EP0662288B1 - Belt buckle for at least two safety belts - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a belt buckle according to the preamble of claim 1.

There are a large number of different buckles with differently designed belt tongues, corresponding to the preferred applications. Such systems will both as restraint systems in motor vehicles or vehicles and aircraft in general, as well as for child seats, Wheelchairs and other similar devices are used.

The different designs are different Requirements of the individual case or the authorizing authorities conditionally. The mechanics differ considerably. This is complicated with the known buckles, in Interplay of the individual parts is fragile and complex, i.e. to manufacture at high cost.

From DE-27 55 865 A1 a belt buckle according to the preamble of claim 1 is known.
This belt buckle is designed and designed in a complex manner, in particular the lock plate, referred to there as the receiving part, consists of two plates. This makes the construction and in particular the assembly relatively complicated.

The invention is based on the object, a belt buckle to create according to the preamble of claim 1, that is simply constructed and easy to assemble and nevertheless a function that meets all requirements ensures. The buckle should also have a two-part The tongue must be designed as a so-called 5-point version.

This task is fundamentally characterized by the Claim 1 and in addition with a two-part tongue solved by the features of claim 6.

According to the invention there is only one lock plate, the forms the entire load-bearing element of the castle. All Forces that take up the lock are from it a lock plate and taken directly into the belt initiated. Because only one lock plate is available is, the lock can be manufactured inexpensively and easily to be assembled. At the same time, the space requirement is reduced and the design possibilities are improved, because a flat education and a modern design possible are.

The guides for the tongue are formed on the lock plate and the sliding plate is attached to it, which receives the locks. These locks are in two parts, with the two parts, the lock plate and the lock bed, made of different materials in order to prevent metallic friction. The actuation forces, ie the insertion forces or opening forces, whether they cause a load or not, can be varied and precisely defined depending on the application. Avoiding metallic friction is also a protection against corrosion since the surface wears
not taking place. Furthermore, the barrier beds act as a damping element due to their shape and material in the event of a load (for example, in the event of a sudden load or an accident). Finally, the locks from the lock plate and lock bed are simple in design and easy to assemble, so that incorrect assembly is eliminated. In particular, the fact that the pin is part of the barrier bed and made of plastic, a significant simplification and thus cheaper.

The formation of a one-piece spring (claim 3) simplified Construction and assembly continue. Nevertheless, the Spring be designed so that the forces for the locking function and the ejection function largely independent of each other can be chosen (claim 4).

The belt buckle according to the invention is particularly advantageous then when the tongue is formed in two parts. The Requirement that closing is only possible if both tongues assumed their inserted end position have is fulfilled safely and easily.

If the buckle is designed according to claim 6, as preferably defined in claim 7, then a safe, simple means given to the two Tongue parts quickly and with each other before insertion easy to connect and ensure that connection or latching also remains until the two Tongue parts are inserted and their final locking position achieved. By the locking means (Pin and hole) becomes a lock in one Level and a locking in through the guide surfaces the other plane perpendicular to this. The tongue parts assembled once before closing can easily be held in this position until they are finally inserted. There is a wrong assembly not possible. On the other hand, the two separate Tongues in the event of a security, i.e. the locking means and the guide surfaces hinder this Not. The effort to assemble is low.

By the configuration according to claim 8 with the Belt slits covered metal parts and protected, even from sunlight, that they are not can heat up. Furthermore, the so-called "rotation" of the Belt buckle counteracted. This means one Effect in which tongue parts and lock plate twist large train so that the tongue parts Point towards the stomach of the person wearing the seat belt. Through the The belt run is offset when the belt is tightened Seat belts a righting moment that of the rotating movement counteracts.

The training according to claim 9 represents a simple possibility to make these parts by overmolding, i.e. the peg becomes the same when the coating is overmolded co-manufactured. At the same time, it creates a secure connection between the tongue part made of metal and the casing made of plastic.

In the following the invention with reference to the Drawing explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 1

eine sog. "Explosionszeichnung" einer Ausführungsform eines Gurtschlosses nach der Erfindung;

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf das Gurtschloss nach Fig. 1 in zusammengesetztem und zusammengeschobenem Zustand, jedoch ohne Schiebetaste und Gehäuseoberteil;

Fig. 3

eine geschnittene Seitenansicht der Darstellung nach Fig. 2 ohne Feder;

Fig. 4

eine Ansicht des Gurtschlosses von oben in zusammengeschobenem Zustand;

Fig.5

eine Ansicht der Darstellung der Fig. 4 von der Seite, von der die Zunge eingeschoben ist; und

Fig. 6

eine Ansicht in Richtung der Pfeile VI.

