EP3302161B1 - Illuminated safety belt buckle for a safety belt device of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Illuminated safety belt buckle for a safety belt device of a motor vehicle Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3302161B1
EP3302161B1 EP16727521.3A EP16727521A EP3302161B1 EP 3302161 B1 EP3302161 B1 EP 3302161B1 EP 16727521 A EP16727521 A EP 16727521A EP 3302161 B1 EP3302161 B1 EP 3302161B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
light
insertion slot
housing
belt lock
pushbutton
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Active
Application number
EP16727521.3A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP3302161A1 (en
Inventor
Arndt SÖHNCHEN
Iulian Rotariu
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Autoliv Development AB
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Autoliv Development AB
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Publication of EP3302161A1 publication Critical patent/EP3302161A1/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
    • A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
    • A44B11/00—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts
    • A44B11/25—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts with two or more separable parts
    • A44B11/2503—Safety buckles
    • A44B11/2546—Details
    • A44B11/2565—Illuminated buckles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
    • A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
    • A44B11/00—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts
    • A44B11/25—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts with two or more separable parts
    • A44B11/2503—Safety buckles
    • A44B11/2507—Safety buckles actuated by a push-button
    • A44B11/2523—Safety buckles actuated by a push-button acting parallel to the main plane of the buckle and in the same direction as the fastening action

