SEAT BELT AND SAFETY BELT DEVICE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a belt tongue having the features of the preamble of claim 1, a safety belt device having the features of the preamble of claim 8 and a manufacturing method for a belt tongue having the features of the preamble of claim 10.

[0002] Seat belt systems can incorporate various electrical or electronic components, such as microphones, for additional functions. These components require a continuous power supply. Connecting a microphone to a seat belt is known, for example, from DE 10 2005 002 865 B3.

[0003] With three-point seat belts, one end of the seat belt is usually attached to a fastening element, mostly referred to as an anchor plate, at a fixed anchor point on the vehicle structure or the vehicle seat, where the necessary electrical conductors can be easily connected.

[0004] Furthermore, DE 10 2019 103 460 A1 discloses a safety belt device with an electronic component in which energy is inductively transferred from a transmitter unit located outside the belt to a corresponding receiver unit within the belt. To compensate for the belt's position during use, several offset coils can be employed as transmitter and / or receiver units.

[0005] Furthermore, the applicant's as-yet-unpublished patent application DE 10 2020 133 574.1 describes a seat belt device for motor vehicles, comprising a belt buckle with an insertion slot, a belt tongue that can be inserted into and locked into the insertion slot of the belt buckle, and a seat belt. The belt tongue itself has a base and a cover, and the seat belt runs through a loop of the belt tongue. The belt buckle and the belt tongue are also configured to transmit electrical power and / or signals from the belt buckle to the belt tongue.

[0006] The transmission of electrical power and / or signals from the buckle to the belt tongue and vice versa enables this transmission without requiring a fixed anchor point for the seat belt assembly on the vehicle structure or seat. This allows signals and / or power to be transmitted even in seat belt assemblies with so-called dual retractors, which, in the case of a three-point belt, have separate retractors for the chest and lap belts, thus eliminating the need for a fixed anchor point on the vehicle structure or seat. In this case, the transmission of signals or power occurs via the buckle, which is attached to the vehicle structure or seat, to the belt tongue locked within it, and vice versa.

[0007] In DE 10 2020 133 574.1, an inductor coil is provided for transmitting signals at the seatbelt tongue. The seatbelt tongue has a base body, e.g., in the form of a metal circuit board, which is covered on both sides by two cladding parts of a two-part seatbelt tongue cover. One of the cladding parts has a recess for receiving the inductor coil and the electrical connector. After the cladding part is attached to the base body, the inductor coil and the electrical connector are then fixed between the two parts.

[0008] Mounting the belt tongue therefore requires four steps: inserting the inductor coil and the electrical connector into their respective recesses in the trim panel, and connecting the two trim panels to the base body. When connecting the trim panels, care must be taken to ensure that the inductor coil and the electrical connector do not unintentionally slip out of their recesses or their predetermined positions. Overall, this results in a complex assembly process.

[0009] From publication WO 2019 / 072748 A1, a seatbelt buckle with an RFID transponder is also known, which is pre-fixed to a circuit board of a seatbelt tongue by means of a housing and fixed by means of overmolding. WO 2019 / 072748 A1 discloses the preamble of claim 1.

[0010] Against this background, the invention is based on the objective of creating a belt tongue with at least one electronic component and an assembly method for such a belt tongue which can be assembled reliably with less assembly effort or which enables assembly of the belt tongue with reduced effort.

[0011] To solve the problem, a seat belt buckle with the features of claim 1, a safety belt device with the features of claim 8, and a manufacturing method with the features of claim 10 are proposed. Further preferred embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims, the figures, and the accompanying description.

[0012] According to claim 1, a belt tongue is proposed to solve the problem, wherein the base body has at least two openings separated from each other by a web, and the openings are thickened at least in the region of the edge sides bounding the web, and the support part is positively pre-fixed to the base body at least between the thickened edge sides of the openings. The openings and the web arranged between them, with the thickened edge sides of the openings, create a practical clamping surface to which the support part can be clipped. The openings can, for example, be used to form one or two webs for holding one or more webbing ends in the form of webbing loops. The openings and the web provided between them are thus elongated, each with two elongated parallel longitudinal sides.

