Belt Buckle Pivot Stop with Sound-Absorbing Cable Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing belt buckle arrangements with sensors face issues of data cable wear and impairment due to friction with movable parts, and noise emission during pivoting movements, which affect operability and user experience.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a sound-absorbing element between the stop on the holder and the stop surface on the belt buckle, designed to absorb kinetic energy and guide the data cable away from the holder, reducing friction and noise, while ensuring a secure connection between the buckle and holder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the data cable is directed out from the belt buckle without protection, then the cable routing is simple, but the cable suffers from friction and wear against movable parts
Solution Approach 1:
A guide section is introduced as an intermediary component between the data cable and the movable parts. This guide section channels the cable through a protected path, preventing direct contact between the cable and moving components, thereby reducing friction and wear while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The guide section is designed as a flexible or rigid protective channel that the data cable passes through. This protective pathway shields the cable from mechanical damage during pivoting movements, extending cable life without significantly increasing device complexity
2Device complexity
If the stop and stop surface are in direct contact during pivoting movement, then the mechanical connection is simple, but noise is emitted during operation
Solution Approach 1:
A sound-absorbing element is positioned between the stop and stop surface as a mediator. This element absorbs the impact energy and reduces noise emission during pivoting movement, while maintaining the simple mechanical stop mechanism without adding complex damping systems
Solution Approach 2:
The sound-absorbing element changes the physical parameters of the contact interface by introducing material with high damping characteristics. This transforms the hard impact contact into a softer, noise-reducing interaction, lowering the acoustic emission during operation
3Ease of manufacture
If the data cable lies against movable parts, then the installation is simple, but friction leads to cable wear and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The guide section serves as a protective intermediary that separates the data cable from movable parts. The cable is routed through this guide structure, which prevents direct contact and friction with moving components, reducing wear while maintaining ease of installation
Solution Approach 2:
The guide section is pre-installed and configured before the data cable is routed through it. This preliminary preparation creates a protected pathway in advance, making the subsequent cable installation simple while ensuring the cable is immediately protected from wear
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The sound-absorbing element effectively reduces noise emission and prevents data cable damage, ensuring smooth operation and secure mounting of the belt buckle, while maintaining the functionality and safety of the belt buckle system.
Implementation Method 1
the sound-absorbing element, in particular owing to its shape and/or material properties, is suitable for absorbing the kinetic energy of the pivoting movement of the belt buckle when the stop strikes onto the stop surface
Implementation Method 2
which element has a guide section which cooperates with the data cable so that the data cable in the belt buckle does not come in contact with the holder
Data Source
AI summary
A belt buckle arrangement for a seat belt system includes a belt buckle (1) with a spring-loaded locking mechanism for locking a belt tongue in a buckle housing (2). A spring-loaded push button (3) is displaceably guided on the buckle housing (2) for acting on the locking mechanism. A belt buckle status sensor (4) is connected with a data cable (5) directed out from the belt buckle (1). The buckle housing (2) is pivotably connected with a holder (6). Pivoting of the belt buckle (1) to the holder (6) is delimited by a stop (8) on the holder (6) abutting a stop surface (7) on the belt buckle (1). A sound-absorbing element (9) between the stop (8) and the stop surface (7) has a guide section (10) ensuring that the data cable (5) in the belt buckle (1) does not come in contact with the holder (6).