DE102018118778A1 - Seat belt with electrical unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a seat belt for motor vehicles, comprising a belt strap, the belt strap having a hose section extending in the longitudinal direction of the belt strap, and an electrical unit, the electrical unit having a flexible carrier element (1), the flexible carrier element ( 1) carries at least one electrical conductor and is at least partially arranged in the hose section.

Description

The present invention relates to a seat belt for motor vehicles, with a webbing, the webbing having a hose section extending in the longitudinal direction of the webbing, and with an electrical unit, the electrical unit having a flexible carrier element, the flexible carrier element carrying at least one electrical conductor and is at least partially arranged in the hose section.

A seat belt with the aforementioned features is, for example, made of DE 10 2011 009 318 A1 known. Microphones or other sensors are arranged on the flexible carrier element arranged in the hose section, so that these are arranged in the immediate vicinity of the belted-in occupant. So that the flat, flexible carrier element arranged in the seat belt can adapt to the body of an occupant and can be guided through a deflector, the carrier element is designed to be flexible perpendicular to its plane of extension. The flexible carrier element also has a certain elasticity in its main direction of extension. In order to transmit the signals from the microphone or from the other sensors to a control unit arranged outside the belt, the flexible carrier element carries electrical conductors. Due to the relative movement between the belt strap and the flexible carrier element arranged in the hose section of the belt strap, the electrical conductors can be damaged.

The object of the present invention is therefore to eliminate the disadvantages described with reference to the prior art and in particular to provide a seat belt which is more durable.

The task is solved with a seat belt with the features of the independent claim. Advantageous further developments of the seat belt are specified in the dependent claims and in the description, wherein individual features of the advantageous further developments can be combined with one another in a technically meaningful manner.

The object is achieved in particular by a seat belt with the features mentioned at the beginning, in which the flexible carrier element is fixed to the belt strap. By fixing the flexible carrier element to the belt strap at at least one point, a relative movement of the flexible carrier element to the belt strap can be prevented, so that the risk of damage to the electrical conductor is also minimized.

The electrical conductor is in particular a wire (in particular a copper wire) which is fastened on the flexible carrier element. In particular, the wire can be sewn to the flexible carrier element. The electrical conductor is in particular designed such that it can transmit an electronic signal from a sensor (for example a microphone) of the electronic unit. Alternatively, the electrical conductor can also be designed such that it serves as a heating element when energized. In this case, the electrical conductor is referred to as a heating wire. By forming a heating element in the belt strap, an occupant can be warmed directly, so that the actual motor vehicle heater cannot be operated at all or can be operated at a lower power. This is particularly advantageous in the case of purely electrically driven motor vehicles.

The hose section can extend over the entire width of the webbing, but can also cover only part of the width of the webbing. The hose section is formed in particular by a two-layer design of the webbing at least in the region of the hose section. For this purpose, for example, two webbing layers can be connected to one another at their edges. Alternatively, the hose section can also be formed during the manufacture of the belt strap, so that the belt strap is only two-ply in the area of the hose section. To establish a connection with the webbing, it is sufficient if the flexible carrier element is connected to only one webbing layer. However, it can preferably be provided that the flexible carrier element is connected to both webbing layers at one point on both sides.

In a preferred embodiment, the flexible carrier element is fastened directly to the belt strap in at least one end region located in the hose section, the flexible carrier element being sewn or glued in particular to the belt strap. For gluing, the flexible carrier element and the webbing (in particular a webbing layer delimiting the tube section) can be directly connected to one another by an adhesive or by a double-sided adhesive tape. The flexible carrier element is therefore not only indirectly fixed to the belt strap via a further component.

The flexible carrier element is designed in particular in the form of a band. So it's relatively flat and much longer than it is wide. The flexible carrier element can be designed, for example, as a fleece, on which the electrical conductor is attached; the electrical conductor is preferably sewn onto the fleece.