[0013] It is further proposed that the carrier part be provided with at least one electrical contact and an electrical conductor connecting the electrical contact to the electrical component. The electrical contact and the electrical conductor enable external electrical contacting of the electronic component.

[0014] It is further proposed that the electronic component, the electrical contact, and the electrical conductor are arranged as a prefabricated composite component on the carrier part. This composite component, comprising the electronic component, the electrical contact, and the electrical conductor, can thus also be understood as a prefabricated electronic assembly, which is then pre-fixed to the carrier part in a first assembly step, subsequently pre-fixed to the base body together with the carrier part in a second assembly step, and finally covered on the outside by the casing in a third assembly or manufacturing step.

[0015] It is further proposed that the electronic component and / or the electrical contact and / or the electrical conductor be / be located on the side of the carrier part facing the base body of the belt tongue. This proposed arrangement covers the electronic component and / or the electrical contact and / or the electrical conductor on the side facing the trim panel, thus providing additional protection against mechanical impacts during trim panel installation. Furthermore, this allows the carrier part to be handled from the side where the electronic component is not located while being placed onto the base body, thereby simplifying the installation process. This arrangement also reduces the likelihood of damage to the electronic component, the electrical conductor, and / or the contact during installation.

[0016] It is further proposed that the support element be a flat component with a shape adapted to the surface of the base body. This thickens the base body in the area of ​​the support element by the thickness of the support element. In addition, this provides the support element with further mechanical stability across its entire surface.

[0017] It is further proposed that the cover be formed by overmolding. The advantage of this solution is that the carrier part with the electronic component is thereby held particularly compactly and securely to the base body, especially without play or rattling. Furthermore, this allows the seatbelt tongue to be fitted with the cover in large quantities very cost-effectively using a plastic injection molding process. The carrier part is effectively pressed onto the base body of the seatbelt tongue by the overmolding of the cover part, with the carrier part being held in position during the injection molding process by its pre-fixation to the base body.

[0018] Furthermore, a safety belt device with such a belt tongue is proposed to solve the problem, which has two belt retractors on which a webbing section can be wound with a first end, and in which the webbing sections are connected to the belt tongue with a second end. The safety belt device thus has two independently windable and separate webbing sections, which are held with their second ends on the belt tongue according to the invention.

[0019] It is further proposed that a seatbelt buckle be provided which includes a second electronic component that interacts with the electronic component of the seatbelt tongue. The seatbelt buckle is fixed to the vehicle, either to a vehicle seat or to the vehicle structure, and can thus be electronically connected to a vehicle-mounted electronic data processing unit without having to bridge any moving parts. The second electronic component in the seatbelt buckle interacts with the electronic component of the seatbelt tongue and forms the electronic interface between the electronic component of the seatbelt tongue and the vehicle-mounted data processing unit.

[0020] Furthermore, to solve the problem, a manufacturing method for producing a belt tongue according to the invention is proposed, in which the carrier part together with the electronic component is pre-fixed to the base body, and the carrier part is then finally fixed by applying the cover between the base body and the cover, wherein, according to a further preferred development, it is proposed that the cover is applied by overmolding.

[0021] The invention is explained below with reference to a preferred embodiment and the accompanying figures. Fig. 1A and 1B are shown in exploded view and in the assembled state of a belt tongue according to the invention, with a support part and a covering; Fig. 2 shows a belt tongue according to the invention in various perspectives and sectional views; Fig. 3 shows a base body of the belt tongue with a support part in a first section; Fig. 4 shows a base body of the belt tongue with a support part in a second section; and Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of the base body without the support part.

