EP3169179B1 - Seat belt buckle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a buckle of a safety belt.

A buckle is part of a safety device in a vehicle and is firmly connected to the body of the vehicle. In the buckle, a tongue can be inserted, on which a webbing is provided, which partially surrounds a vehicle occupant with inserted tongue, in order to fix this at a strong deceleration of the vehicle to the vehicle seat.

Belt buckles with lighting devices are generally known from the prior art, wherein the illumination is used to identify a receiving area for a tongue, so that the vehicle occupant can find the buckle faster. The quick location of the buckle increases the buckle-up rate, as the vehicle occupant does not have to look for the buckle, which can reduce the motivation to buckle up. The lighting devices are intended to ensure reliable and permanent illumination of the receiving area.

The belt locks known from the prior art usually have a buckle housing which has generally been produced by a welding process in that two housing halves have been materially connected to one another. Due to this cohesive connection, the lighting device can be replaced only with considerable effort, which as is felt to be disadvantageous. Furthermore, the space is limited within the buckle, which is why a very compact design of the lighting device is needed. In addition, the receiving area to be illuminated over a large area and with high light intensity, so that the vehicle occupant can find the receiving area even in unfavorable positions of the buckle. Previous belt buckles do not meet these requirements to the fullest satisfaction. A buckle according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from the document US 2012/089302 A1 known.

The object of the invention is to provide a buckle, which allows the best possible and permanent illumination of the receiving area of the tongue with minimal space requirements and provides a lit tongue insertion slot. In addition, an object of the invention to provide a buckle, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and also allows individual adjustments of the buckle, for example, according to the customer requirements for different types of vehicles.

According to the invention this is achieved with a belt buckle with a housing and an existing lighting device in the region of a plug insertion, the lighting device comprises a light source and a light guide with a light exit region and the light guide has an annular portion which surrounds the insertion tongue insertion at least largely. The provision of an annular portion on the light guide allows to illuminate the insertion tongue insertion selectively at any desired locations along its circumference and preferably over its entire circumference and so to effect a unique, valent acting marking of the insertion tongue insertion opening. The lighting is carried out in an area that is well perceived by the vehicle occupant when inserting the tongue and the other is positioned so that the use of any design elements in the body of the housing is possible.

The housing, hereinafter also referred to as Gurtschlossgehäuse, for example, may have a peripheral edge which surrounds a receiving area for a tongue, as well as a lighting device having a light guide and a light source, wherein the light guide has a light exit area in the form of a decoupling surface on the Edge of the buckle housing is provided, which forms the light exit area. The edge of the buckle housing represents the section of the buckle housing, which lies directly in the field of vision of the vehicle occupant when the buckle assumes its typical position in the vehicle. Since the decoupling surface of the light guide is provided at this edge, it is ensured that the receiving area which forms the insertion tongue insertion opening is so well illuminated that the vehicle occupant can find this even in unfavorable positions of the buckle. The light emitted by the light source is led to the outcoupling surface via the light guide, whereby a compact arrangement of the lighting device is possible. This is because the lamp itself can be placed at a position within the buckle, where more space is available than directly on the edge. The lighting means may in particular be an LED, which is designed to be particularly compact.

Preferably, the light exit region is circumferentially formed circumferentially on an axial end side of the annular portion of the light guide, which allows a circumferential around the insertion tab insertion lighting. The light exit area can be, for example, about 1 mm in the radial direction (radially to the insertion direction) in the width, resulting in a discreet, yet clearly perceptible lighting in the region of the insertion tongue insertion without increasing the volume of the buckle.

The light guide preferably consists of a transparent plastic, in particular a polycarbonate (PC).

In order to achieve a uniform illumination, the light guide can have a structured surface on an outer surface facing away from the light exit region. This structured surface is then designed so that it does not run flat, but has a plurality of juxtaposed, small structures, which are designed and aligned so that they reflect the light back into the interior of the annular region of the light guide and thus a homogeneous distribution cause the light within the light guide. The structured surface is preferably provided on an end face of the annular section of the light guide which is opposite the light exit region.

The structured surface has, for example, a multiplicity of prisms arranged side by side, which in particular each have a trapezoidal or triangular cross section and form a kind of sawtooth structure along the rear end face of the light guide. In this way, a very uniform illumination of the entire annular portion can be achieved even with a selective coupling of the light in the light guide.

