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EP-4737223-A1 - SEATBELT SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE, SEATBELT REDIRECTION UNIT, VEHICLE, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A SEATBELT SYSTEM

EP4737223A1EP 4737223 A1EP4737223 A1EP 4737223A1EP-4737223-A1

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a seatbelt system (26) for a vehicle (10). The seatbelt system (26) comprises a seatbelt (28), a seatbelt anchoring unit connected to the seatbelt (28) and attachable to a body (36) of the vehicle (10), a first seatbelt redirection unit (42) coupled to the seatbelt (28) and attachable to the body (36) of the vehicle (10) at a distance from the anchoring unit, a seatbelt retracting unit configured to retract and/or tension the seatbelt, and a second seatbelt redirection unit (54) comprising a deflecting part (56) and a release mechanism (86). The deflecting part (56) is coupled to the seatbelt (28), and configured for deflecting a portion of the seatbelt (28) spanning between an occupant (20) of the vehicle (10) using the seatbelt (28) and the first seatbelt redirection unit (42). The release mechanism (86) is configured for selectively uncoupling the seatbelt (28) from the deflecting part (56) in the event of a crash or in preparation for an imminent crash. Moreover, the disclosure relates to a seatbelt redirection unit (54) and to a vehicle (10) comprising the seatbelt system (26) or the seatbelt redirection unit (54). Furthermore, the disclosure is directed to a method for operating the seatbelt system (26).

Inventors

  • ÖSTH, JONAS
  • BOHMAN, KATARINA
  • HEURLIN, FREDRIK
  • ADOLFSSON, PETER
  • Setterberg, Peter
  • Rosenberg, Johan
  • PETTERSSON, Jeanette
  • BJÖRKLUND, Magnus

Assignees

  • Volvo Car Corporation

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241029

Claims (15)