[0022] In the Figure 1AThe upper illustration shows a support part 4 and a composite component 10 with an electronic component 5, e.g., in the form of an inductor coil, an electrical contact 6, and an electrical conductor 11. The support part 4 has a recess that corresponds to the shape of the composite component 10, into which the composite component 10 is inserted. The recess in the support part 4 is shaped to match the shape of the composite component 10 in such a way that the composite component 10 can be accommodated in it with its electronic component 5, as well as with the electrical contact 6 and the electrical conductor 11. In the right-hand illustrations of the Fig. 1A The support part 4 can be seen from the top and bottom with the inserted composite component 10.

[0023] The composite component 10 is a prefabricated component comprising the electrical conductor 11, the electronic component 5, and the contact 6. The composite component 10 may additionally include a base part, e.g., in the form of a film, on which the electronic component 5, the electrical conductor 11, and the contact are held and fixed to one another. The base part defines the outer shape of the composite component 10 and is shaped according to the outer shape of the recess in the support part 4. Thus, the recess in the support part 4 is closed off on its underside by the inserted composite component 10, forming a flat surface, as shown in the lower right illustration of the underside of the support part 4. Figure 1A can be seen.

[0024] In the Fig. 1B The support part 4 corresponds to the upper right illustration of the Figure 1AThe assembly consists of an inserted, non-identifiable composite component 10 and a base body 2 in the form of a stamped metal sheet. The base body 2 has two elongated parallel openings 8 and 9, each with a rim 13 and 14, which enclose a web 7 between them. Furthermore, two pairs of locking openings 12 and 19 are provided on the top and bottom surfaces of the base body 2, respectively, corresponding to the openings 8 and 9. The support part 4, together with the composite component 10 and the electronic component 5 attached to it, is pre-fixed to the base body 2 by a positive locking mechanism, which will be explained in more detail below.

[0025] In the Figure 2A belt tongue 1 according to the invention is shown, comprising the base body 2, the support part 4, and a covering 3 that covers the support part 4 on the outside. The base body 2 is thickened at the edge sides 13 and 14 by plastically forming the edge sides 13 and 14 into a bead 16 and 17, as also shown in the Figure 4 This can be seen. The support section 4 also has two openings 21 and 22, which are slightly larger than the openings 8 and 9 of the base body 2. Furthermore, the following are visible on the support section 4 in the Figure 3 Detent pins 18 and 20 are provided, which are arranged in the base body 2 according to the arrangement of the detent holes 12 and 19.

[0026] The support element 4 is now joined together with the composite element 10 according to the instructions in the Figure 1BIn the assembly step shown, the carrier part 4 is pre-fixed to the base body 2 by being inserted into the locking holes 12 and 19 with the locking pins 18 and 20 and clipped over the thickened ridges 16 and 17 of the edge sides 13 and 14 of the openings 8 and 9 of the base body 2 with the openings 21 and 22. A positive locking connection is thereby achieved both by the locking pins 18 and 20 and via the edge sides of the openings 20 and 21 behind the thickened edge sides 13 and 14 of the openings 8 and 9 of the base body 2, by which the carrier part 4 is subsequently pre-fixed to the base body 2. The carrier part 4 locks in particular with the space formed between the two openings 21 and 22, which is located in the Figure 4 recognizable strips 15 on the web 7 of the base body 2 between the ridges 16 and 17 of the edge sides 13 and 14 of the openings 8 and 9 of the base body 2.

[0027] The electronic component 5, the conductor 11, and the electrical contact 6 are arranged via the composite component 10 on the side of the support part 4 that, in the mounting position of the support part 4, faces the base body 2 of the belt tongue 1. Thus, the electronic component 5, the conductor 11, and the contact 6 are covered on the outside by the support part 4 and are therefore additionally protected from mechanical impacts when the cover 3 is applied.