For coupling the light from the light source into the light guide, the light guide can have an extension protruding axially from the annular section of the light guide or a coupling element. The extension preferably extends to a region in which the illuminant of the illumination device is easy to place and conducts the light from the illuminant to the annular portion and to the light exit region.

In order to further improve the distribution of the light in the annular section of the light guide, a recess can be provided in the annular section in the annular section in the region of the transition of the extension into the annular section, for example. This recess is shaped so that the injected light is evenly distributed in the annular portion. The coupled-in light is reflected in particular at obliquely to the axial direction edges of the recess in the annular portion in the circumferential direction and thus distributed evenly in the annular portion. For example, the recess is a breakthrough in the annular portion, which has approximately a triangular shape, wherein the tip is directed to the extension. Instead of a triangular shape, other shapes can also be used, which suitably have reflecting surfaces which run obliquely to the axial direction and can thus effect a reflection into the annular section.

According to the invention, the annular portion of the light guide is arranged radially within an at least substantially circumferentially closed front panel of the housing, which is to be regarded as a further housing part, wherein the front panel surrounds the insertion opening. The front panel shields the optical fiber radially outward, extending over the entire axial length of the optical fiber and beyond. The The outer surface of the front panel can be designed as desired and can be used as a customized design element.

An even more uniform light distribution along the light exit region as well as the possibility of individual design of the light exit region of the buckle for different vehicle types is achieved according to the invention by the front panel has an annular, at least partially transparent diffuser, the front side axially adjacent to the light exit region of the light guide. This diffuser can also darken areas of the light exit area or can change the color of the exiting light.

Between diffuser and light guide, an air gap is arranged to reduce total reflections and for reasons of high light emission through the diffuser. The height of the air gap between diffuser and light guide is less than 0.5 mm, it is preferably in the range of 0.15 mm to 0.35 mm.

The side facing away from the light guide outside of the diffuser has a very fine-grained structure through which the homogeneity of the light emission is improved again. For this, the diffuser is roughened with a very low graininess.

With the exception of the diffuser, the front panel is preferably opaque so that light exits only through the diffuser.

Front panel and diffuser can be made in one piece by two-component injection molding, for example, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polycarbonate (PC).

However, front panel and optical fiber are preferably separate components, but also a one-piece production would be conceivable. The front panel can be attached to the light guide during the manufacture of the buckle, and light guide and front panel can be welded together for final attachment, for example by ultrasonic or laser welding.

The housing of the buckle preferably has a first shell part, which has an annular circumferential projection which is arranged radially within the light guide. This circumferential projection is disposed at a Einstecköffnungsseitigen end of the first shell part, and the annular Section of the light guide is designed so that it can be plugged onto the projection of the first shell part. The annular circumferential projection of the first shell part shields the light guide radially inwardly from the insertion tongue insertion opening, so that no unwanted light escapes there.

The optical fiber may be welded to the annular peripheral projection of the first shell member or attached thereto in any other suitable manner.

The lighting device preferably comprises an electronic control module, in which the lighting means and an electronic system are arranged. In particular, the electronic control module is attached to the inside of the first shell part of the housing. As lighting means e.g. one or more LEDs used. One way to change the color of the bulb is therefore easy to provide. The color choice can be stored in a memory of the electronic control module and adapted for different vehicle types.

The electrical lead may be integrated into an electrical lead of a seat occupancy detection switch in the buckle to reduce the number of separate electrical cables. An excessive load on the supply line can be prevented by a strain relief on the first shell part of the housing

It is possible to pre-assemble the electronic control module on the first shell part, which reduces the number of individual components of the buckle in the final assembly. Of course, the electronic control module can also be placed on another housing part.

The electrical control module is preferably designed as a LIN module (Local Interconnect Network Bus) and can be connected to a general vehicle electronics.

In a preferred embodiment, the housing of the buckle only consists of the first shell part, the front panel and a second shell part, so that a quick and easy installation of the buckle is possible.

According to one aspect, the light guide is connected to the buckle housing, in particular latched or non-detachably attached thereto. As a result, a particularly compact design of the buckle housing is possible, since the light guide does not have to be fastened by means of fasteners on Gurtschlossgehäuse. This also simplifies the production of the buckle. By a latching connection a change of the light guide is also possible. The light guide can in particular be injection-molded in a two-component injection molding process with the associated housing part, so that no assembly is necessary. The light guide can therefore be sprayed on the buckle housing.