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an illuminated belt buckle for a safety belt device of a motor vehicle having the features of the preamble of claim 1.
  • Belt buckles for safety belt devices of motor vehicles generally serve to lock a strap tongue guided displaceably on a belt strap or firmly connected to one end of a belt strap.
  • the buckle on an insertion slot for the belt tongue and a detachable via a push button locking mechanism.
  • the locking mechanism is spring-loaded and locks the belt tongue automatically when inserted into the insertion slot.
  • the occupant pushes the push button down, whereby the locking mechanism is released and the belt tongue is ejected by a released spring force of the locking mechanism.
  • buckles have long been state of the art.
  • a problem of such buckles is that the occupant to buckle the relatively narrow insertion slot of the buckle must find, in which he introduces the belt tongue for buckling the seat belt.
  • the buckle a light source which is coupled via a light-conducting material to predetermined light emitting surfaces of the buckle.
  • the light emitting surfaces are here the push button itself and arranged on one of the pushbutton opposite side surface of the insertion slot radiating surface. Since the pushbutton has to be designed to be displaceable for its function, the photoconductive material fixedly arranged in the pushbutton must be positioned in the pushbutton such that the light entry surface of the photoconductive material in the non-depressed position of the pushbutton is connected to the external light source by light. If the light entry surface of the photoconductive material in this position is not technically connected to the external light source due to production-related shape deviations or mechanical influences, the light is not or not completely introduced into the push button, so that the push button itself is not or weakly lit than desired ,
  • the US 2007 236 917 A1 discloses a buckle for a restraint system in which around the push button of the buckle an illuminable slot is formed to facilitate finding the pushbutton and / or a Einsteckschlitzes for a belt tongue of the seat belt.
  • an illuminable belt buckle for a motor vehicle wherein the illumination takes place via a bundle of glass fibers, which are optically connected to a light source.
  • the US 2012 089 302 A1 discloses a buckle with a housing and a pushbutton arranged in the housing and an insertion slot for a belt tongue, wherein on the housing, a light source and a light emitting surface are formed with which the buckle can be illuminated differently depending on the external conditions.
  • a buckle for a safety belt wherein the buckle comprises a housing with two housing shells and arranged between the housing shells pushbutton for unlocking a belt tongue inserted into the buckle, wherein in the housing interior at least one light-emitting element is arranged, with which a translucent gap on the housing edge is illuminated ,
  • the object of the invention is to provide an illuminated belt buckle of the generic type, in which the buckle and the push button for the arrival and Abschnallvorgang are particularly easy to find.
  • the light emission surface on the belt buckle has a linear contour whose shape is adapted to the shaping of an edge side of the pushbutton arranged laterally in the viewing direction on the insertion slot.
  • the advantage of the proposed solution is the fact that the finding of the buckle and in particular the push button is firstly simplified due to the lighting itself. Secondly, in addition, the position of the push button due to the shape of the light emitting surface is characterized, so that the finding and pressing the push button is simplified.
  • the occupant can easily find the push button after a multiple operation thereof and a certain exercise and knowledge of the position of the light emitting surface to the edge of the push button simplified only by the position of the luminous light emitting surface.
  • the occupant can release the buckle by pressing "blindly" on the area next to the light-emitting surface, without having to recognize the push-button itself.
  • the actuation of the push button is facilitated by the fact that the buckle in the buckled normal position and in the unloaded or unbelted position has a basic orientation in which the push button is always located on the same side of the light emitting surface. Since the insertion slot is again always arranged in a fixed orientation to the push button, this can also be found simplified for the seat belt.
  • the light-emitting surface extend to one of the ends of the insertion slot.
  • the occupant can find the insertion slot in knowledge of the alignment with the light emitting surface after a certain exercise very easy by mentally extending the light emitting surface and introduces the belt tongue there in the mentally extended position accordingly.
  • the insertion slot is thereby deliberately illuminated at one end, so that the insertion slot itself can be seen improved for the occupant.
  • the finding can be particularly simplified by the light emitting surface having an identical or smaller width than the insertion slot.
  • the illuminating light emitting surface is thereby identically wide or even narrower than the insertion slot, so that the occupant can easily position the belt tongue in its transversal transverse orientation by aligning the belt tongue approximately over the mentally elongated portion of the light emitting surface. Due to the proposed width of the light emitting surface, the belt tongue is then in the transverse direction of the insertion slot on the insertion slot and then only has to be plugged.
  • two light emitting surfaces may preferably be provided on the belt buckle, which are arranged on different, opposite edge sides of the push button.
  • the pushbutton is thereby framed on both sides by the two light-emitting surfaces, so that the position of the push-button between the light-emitting surfaces is clearly defined and can therefore be found particularly easily with luminous light-emitting surfaces.
  • the pushbutton itself does not have to be recognizable, the occupant merely has to put his finger on the space between the luminous surfaces of the light Press the surface to release the belt tongue and initiate the peeling process.
  • the light emitting surfaces may preferably be formed symmetrically to a center axis of the push button.
  • the pushbutton or the buckle can be illuminated very evenly.
  • the light-emitting surfaces are preferably dimensioned identically large and identically shaped so that the light emitted by the light emitting surfaces are identical in the intensity and distribution of the light given an identical surface-related luminous intensity of the light-emitting surfaces.
  • the insertion slot may have a shorter length than the width of the pushbutton aligned parallel to the longitudinal extension of the insertion slot, and the light emission surfaces on the edge sides of the pushbutton may be designed to converge towards the ends of the insertion slot.
  • the insertion slot is therefore deliberately shorter than the width of the buckle formed, so that in a correspondingly central arrangement of the insertion slot between the ends of the insertion slot and the edge of the housing in the longitudinal direction of the insertion slot, a distance is present. This distance is now filled by the light emitting surfaces arranged therein. As a result, the light emission surfaces in these sections run towards each other and point in the direction of the insertion slot and at the same time frame the pushbutton.
  • the pushbutton to be actuated, on the one hand, and the position of the insertion slot, on the other hand, are made more marked.
  • the two luminous light emitting surfaces optically a Arrow form whose blunt tip is formed by the insertion slot and which faces to the side of the push button on which the insertion slot is arranged.
  • the light emitting surfaces may extend to the ends of the insertion slot and enclose the insertion slot between them.
  • the insertion slot thereby forms an imaginary connection between the light emitting surfaces, so that it can be found particularly easy after a corresponding exercise of the occupant.
  • the light emission surface is arranged on a light guide body fixedly arranged on the housing.
  • the proposed solution is preferred in that the light source itself can thereby be arranged at a location independent of the light-emitting surface.
  • the light-guiding body can preferably have a fixing section fixed in a wall of the housing and a coupling-in section projecting into a cavity arranged inside the housing, the light-emitting surface being arranged on the fixing section and on the coupling section a light entry surface. Due to the proposed solution, the light guide can be particularly easily attached to the buckle by the Lichtleitabites is inserted with the fixing in a corresponding recess of the housing or molded in a 2K spray process of the plastic of the housing in the region of the fixing. At the same time, the fixing section is used by the light emitting surface arranged thereon for coupling the light out of the light guide body.
  • the arrangement of the light emitting surface on the fixing section is particularly advantageous insofar as the light emitting surface thereby particularly well fixed relative to the housing and in particular is arranged in a particularly accurate position to the housing.
  • the light guide is thereby fixed to the housing practically directly with the light emitting surface having portion.
  • the coupling-in section then serves, on account of the light entry surface arranged thereon, for the coupling of the light into the light guide body.
  • the light guide can be further fixed relative to the housing by the light guide is shaped so that it rests with the coupling portion at least partially flat against an inner wall of the housing.
  • the light guide body is additionally supported laterally in the region of the coupling-in section relative to the housing.
  • the light emission surface is preferably larger than the light entry surface.
  • the light is thereby practically widened in the light guide and distributed over a larger area.
  • a larger luminous area can be created to identify the pushbutton and the insertion slot.
  • the luminance of the light emitting surface is reduced in relation to the luminance of the light entering the light entrance surface luminous flux, but this is acceptable insofar as the luminous flux emerging from the Lichtabstrahl S only the identification of the push button or the insertion slot and not the illumination of the environment.
  • the fixing section with the light emitting surface arranged thereon can thereby be made larger and the light guide body can thus be fixed in the housing in a particularly precise position and in a stable manner.
  • the light guide body starting from the light entry surface in the direction of the light emitting surface conical be formed widening, whereby the luminous flux is expanded as homogeneously as possible in the light guide. It is sufficient if the light guide body is conically shaped in a section between the light entry surface and the light emission surface in the basic form.
  • the light guide body may preferably be formed from a dimensionally stable, light transparent plastic part.
  • plastics are e.g. Polycarbonate or PMMA.
  • the light guide can be made very inexpensively.
  • it can be manufactured in a complex shape with a sufficient dimensional stability, so that it can be fixed well and shaped according to the shape of the light emission to be realized.
