# US 4,392,671 A · Securing device for the safety belt of a restraining system

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- Number: US 4,392,671 A
- Document ID: US4392671A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/223,427
- Filed: 1981-01-08
- Granted: 1983-07-12
- Earliest claimed: 1980-01-14
- Assignees: Repa Feinstanzwerk GmbH
- Inventors: Artur Fohl
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4392671A

## CPC

- B60R 22/06: having the belt or harness connected to a member slidable in a vehicle-mounted track
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

Restraining system, especially a passive restraining system, for motor vehicles wherein one end of the belt is slideable in a slider track, preferably arranged above the vehicle door, and can be locked at the end of the track behind a securing element which extends into the slider track. An inertial mass sensor activated when an acceleration or tilting force exceeds a predetermined value, results in movement of the inertial mass in the direct path of the movable securing element causing blocking of its movement and retaining it in locked position to lock the belt end.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A restraining system for motor vehicles, especially a passive restraining system, with a safety belt and a securing device for the safety belt, comprising a seat belt for restraining a person in a seat of the vehicle, a slider track disposed in the vehicle with one end of said seat belt slideable in the slider track, a movable securing element for locking said one end of the seat belt at the end of the track, spring means with a force sufficient to urge said movable securing element in the path of the belt end in the slider track but of insufficient force to prevent the belt end from sliding into and away from the end of the track, an inertial mass sensor in which the inertial mass is activated at the occurrence of an acceleration or a tilting force which exceeds a predetermined value, said activation being movement of said inertial mass in the direct path of movement of said movable securing element without moving it to block movement of the securing element retaining it in locked position to lock said belt end.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Restraining system according to claim 1, wherein said slider track is arranged above the vehicle door.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Restraining system according to claim 1, wherein said securing element is constructed in the form of swing lever which is hinged against the force of a spring as said spring means and which lever is provided at one end with a latching hook for locking said one end of the seat belt, and which lever has at the other end a blocking projection which is in direct functional connection with a ball sensor of said inertial mass sensor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

Restraining system according to claim 3, wherein said swing lever is two-armed with said blocking projection having a plate-like surface extending above a sensor housing which is open toward the blocking projection, said housing having a hole at approximately its center for the rest position of said sensor ball and is provided with a running surface around said hole on which the sensor ball rolls when the sensor is activated, said ball when on the running surface blocking the plate-like surface of the blocking projection and preventing the lever from swinging out of its normally locked path.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

Restraining system according to claim 4, wherein said running surface of the ball sensor is substantially horizontal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Restraining system according to claim 1, wherein at said end of the track is a bracket on which are mounted said movable securing element, said spring means and said inertial mass sensor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

Restraining system according to claim 6, wherein said bracket has a funnel-like insertion opening for said one end of the belt, and wherein said one end of the belt has a stiff end with a support plate separated by a pin such that when the belt end is inserted in the bracket, the pin is in the opening with the support plate on one side of the bracket and the stiff end on the other side.