Furthermore, the decoupling surface can be formed circumferentially. The decoupling surface provided on the edge can accordingly enclose the insertion opening forming the receiving area in an annular manner, so that the vehicle occupant can quickly recognize where the receiving area is located, namely in the area enclosed by the decoupling area. This increases the seat belt, as the vehicle occupant does not have to search long after the recording area.

A further aspect provides that the light guide has a coupling element, which is coupled to the lighting means and in particular is designed to taper in a wedge shape. The coupling element of the light guide ensures that the light emitted by the light source is completely coupled into the light guide. This increases the luminosity in the area of the decoupling surface. Due to the wedge shape of the coupling element, a space-saving light guide is nevertheless provided which has a correspondingly large cross section only in the coupling region.

In particular, the buckle housing is composed of several parts shell parts, wherein the light guide is associated with a housing portion on which the edge is formed. Due to the multi-part design of the buckle housing a quick and easy opening of the buckle housing is possible, whereby the lighting device can be changed quickly and easily. Furthermore, it is ensured that the decoupling surface is provided at the edge of the buckle housing, since the light guide is arranged on the housing portion of the multi-part buckle housing.

Another aspect provides that the light guide is embedded substantially in the housing section. This means that the light guide is substantially surrounded by housing material, whereby no additional light output surfaces arise, as would be the case if the light guide were arranged only on the inside of the buckle housing. The light guide is therefore substantially completely enclosed by the housing section. Only the decoupling and the coupling-in area are not enclosed by the housing material of the housing section in which the optical waveguide is embedded.

In particular, the buckle housing may be formed in two parts and comprise two shell parts or housing shells, wherein the housing portion is provided on a first housing shell. About the two-part design a quick and easy opening of the buckle housing is possible and a simple production, since a first housing shell has the essential parts of the buckle, such as the lighting device, whereas the second housing shell is only used to close the buckle housing. The second housing shell thus represents a kind of cover element. The second housing shell may be a standardized housing shell.

Alternatively, the buckle housing may be formed in three parts and comprise two shell parts and a, in particular insertable, housing part, corresponding to the front panel described above, on which the housing portion is provided. The two shell parts may be conventional, standardized Gurtschlossschalen, which can be coupled together to form a kind of body of the housing lock. The housing part, which can be inserted or inserted into the base body, has the housing section on which the light guide is provided. The housing part is therefore annular and provides the edge of the buckle housing ready, which surrounds the receiving area for the tongue.

In particular, the light guide can have a connection structure with which the housing part forming the front panel can be connected to the other shell parts. The housing part is firmly coupled to the two shell parts via the light guide, thereby providing a complete buckle housing.

An above-described buckle can be made so that the optical fiber and at least one housing portion are simultaneously injection-molded, particularly in a multi-component injection molding process. As a result, a particularly quick and easy production of the buckle is possible because the buckle housing is at least partially formed directly with the light guide. The light guide therefore no longer has to be subsequently coupled with the buckle housing. Furthermore, this ensures that the orientation of the light guide within the buckle housing is correct, whereby a homogeneous illumination of the decoupling surface is guaranteed. The remaining parts of the buckle may be formed as a simple and inexpensive injection molded part, which has only one material component.

In particular, the optical waveguide and the at least one housing section are injection-molded such that the optical waveguide is substantially embedded in the housing section. The light guide is thereby protected on the one hand by the housing material surrounding it, and on the other hand it is ensured that the light guide has only the decoupling surface provided on the edge. As a result, the light intensity at the decoupling surface is correspondingly high, since no scattering losses or the like occur.