The electrical unit is led out of the webbing in particular at an implementation point. In this context, it is preferred that the flexible carrier element is fastened in the end region to the belt strap which faces the passage point and / or is fastened in the end region to the belt strap which faces away from the passage point. The flexible carrier element is therefore in particular connected directly to the belt strap in its end regions within the hose section and thereby fixed to the belt strap in the end regions.

However, an independent invention can also be claimed in the development of the seat belt mentioned at the outset with the features of the subclaims and / or the description, regardless of whether the flexible carrier element is fixed to the belt strap.

For example, the end of the flexible carrier element arranged in the hose section has a reinforcement, an opening passing through the carrier element being formed in the reinforcement and the carrier element. The reinforcement can consist, for example, of a multi-layer arrangement of the carrier material, of adhesive tape or of a separate flat component.

An edge of the reinforced end of the flexible carrier element is preferably shaped in such a way that the flexible carrier element can be easily passed through the hose section. For this purpose, the edge of the reinforced end has in particular a radius and / or a chamfer.

• - Bereitstellen eines bandförmigen Montagewerkzeuges,
• - Bereitstellen eines einen sich in Längsrichtung erstreckenden Schlauchabschnitt aufweisenden Gurtbandes,
• - Bereitstellen eines mindestens einen elektrischen Leiter tragenden flexiblen Trägerelements,
• - Lösbares Verbinden eines Endes des Montagewerkzeuges mit einem Ende des flexiblen Trägerelements,
• - Einführen des flexiblen Trägerelements in den Schlauchabschnitt, indem das mit dem Ende des flexiblen Trägerelements lösbar verbundene Ende des Montagewerkzeuges durch den Schlauchabschnitt bewegt (geschoben oder gezogen) wird,
• - Lösen des Montagewerkzeuges von dem flexiblen Trägerelement.

The reinforced end of the flexible carrier element is used for simplified, safe assembly of the seat belt. Accordingly, an invention is also seen in a method for producing a seat belt, which comprises at least the following steps:

• Provision of a band-shaped assembly tool,
• Provision of a belt webbing having a longitudinally extending hose section,
• Provision of a flexible carrier element carrying at least one electrical conductor,
• Detachable connection of one end of the assembly tool to one end of the flexible carrier element,
• Introducing the flexible carrier element into the hose section by moving (pushing or pulling) the end of the assembly tool that is detachably connected to the end of the flexible carrier element,
• - Loosen the assembly tool from the flexible support element.

In this context, it is particularly preferred that a width of the band-shaped assembly tool is less than a width of the hose section of the webbing. In addition, the band-shaped assembly tool is less flexible perpendicular to its plane of extension than the flexible carrier element and as the belt strap, or is even stiff, so that the assembly tool can simply be inserted into the hose section. The band-shaped assembly tool is in particular made of a metal or plastic. In particular, the end of the flexible carrier element, which is releasably connected to the assembly tool, is reinforced.

It is particularly provided that an opening is formed at one end of the flexible carrier element and that the band-shaped assembly tool has a projection projecting in the longitudinal direction of the tool at one end, the projection of the assembly tool for releasable connection through the slot-shaped opening in the Carrier element is inserted. The projection is in particular formed level with the rest of the band-shaped projection. The width of the protrusion is equal to or less than the width of the opening. In this way, the flexible carrier element can be inserted into the hose section through a leadthrough, the assembly tool being able to be simply pulled out of the hose section after the carrier element has been completely pushed in, the connection between the assembly tool and the flexible carrier element being released.

Alternatively, it would also be possible to first pass the assembly tool through the hose section and to connect the end of the assembly tool through the hose section to the flexible carrier element, so that the flexible carrier element can then be drawn into the hose section. For this purpose, a hook could be formed at the end of the assembly tool instead of a projection.

If the electrical conductor is designed as a heating wire, an invention is also seen in that the flexible carrier element carries a plurality of heating wires and the electrical unit has a circuit, at least one heating wire of the plurality of heating wires and the circuit being designed in such a way that that the at least one heating wire can be supplied with current if necessary in addition to the at least one other heating wire. In this way, the heating power of the seat belt can be changed by connecting individual heating strands.

