seatbelt buckle system

Abstract

The invention relates to a seat belt buckle system comprising a first seat belt buckle (1), a fitting part (2), a flexible retaining element (3) which connects the first seat belt buckle (1) to the fitting part (2), and a second seat belt buckle (4), wherein the second seat belt buckle (4) has a locking button (4.1), wherein the first seat belt buckle (1) is arranged above the second seat belt buckle (4) and the second seat belt buckle (4) is arranged adjacent to the retaining element (3), wherein the seat belt buckle system includes a shield (5), wherein the shield (5) is attached to the retaining element (3) and is designed and arranged such that the shield (5) prevents the actuation of the locking button (4.1) of the second seat belt buckle (4) by the first seat belt buckle (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a belt buckle system comprising a first belt buckle, a fitting, a flexible retaining element connecting the first belt buckle to the fitting, and a second belt buckle, wherein the second belt buckle has a buckle button.

[0002] Belt buckles typically have a locking mechanism so that a buckle tongue inserted into the respective buckle remains locked in the buckle. To release the buckle, a button is provided, which can be activated by a user by applying pressure, releasing the buckle tongue. Accordingly, the first buckle may also have a button.

[0003] At least the first belt buckle is connected to a fitting part attached or attachable to the vehicle by means of a flexible holding element designed as a belt strap or wire cable, so that the first belt buckle is movable relatively freely relative to the fitting part within the limits predetermined by the flexible holding element.

[0004] For example, DE 10 2005 035 867 B4 discloses a buckle system with two belt buckles, in which a plastic element is arranged around the respective belt strap connecting the buckle to a fitting, which element predetermines a certain alignment of the buckle to the flexible belt strap. DE 10 2005 035 867 B4 thus discloses a belt buckle system with the features of the preamble of claim 1. In this previously known belt buckle system, the two belt buckles are arranged at the same height.

[0005] However, belt buckle systems with two belt buckles are also known, in which the first belt buckle is arranged above the second belt buckle. With these belt buckle systems, there is a risk that the buckle button of the lower belt buckle will be actuated by a movement of the upper belt buckle, causing a buckle tongue inserted into the lower belt buckle to be inadvertently released. To prevent such inadvertent release of the buckle tongue, it has previously been proposed to design the geometry of the upper belt buckle in an area facing the lower belt buckle in such a way that it is not possible for the upper belt buckle to actuate the buckle button of the lower belt buckle. However, the risk of a buckle tongue inserted into the lower belt buckle becoming released could not be completely eliminated by adapting the geometry of the upper belt buckle.

[0006] 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 belt buckle system with which the release of a buckle tongue inserted into a lower belt buckle is avoided in an alternative manner.

[0007] A solution to this problem is provided by the belt buckle system having the features of independent claim 1, with further solutions and advantageous developments being specified in the preceding and subsequent descriptions as well as in the subclaims. Individual features of the advantageous developments can be combined with one another in a technically expedient manner.

[0008] The object is achieved in particular by a belt buckle system having the features mentioned at the outset, in which the second belt buckle is arranged adjacent to the holding element and the first belt buckle is arranged above the second belt buckle, wherein the belt buckle system comprises a shield, wherein the shield is attached to the holding element and is designed and arranged such that the shield prevents the actuation of the lock button of the second belt buckle by the first belt buckle.

[0009] In other words: The basic concept of the invention provides that the belt buckle system with the shield comprises a component attached / attachable to the flexible holding element, which component is designed such that unintentional actuation of the lock button of the second, lower belt buckle by the first belt buckle is prevented. The shield is thus designed such that, in particular, a lower region of the first belt buckle cannot touch the lock button of the second belt buckle at all, or at least cannot move it far enough within the belt buckle to release a buckle tongue inserted into the second belt buckle. Thus, the two belt buckles can be designed as conventional belt buckles without the upper belt buckle having to be adapted to prevent the lock button of the lower belt buckle from being actuated.

[0010] For simple and cost-effective installation, it is advantageous if the plate is detachably attached to the retaining element. This also allows the plate to be retrofitted to existing belt buckle systems.