• Figur 1 eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Gurtschlosses;
• Figur 2 das Gurtschloss aus Figur 1 in einer Seitenansicht;
• Figur 3 das Gurtschloss aus Figur 1 in einer Draufsicht;
• Figur 4 ein erstes Schalenteil des Gehäuses des Gurtschlosses aus Figur 1;
• Figur 5 ein elektronisches Steuermodul der Beleuchtungseinrichtung des Gurtschlosses aus Figur 1;
• Figur 6 eine Darstellung des elektronischen Steuermoduls, montiert im ersten Schalenteil;
• Figur 7 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Lichtleiters des erfindungsgemäßen Gurtschlosses aus Figur 1;
• Figuren 8 und 9 Details des Lichtleiters aus Figur 7;
• Figur 10 eine Variante des Lichtleiters aus Figur 7;
• Figur 11 eine Frontblende des Gurtschlosses aus Figur 1,
• Figur 12 ein erstes Schalenteil mit montiertem Lichtleiter und montierter Frontblende für das Gurtschloss aus Figur 1;
• Figur 13 die Innenseite eines zweiten Schalenteils des Gehäuses des Gurtschlosses aus Figur 1;
• Figur 14 eine schematische Schnittansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Gurtschlosses aus Figur 1;
• Figur 15 eine Perspektivansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Gurtschlosses gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform,
• Figur 16 eine weitere Perspektivansicht des Gurtschlosses aus Figur 1,
• Figur 17 eine Perspektivansicht eines Gehäuseteils des Gurtschlosses aus den Figuren 15 und 16,
• Figur 18 eine weitere Perspektivansicht des Gehäuseteils aus Figur 17,
• Figur 19 eine weitere Perspektivansicht des Gehäuseteils aus Figur 17,
• Figur 20 eine weitere Perspektivansicht des Gehäuseteils aus Figur 17,
• Figur 21 eine weitere Perspektivansicht des Gehäuseteils aus Figur 17,
• Figur 22 eine Perspektivansicht einer Gehäuseschale eines Gurtschlosses gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform,
• Figur 23 eine weitere Perspektivansicht der Gehäuseschale aus Figur 22,
• Figur 24 eine weitere Perspektivansicht der Gehäuseschale aus Figur 22,
• Figur 25 eine weitere Perspektivansicht der Gehäuseschale aus Figur 22,
• Figur 26 eine weitere Perspektivansicht der Gehäuseschale aus Figur 22,
• Figur 27 eine halbtransparente Perspektivdarstellung der Gehäuseschale der Figuren 22 bis 26, und
• Figur 28 eine Draufsicht auf die Gehäuseschale der Figuren 22 bis 27.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to an embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings show:

• FIG. 1 a schematic perspective view of a buckle according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 the buckle out FIG. 1 in a side view;
• FIG. 3 the buckle out FIG. 1 in a plan view;
• FIG. 4 a first shell part of the housing of the buckle FIG. 1 ;
• FIG. 5 an electronic control module of the lighting device of the buckle FIG. 1 ;
• FIG. 6 a representation of the electronic control module, mounted in the first shell part;
• FIG. 7 a perspective view of a light guide of the buckle of the invention FIG. 1 ;
• FIGS. 8 and 9 Details of the light guide off FIG. 7 ;
• FIG. 10 a variant of the light guide FIG. 7 ;
• FIG. 11 a front panel of the buckle FIG. 1 .
• FIG. 12 a first shell part with mounted light guide and mounted front panel for the buckle FIG. 1 ;
• FIG. 13 the inside of a second shell part of the housing of the buckle FIG. 1 ;
• FIG. 14 a schematic sectional view of the buckle of the invention FIG. 1 ;
• FIG. 15 a perspective view of a buckle according to the invention according to a further embodiment,
• FIG. 16 another perspective view of the buckle FIG. 1 .
• FIG. 17 a perspective view of a housing part of the buckle from the FIGS. 15 and 16 .
• FIG. 18 another perspective view of the housing part FIG. 17 .
• FIG. 19 another perspective view of the housing part FIG. 17 .
• FIG. 20 another perspective view of the housing part FIG. 17 .
• FIG. 21 another perspective view of the housing part FIG. 17 .
• FIG. 22 a perspective view of a housing shell of a buckle according to another embodiment,
• FIG. 23 another perspective view of the housing shell FIG. 22 .
• FIG. 24 another perspective view of the housing shell FIG. 22 .
• FIG. 25 another perspective view of the housing shell FIG. 22 .
• FIG. 26 another perspective view of the housing shell FIG. 22 .
• FIG. 27 a semi-transparent perspective view of the housing shell of FIGS. 22 to 26 , and
• FIG. 28 a plan view of the housing shell of FIGS. 22 to 27 ,

FIG. 1 shows a buckle 10 with a housing 12 in which a tongue insertion opening 14 is provided for a not shown tongue of a safety belt system in a vehicle. The housing 12 encloses a support 16 to which an internal mechanism for fixing the tongue is mounted including a button 17 for releasing the tongue (see also FIG. 14 ). The carrier 16 has a portion which extends out of the housing 12 in the axial direction A and which serves to fasten the buckle 10 on the vehicle.

