Belt buckle assembly

Abstract

A belt buckle assembly (8) with a belt buckle housing (10), with an upper and a lower belt buckle housing half (12, 14) and with an illumination device (26) provided on the belt buckle housing (10) for marking the insertion opening (22) for the plug-in tongue, wherein the illumination device (26) has a light source (28), and a light guide (32) positioned on the belt buckle housing (10) in the region of the insertion opening (22) and tapering towards the light source (28) in a wedge shape, which light guide receives and distributes the light emitted by the light source (28), wherein the light guide (32) is inserted into a recess (46) in the lower belt buckle housing half (14) such that the visible front side of the light guide (32) is flush with the outside of the lower belt buckle housing half (14), characterized in that the wedge shape is visible from the outside and forms an arrow shape, by means of which the insertion direction of the plug-in tongue can be visually is marked.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a seatbelt buckle assembly with a seatbelt buckle housing and with a lighting device provided on the seatbelt buckle housing for marking the insertion opening for the plug tongue.

[0002] Seatbelt buckles with integrated lighting devices that illuminate the insertion opening for the belt tongue are generally known in the art. These lighting devices enable quicker and easier location of the buckle and identification of the insertion opening for the belt tongue in the dark, thus simplifying buckle operation. The lighting devices are intended to ensure reliable illumination of the insertion opening, which requires a long service life for the lighting. This is because the buckle housings are typically welded together, making subsequent opening and replacement of the light source impossible or extremely difficult. Furthermore, the installation space within a buckle housing is limited, necessitating a very compact design for the lighting device.The insertion opening should also be illuminated over as large an area as possible to prevent accidental covering. Current seatbelt buckle assemblies only partially meet these requirements.

[0003] The object of the invention is therefore to create a belt buckle assembly that enables the best possible, permanent illumination of the insertion opening with minimal space requirements.

[0004] From DE 10 2007 047 704 A1, a seatbelt buckle assembly is known, comprising a buckle housing, an upper and a lower housing shell, and a lighting device provided on the buckle housing for marking the insertion opening for the plug tongue. The lighting device includes a light source and a light guide positioned on the buckle housing in the area of ​​the insertion opening, tapering towards the light source in a wedge shape. The light guide receives and distributes the light emitted by the light source. The light guide is inserted into a recess in the lower buckle housing shell such that the visible front surface of the light guide is flush with the outer surface of the lower buckle housing shell.

[0005] From US patent 2006 / 0261588A1, a seatbelt buckle assembly is further disclosed, comprising a buckle housing and a lighting device provided on the buckle housing for marking the insertion opening for the buckle tongue. The lighting device includes a light source and a wedge-shaped light guide positioned on the buckle housing in the area of ​​the insertion opening, which receives and distributes the light emitted by the light source.

[0006] Furthermore, DE 41 15 318 A1 discloses the laying of cables in channels (42) which are formed on the inside of the belt buckle housing and are held on the belt buckle housing by strain reliefs.

[0007] The object of the invention is achieved by means of an externally visible wedge shape that visually indicates the insertion direction of the locking tongue. This facilitates quick closing of the seat belt. In addition to its small size, an LED offers the further advantage of being very robust and less susceptible to malfunctions.

[0008] The light source is preferably designed to be so small that a conventional seatbelt buckle housing can be used. The previous disadvantages of a small light source, especially an LED—namely, a very small illuminated area—are compensated for by placing a wedge-shaped light guide in front of the light source. This guide diffuses the light emitted by the light source, resulting in a larger illuminated area visible on the outside of the seatbelt buckle. Thus, with a very small light source that requires only minimal installation space in the seatbelt buckle housing, a very large and clearly visible illuminated area can be achieved.

[0009] To facilitate the installation of the seatbelt buckle, a common mounting bracket for the light source and the light guide is preferably provided, which is attached to the buckle housing. The light source and light guide can be pre-mounted on this bracket, so that only one component, namely the mounting bracket, needs to be attached to the buckle housing during installation. This also offers the advantage that the precise positioning of the light guide relative to the light source, which is necessary to achieve good illumination of the insertion opening, can be determined on the mounting bracket prior to installation. The mounting bracket can also be supplied pre-assembled with the light source and light guide.