  • the light source via a light guide to be connected to the light guide, so that the light source can be attached at a greater distance to the light guide and in particular at a convenient location for the attachment and the electrical contact location on the buckle, which is independent of the location of the Light guide body and in particular from the location of the light emitting surface.
  • the light guide has a light entry surface associated with the light source and two separate light exit surfaces, one of the light exit surfaces in each case being associated with a light entry surface of a light guide body.
  • the light coupled into the light guide light is distributed to two light exit surfaces and coupled from these in the two light guide.
  • the light guide thus practically forms a branch of the luminous flux emanating from the light source. This allows a single light source for illumination the two light emitting surfaces of the light guide can be used. If further light emitting surfaces are to be provided on the belt buckle, they can be coupled by further optical fibers or by further branches in the optical fiber to the luminous flux of the light source.
  • the light guide starting from the light entry surface, can preferably branch into two branches which are separate from one another, one of the light exit surfaces being assigned to one of the branches in each case.
  • the branches of the light guide serve for a separate guidance of the two light streams, which are separated from one another after the branching, to the light entry surfaces of the light guide bodies.
  • the branches of the light guide can be arbitrarily shaped and laid arbitrarily by a flexible design of the light guide in the buckle depending on the available space.
  • Fig. 1 is one half of a housing 1 of a buckle of a seat belt device for a vehicle to recognize.
  • a push button 2 is provided which is guided displaceably in the housing 1 and accessible through an opening 28 on the end face of the housing 1.
  • a locking mechanism not shown for clarity is also provided, which can be solved by depressing the push button 2 or insertion of the push button 2 in the housing 1.
  • the half of the housing 1 to be recognized is completed after assembly of the locking mechanism by a second half, not shown, so that the locking mechanism is encompassed on all sides by the housing 1.
  • the push button 2 and the opening 28 of the housing 1 are dimensioned such that between the push button 2 and a rim portion 23 of the housing 1, an insertion slot 12 is present, in which a belt tongue of the seat belt device for locking in the locking mechanism of the buckle is insertable.
  • the insertion slot 12 is characterized bounded laterally by the push button 2 on one side and on the other side by the edge portion 23 of the housing 1, as well as in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 can be seen.
  • the length L of the insertion slot 12 is shorter than the width B of the push button 2 dimensioned in the direction of the longitudinal direction of the insertion slot 12, wherein the Insertion slot 12 is arranged approximately centrally of the push button 2, so that the push button 2 projects beyond the insertion slot 12 in the longitudinal direction in both directions.
  • Side of the push button 2 two slots 10 and 11 are provided in the housing 1, which have a matched to the course of the adjacent edge sides 24 and 25 of the push button 2 course (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 ).
  • the shape of the opening 28 in the housing 1 corresponds at least approximately to the cross-sectional shape of the push button 2, so that the slots 10 and 11 are also parallel to the edges 28 of the housing 1 forming the opening.
  • a unilaterally open receptacle 29 is provided, in which a support plate 4 with a light source 3 mounted thereon in the form of an LED can be fastened.
  • various storage and computing modules for controlling the light source 3 and / or for processing further signals, such as a buckle switch, may also be provided on the carrier plate 4.
  • a light guide 5 and two light guide bodies 8 and 9 are provided in the housing 1.
  • the light guide bodies 8 and 9 are formed of a dimensionally stable, transparent plastic, such as polycarbonate or PMMA, with light-conducting properties and each have a fixing section 19 and 20 and a coupling-in section 21 and 22.
  • the fixing portions 19 and 20 are formed in the cross-sectional shape corresponding to the shape of the slits 10 and 11, so that the light guide 8 and 9 can be inserted with the fixing portions 19 and 20 respectively from the inside of the housing 1 in one of the slots 10 and 11 , Alternatively, the light guide 8 and 9 but also in a 2K injection molding of the plastic of the housing 1 are encapsulated.
  • the light guide body 8 and 9 have in the transition from the Fixing portions 19 and 20 on the coupling portions 21 and 22 a step, which limit the insertion depth of the light guide 8 and 9 with the fixing portions 19 and 20 in the slots 10 and 11.
  • the limited by the step insertion depth of the fixing portions 19 and 20 is dimensioned so that the end faces of the fixing portions 19 and 20 in the fastened position with the adjacent surface of the housing 1 to the outside form a homogeneous, continuous surface.
  • the outer sides of the coupling portions 21 and 22 of the light guide 8 and 9 are further shaped so that the light guide 8 and 9 rest in the fastened position laterally against the inner wall of the housing 1 and are thus additionally fixed.
  • the fixing portions 19 and 20 are formed in cross-section so that they fill the slots 10 and 11 completely and completely.
  • the optical waveguides 8 and 9 are provided at the end faces of the coupling-in sections 21 and 22 with light-entry surfaces 15 and 16 and at the end faces of the fixing sections 19 and 20 with light-emitting surfaces 13 and
  • the light guide 5 has a light entry surface 27, which is opposite to the light source 3 in the fastened position of the light guide 5, so that the light emitted by the light source 3 enters the light guide 5.
  • the light emitted by the light source 3 is first forwarded in an initial section of the light guide 5 to a branching point in which the light guide 5 branches into two branches 6 and 7.
  • the light is then forwarded further in the branches 6 and 7 in each case to a light exit surface 17 and 18 at the end sides of the branches 6 and 7.
  • the branches 6 and 7 are dimensioned and flexible in that they in the cavity 26 of the housing 1 according to the available space conditions can be laid in a curved course.
  • the branches 6 and 7 are dimensioned in length and laid in such a way that the light exit surfaces 17 and 18 at the end faces of the branches 6 and 7, the light entry surfaces 15 and 16 of the coupling sections 21 and 22 are opposite.
  • the light emitted by the light source 3 is thus initially introduced through the light entry surface 27 into the light guide 5, then further passed through the branches 6 and 7 to the light exit surfaces 17 and 18. From the light exit surfaces 17 and 18, the light is introduced through the light entry surfaces 15 and 16 in the light guide 8 and 9 and finally emitted via the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 of the fixing sections 19 and 20.
  • the light entry surfaces 27, 15 and 16 and the light exit surfaces 17 and 18 and the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 may be formed by a corresponding surface processing roughened surfaces, which may be realized for example by a chemical etching or by a mechanical processing.
  • the proposed solution of using a central light source 3, a light guide 5 and the two light-guiding bodies 8 and 9 has the advantage that the light source 3 can be arranged with the support plate 4 at a convenient location for holding and contacting, and that the light over the light guide 5 and the light guide 8 and 9 can be passed to a predetermined location and emitted there. Thereby, the placement of the light source 3 and the location of the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 can be selected practically independently.
  • the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 may also be formed by self-illuminating, electrically activatable films or by gas-filled light sources.
  • the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 are formed linear and have a to the adjacent edge sides 24 and 25th the pushbutton customized course, as in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 can be seen. Further, the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 extend to the ends of the insertion slot 12 and include the insertion slot 12 between them. The light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 and the insertion slot 12 thereby form practically a pushbutton 2 on three sides comprehensive line. In this case, the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 preferably have an identical or smaller width than the insertion slot 12 so that the occupant hits the insertion slot 12 with the belt tongue in each case when he the belt tongue with the front side via a light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 interconnecting Position positioned and then moved in the direction of the buckle. Further, the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 include the end face located in the opening 28 of the housing 1 by the push button 2, so that the occupant can easily hit the push button 2 even in the dark simply by pressing on the surface between the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 ,
  • the pushbutton 2 has a shape that tapers conically on one side in the direction of the insertion slot 12.
  • the edge sides 24 and 25 are shaped so that they run towards each other in the direction of the insertion slot 12.
  • the slots 10 and 11 and arranged therein light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 of the light guide 8 and 9 are aligned approximately parallel to the edge sides 24 and 25 and thus also extend in the direction of Ein manufacturedschlitzes 12.
  • the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 together form a in the direction the insertion slot 12 directed arrow shape.
  • the light-emitting surfaces 13 and 14 extend in the direction of the insertion slot 12 almost to its ends, so that they guide the user optically to the insertion slot 12.
  • FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which the push button 2 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
  • the slots 10 and 11 and arranged therein Lichtabstrahldus 13 and 14 are also formed parallel to the nearest edge sides 24 and 25 of the push button 2 extending.
  • the slots 10 and 11 and the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 each extend around a corner of the push button 2 and have an L-shape, wherein these are arranged so that two of the legs are parallel to each other and two of the legs are directed towards each other.
  • the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 the two lateral edge sides 24 and 25 and the two adjacent to the insertion slot 12 portions of the insertion slot 12 facing edge side of the push button 2.
  • the push button 2 dominates the insertion slot 12 beyond the ends thereof.
  • the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 run towards each other in the direction of the ends of the insertion slot 12 and thereby frame the pushbutton 2, whereby this is optically particularly well marked.
  • Both embodiments have in common that the actuating surface of the push button 2, the insertion slot 12, the end face of the housing 1 and the Lichtabstrahldon 13 and 14 are symmetrical to a through the center of the insertion slot 12 and the center of the push button 2 extending center axis M shaped and aligned.