[0028] The cover 3 is preferably realized here by plastic overmolding; that is, the base body 2, with the support part 4 held on it, is inserted into the injection mold as a pre-assembled unit together with the composite component 10, the electronic component 5 arranged on it, the cable 11, and the contact 6, and overmolded with the plastic. The plastic overmolding then forms a solid casing of the base body 2 with the support part 4 securely and rattle-free fixed between them. However, it is equally conceivable to form the cover 3 from two or more cover parts, which can be connected to each other and to the base body 2, for example, by a clip connection.

[0029] In the present embodiment, the electronic component 5 is implemented by an inductor coil, which is positioned on the belt tongue 1 such that, when the belt tongue 1 is locked in a belt buckle, it overlaps with a second electronic component in the form of another inductor coil held on the belt buckle. This generates a signal that allows conclusions to be drawn about the locking status of the belt tongue 1 in the belt buckle. Furthermore, the electronic component 5 on the belt tongue is thus located opposite the second electronic component on the belt buckle, so that signals and, if necessary, electrical power can be transmitted via this connection. For this purpose, the electronic components 5 can also be designed differently from the inductor coils or include additional components.

[0030] In the Figure 5The basic body 2 can be seen as a single component in the sectional view. The ridges 16 and 17 of the edge faces 13 and 14 are preferably formed by bending the edge faces 13 and 14 at an angle W of 10 to 45 degrees, preferably 30 degrees, to the central axis running through the openings 8 and 9. The bending of the edge faces 13 and 14 can, for example, be integrated into the punching process by first punching the openings 8 and 9 with a smaller opening width and then, in a second step, forming the edge faces 13 and 14 into the ridges 16 and 17 by plastic deformation using a punch with a slightly larger dimension.

Claims

1. A belt tongue (1) comprising - a main body (2), - a covering (3) which at least partially covers the main body (2) to the outside, - at least one electronic component (5) arranged between the main body (2) and the covering (3), - the electronic component (5) being arranged on a carrier part (4), and - the carrier part (4) being pre-fixed to the main body (2) by means of a form-fitting design, that - the carrier part (4) has a shape adapted to the outer shape of the main body (2), characterized in that - the main body (2) comprises at least two openings (8, 9) which are separated from one another by a fixed link (7), and - the openings (8, 9) are thickened at least in the region of the edge sides (13, 14) delimiting the fixed link (7), and - the carrier part (4) is pre-fixed to the main body (2) in a form-fitting manner at least between the thickened edge sides (13, 14) of the openings (8, 9).

2. The belt tongue (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that - at least one electrical contact (6) and an electrical line (11) connecting the electrical contact (6) to the electrical component (6) are provided on the carrier part (4).

3. The belt tongue (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that - the electronic component (6), the electrical contact (6) and the electrical line (11) are arranged on the carrier part (4) as a prefabricated composite component (10).

4. The belt tongue (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the electronic component (5) and / or the electrical contact (6) and / or the electrical line (11) is / are arranged on the side of the carrier part (4) that faces the main body (2) of the belt tongue (1).

5. The belt tongue (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the carrier part (4) is a planar component which has a shape adapted to the surface of the main body (2).

6. The belt tongue according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that - the edge sides (13, 14) are formed into thickened beads (16, 17) at an angle W of 10 to 45 degrees, preferably at an angle W of 30 degrees to a central axis of the openings (8, 9).

7. The belt tongue (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the covering (3) is formed by overmolding.

8. A safety belt device comprising a belt tongue (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the safety belt device comprises two belt retractors, on each of which a belt portion having a first end can be wound up, and in that the belt portions are connected to the belt tongue (1) by a second end in each case.

9. The safety belt device according to claim 8, characterized in that - a belt buckle is provided which comprises a second electronic component interacting with the electronic component (5) of the belt tongue (1).

10. A production method for producing a belt tongue (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that - the carrier part (4) is pre-fixed, together with the electronic component (5), to the main body (2), and - the carrier part (4) is then finally fixed between the main body (2) and the covering (3) by applying the covering (3).

11. The production method according to claim 10, characterized in that - the covering (3) is applied by overmolding.