[0010] The carrier part may have an electrical resistance to adapt the voltage of the vehicle electrical system to the voltage required by the light source.

[0011] The carrier component, for example, has a plastic sheath and a conductor, formed in particular from a stamped grid, which is overmolded by the plastic sheath. The conductor is protected and securely held by the plastic sheath, thus reliably preventing damage to the conductor from shocks or vibrations. This plastic sheath can also incorporate receptacles or fastening elements for the light source and the light guide, to which these components can be easily attached. The plastic sheath also simplifies the assembly of the seatbelt buckle assembly. If the conductor is formed from a stamped grid, this has the additional advantage that the exact shape and path of the conductor are predetermined, preventing it from shifting during the injection molding process.

[0012] To connect the light source to the vehicle's electrical system, the mounting bracket preferably has cables that can be routed inside the seatbelt buckle housing. The cables can be electrically connected to the conductor or be part of the conductor itself.

[0013] Instead of a punched grid, the light source and, if applicable, the resistor can also be connected to the cable via a circuit board.

[0014] Channels are preferably formed on the inside of the seatbelt buckle housing in which the cables are routed. These channels are designed, for example, to prevent the cables from slipping during buckle installation and thus from becoming jammed between the buckle and the buckle housing. In particular, the cables can be held in place on the buckle housing by strain reliefs, preventing them from breaking under excessive tensile stress.

[0015] In another embodiment, the light guide can, for example, be injection-molded onto the seatbelt buckle housing, so that it is integrally connected to the buckle housing. The light guide and the buckle housing preferably form a flush, flat surface, so that no disruptive gaps or edges are present on the outside, thus giving the buckle housing a high-quality appearance.

[0016] Further advantages and features will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the attached drawings. These show: - Fig. 1 a seatbelt buckle assembly according to the invention, - Fig. 2 an exploded view of one seatbelt buckle housing half of the seatbelt buckle housing made of Fig. 1 with a lighting device, - Fig. 3 a detailed view of the seatbelt buckle housing half Fig. 2 with mounted lighting equipment, and - Fig. 4 a sectional view through the light guide of the lighting device Fig. 3.

[0017] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a seatbelt buckle assembly 8 with a seatbelt buckle housing 10, which has an upper seatbelt buckle housing half 12 and a lower seatbelt buckle housing half 14. The seatbelt buckle housing 10 essentially corresponds to a conventional seatbelt buckle housing, the seatbelt buckle housing halves 12, 14 of which are materially joined to each other along a joint 16, for example by ultrasonic welding.

[0018] At a rear end 18, the belt buckle housing 10 is attached to the vehicle side via a fitting. At the opposite front end 20, an insertion opening 22 for a plug tongue (not shown here) is shown, as well as an operating button 24 for releasing the plug tongue.

[0019] Furthermore, a lighting device 26 is provided at the insertion opening 22, the construction of which is explained below.

[0020] The lighting device 26 consists, as in Fig. 2 can be seen, essentially consisting of a light source 28, here an LED, a carrier part 30 for the light source 28, a light guide 32 and two cables 34 for contacting the lighting device 26 with a circuit.

[0021] The carrier part 30 is an injection-molded plastic part that completely encases and protects a conductor that electrically connects the cables 34 to the light source 28. The conductor is, for example, formed from a stamped grid overmolded with a plastic sheath. The carrier part 30 has a receptacle 36 for the light source 28 and connection points 38 on the back for the cables 34. As shown below, this carrier part 30 forms a retaining device for the light source 28 to secure it in the seatbelt buckle housing half 14.

[0022] The light guide 32 is made of a plastic that is at least partially translucent and runs as shown in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the end 40 is wedge-shaped towards the light source 28. The end 40 facing the light source 28 has a shape that allows a direct connection of the light guide 32 to the light source 28.