Description

Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft ein beleuchtetes Gurtschloss für eine Sicherheitsgurteinrichtung eines Kraftfahrzeuges mit den Merkmalen des Oberbegriffs von Anspruch 1.The present invention relates to an illuminated belt buckle for a safety belt device of a motor vehicle having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Gurtschlösser für Sicherheitsgurteinrichtungen von Kraftfahrzeugen dienen im Allgemeinen dazu, eine auf einem Gurtband verschieblich geführte oder mit einem Ende eines Gurtbandes fest verbundene Gurtzunge fahrzeugfest zu verriegeln. Dazu weist das Gurtschloss einen Einführschlitz für die Gurtzunge und eine über eine Drucktaste lösbare Verriegelungsmechanik auf. Die Verriegelungsmechanik ist federbelastet und verriegelt die Gurtzunge beim Einführen in den Einführschlitz selbsttätig. Zum Lösen der Gurtzunge drückt der Insasse die Drucktaste herunter, wodurch die Verriegelungsmechanik gelöst und die Gurtzunge durch eine freigegebene Federkraft der Verriegelungsmechanik ausgeworfen wird.Belt buckles for safety belt devices of motor vehicles generally serve to lock a strap tongue guided displaceably on a belt strap or firmly connected to one end of a belt strap. For this purpose, the buckle on an insertion slot for the belt tongue and a detachable via a push button locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is spring-loaded and locks the belt tongue automatically when inserted into the insertion slot. To release the belt tongue, the occupant pushes the push button down, whereby the locking mechanism is released and the belt tongue is ejected by a released spring force of the locking mechanism.

Solche Gurtschlösser sind bereits seit langem Stand der Technik. Ein Problem derartiger Gurtschlösser ist es, dass der Insasse zum Anschnallen den verhältnismäßig schmalen Einführschlitz des Gurtschlosses auffinden muss, in welchen er die Gurtzunge zum Anschnallen des Sicherheitsgurtes einführt.Such buckles have long been state of the art. A problem of such buckles is that the occupant to buckle the relatively narrow insertion slot of the buckle must find, in which he introduces the belt tongue for buckling the seat belt.

Aus der DE 39 04 125 A1 ist es bekannt, an dem Gurtschloss eine Lichtquelle vorzusehen, welche über ein lichtleitendes Material an vorbestimmte Lichtabstrahlflächen des Gurtschlosses angekoppelt ist. Die Lichtabstrahlflächen sind hier die Drucktaste selbst und eine an einer der Drucktaste gegenüberliegenden Seitenfläche des Einführschlitzes angeordnete Abstrahlfläche. Da die Drucktaste für ihre Funktion verschiebbar ausgeführt werden muss, muss das in der Drucktaste fest angeordnete lichtleitende Material so in der Drucktaste positioniert sein, dass die Lichteintrittsfläche des lichtleitenden Materials in der nicht gedrückten Stellung der Drucktaste lichttechnisch mit der externen Lichtquelle verbunden ist. Sofern die Lichteintrittsfläche des lichtleitenden Materials in dieser Stellung aufgrund von herstellungsbedingten Formabweichungen oder mechanischen Einflüssen lichttechnisch nicht mit der externen Lichtquelle verbunden ist, wird das Licht nicht oder nicht vollständig in die Drucktaste eingeleitet, so dass die Drucktaste selbst nicht oder schwächer leuchtet als dies gewünscht ist.From the DE 39 04 125 A1 It is known to provide at the buckle a light source which is coupled via a light-conducting material to predetermined light emitting surfaces of the buckle. The light emitting surfaces are here the push button itself and arranged on one of the pushbutton opposite side surface of the insertion slot radiating surface. Since the pushbutton has to be designed to be displaceable for its function, the photoconductive material fixedly arranged in the pushbutton must be positioned in the pushbutton such that the light entry surface of the photoconductive material in the non-depressed position of the pushbutton is connected to the external light source by light. If the light entry surface of the photoconductive material in this position is not technically connected to the external light source due to production-related shape deviations or mechanical influences, the light is not or not completely introduced into the push button, so that the push button itself is not or weakly lit than desired ,