It can be provided here that the heating strands that can be energized independently of one another are formed in the same section of the flexible carrier element. However, it can also be provided that the plurality of heating strands are arranged one behind the other essentially in the longitudinal direction of the flexible carrier element, so that different sections of the seat belt can be heated independently of one another.

For example, a chest section of the seat belt assigned to the chest of an occupant could be heatable independently of the hip section of the seat belt assigned to a hip of an occupant.

It is preferred here that the circuits are designed such that the plurality of heating strands are electrically connected in parallel to one another.

It may also be desirable that the heating power is different in different areas of the seat belt even when one or more heating strands are energized at the same time. For this purpose, an independent invention is seen in that the at least one heating strand produces different heating outputs due to a different geometric profile in different areas of the flexible carrier element.

This is achieved in particular in that the flexible carrier element has a first section and a second section of the same length, a length of a heating wire in the first section being greater than the length of the same heating wire or another heating wire in the second section. For example, the one heating strand can be meandering (in particular wave-shaped, zigzag-shaped or rectangular) in the two sections, the deflection of the wave or the distance between two wave crests being different in the two sections. The length measured in the direction of the extension of the heating wire can therefore be different in the two sections.

The meandering design of the at least one electrical conductor along the longitudinal extent of the flexible carrier element also has the advantage that, when the belt webbing is elongated and the longitudinal expansion of the flexible carrier element is connected, the electrical conductor is prevented from breaking due to the elongation.

In order to protect the electrical conductor from mechanical stress through a movement relative to the belt webbing, an independent invention is also seen in that the at least one electrical conductor is covered at least in sections by a protective layer, which is on the side facing away from the flexible carrier element between the electrical and the electrical carrier Head and the webbing (webbing layer) is arranged. The protective layer is in particular connected to the flexible carrier element, so that the protective layer can be attached to the flexible carrier element before the flexible carrier element is introduced into the hose section. The protective layer can be formed, for example, by an additional layer of fabric or by an adhesive tape. In particular, the protective layer is formed in the area in which the seat belt is guided through a deflector and / or a belt tongue (in the buckled-up state). The protective layer thus reduces the mechanical stress on the electrical conductor.

• 1: ein flexibles Trägerelement mit einer Heizlitze und ein Montagewerkzeug,
• 2: eine zweite Ausführungsform eines flexiblen Trägerelements mit zwei Heizlitzen und
• 3: eine weitere Ausführungsform eines flexiblen Trägerelements mit einer Heizlitze.

The invention and the technical environment are explained below by way of example with reference to the figures. They show schematically

• 1 : a flexible support element with a heating wire and an assembly tool,
• 2 : a second embodiment of a flexible carrier element with two heating strands and
• 3 : a further embodiment of a flexible carrier element with a heating wire.

The figures each show a flexible carrier element 1 a seat belt, not shown. On the flexible support element 1 is at least a heating wire 2 appropriate.

The flexible support element 1 has an end portion 3 on that by means of a reinforcement 4 is reinforced. In the end section 3 is also an opening 5 educated. An edge 6 of the end section 3 is according to the embodiment of 1 rounded.

In 1 is also a band-shaped assembly tool 9 shown having a projection at one end 10 having.

For introducing the flexible carrier element 1 the projection is in a hose section of a webbing 10 into the opening 5 in the end area 3 of the flexible support element 1 plugged in. In the following, the flexible carrier element 1 with the help of the assembly tool 9 be inserted into the hose section. After reaching the end position, the assembly tool can 9 be withdrawn, creating the lead 10 out of the opening 5 is pulled out so that the flexible support element 1 remains in the hose section.

