Emergency locking device for an extractable strap in a vehicle safety belt

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to an emergency locking device for an extractable strap in a vehicle safety belt comprising a pivoted locking means adapted to be moved from an idle position to a locking position in which the locking means forces the strap against a rear surface, so that the strap is locked between the rear surface and the locking means. The emergency locking device is primarily intended for use in safety belts in motor cars.

#2. Discussion of the Prior Art

#The emergency locking device according to the invention will now be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1 is a side view of a pendulum with an eccentric-shaped locking means which is brought to its locking position by means of a spring.

#FIG. 2 is a front view, partly in section, of the pendulum shown in FIG. 1.

#The pendulum shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 consists of a base plate 10, the upper portion of which has two opposite side portions 11,12 bent to a right angle, so that the upper portion of the base plate has a substantially U-shaped crosssection. An eccentric 13 is pivoted between the raised side portions 11,12, and the eccentric is provided with a projecting cam 14. The lower portion 14A of the cam does not reach the portion of the base plate 10 lying between the side portions 11,12, when the eccentric is turned clockwise. The higher portion 14B of the cam has such a height that it strikes the base plate, so that the eccentric cannot be rotated. When the eccentric 13 is turned clockwise in the direction of the arrow 15, the eccentric will be stopped, because the cam 14 strikes the base plate 10. The extractable strap 16 of the safety belt runs over the base plate 10 between the raised portions 11,12 and between the plate and the eccentric 13. The direction of extraction of the strap is indicated by the arrow 17. The lower portion of the base plate 10 is provided with a through hole for a bearing bolt 18 which is adapted to be screwed into the vehicle, for example into the B-pillar 19 of the vehicle.

#The bearing bolt 18 also passes through a hole in a mounting plate 20 which is positioned behind the base plate 10, i.e. between the pendulum and the pillar 19. The mounting plate 20 is provided with two further holes for two mounting screws 21,22 which also are intended to be screwed into the pillar 19, so that the mounting plate is rigidly attached to the pillar. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the left side of the mounting plate 20 is provided with a raised portion 23 which has a hole 24 for attaching one end of a helical tensile spring 25. The other end of the spring is fastened in a hole 26 in the raised side portion 12 of the base plate 10. The purpose of the tensile spring 25 is to keep the pendulum, i.e. the base plate 10, in its idle position, in which it abuts against the raised portion 23 of the mounting plate 20.

#One end of the eccentric 13 is provided with a helical spring 27 which is positioned in the eccentric along the longitudinal axis of the eccentric, as shown in FIG. 2 in the sectioned portion of the eccentric. The inner end 27A of the spring 27 is fastened in the eccentric 13 and the outer end 27B of the spring 27 is fastened in the raised side portion 12 of the base plate 10. The spring 27 is fastened and tensioned in such a way that the eccentric will turn clockwise, i.e. in the direction of the arrow 15 in FIG. 1.