Aus der DE 10 2007 047 704 A1 ist es ferner bekannt, in dem Gurtschloss einen Lichtleiter vorzusehen, welcher wenigstens zwei Lichtabstrahlflächen aufweist, die an den Enden des Einführschlitzes angeordnet sind. Die Lichtabstrahlflächen selbst sind dreieckförmig ausgebildet und in einer freien dreieckförmigen Fläche der Stirnseite des Gehäuses zwischen dem Rand des Gehäuses und einer konischen Seitenfläche der Drucktaste angeordnet. Dabei sind die Lichtabstrahlflächen insbesondere so bemessen, dass sie die freien Flächen in den Ecken der Stirnseite des Gehäuses möglichst großflächig zur Erzielung einer möglichst großen Leuchtkraft ausfüllen.From the DE 10 2007 047 704 A1 It is also known to provide in the buckle a light guide having at least two Lichtabstrahlflächen, which are arranged at the ends of the insertion slot. The Lichtabstrahlflächen themselves are triangular in shape and arranged in a free triangular surface of the front side of the housing between the edge of the housing and a conical side surface of the push button. In this case, the light-emitting surfaces are dimensioned in particular so that they fill the free surfaces in the corners of the front side of the housing as large as possible to achieve the greatest possible luminosity.

Die US 2007 236 917 A1 offenbart ein Gurtschloss für ein Rückhaltesystem, bei welchem um den Drucktaster des Gurtschlosses ein beleuchtbarer Schlitz ausgebildet ist, um das Auffinden des Drucktasters und/oder eines Einsteckschlitzes für eine Gurtzunge des Sicherheitsgurtes zu erleichtern.The US 2007 236 917 A1 discloses a buckle for a restraint system in which around the push button of the buckle an illuminable slot is formed to facilitate finding the pushbutton and / or a Einsteckschlitzes for a belt tongue of the seat belt.

Aus der US 5 892 436 A ist ein beleuchtbares Gurtschloss für ein Kraftfahrzeug bekannt, wobei die Beleuchtung über ein Bündel von Glasfasern erfolgt, welche optisch mit einer Leuchtquelle verbunden sind.From the US 5,892,436 A For example, an illuminable belt buckle for a motor vehicle is known, wherein the illumination takes place via a bundle of glass fibers, which are optically connected to a light source.

Die US 2012 089 302 A1 offenbart ein Gurtschloss mit einem Gehäuse und einem im Gehäuse angeordneten Drucktaster sowie einem Einführschlitz für eine Gurtzunge, wobei an dem Gehäuse eine Lichtquelle und eine Lichtabstrahlfläche ausgebildet sind, mit welchen das Gurtschloss in Abhängigkeit der äußeren Konditionen unterschiedlich beleuchtet werden kann.The US 2012 089 302 A1 discloses a buckle with a housing and a pushbutton arranged in the housing and an insertion slot for a belt tongue, wherein on the housing, a light source and a light emitting surface are formed with which the buckle can be illuminated differently depending on the external conditions.

Darüber hinaus ist aus der DE 20 2012 012 254 U1 ein Gurtschloss für einen Sicherheitsgurt bekannt, wobei das Gurtschloss ein Gehäuse mit zwei Gehäuseschalen und einem zwischen den Gehäuseschalen angeordneten Drucktaster zur Entriegelung einer in das Gurtschloss eingeführten Gurtzunge aufweist, wobei im Gehäuseinneren mindestens ein Leuchtelement angeordnet ist, mit welchem ein lichtdurchlässiger Spalt am Gehäuserand beleuchtbar ist.In addition, from the DE 20 2012 012 254 U1 a buckle for a safety belt, wherein the buckle comprises a housing with two housing shells and arranged between the housing shells pushbutton for unlocking a belt tongue inserted into the buckle, wherein in the housing interior at least one light-emitting element is arranged, with which a translucent gap on the housing edge is illuminated ,

Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es, ein beleuchtetes Gurtschloss der gattungsgemäßen Art bereitzustellen, bei dem das Gurtschloss und die Drucktaste für den An- und Abschnallvorgang besonders einfach aufzufinden sind.The object of the invention is to provide an illuminated belt buckle of the generic type, in which the buckle and the push button for the arrival and Abschnallvorgang are particularly easy to find.

Zur Lösung der Aufgabe wird ein beleuchtetes Gurtschloss mit den Merkmalen des Anspruchs 1 vorgeschlagen. Weitere bevorzugte Ausführungsformen der Erfindung sind den Unteransprüchen, den Figuren und der zugehörigen Beschreibung zu entnehmen. Gemäß dem Grundgedanken der Erfindung wird vorgeschlagen, dass die Lichtabstrahlfläche an dem Gurtschloss eine linienförmige Kontur aufweist, deren Form an die Formgebung einer in Blickrichtung auf den Einführschlitz seitlich angeordneten Randseite der Drucktaste angepasst ist.To solve the problem, an illuminated belt buckle with the features of claim 1 is proposed. Further preferred embodiments of the invention can be found in the subclaims, the figures and the associated description. According to the basic concept of the invention, it is proposed that the light emission surface on the belt buckle has a linear contour whose shape is adapted to the shaping of an edge side of the pushbutton arranged laterally in the viewing direction on the insertion slot.

