GB2149288A - Beam for attachment of passenger restraint devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A beam assembly for providing anchorage points for vehicle passenger restraint devices comprises a beam (10), which is telescopic so that its effective length can be adjusted, defining sockets 12 at each end in which are received mountings having part- spherical formations (18) enabling them to be pivoted with respect to the beam so that they can be attached to parts of the vehicle at various spacings and angles, e.g. to vertical panels (24) or to horizontal panels such as a parcel shelf. The formations may be elastomeric so that they act as energy absorbers in the event of impact loading of the restraint devices. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Beam for attachment of passenger restraint devices This invention relates to an assembly for providing anchorage points in a motor vehicle for attachment of passenger restraint devices such as a child's safety harness, a carrycot restraint, a head or neck restraint or a child's seating unit.

It is already known from prior Patents Nos.

1416441 and 1498946 to provide an anchorage element in the form of an elongate beam extending transversely of the vehicle adjacent the top of the backrest of one or more seats within the beam. One problem associated with such beams is the provision of beam mountings which are designed to cater for the different mounting surfaces available in different models of vehicles. For instance, in some vehicles it may be preferable to mount the beam from the parcel shelf behind the rear seats whereas in other situations it may be preferable to mount the beam via fixing points, such as seat belt anchorage points, located at opposite sides of the vehicle. In the latter case, the angularity of the surfaces in which the fixing points are provided may vary widely from one vehicle model to another.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved assembly incorporating mountings which enable the beam to be mounted from surfaces of widely different inclinations.

According to the present invention there is provided an assembly for providing anchorage points in a motor vehicle for attachment of passenger restraint devices, said assembly comprising a beam having socket portions at its opposite ends and a pair of mountings each comprising a formation which has a surface which is of at least substantially partspherical configuration and is provided with means for securing the same to a part of a motor vehicle, each formation being insertable into a respective socket portion of the beam so that its at least substantially part-spherical surface portion provides bearing support for the beam over a range of positions of inclination of the beam relative to each mounting.

Advantageously each formation is composed of an elastomeric material whose Shore hardness is preferably such that the formation substantially maintains its unstressed shape in normal conditions of use of the assembly but may distort or crush significantly under high loads such as those encountered in accident conditions where the passengers may be thrown forward with some force. Thus, the formation will serve not only to provide a universal type of mounting for the beam but will also serve to absorb the forces to which the restrained occupants are subject in the event of an impact.

The means for securing each formation to the vehicle may include a stem which projects from the formation and is adapted for attachment to the vehicle via a screw-threaded fixing device.

Conveniently the beam is of telescopic construction and may comprise a main beam section and a pair of end sections telescopically related with the opposite ends of the main section, each end section providing the socket portions.

The socket portions are preferably constituted by tubular end portions of the beam or of said end sections. For example. the beam or said end sections may be of tubular configuration so that the socket portions do not need to ',e specially formed.

Each socket portion is conveniently provided with retaining means for preventing accidental withdrawal of the respective partspherical or spherical formation from the socket. In one embodiment, the retaining means comprises a retractable, spring-loaded projection which extends into the socket to resist unintentional withdrawal of the formation.

The wall of the socket portion is preferably cut away so as to afford the stem of the partspherical or spherical formation a substantial degree of tilting movement between for example a position in which the stem is generally co-axial with the socket portion and a position in which the stem is generally perpendicular to the co-axial position whereby the mounting can be fixed to generally vertical or horizontal surfaces whilst supporting the beam generally horizontally.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a sectional view showing part only of the beam structure and mounting at one side of a vehicle, the mounting spigot being secured to a generally vertical side surface of the vehicle; and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of one end of the beam structure when mounted from a horizontal surface, such as a parcel shelf, the mounting spigot mounted disposed generally vertically in this instance.

The assembly which is the subject of the present invention comprises a main beam 10 in the form of a round section tube and a pair of end sections 1 2 which are in telescopic relation with the opposite ends of the main beam 10 and may also be in the form of round section tubes. The sections 1 2 are somewhat shorter than the main beam 10 and it will be appreciated that the overall length of the three part beam assembly can be adjusted to span the internal width of a wide range of vehicle models. The sections 1 2 can be secured in a desired position of axial adjustment relative to the main beam 10 by means of clamping devices 14 which may take various forms.