The housing 12 consists in the embodiment shown here of several housing parts, namely a first shell part 18 (see also FIGS. 4 and 6 ) an opposing second shell part 20 (see also FIG. 13 ) and a front panel 22 (shown in detail in the FIGS. 11 and 12 ), which is axially adjacent to both shell parts 18.

In addition, the buckle 10, a lighting device 24 (see FIG. 14 ), which has a light guide 26 (see in detail FIGS. 7 to 10 ) and an electronic control module 28 (see in particular FIGS. 5 and 6 ).

The electronic control module 28 of the illumination device 24 has a control board 30, on which one or more LEDs are provided as a light source 32 and a corresponding electronics 33, which can control the bulbs 32 in light duration, light intensity and possibly light color. The lamps 32 may optionally be provided in only one color, or there may be a plurality of lamps 32 in different colors, which are controlled by the electronics 33 so that any color is generated. The color choice can be made depending on the situation, even color changes are possible.

The electronic control module 28 is designed, for example, as a LIN module for connection to a LIN bus in the vehicle.

An electrical supply line 34 allows the supply of the electronic control module 28 with electrical energy. The electrical supply line 34 is, for example, combined with a supply line for a (not shown) switch for detecting the inserted tongue.

The electronic control module 28 is fixed in this example on the inside of the first shell part 18, for example by a latching or welding connection. A cable guide 36 is integrated into the inside of the first shell part 18 (see FIG. 6 ) And here also causes a strain relief for the supply line 34th

The light from the bulbs 32 is coupled into the light guide 26. For this purpose, the light guide 26 has an extension 38 running away from the insertion opening 14 in the axial direction A, which serves as a coupling element and which has an end-side coupling surface 40 at a free end into which the light emitted by the light sources 32 enters.

At its other end, the extension 38 merges into an annular section 42, which is circumferentially closed here.

In the region of the transition, a recess 44 designed as an opening in the annular section 42 is provided, here in the form of a triangle whose tip points towards the coupling surface 40. The obliquely directed to the axial direction A sides 46 of the recess 44 serve to reflect the light entering through the extension 38 in the annular portion 42 in the circumferential direction in the annular portion 42 into it.

The extension 38 facing away from the end face 48 of the annular portion 42 of the light guide 26 forms a light exit region 60. In this example, the end face 48 is flat.

On the other hand, the end face 50 of the annular section 42 lying opposite the end face 48 here has a structured surface. In this example, a plurality of uniform structures 52 are juxtaposed, in which case the structures 52 are formed by prisms each having a trapezoidal cross-section and oriented longitudinally transverse to the circumferential direction. This is in the FIGS. 8 and 9 indicated.

The structures 52 serve to reflect the light in the annular portion 42 toward the front end 48 where it is to leave the light guide 26.

FIG. 10 shows a variant of a light guide 26 '. Here, the extension 38 'is shorter, but the coupling surface 40' wider, so that, for example, the bulb 32 can have more easily adjacent LEDs. It is also possible for a plurality of coupling surfaces 40 'to lie next to each other or to be present in an arcuate manner around the lighting means 32. The rear end face can also be structured or smooth here.

The first shell part 18 of the housing 12 has an annular projection 54 (see FIGS. 6 and 12 ) which extends around the tongue insertion opening 14 around. The projection 54 is formed integrally with the remaining first shell part 18. The entire first shell part 18, but in particular the projection 54, in this example opaque, so opaque formed. As the material for the first shell part 18, but also the other parts of the housing 12, for example, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) or polypropylene (PP) is suitable.

The light guide 26, 26 'consists for example of polycarbonate (PC).

When mounting the buckle 10, the light guide 26 is attached with its annular portion 42 on the projection 54 on the first shell part 18 and can be connected to the projection 54, for example by welding (ultrasonic or laser welding) or gluing.

A light emission of the light guide 26 radially inward is prevented by the projection 54. The projection 54 extends in the axial direction A in this example, at least to the front side 48 of the light guide 26 or even slightly beyond, as in FIG. 14 can be seen.

The front panel 22 of the housing 12 is here also designed as circumferentially closed circumferential ring (see FIGS. 11 and 12 ) and is attached to the light guide 26 ( FIG. 12 and FIG. 14 ). Front panel 22 and light guide 26 are also suitably secured together, for example by a snap, glued or welded connection, for example via ultrasonic or laser welding, and are fixed and not releasably connected together.