It shows:

Fig. 1

a so-called "exploded view" of an embodiment of a belt buckle according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a plan view of the buckle of Figure 1 in the assembled and pushed together state, but without a slide button and upper housing part.

Fig. 3

a sectional side view of the illustration of Figure 2 without spring.

Fig. 4

a view of the buckle from above in the pushed together state;

Fig. 5

a view of the representation of Figure 4 from the side from which the tongue is inserted. and

Fig. 6

a view in the direction of arrows VI.

The buckle shown in the drawing represents one So-called 5-point version. The belt buckle consists of a Lower housing part 1 made of plastic, in which the mechanics is housed, and from a metallic tongue 2, the two parts (tongue parts 2a and 2b) in this embodiment is trained. The tongue parts 2a and 2b are partial provided with a casing 10 made of plastic.

The end of the tongue parts (2a and 2b) that inserted is arrow-shaped and has open sides Incisions 25 provided, so that a light Insertion is possible. The tongue 2 is divided in the middle, so that the two tongue parts arise and one each Form half of the arrow.

The belt slots 11 are at an angle (e.g. 45 °) to one another arranged. The metallic tongue parts 2a and 2b are each provided with a casing 10 made of plastic, in such a way that when the tongue part is put together 2b with the tongue part 2a these two parts lie one above the other and be guided through the surfaces 26 and 27. A bore 12 is in the casing of the tongue part 2a and a pin 13 is provided on the tongue part 2b, so that a positive locking with simultaneous Guidance in the plane perpendicular to this is achieved. The Sheath 10 covers the belt slots, so that the seat belt is not visible from the outside.

The load-bearing element is the lock plate 3. This is the case executed that in their protruding from the upper housing part 1 ' Part of a slot 14 for receiving the seat belt is punched out. Furthermore, the lock plate is at 15 designed so that they directly the top and the side Guide for the tongue parts 2a and 2b to be inserted represents. The provided in the lock plate 3, the Slot 14 opposite recesses 16 serve the Inclusion of a sliding plate 4.

Below the lock plate 3 transversely to the direction of insertion Tongue parts there is this U-shaped design Sliding plate 4, which with its open side in the direction of Lock plate 3 shows and with its projections 17 in the Recesses 16 of the lock plate 3 protrude.

There are two symmetrical locks in the sliding plate 5. These each consist of a locking plate 5a and a barrier bed 5b. The barrier bed 5b is a gutter executed, made of plastic and with a provided above protruding pin 18 by the corresponding Recess 16 protrudes through the lock plate 3. The barrier beds each have one towards the center flat support surface 19, which as a guide or support for the tongue parts 2a and 2b serves. In the barrier beds are the two barrier plates 5a. These are smooth Tempered steel plate with a hole through which the pin 18 of the associated barrier bed 5b protrudes and the Fix the locking plates 5a in the desired position.

The slide plate 4 is broken through in the insertion direction of the tongue 2, so that the tongue 2 is inserted into the sliding plate can be. It's on the opposite side Slide plate 4 also broken through at 20, so that the Tongue 2 or the tongue parts 2a, 2b through the sliding plate can get through and get contact to the spring 6, which serves as an ejection spring in this area.

Below the lock plate 3 is in the lower housing part 1 the spring 6. This is designed as a curved leaf spring, so that on the one hand the two locking plates 5 presses to the middle and on the other hand the tongue parts 2a, 2b simultaneously loaded against the direction of insertion and provided with a pretension useful for ejection. Furthermore, the spring 6 is bent in the middle, so that an individually inserted tongue part is immediately ejected again will, and locking tongue parts only can take place when both tongue parts together in correct location are introduced at the same time.