[0023] At the front end 20 of the seatbelt buckle housing half 14 a recess 46 is provided into which the light guide 32 can be inserted, as well as a receiving pocket 48 for the light source 28 and the carrier part 30, which has a connection to the recess 46.

[0024] In Fig. Figure 3 shows the components of the lighting device in their assembled state in the seatbelt buckle housing half 14. The light guide 32 is inserted into the recess 46, with the visible front side of the light guide 32 being flush with the outside of the seatbelt buckle housing half 14 and forming a flat surface with it.

[0025] In particular, it is also conceivable that the light guide 32 is directly injection-molded onto the seatbelt buckle housing half 14 during the manufacturing of the seatbelt buckle housing half using a two-component injection molding process, so that the light guide 32 is bonded to the seatbelt buckle housing half 14. This offers the advantage that the transition between the light guide 32 and the seatbelt buckle housing half 14 can be manufactured without disruptive edges or gaps.

[0026] The support part 30 and the light source 28 are inserted into the receptacle 48, and the cables 34 are routed in channels 42 provided on the seatbelt buckle housing half 14. Strain reliefs 44, formed here by hot stapling, are provided on these channels at the rear end 18 of the seatbelt buckle housing half 14. These prevent excessive tension on the cables inside the seatbelt buckle housing half 14, which could lead to a loss of contact between a cable 34 and the support part 30.

[0027] The light emanating from the light source 28 is scattered by the light guide 32, so that the entire front 50 of the light guide 32 is illuminated ( Fig. 4) As especially in the Fig. 1 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 3, the light guide 32 thus forms a wedge-shaped illuminated field at the insertion opening 22 of the belt buckle housing 10, which, by its arrow shape, indicates the direction in which a plug tongue is to be inserted into the insertion opening 22.

[0028] Since the LED provides a very robust light source 28, reliable operation of the lighting device 26 is ensured. A suitable design of the light guide 32 ensures a uniform and even illumination of the light guide 32.

[0029] In contrast to the embodiment shown here, it is also conceivable that the light guide 32 is mounted together with the light source 28 on the carrier part 30 and thus forms a unit that can be delivered completely pre-assembled, so that the assembly effort on site is reduced.

Claims

[1] Seat belt buckle assembly (8) comprising a seat belt buckle housing (10), an upper and a lower seat belt buckle housing half (12, 14) and a lighting device (26) provided on the seat belt buckle housing (10) for marking the insertion opening (22) for the plug tongue, wherein the lighting device (26) comprises a light source (28) and a light guide (32) positioned on the seat belt buckle housing (10) in the area of ​​the insertion opening (22), tapering towards the light source (28), which receives and distributes the light emitted by the light source (28), wherein the light guide (32) is inserted into a recess (46) of the lower seat belt buckle housing half (14) such that the visible front of the light guide (32) is flush with the outside of the lower seat belt buckle housing half (14), characterized by , that the wedge shape is visible from the outside and forms an arrow shape, which visually indicates the insertion direction of the plug tongue. [2] Seatbelt buckle assembly according to claim 1, characterized by , that a support part (30) is provided for the light source (28) and that this support part is attached to the belt buckle housing. [3] Seatbelt buckle assembly according to claim 1, characterized by , that a common support part (30) is provided for the light source (28) and the light guide (32), which is attached to the belt buckle housing (10). [4] Seatbelt buckle assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by , that the carrier part (30) has an electrical resistance. [5] Seatbelt buckle assembly according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by , that the carrier part (30) has a plastic sheath and a conductor formed from a stamped grid, which is overmolded by the plastic sheath. [6] Seatbelt buckle assembly according to claim 2, characterized by , that the carrier part (30) is connected to a circuit board carrying the light source. [7] Seatbelt buckle assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized by , that the carrier part (30) has cable (34) to contact the light source (28) with an electrical circuit. [8] Seatbelt buckle assembly according to claim 7, characterized by , that the cables (34) are laid in channels (42) which are formed on the inside of the belt buckle housing (10) and are held on the belt buckle housing (10) by strain reliefs (44). [9] Seatbelt buckle assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the light guide (32) is molded onto the belt buckle housing (10).

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