The front panel 22 is made opaque along its peripheral surface and thus blocks radiation of light from the optical fiber 26 in the radial direction r to the outside. The front panel 22 may be designed as a design element, for example with a chromed outer surface or in piano lacquer look. The front panel 22 is manufactured separately from the other housing parts, so that the appearance of the buckle 10 by providing a differently shaped front panel 22 is variable.

At the plug-side end face 56 of the front panel 22 is a transparent, annular circumferential, the insertion tabs insertion opening 14 surrounding diffuser 58 is provided, through which the light emerging from the end face 48 of the light guide 26 penetrates to the outside. The diffuser 58 connects in the axial direction A to the end face 48 of the light guide 26. In this case, an air gap is formed between the diffuser and the end face 48 of the light guide 26, which has a height of 0.25 mm in this embodiment.

The diffuser 58 may be designed such that it influences the color of the exiting light and / or changes the emission characteristic of the end face 48 of the light guide 26. But it also ensures a gap-free completion of the housing 12 to the outside and prevents penetration of dirt into the housing 12. Diffuser 58 and front panel 22 are therefore manufactured in one piece in this example in a two-component injection molding process. As a material for the diffuser, for example, polycarbonate (PC) is used. The plug-in side end of the diffuser is structured to improve the homogeneity of the light exit, i. fine grained with a low roughness roughened.

Instead of the light guide 26 may always be in FIG. 10 shown light guide 26 'are installed.

As the last assembly step, the second shell part 20 is connected to the first shell part 18, for example by a latching, gluing or welding connection.

In the radial direction r, the width of the end face 48 is for example about 1 mm. The width of the diffuser 58 in the radial direction r is of the same order of magnitude here selected. In this way, a light exit region 60 of the buckle 10, which is formed circumferentially around the insertion tongue insertion opening 14 and which is about 1 mm in width.

The projection 54 of the first shell part 18 and the front panel 22 prevent radiation of light from the light guide 26 in the radial direction r, so that only emerges from the light exit region 60 light and the light exit region 60 forms the single illuminated portion of the buckle 10.

The FIGS. 15 to 28 show further embodiments.

In the FIGS. 15 and 16 a buckle 100 is shown according to another embodiment, wherein the locking mechanism of the buckle 100, which cooperates with a tongue, for reasons of clarity is not shown.

The buckle 100 has a buckle housing 112, which is formed in three parts in the embodiment shown.

The housing 112 has a first shell portion 118, also as a first housing shell viewable, a second shell portion 120, also referred to as the second housing shell, and a housing part which forms a front panel 122 and which has an edge 121 which has a receiving area 114 for a Inserted tongue with an insertion opening for the tongue.

The two shell parts 118, 120 together form a main body 123 of the housing 112, in which the front panel 122 is inserted. As a result, the two shell parts 118, 120 and the front panel 122 are coupled together so that they form the complete housing 112.

Furthermore, the buckle 100 has a lighting device 124 which comprises a lighting means 132 and a light guide 126. The light-emitting means 132 may be an LED which, for example, emits red light. Alternatively, a multi-colored LED can be provided so that the color of the emitted light can be adapted to the preferences of the vehicle occupant.

The light-emitting means 132 is provided inside the buckle 100, wherein it is arranged on the first shell part 118. The light guide 126, however, is disposed in a housing portion 129 of the housing 112, which in the embodiment shown by the second shell portion 120 is formed. Therefore, the light emitting means 132 and the light guide 126 are arranged at different parts of the three-part housing 12.

The light guide 132 further has a coupling element 138, which is coupled in the assembled state of the buckle 100 with the illuminant 132 such that the light emanating from the illuminant 132 is coupled via the coupling element 138 in the light guide 126.

The coupling element 138 is formed wedge-shaped tapering, whereby the coupling element 138 has a large coupling surface 140. The coupled via the coupling element 138 light passes through the light guide 126 to a decoupling surface 160, which is arranged on the edge 121 of the housing 112.

In the illustrated embodiment, the decoupling surface 160 is formed as a circumferential band on the edge 121, so that it surrounds the insertion opening and the receiving area 122 in an annular manner.