Der Vorteil der vorgeschlagenen Lösung ist darin zu sehen, dass das Auffinden des Gurtschlosses und insbesondere der Drucktaste erstens aufgrund der Beleuchtung selbst vereinfacht wird. Zweitens wird zusätzlich die Lage der Drucktaste aufgrund der Formgebung der Lichtabstrahlfläche gekennzeichnet, so dass das Auffinden und Betätigen der Drucktaste vereinfacht wird. So kann der Insasse die Drucktaste nach einer mehrmaligen Betätigung derselben und einer Erlangung einer gewissen Übung und in Kenntnis der Lage der Lichtabstrahlfläche zu dem Rand der Drucktaste vereinfacht allein durch die Position der leuchtenden Lichtabstrahlfläche auffinden. Im einfachsten Fall kann der Insasse nach einer gewissen Übung das Gurtschloss lösen, indem er praktisch "blind" auf die Fläche neben der Lichtabstrahlfläche drückt, ohne dass er die Drucktaste selbst dazu erkennen muss. Dabei wird das Betätigen der Drucktaste dadurch erleichtert, dass das Gurtschloss in der angeschnallten Normalstellung als auch in der nicht belasteten bzw. nicht angeschnallten Stellung eine Grundausrichtung aufweist, in welcher die Drucktaste immer an derselben Seite der Lichtabstrahlfläche angeordnet ist. Da der Einführschlitz wiederum immer in einer festen Ausrichtung zu der Drucktaste angeordnet ist, kann auch dieser dadurch für den Anschnallvorgang vereinfacht aufgefunden werden.The advantage of the proposed solution is the fact that the finding of the buckle and in particular the push button is firstly simplified due to the lighting itself. Secondly, in addition, the position of the push button due to the shape of the light emitting surface is characterized, so that the finding and pressing the push button is simplified. Thus, the occupant can easily find the push button after a multiple operation thereof and a certain exercise and knowledge of the position of the light emitting surface to the edge of the push button simplified only by the position of the luminous light emitting surface. In the simplest case, after a certain amount of practice, the occupant can release the buckle by pressing "blindly" on the area next to the light-emitting surface, without having to recognize the push-button itself. In this case, the actuation of the push button is facilitated by the fact that the buckle in the buckled normal position and in the unloaded or unbelted position has a basic orientation in which the push button is always located on the same side of the light emitting surface. Since the insertion slot is again always arranged in a fixed orientation to the push button, this can also be found simplified for the seat belt.

Gemäß einer bevorzugten Weiterentwicklung wird vorgeschlagen, dass sich die Lichtabstrahlfläche bis zu einem der Enden des Einführschlitzes erstreckt. Durch die vorgeschlagene Lösung kann der Insasse den Einführschlitz in Kenntnis der Ausrichtung zu der Lichtabstrahlfläche nach einer gewissen Übung besonders einfach auffinden, indem er die Lichtabstrahlfläche gedanklich verlängert und die Gurtzunge entsprechend dort in die gedanklich verlängerte Position einführt. Außerdem wird der Einführschlitz dadurch an einem Ende bewusst ausgeleuchtet, so dass der Einführschlitz selbst für den Insassen verbessert erkennbar ist.According to a preferred development, it is proposed that the light-emitting surface extend to one of the ends of the insertion slot. Through the proposed solution The occupant can find the insertion slot in knowledge of the alignment with the light emitting surface after a certain exercise very easy by mentally extending the light emitting surface and introduces the belt tongue there in the mentally extended position accordingly. In addition, the insertion slot is thereby deliberately illuminated at one end, so that the insertion slot itself can be seen improved for the occupant.

Dabei kann das Auffinden besonders vereinfacht werden, indem die Lichtabstrahlfläche eine identische oder geringere Breite als der Einführschlitz aufweist. Die leuchtende Lichtabstrahlfläche ist dadurch identisch breit oder sogar schmaler als der Einführschlitz, so dass der Insasse die Gurtzunge in ihrer Querausrichtung zum Anschnallen vereinfacht dadurch positionieren kann, indem er die Gurtzunge in etwa über den gedanklich verlängerten Abschnitt der Lichtabstrahlfläche ausrichtet. Aufgrund der vorgeschlagenen Breite der Lichtabstrahlfläche befindet sich die Gurtzunge dann in Querrichtung des Einführschlitzes über dem Einführschlitz und muss dann nur noch eingesteckt werden.In this case, the finding can be particularly simplified by the light emitting surface having an identical or smaller width than the insertion slot. The illuminating light emitting surface is thereby identically wide or even narrower than the insertion slot, so that the occupant can easily position the belt tongue in its transversal transverse orientation by aligning the belt tongue approximately over the mentally elongated portion of the light emitting surface. Due to the proposed width of the light emitting surface, the belt tongue is then in the transverse direction of the insertion slot on the insertion slot and then only has to be plugged.

Ferner können an dem Gurtschloss bevorzugt zwei Lichtabstrahlflächen vorgesehen sein, welche an unterschiedlichen, gegenüberliegenden Randseiten der Drucktaste angeordnet sind. Die Drucktaste wird dadurch von den zwei Lichtabstrahlflächen beidseitig umrahmt, so dass die Position der Drucktaste zwischen den Lichtabstrahlflächen eindeutig definiert ist und damit bei leuchtenden Lichtabstrahlflächen besonders einfach aufgefunden werden kann. Dazu muss die Drucktaste selbst nicht erkennbar sein, der Insasse muss lediglich mit dem Finger auf die zwischen den leuchtenden Lichtabstrahlflächen befindliche Fläche drücken, um die Gurtzunge zu lösen und den Abschnallvorgang einzuleiten.Further, two light emitting surfaces may preferably be provided on the belt buckle, which are arranged on different, opposite edge sides of the push button. The pushbutton is thereby framed on both sides by the two light-emitting surfaces, so that the position of the push-button between the light-emitting surfaces is clearly defined and can therefore be found particularly easily with luminous light-emitting surfaces. For this purpose, the pushbutton itself does not have to be recognizable, the occupant merely has to put his finger on the space between the luminous surfaces of the light Press the surface to release the belt tongue and initiate the peeling process.