[0011] For example, the retaining element can form two eyelets, one of which is designed in particular for attaching the retaining element to the fitting, and the other of which is designed for attaching the retaining element to the first belt buckle. In this case, the plate can have two pin-shaped extensions, each of which engages with an eyelet. The two pin-shaped extensions extend in particular orthogonally to the direction along which the retaining element extends from the fitting to the first belt buckle. The plate can thus be attached to the belt buckle system by simply inserting the extensions into the eyelets.

[0012] To prevent the shield from accidentally detaching from the retaining element, in a preferred embodiment, the shield has a rear grip portion with which the shield engages behind a multi-layered portion of the retaining element. For this purpose, the rear grip portion extends, in particular, from a portion of the shield formed between the second strap and the retaining element along an outer circumference of the retaining element to the opposite side of the retaining element.

[0013] The plate preferably comprises a flat, plate-shaped section which is arranged between the second belt buckle and the holding element. The flat section is in particular dimensioned such that its width projects beyond the holding element on both sides and in particular beyond the holding element designed as a belt strap. The two pin-shaped extensions and / or the rear grip section are in particular formed in one piece on the flat section. In its longitudinal direction (along the direction of extension of the holding element from the fitting part to the first belt buckle), the plate is in particular dimensioned such that it extends over at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, of the length of the holding element. Alternatively or additionally, the flat section has a length which corresponds at least to the length of the second belt buckle and preferably to at least 110% of the length of the second belt buckle.

[0014] The first belt buckle and / or the second belt buckle each comprise a housing, in particular a multi-part housing, in which the locking mechanism is arranged and in which the lock button for actuating the locking mechanism is slidably guided. On the upper side, the housing comprises a particularly rectangular opening through which the lock tongue is inserted into the belt buckle and in which the lock button is arranged in the unactuated state. As a rule, the lock button is arranged flush with an edge of the lock button surrounding the opening in the unactuated state.

[0015] The shield, and in particular the flat section of the shield, is preferably dimensioned and arranged such that it projects upwards by at least 1 cm, preferably at least 2 cm, above an upper edge (in particular the edge surrounding the opening of the belt buckle) of the second belt buckle. In particular, it is provided that, even in this projecting area, the shield has a width that corresponds at least to the width of the belt buckle and / or the width of the belt strap. Such an area projecting beyond the upper edge of the lower buckle button reliably prevents the first, upper belt buckle from inadvertently actuating the button of the lower, second belt buckle.

[0016] In this context, it can also be provided that the portion of the shield projecting beyond the upper edge of the second buckle extends beyond the attachment area of ​​the retaining element on the first buckle, so that a pivoting movement of the first (upper) buckle relative to the retaining element is limited, which also prevents actuation of the lock button of the second buckle. The shield thus extends beyond the retaining element.

[0017] While the first belt buckle can be moved and aligned relatively freely within the limits of the flexible retaining element (at least without the plate), a preferred embodiment provides for the second belt buckle to be mounted exclusively rotatably on the fitting. For this purpose, the second belt buckle can be attached directly to the fitting, with the second belt buckle being rotatable, for example, about a rotation axis defined by a fastening screw. Alternatively, the second belt buckle could be connected to the fitting via a plate-shaped metal part, with the belt buckle being mounted relative to the metal part and / or the metal part being rotatable relative to the fitting.

[0018] Even if the shield is sufficient to prevent unintentional actuation of the lock button of the second belt buckle, one embodiment can provide for the first, upper belt buckle to have a deflection geometry on its section facing the second belt buckle. The deflection geometry can be designed, for example, in that the first belt buckle is wider in its region facing the second belt buckle than the opening surrounding the lock button in the housing of the second belt buckle. Alternatively, the deflection geometry can have a relatively large continuous curvature in a side view, so that no edge is formed on the upper, first belt buckle with which the lock button of the second, lower belt buckle could be actuated.