  1. A seatbelt system (26) for a vehicle (10), the seatbelt system (26) comprising: - a seatbelt (28), - a seatbelt anchoring unit (30) connected to the seatbelt (28) and attachable to a body (36) of the vehicle (10), - a first seatbelt redirection unit (42) coupled to the seatbelt (28) and attachable to the body (36) of the vehicle (10) at a distance from the anchoring unit (30), - a seatbelt retracting unit (38) configured to retract and/or tension the seatbelt (28), and - a second seatbelt redirection unit (54) comprising a deflecting part (56) and a release mechanism (86), wherein the deflecting part (56) is coupled to the seatbelt (28), and configured for deflecting a portion of the seatbelt (28) spanning between an occupant (20) of the vehicle (10) using the seatbelt (28) and the first seatbelt redirection unit (42), and wherein the release mechanism (86) is configured for selectively uncoupling the seatbelt (28) from the deflecting part (56) in the event of a crash or in preparation for an imminent crash.
  2. The seatbelt system (26) according to claim 1, wherein the deflecting part (56) comprises a connection interface for connecting the deflecting part (56) to a backrest (22) of a seat (14) of the vehicle (10) or wherein the deflecting part (56) comprises a connection interface for connecting the deflecting part (56) to the body (36) of the vehicle (10).
  3. The seatbelt system (26) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the release mechanism (86) comprises a magnetic actuator (102), a pyrotechnic actuator (96), an inertia-activated actuator (124) and/or a predefined breaking point (108) configured to break in the event of a crash or in preparation for an imminent crash.
  4. The seatbelt system (26) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a seatbelt tensioner (50), wherein the seatbelt tensioner (50) forms part of the release mechanism (86).
  5. The seatbelt system (26) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a positioning mechanism (58) coupled to the deflecting part (56) such that a position of the deflecting part (56) can be adjusted along a height direction (HD) of the vehicle (10).
  6. The seatbelt system (26) according to claim 5, wherein the positioning mechanism (58) comprises a drive unit (64) for moving the deflecting part (56).
  7. The seatbelt system (26) according to claim 6, wherein the drive unit (64) comprises a gear drive (116), a spindle drive (66) and/or a belt drive (116).
  8. The seatbelt system (26) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the drive unit (64) comprises a communication interface (78) connectable to a control unit of the seat (14) of the vehicle (10) such that the deflecting part (56) is positionable based on a position and/or a movement of the seat (14).
  9. A seatbelt redirection unit (54) for a seatbelt system (26) of a vehicle (10), the seatbelt redirection unit (54) comprising: a deflecting part (56) couplable to a seatbelt (28) and configured for deflecting a portion of the seatbelt (28) spanning between an occupant (20) of the vehicle (10) using the seatbelt (28) and another seatbelt redirection unit (42), and a release mechanism (86) for selectively uncoupling the seatbelt (28) from the deflecting part (56) in the event of a crash or in preparation for an imminent crash.
  10. The seatbelt redirection unit (54) according to claim 9, wherein the release mechanism (86) comprises a magnetic actuator (102), a pyrotechnic actuator (96), an inertia-activated actuator (124) and/or a predefined breaking point (108) configured to break in the event of a crash or in preparation for an imminent crash.
  11. The seatbelt redirection unit (54) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the release mechanism (86) comprises a seatbelt tensioner (50).
  12. A vehicle (10) comprising a seatbelt system (26) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 or a seatbelt redirection unit (54) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the seatbelt system (26) or the seatbelt redirection unit (54) is associated with a seat (14) of the vehicle (10).
  13. The vehicle (10) of claim 12, wherein the deflecting part (56) is mounted on a backrest (22) of the seat (14) or on a body (36) of the vehicle (10).
  14. A method for operating a seatbelt system (26) of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the seatbelt (28) is redirected at a first position using a first seatbelt redirection unit (42), and at a second position using a second seatbelt redirection unit (54), the second seatbelt redirection unit (54) comprising a deflecting part (56) and a release mechanism (86), the method comprising, in the event of a crash or an imminent crash, using the release mechanism (86) for uncoupling the seatbelt (28) from the deflecting part (56) of the second seatbelt redirection unit (54).
  15. The method of claim 14, wherein redirecting the seatbelt (28) at a second position using a second seatbelt redirection unit (54) is based on a position and/or a movement of the seat (14).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a seatbelt system for a vehicle. The present disclosure also relates to a seatbelt redirection unit for a seatbelt system of a vehicle. Moreover, the present disclosure is directed to a vehicle comprising a seatbelt system or a seatbelt redirection unit. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a method for operating a seatbelt system. BACKGROUND ART In vehicles, particularly in automobile vehicles, seatbelt systems are safety features. At the same time, efforts are made to make the use of a seatbelt system comfortable. In this context, it is known to use movable seatbelt redirection units that are mounted on a body of the vehicle in which the seatbelt system is used, e.g. on a B pillar. Using such a movable seatbelt redirection unit ensures a high level of safety, since the seatbelt may be correctly arranged on a vehicle user. At the same time, a movable seatbelt redirection unit enhances user comfort. SUMMARY It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide an improved seatbelt system for a vehicle that offers an increased level of safety and comfort. The problem is at least partially solved or alleviated by the subject matter of the independent claims of the present disclosure, wherein further examples are incorporated in the dependent claims. According to a first aspect, there is provided a seatbelt system for a vehicle. The seatbelt system comprises a seatbelt. Moreover, the seatbelt system comprises a seatbelt anchoring unit connected to the seatbelt and attachable to a body of the vehicle. The seatbelt system additionally comprises a first seatbelt redirection unit coupled to the seatbelt and attachable to the body of the vehicle at a distance from the anchoring unit. Furthermore, the seatbelt system comprises a seatbelt retracting unit configured to retract and/or tension the seatbelt. Moreover, and the seatbelt system comprises a second seatbelt redirection unit comprising a deflecting part and a release mechanism. The deflecting part is coupled to the seatbelt, and configured for deflecting a portion of the seatbelt spanning between an occupant of the vehicle using the seatbelt and the first seatbelt redirection unit. The release mechanism is configured for selectively uncoupling the seatbelt from the deflecting part in the event of a crash or in preparation for an imminent crash. If the seatbelt system is mounted in a vehicle, the seatbelt may restrain an occupant occupying a seat of a seat assembly associated with the seatbelt system in the event of a crash or in preparation for an imminent crash of the vehicle. In the latter case, the seatbelt may even actively provide a restraining force acting on the occupant. In order to mechanically support the restraining force, the seatbelt is anchored via the seatbelt anchoring unit attachable to the body of the vehicle. The vehicle may comprise an attachment interface for the seatbelt anchoring unit at a floor of a passenger cabin of the vehicle or at any other suitable location, e.g. a pillar of the vehicle body. The seatbelt retracting unit is configured to retract the seatbelt if an occupant of the vehicle is not using the seatbelt. Also, the seatbelt retracting unit is configured to tense the seatbelt if an occupant of the vehicle is using the seatbelt. This prevents that the seatbelt is only loosely guided around an upper body of the occupant. In other words, slack is removed by the seatbelt retracting unit. The seatbelt retracting unit may be integrally formed with the seatbelt anchoring unit. The seatbelt retracting unit may comprise a reel for retracting, i.e. rolling up, the seatbelt. Coming from the seatbelt anchoring unit, the seatbelt may be deflected at the first seatbelt redirection unit in order that the seatbelt spans from the first seatbelt redirection unit towards a buckle that is affixed to the associated seat assembly or the vehicle body near a hip of the occupant if the occupant is using the seatbelt. The vehicle may comprise an attachment interface for the first seatbelt redirection unit on a body of the vehicle. This attachment interface may be located substantially at a height of a head of the occupant if the occupant is sitting in the seat of the associated seat assembly. Thus, the seatbelt anchoring unit and the first seatbelt retracting unit are arranged at a distance from each other. The first seatbelt redirection unit being coupled to the seatbelt is to be understood in that it interacts with the seatbelt as a deflection element. Thus, the seatbelt changes its orientation and/or its direction at the first seatbelt redirection unit without being fixed or locked at the first seatbelt redirection unit. If the occupant is using the seatbelt, the second seatbelt redirection unit is located between the first seatbelt redirection unit and the buckle of the associated seat assembly. The second seatbelt redirection unit ensures that the seatbelt is guided even more closel