Dabei können die Lichtabstrahlflächen bevorzugt symmetrisch zu einer Mittenachse der Drucktaste ausgebildet sein. Neben dem dadurch bewirkten optisch ansprechenden Gesamteindruck kann die Drucktaste bzw. das Gurtschloss dadurch sehr gleichmäßig beleuchtet werden. Dabei sind die Lichtabstrahlflächen bevorzugt identisch groß bemessen und identisch geformt, so dass das von den Lichtabstrahlflächen abgestrahlte Licht bei einer identischen flächenbezogenen Lichtstärke der Lichtabstrahlflächen in der Intensität und Verteilung des Lichts identisch sind.In this case, the light emitting surfaces may preferably be formed symmetrically to a center axis of the push button. In addition to the resulting visually appealing overall impression, the pushbutton or the buckle can be illuminated very evenly. In this case, the light-emitting surfaces are preferably dimensioned identically large and identically shaped so that the light emitted by the light emitting surfaces are identical in the intensity and distribution of the light given an identical surface-related luminous intensity of the light-emitting surfaces.

Weiter kann der Einführschlitz eine geringere Länge als die parallel zu der Längserstreckung des Einführschlitzes ausgerichtete Breite der Drucktaste aufweisen, und die Lichtabstrahlflächen an den Randseiten der Drucktaste in Richtung der Enden des Einführschlitzes aufeinander zulaufend ausgebildet sein. Der Einführschlitz ist demnach bewusst kürzer als die Breite des Gurtschlosses ausgebildet, so dass bei einer entsprechend mittigen Anordnung des Einführschlitzes zwischen den Enden des Einführschlitzes und dem Rand des Gehäuses in Längsrichtung des Einführschlitzes ein Abstand vorhanden ist. Dieser Abstand wird nun durch die darin angeordneten Lichtabstrahlflächen ausgefüllt. Dadurch verlaufen die Lichtabstrahlflächen in diesen Abschnitten aufeinander zu und zeigen praktisch in Richtung des Einführschlitzes und umrahmen gleichzeitig die Drucktaste. Dadurch wird die zu betätigende Drucktaste einerseits und die Position des Einführschlitzes andererseits verbessert kenntlich gemacht. Sofern die Lichtabstrahlflächen z.B. in einem schrägen Winkel aufeinander zu laufen, können die beiden leuchtenden Lichtabstrahlflächen optisch einen Pfeil bilden, dessen stumpfe Spitze durch den Einführschlitz gebildet ist bzw. welcher zu der Seite der Drucktaste zeigt, an der der Einführschlitz angeordnet ist.Furthermore, the insertion slot may have a shorter length than the width of the pushbutton aligned parallel to the longitudinal extension of the insertion slot, and the light emission surfaces on the edge sides of the pushbutton may be designed to converge towards the ends of the insertion slot. The insertion slot is therefore deliberately shorter than the width of the buckle formed, so that in a correspondingly central arrangement of the insertion slot between the ends of the insertion slot and the edge of the housing in the longitudinal direction of the insertion slot, a distance is present. This distance is now filled by the light emitting surfaces arranged therein. As a result, the light emission surfaces in these sections run towards each other and point in the direction of the insertion slot and at the same time frame the pushbutton. As a result, the pushbutton to be actuated, on the one hand, and the position of the insertion slot, on the other hand, are made more marked. If the light emitting surfaces, for example, to run towards each other at an oblique angle, the two luminous light emitting surfaces optically a Arrow form whose blunt tip is formed by the insertion slot and which faces to the side of the push button on which the insertion slot is arranged.

Dabei können sich die Lichtabstrahlflächen bis zu den Enden des Einführschlitzes erstrecken und den Einführschlitz zwischen sich einschließen. Der Einführschlitz bildet dadurch eine gedachte Verbindung zwischen den Lichtabstrahlflächen, so dass er nach einer entsprechenden Übung des Insassen besonders einfach aufgefunden werden kann.In this case, the light emitting surfaces may extend to the ends of the insertion slot and enclose the insertion slot between them. The insertion slot thereby forms an imaginary connection between the light emitting surfaces, so that it can be found particularly easy after a corresponding exercise of the occupant.

Die Lichtabstrahlfläche ist an einem fest an dem Gehäuse angeordneten Lichtleitkörper angeordnet. Die vorgeschlagene Lösung ist insofern bevorzugt, da die Lichtquelle selbst dadurch an einem von der Lichtabstrahlfläche unabhängigen Ort angeordnet werden kann.The light emission surface is arranged on a light guide body fixedly arranged on the housing. The proposed solution is preferred in that the light source itself can thereby be arranged at a location independent of the light-emitting surface.