By virtue of its tubular configuration, each end section 1 2 constitutes a socket for reception of a mounting spigot comprising a threaded stem 1 6 and a ball-shaped head 1 8 which is composed of rubber bonded to the stem 1 6. The diameter of the head 18 corresponds closely to the internal diameter of each end section 1 2 so as to be a close, sliding fit therein Adjacent each outer end, each section 1 2 is cut away to form a slot 20 so that when the head 1 8 is inserted to the extent shown, the stem can be tilted to an angle in excess of 90 , for example between the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2.In Fig. 1, the mounting spigot is shown secured to a generally vertical panel 24 of the vehicle by means of nuts 22, 26. In Fig. 2, the mounting spigot is shown secured to a horizontal panel 28 by nuts 22, 26. It will be appreciated that the mounting spigots together with the cut-away portions 20 allow great flexibility in the angular positioning of the stem 1 6 thereby enabling the beam structure to be oriented generally horizontally irrespective of the inclination of the surfaces or mounting points available for attachment of the stem 1 6. Figs.

1 and 2 illustrate two typical mounting positions for the spigot but other mounting points can be used such as standard anchorage points provided in the vehicle or the spigots may be secured to brackets which, in turn, are secured to inertia reel fixing points in the vehicle.

To ensure that each spigot is properly located with the respective end section 12, a retractable retaining stud 1 3 may be provided adjacent the open mouth of each section 1 2.

The stud 30 may be carried by an arcuate spring blade 32 which extends partly around the outer periphery of the section 1 2 so as to bias the stud 30 radially inwardly through an opening 34. In this position, the stud blocks withdrawal of the head 18. Thus, withdrawal can only be effected intentionally, i.e. by manipulating the stud and spring to retract the stud until it is clear of the head 18.

Similarly the stud 30 has to be retracted to permit the head to be inserted and the stud can only revert to its normal inwardly projecting position when the head has been inserted far enough into the section 1 2. Failure to do this will be apparent to the installer since the stud will project outwardly.

In use, the mounting elements are first secured in place on the available surfaces within the interior of the vehicle, and the beam structure is assembled to the mounting spigots by initially retracting the sections 1 2 into the main section 10 so that the beam structure can be inserted between the two heads 1 8. The sections 1 2 are then pulled outwardly and at the same time the studs 30 are manipulated so as to pass over the heads 1 8. Thereafter the clamping devices 14 are operated to secure the sections 1 2 in the adjusted positions. The main section 10 of the beam structure will be provided with clamping collars or such like for attachment of harnesses or other passenger restraint devices to the beam.

Because the heads 1 8 are composed of rubber (or other elastomeric material), they will act as energy absorbers in the event of an impact. The Shore hardness of the rubber may be selected so that, under such heavy loads as are encountered in impact conditions, the head 1 8 is effectively crushed to such an extent that the walls of the sections 1 2 come into contact with the nuts 26 so that the moment arm of the bending load to which the stems are subjected is substantially reduced.

Claims (14)

1. An assembly for providing anchorage points in a motor vehicle for attachment of passenger restraint devices, said assembly comprising a beam having socket portions at its opposite ends and a pair of mountings each comprising a formation having a surface at least a portion of which is of substantially part-spherical configuration and means for securing the respective mounting to a part of a motor vehicle, each formation being insertable into a respective socket portion of the beam so that its said surface portion provides bearing support for the beam over a range of positions of inclination of the beam relative to each mounting.

2. An assembly as in Claim 1 wherein each formation is composed of an elastomeric material.

3. An assembly as in Claim 2 wherein said material has a Shore hardness such that the formations substantially maintain their unstressed shape in normal conditions of use of the assembly but will distort or crush significantly under high loads such as those imposed when the restraint devices act to restrain an occupant of the vehicle on impact to the latter.

4. An assembly as in any preceding claim in which the securing means of each mounting includes a stem projecting from the respective formation for attachment to the vehicle.

5. An assembly as in any preceding claim in which the beam is telescopic.

6. An assembly as in Claim 5 wherein the beam comprises a main beam section and a pair of end sections each telescopically engaged with a respective end of the main beam section, each said end section defining a respective socket portion.

7. An assembly as in any preceding claim wherein the socket portions are constituted by tubular ends of the beam.

8. An assembly as in any preceding claim wherein part of wall structure of each socket portion is cut away to permit a substantial degree of tilting of each mounting relative to the associated socket portion.

9. An assembly as in Claim 8 wherein each mounting can be tilted between a position at which the respective securing means extends generally co-axially from the socket portion and a position generally perpendicular to the socket axis.

10. An assembly as in any preceding claim wherein each socket portion is provided with releasable retaining means for selectively preventing withdrawal of the inserted formation therefrom.

11. An assembly as in Claim 10 wherein the retaining means is a retractable spring loaded stud extending into the respective socket portion interior.

12. An assembly for providing motor vehicle passenger restraint anchorage points substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 3. A motor vehicle including an assembly as in any preceding claim.

14. A vehicle as in Claim 1 3 wherein the securing means are attached to a parcel shelf or other generally horizontal surface of the vehicle.

1 5. A vehicle as in Claim 1 3 wherein the securing means are attached to respective spaced generally vertical panels of the vehicle.