

A cover element 40 is arranged in punched-out hole 38, which completely covers the circumferential edge of punched-out hole 38. The type and arrangement of this cover element 40 will now be explained in more detail with reference to Figures 2 to 4, whereby it must be noted that the steel plate shown in Figures 2 and 3 is not identical with the steel plate 30 shown in Figure 1 , which, however, is not significant for what is described here.

Figures 2 and 3 show a steel plate 30, which exhibits a floor 32 and two side walls . 34a, 34b. This steel plate 30 is manufactured in one piece from a steel sheet metal as a bent and stamped part and can also be hardened. Steel plate 30 ex- hibits a punched-out hole 38, which serves to loop through a belt. As can particularly be seen in Figures 3 and 4, a cover element 40 is arranged in punched-out hole 38, which completely covers the circumferential edge 38a of punched-out hole 38. From this results an effective circumferential edge 40a, which exhibits a clearly greater surface than circumferential edge 38a of the punched-out hole and is strongly rounded off, which means that the load placed on a belt which is looped through is considerably reduced. Cover element 40 preferably consists of aluminium.

With reference to Figures 5a to 6b it will now be explained how cover element 40 is arranged in punched-out hole 38. This only occurs after the manufacture of the steel plate 30 is totally completed, in particularly also after said steel plate has been hardened. A blank 42 in the form of a ring-type sleeve (see Figure 5b) is inserted into punched-out slot 38 (see Figures 5a and 6a). Following this, the front sides 42a, 42b of blank 42 are beaded over by means of a tool 50, as is shown in Figure 6b. By these means, the cover element 40 which has been created from the blank 42 surrounds the circumferential edge 38a of punched-out hole 38 completely and cannot be lost. Preferably, blank 42 consists of aluminium and is manufactured by means of an extrusion press, so that it does not exhibit a gap, which means that cover element 40 is also gap-free.

Figure 7 shows an alternative form of blank 42. Here, the blank consists of steel and is bent of a steel sheet, so that it exhibits a gap S. If the cover element 40 is formed of this blank by means of deformation, this gap 40 remains in existence as shown in Figure 8. The deformation is carried out here in exactly the same way as in the first embodiment. In order to prevent damage to the belt, this gap is preferably located on the edge of the punched out hole facing away from the belt. Here too, it is not possible that the cover element can be lost.

List of reference numbers

10 Belt tongue

12 Slot

14 Belt strap

20 Belt buckle

22 Housing

24 Release button

30 Steel plate

32 Floor

34a,b Side wall

36 End section

38 Punched-out hole

40 Cover element

40a Inside surface

42 Blank

50 Tool

60 Belt

62 Seam

Claims

Patent claims

1. Fixing component for the safety belt system of a motor vehicle with a plate consisting of metal (30), which exhibits a punched-out hole (38) with a cir- cumferential edge (38a) for passing through of a belt (60), whereby a cover element (40) is provided which covers at least a part of circumferential edge (38a), characterised in that cover element (40) consists of metal and is arranged on circumferential edge (38a) through plastic deformation of a blank (42).

2. Fixing component according to Claim 1 , characterised in that cover element (40) consists of aluminium.

3. Fixing component according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that cover element (40) completely covers the circumferential edge (38a).

4. Fixing component according to Claim 3, characterised in that the blank (42) is a ring-type sleeve.

5. Fixing component according to Claim 4, characterised in that the sleeve is implemented without a gap.

6. Fixing component according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that cover element (40) is beaded over around circumferential edge (38a).

7. Fixing component according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that plate (30) consists of steel.

8. Fixing component according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that it is a belt buckle (20).

9. Fixing component according to Claim 1 , characterised in that cover element (40) consists of steel and exhibits a gap (S).