In particular, the decoupling surface 160 has a width of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm, preferably 1 mm, and is disposed directly on the surface of the housing 112, which is in the field of view of the buckle 100, if this is a typical position in a vehicle occupies.

In the FIGS. 17 to 21 the housing part corresponding to the front panel 122 of the first embodiment is shown separately.

From the FIGS. 17 to 21 shows that the light guide 126 in addition to the Auskoppelfläche 160 and the coupling element 138 has a connection structure 162, via which the front panel 122 can be coupled to the two shell parts 118, 120 and with the base 123. In this case, the connection structure 162 is formed on an end of the front panel 122 opposite the edge 121.

It is also apparent from the figures that the light guide 126 is embedded in the front panel 122, since the light guide 126 is essentially surrounded by the housing material of the front panel 122. Only the decoupling surface 160 on the edge 121 and the coupling element 138 and the connecting structure 162 are not surrounded by the housing material. The light guiding structure of The light guide 126 therefore runs essentially in the interior of the front panel 122, so that only the outcoupling surface 160, the coupling element 138 and the connection structure 162 can be seen from the light guide 126.

The light guide 126 is therefore integrally formed with the housing portion 129 and the front panel 122 in the embodiment shown.

The front panel 122 may therefore preferably be made in a multi-component injection molding process. This ensures that the inner and the outer housing surface of the front panel 122 is formed of a first, opaque material, whereas the light guide 126 embedded therein is made of a second, light-conducting material. As a result, the light guide 126 is surrounded by the housing material of the front panel 122 and the front panel 122 and has only a single outcoupling surface 160.

The material for the optical waveguide 126 may be, for example, high-tech-finished plastics which have particular light scattering, light-guiding properties or an additional metallic effect.

In contrast, the first and second shell members 118, 120 in this embodiment may have been manufactured in a one-component injection molding process as they may be standardized components.

Alternatively, the light guide 126 may also be produced as a separate component and locked to the housing section 129 or the front panel 122. For this purpose, both the light guide 126 and the housing section 129 or the front panel 122 may have a latching structure.

In the FIGS. 22 to 28 is the first shell portion 118 of a buckle 100 shown according to another embodiment, which is formed only in two parts. The same or equivalent components are therefore provided with the already introduced reference numerals.

The partially illustrated housing 112 is thus formed in this embodiment by the two shell parts 118, 120, of which only the first shell part 118 is shown.

The first shell part 118 has a housing section 164, which essentially corresponds to the front cover 122 in the first embodiment according to FIGS characters 15 to 21 equivalent. The housing portion 164 has analogous to the front panel 122 of the first embodiment, the circumferential edge 121 and the light guide 126, which is embedded in the previous embodiment in the first shell part 118. The decoupling surface 160 of the light guide 126 is provided analogously to the first embodiment at the edge 121, which is now arranged on the first shell part 118.

Accordingly, the first shell part 118 according to the previous embodiment additionally has the front panel 122, which in this embodiment is formed integrally with the first shell part 118 and is referred to as the housing part 162, compared to the first shell part 118 according to this embodiment.

In this embodiment, the lighting means 132, which in the FIGS. 25 to 27 is also shown arranged on the inner surface of the first shell part 118. Accordingly, in this embodiment, both the illuminant 132 and the light guide 126 are provided on the same housing portion or part of the housing 12. This also applies to the coupling element 138, which cooperates via its coupling surface 140 with the lamp 132.

The first shell member 118, having the light guide 126, has preferably been manufactured in a multi-component injection molding process. The light guide 126 is therefore substantially completely surrounded by the housing material of the first shell part 118 or substantially embedded in the first shell part 118.

The second shell part 120 in this embodiment, which is not shown in the figures, may be formed analogously to the second shell part 120 according to the previous embodiment and thereby produced in a one-component injection molding process, since it may be a standardized component.

In the two-part embodiment according to the FIGS. 22 to 28 the second shell part 120 is put on or pushed and fixed with the first shell part 118, so that the complete buckle housing 112 is formed.

In general, in both embodiments of the buckle 100 it is provided that the parts forming the housing 112, ie the two shell parts 118, 120 and possibly the front panel 122, are placed on one another or pushed or pushed in to provide an easily detachable housing 112. As a result, the lighting means 26, if necessary, can be replaced quickly and easily.

In the first shell part 118, the components for the buckle mechanism are generally used before the assembly of the buckle 100, which cooperate with the tongue.