While according to the embodiments of the 1 and 3 only one heating wire at a time 2 is provided, is on the flexible support member 1 the embodiment of 2 a first heating wire 2.1 and a second heating wire 2.2 educated. Because the first heating wire 2.1 in a first section 7 has a different geometric shape than the second heating wire 2.2 in a second section of the same length 8th , the length of the first heating wire differs 2.1 in the first section 7 on the length of the second heating wire 2.2 in the second section 8th , In this way, different heating capacities in the two sections 7 and 8th be generated.

In addition, the first heating wire 2.1 and the second heating wire 2.2 are powered independently so that only one of the section 7 and 8th can be heated.

From the 3 it can be clearly seen that the heating wire 2 has a meandering course, so that longitudinal expansion of the flexible carrier element 1 can be compensated.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

flexible support element

2

heating strand

3

end

4

reinforcement

5

opening

6

edge

7

first section

8th

second part

9

assembly tool

10

head Start

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included for better information for the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102011009318 A1 [0002]

Claims (12)

Seat belt for motor vehicles, with - a webbing, the webbing having a hose section extending in the longitudinal direction of the webbing, and - an electrical unit, the electrical unit having a flexible carrier element (1), the flexible carrier element (1) having at least one electrical Conductor carries and is at least partially arranged in the hose section, characterized in that the flexible carrier element (1) is fixed to the webbing. Seat belt after Claim 1 , characterized in that the flexible carrier element (1) is attached to the belt strap at least in an end region (3) located in the hose section, in particular is sewn or glued to the belt strap. Seat belt after Claim 2 , wherein the electrical unit is led out of the webbing at a lead-through point and the flexible carrier element (1) is fastened in the end region (3) to the webbing that faces the lead-through point and / or in the end region (3) to the webbing is attached, which faces away from the implementation point. Seat belt according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an end of the flexible carrier element (1) arranged in the hose section has a reinforcement (4) and that an opening (5) through the carrier element is formed in the reinforcement (4). Seat belt after Claim 4 , An edge (6) of the end being formed to simplify the pulling in of the flexible carrier element (1) into the hose section. Seat belt according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible carrier element (1) carries a plurality of heating strands (2.1, 2.2) as an electrical conductor and the electrical unit has a circuit, at least one heating strand (2.1, 2.2) of the plurality of heating strands (2.1 , 2.2) and the circuit are designed in such a way that the at least one heating wire (2.1, 2.2) can be supplied with current if necessary in addition to the at least one other heating wire. Seat belt according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible carrier element (1) carries at least one heating strand (2.1, 2.2) as an electrical conductor, the different geometric shape of the heating strands (2.1, 2.2) in different areas of the flexible carrier element ( 1) locally different heating outputs can be achieved. Seat belt after Claim 7 , wherein the flexible carrier element (1) has a first section (7) and a second section (8) of the same length, wherein a length of a heating wire (2.1) in the first section (7) is greater than the length of the one heating wire ( 2.1) or another heating wire (2.2) in the second section (8). Seat belt according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one electrical conductor runs in a meandering manner along the longitudinal extent of the flexible carrier element (1). Seat belt according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one electrical conductor is covered at least in sections by a protective layer which is arranged on the side facing away from the flexible carrier element (1) between the electrical conductor and the belt strap. A method of manufacturing a seat belt comprising at least the following steps: - providing a band-shaped assembly tool (9), Provision of a belt webbing having a longitudinally extending hose section, - Providing a flexible carrier element (1) carrying at least one electrical conductor, - Detachably connecting one end of the assembly tool (9) to one end of the flexible carrier element (1), Inserting the flexible carrier element (1) into the hose section by moving the end of the assembly tool (9) detachably connected to the end of the flexible carrier element (1) through the hose section, - Loosen the assembly tool (9) from the flexible support element (1). Procedure according to Claim 11 , wherein an opening (5) is formed at one end of the flexible carrier element (1) and the band-shaped assembly tool (9) has at one end a projection (10) projecting in the longitudinal direction of the assembly tool (9), the projection (10 ) of the assembly tool (9) for releasable connection through the opening (5) in the carrier element (1).

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