The sliding button is located above the lock plate 7. This is guided laterally through the upper housing part 1 and slides directly on the lock plate 3. On the bottom 7 sliding surfaces 21 are provided in the sliding key, that are similar to an inclined plane. These backdrop areas or slots 21 work with the pin 18 of the Barrier beds 5 together. The sliding button is guided that with its actuating surface 22 during actuation must completely immerse in the upper housing part 1 in order to perform the unlocking. On the the operating area opposite side is a resilient to the slide button Injection molded plastic element 23. Through this training can the opening and operating forces accordingly be adapted to the purpose of the user. If instead of the slot slots 21 shown Backdrop surfaces are used, so these are only effective when opened by pressing the slide button the belt buckle should take place. Then when closing there are no mating surfaces, so the sliding button is not must be moved.

Due to the special design of the casing 10 Plastic for the two tongue parts 2a and 2b is achieved that the seat belts on one outside offset plane in relation to the plane of the slots 11 emerge and create a moment under load that the Counteracts rotation of the lock.

If the lock, as shown in the drawing, as 5-point version is designed to be closed first the two tongue parts 2a and 2b are joined together, wherein pin 13 and bore 12 lock together and the surfaces 26 and 27 come to lie on one another. Thereby the two tongue parts are fixed to each other in the correct position and they can easily work together in the right one Positioning.

By simultaneously inserting the two tongue parts the locks 5 laterally against the force of the spring 6 pushed apart. The spring 6 presses against the Tips of the tongue parts, so that a bias towards Ejection is generated.

The moment the tongue parts reach their end position have the locks by the spring 6 in their locked position pressed. The lock is now locked.

The opening process is carried out by pressing the slide button 7. This is designed so that only in the axial direction the tongue parts 2 must be actuated. By Pushing the slide button 7 will be over on the bottom located backdrop surfaces 21, the two lock plates 5a over the attached to the barrier beds 5b Pin 18 pushed apart. The moment the the two locking plates 5a, the incisions 25 of the tongue parts 2 leave, these tongue parts are biased by the Spring 6 actively ejected.

Claims (9)

1. Belt lock for the detachable connection of at least two safety belts, whereof one is fixed to a lock plate (3) and the other to a tongue (2) with laterally open grooves (25), in which engage spring-loaded catches (5), which are unlockable by a sliding key displaceable counter to the action of a second spring (23) relative to the lock plate and displaceable in the plane of the tongues perpendicular to the tongue movement direction in the closing direction through the tongues and in the opening direction by means of a link guide (18, 21) through the sliding key, the link guide being formed by two link faces sloping with respect to the sliding movement of the sliding key (7) and with pins (18) on the catches (5) cooperating therewith, characterized in that the lock plate (3) has lateral guides for the tongue (2) and recesses (16) for receiving a sliding plate (4), that the sliding plate is U-shaped and its open side is directed towards the lock plate and projects with projections (17) into the recesses (16) and that the catches (5) are displaceably mounted in the sliding plate and in each case comprise a catch plate (5a) and a catch bed (5b), whereof the catch plate is made from metal and the catch beds receiving the same from plastic, the pins (18) being part of the catch beds and passing through openings in the catch beds.
2. Belt lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the link faces (21) are formed in the underside of the sliding key (7) and that the sliding key slides directly on the top of the lock plate (3).
3. Belt lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spring (6) biasing the catch plate (5a) is constructed in one piece, preferably as a leaf spring.
4. Belt lock according to claim 3, characterized in that the one-piece spring (6) also forms the spring against which the tongue (2) is movable in the closing direction and which biases the tongue in the opening direction.
5. Belt lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring (23) loading the sliding key is formed in one piece therewith from plastic.
6. Belt lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is constructed as a three or five-point lock and has a split tongue (2a, 2b) and that each tongue part (2a, 2b) has one of the laterally open grooves (25) and that securing means (12, 13) are provided for the positive connection of the two tongue parts perpendicular to the tongue plane and in each case one guide face (26, 27) thereon in the tongue plane.
7. Belt lock according to claim 6, characterized in that the securing means are formed by a pin (13) on one tongue part (2b) and a hole (12) matching the same on the other tongue part (2a).
8. Belt lock according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the tongue parts (2a, 2b) and lock plate (3) in the vicinity of the belt slots (11, 14) in each case have a plastic jacket (1, 10) projecting outwards in the use position, guiding the associated safety belt in one plane, which is outwardly displaced with respect to the plane of the belt slot (11, 14).
9. Belt lock according to claim 7 and 8, characterized in that the pin (13) is part of the plastic jacket (11).

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