In general, it is ensured via the geometry of the light guide 126 and the optional insertion of lenses that the decoupling surface 160 is homogeneously illuminated, so that a uniformly circulating light band marks the receiving region 114, so that it can easily be found by the vehicle occupant.

Furthermore, it can generally be provided that a chrome element is provided on the edge 121 in order to make the appearance of the buckle housing 112 appear more high-quality. The chrome element can be designed as a circumferential chromium ring and in particular be arranged adjacent to the decoupling surface 160 such that the decoupled light is reflected on the chromium surface. The chrome element is preferably provided next to the decoupling surface 160 on the side of the decoupling surface 160 facing away from the insertion opening 114.

The light-emitting means 132 may generally be designed as a kind of pre-assembly unit, that is to say electrical connections and optionally a series resistor are provided which only have to be contacted during installation of the belt lock 100.

Claims (18)

1. A belt buckle comprising a housing (12) and a lighting unit (24) present in the area of a plug-in tongue insertion opening (14), wherein the lighting unit (24) comprises a lamp (32) and a light conductor (26; 26') having a light emission area and the light conductor (26; 26') includes an annular portion (42; 42') which surrounds at least a large part of the plug-in tongue insertion opening (14),
   characterized in that the annular portion (42; 42') of the light conductor (26; 26') is arranged radially inside of an at least largely peripherally closed front panel (22) of the housing (12), the front panel (22) framing the insertion opening (14),
   and in that the front panel (22) includes an annular, at least partially transparent diffusor (58) which is axially adjacent to the light emission area of the light conductor (26; 26').
2. The belt buckle according to claim 1, characterized in that the light emitting area is configured to be peripherally circumferential at an axial end face (48; 48') of the annular portion (42; 42') of the light conductor (26; 26').
3. The belt buckle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light conductor (26) includes a structured surface at an end face (50) facing away from the light emission area.
4. The belt buckle according to claim 3, characterized in that the structured surface includes a plurality of structures (52), especially prisms, arranged side by side.
5. The belt buckle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light conductor (26; 26') has an extension (38; 38') which projects axially from the annular portion (42; 42') of the light conductor (26; 26') and via which the light of the lamp (32) is coupled into the light conductor (26; 26').
6. The belt buckle according to claim 5, characterized in that in the area of the transition of the extension (38) into the annular portion (42) a recess (44) which is shaped so that the coupled light is evenly spread in the annular portion (42) is provided in the annular portion (42).
7. The belt buckle according to claim 1, characterized in that the front panel (22) with the exception of the diffusor (58) is opaque.
8. The belt buckle according to claim 1 or 7, characterized in that between the diffusor (58) and the light emission area of the light conductor (26; 26') an air gap is formed.
9. The belt buckle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (12) includes a first shell member (18) having an annularly circumferential projection (54) which is arranged radially inwardly of the light conductor (26; 26').
10. The belt buckle according to claims 1 and 9, characterized in that the housing (12) consists of the first shell member (18), the front panel (22) and a second shell member (20).
11. The belt buckle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting unit (24) comprises an electronic control module (28) in which the lamp (32) as well as an electronic system (33) are arranged, and especially wherein the electronic control module (28) is fastened to the inside of the first shell member (18) of the housing (12).
12. The belt buckle (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light conductor (126) is connected to, especially locked with or permanently attached to the belt buckle housing (112).
13. The belt buckle (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light conductor (126) includes a coupling element (138) which is coupled to the lamp (132) and is formed to be especially wedge-shaped.
14. The belt buckle (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the belt buckle housing (112) consists of several parts, wherein the light emission area of the light conductor (126) is provided at a rim (121) of the belt buckle housing (112) and is associated with a housing portion (129, 164) on which the rim (121) is formed.
15. The belt buckle (100) according to claim 14, characterized in that the light conductor (126) is substantially embedded in the housing portion (129, 164).
16. The belt buckle (100) according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the belt buckle housing (112) is formed in two parts and comprises two shell members (118, 120), with the housing portion (164) being provided at the first shell member (118).
17. The belt buckle (100) according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the belt buckle housing (112) is formed in three parts and comprises two shell members (118, 120) as well as an, especially insertable, front panel (122) on which the housing portion (129) is provided.
18. The belt buckle (100) according to claim 16, characterized in that the light conductor (126) includes a connecting structure (162) by which the front panel (122) is connectable to the shell members (118, 120).

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