[0019] The invention and the technical environment are explained below using the figures as examples. They show schematically Fig. 1: a perspective view of a belt buckle system, Fig. 2: a partially exploded view of a first buckle and a shield of the buckle system and Fig. 3: a perspective view of the buckle system without the second buckle.

[0020] In Fig. 1 shows a belt buckle system comprising a first, upper belt buckle 1, a flexible retaining element 3 designed as a belt strap, a fitting 2, and a second belt buckle 4 attached to the fitting 2. The flexible retaining element 3 connects the first belt buckle 1 to the fitting 2, for which purpose the flexible retaining element 3 has a first eyelet 3.1 for attachment to the first belt buckle 1 and a second eyelet 3.2 for attachment to the fitting 2. The first belt buckle 1 has a deflection geometry 1.1 in its section facing the second belt buckle 4.

[0021] The belt buckle system also includes a plate 5, which is particularly useful in Fig. 2 from its rear side. The plate 5 has a flat section 5.4, which in the assembled state is arranged between the holding element 3 and the second belt buckle 4. The plate 5 has a first pin-shaped extension 5.1, which is inserted into the first eyelet 3.1 of the holding element 3. Furthermore, the plate 5 has a second pin-shaped extension 5.2, which is inserted into the second eyelet 3.2 of the holding element 3. In order to prevent easy removal of the plate 5 from the holding element 3, the plate 5 has a rear grip section 5.3, which engages behind the holding element 3 at least in some areas (see in particular Fig. 2 and Fig. 3).

[0022] The plate 5 projects so far beyond an upper edge of the lower, second belt buckle 4 that the upper, first belt buckle 1, which is flexibly connected to the holding element 3, cannot act on the lower, second belt buckle 4 in such a way that a lock button 4.1 of the second belt buckle 4 can be actuated by the first belt buckle 1 to release a lock tongue inserted into the second belt buckle 4.

[0023] Thus, the plate 5 provides a component that can be subsequently attached to a belt buckle system and with which an unintentional actuation of the lock button 4.1 of the second belt buckle 4 by the first belt buckle 1 can be reliably prevented. List of reference symbols 1 first belt buckle 1.1 Deflection geometry 2 fitting part 3 Holding element 3.1 first eyelet 3.2 second eyelet 4 second belt buckle 4.1 Lock button 5 Shield 5.1 first pin-shaped process 5.2 second pin-shaped process 5.3 Rear grip section 5.4 flat section QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2005 035 867 B4

[0004]

Claims

[1] Belt buckle system, comprising - a first belt buckle (1), - a fitting part (2), - a flexible holding element (3) which connects the first belt buckle (1) to the fitting part (2), and - a second belt buckle (4), wherein the second belt buckle (4) has a lock button (4.1), characterized by in that the first belt buckle (1) is arranged above the second belt buckle (4) and the second belt buckle (4) is arranged adjacent to the holding element (3), wherein the belt buckle system comprises a shield (5), wherein the shield (5) is attached to the holding element (3) and is designed and arranged such that the shield (5) prevents the actuation of the lock button (4.1) of the second belt buckle (4) by the first belt buckle (1). [2] Belt buckle system according to claim 1, wherein the plate (5) is detachably attached to the holding element (3). [3] Belt buckle system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding element (3) forms two eyelets (3.1, 3.2) and wherein the plate (5) has two pin-shaped extensions (5.1, 5.2), each of which engages in an eyelet (3.1, 3.2). [4] Belt buckle system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate (5) has a rear grip section (5.3) with which the plate (5) engages behind a multi-layer section of the holding element (3). [5] Belt buckle system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate (5) is arranged with a flat section (5.4) between the second belt buckle (4) and the holding element (3). [6] Belt buckle system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate (5) projects beyond an upper edge of the second belt buckle (4). [7] Belt buckle system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second belt buckle (4) is rotatably mounted on the fitting part (2). [8] Belt buckle system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first belt buckle (1) has a deflection geometry (1.1) on its section facing the second belt buckle (4). [9] Belt buckle system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding element (3) is designed as a belt strap or as a wire rope.

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