Dabei kann der Lichtleitkörper bevorzugt einen in einer Wandung des Gehäuses festgelegten Fixierabschnitt und einen in einen innerhalb des Gehäuses angeordneten Hohlraum hineinragenden Einkoppelabschnitt aufweisen, wobei die Lichtabstrahlfläche an dem Fixierabschnitt und an dem Einkoppelabschnitt eine Lichteintrittsfläche angeordnet sind. Aufgrund der vorgeschlagenen Lösung kann der Lichtleitkörper besonders einfach an dem Gurtschloss befestigt werden, indem der Lichtleitabschnitt mit dem Fixierabschnitt in einer entsprechenden Ausnehmung des Gehäuses eingesetzt ist oder in einem 2K-Spritzverfahren von dem Kunststoff des Gehäuses im Bereich des Fixierabschnittes umspritzt ist. Gleichzeitig dient der Fixierabschnitt durch die daran angeordnete Lichtabstrahlfläche zur Auskopplung des Lichtes aus dem Lichtleitkörper. Dabei ist die Anordnung der Lichtabstrahlfläche an dem Fixierabschnitt insofern besonders vorteilhaft, da die Lichtabstrahlfläche dadurch besonders gut gegenüber dem Gehäuse fixiert und insbesondere besonders positionsgenau zu dem Gehäuse angeordnet ist. Der Lichtleitkörper wird dadurch praktisch unmittelbar mit dem die Lichtabstrahlfläche aufweisenden Abschnitt gegenüber dem Gehäuse fixiert. Der Einkoppelabschnitt dient dann aufgrund der daran angeordneten Lichteintrittsfläche zur Einkoppelung des Lichts in den Lichtleitkörper.In this case, the light-guiding body can preferably have a fixing section fixed in a wall of the housing and a coupling-in section projecting into a cavity arranged inside the housing, the light-emitting surface being arranged on the fixing section and on the coupling section a light entry surface. Due to the proposed solution, the light guide can be particularly easily attached to the buckle by the Lichtleitabschnitt is inserted with the fixing in a corresponding recess of the housing or molded in a 2K spray process of the plastic of the housing in the region of the fixing. At the same time, the fixing section is used by the light emitting surface arranged thereon for coupling the light out of the light guide body. In this case, the arrangement of the light emitting surface on the fixing section is particularly advantageous insofar as the light emitting surface thereby particularly well fixed relative to the housing and in particular is arranged in a particularly accurate position to the housing. The light guide is thereby fixed to the housing practically directly with the light emitting surface having portion. The coupling-in section then serves, on account of the light entry surface arranged thereon, for the coupling of the light into the light guide body.

Dabei kann der Lichtleitkörper weiter gegenüber dem Gehäuse fixiert werden, indem der Lichtleitkörper derart geformt ist, dass er mit dem Einkoppelabschnitt wenigstens abschnittsweise flächig an einer Innenwandung des Gehäuses anliegt. Dadurch wird der Lichtleitkörper zusätzlich im Bereich des Einkoppelabschnittes gegenüber dem Gehäuse seitlich unterstützt.In this case, the light guide can be further fixed relative to the housing by the light guide is shaped so that it rests with the coupling portion at least partially flat against an inner wall of the housing. As a result, the light guide body is additionally supported laterally in the region of the coupling-in section relative to the housing.

Dabei ist die Lichtabstrahlfläche bevorzugt größer als die Lichteintrittsfläche ausgebildet. Das Licht wird dadurch in dem Lichtleitkörper praktisch aufgeweitet und auf eine größere Fläche verteilt. Dadurch kann eine größere leuchtende Fläche zur Kenntlichmachung der Drucktaste und des Einführschlitzes geschaffen werden. Dabei wird die Leuchtdichte der Lichtabstrahlfläche in Bezug zu der Leuchtdichte des in die Lichteintrittsfläche eintretenden Lichtstromes verringert, was aber insofern akzeptabel ist, da der aus der Lichtabstrahlfläche austretende Lichtstrom lediglich der Kenntlichmachung der Drucktaste bzw. des Einführschlitzes und nicht der Ausleuchtung der Umgebung dient. Ferner kann der Fixierabschnitt mit der daran angeordneten Lichtabstrahlfläche dadurch größer ausgeführt und der Lichtleitkörper dadurch besonders lagegenau und stabil in dem Gehäuse fixiert werden.In this case, the light emission surface is preferably larger than the light entry surface. The light is thereby practically widened in the light guide and distributed over a larger area. As a result, a larger luminous area can be created to identify the pushbutton and the insertion slot. In this case, the luminance of the light emitting surface is reduced in relation to the luminance of the light entering the light entrance surface luminous flux, but this is acceptable insofar as the luminous flux emerging from the Lichtabstrahlfläche only the identification of the push button or the insertion slot and not the illumination of the environment. Furthermore, the fixing section with the light emitting surface arranged thereon can thereby be made larger and the light guide body can thus be fixed in the housing in a particularly precise position and in a stable manner.

Dabei kann der Lichtleitkörper ausgehend von der Lichteintrittsfläche in Richtung der Lichtabstrahlfläche sich konisch erweiternd ausgebildet sein, wodurch der Lichtstrom in dem Lichtleitkörper möglichst homogen aufgeweitet wird. Dabei reicht es aus, wenn der Lichtleitkörper in einem Abschnitt zwischen der Lichteintrittsfläche und der Lichtabstrahlfläche in der Grundform konisch geformt ist.In this case, the light guide body, starting from the light entry surface in the direction of the light emitting surface conical be formed widening, whereby the luminous flux is expanded as homogeneously as possible in the light guide. It is sufficient if the light guide body is conically shaped in a section between the light entry surface and the light emission surface in the basic form.

Der Lichtleitkörper kann bevorzugt aus einem formstabilen, lichttransparenten Kunststoffteil gebildet sein. Solche Kunststoffe sind z.B. Polycarbonat oder PMMA. Durch die vorgeschlagene Lösung kann der Lichtleitkörper sehr kostengünstig hergestellt werden. Außerdem kann er in einer komplexen Formgebung mit einer ausreichenden Formstabilität hergestellt werden, so dass er gut fixiert und entsprechend der zu verwirklichenden Form der Lichtabstrahlung geformt werden kann.The light guide body may preferably be formed from a dimensionally stable, light transparent plastic part. Such plastics are e.g. Polycarbonate or PMMA. The proposed solution, the light guide can be made very inexpensively. In addition, it can be manufactured in a complex shape with a sufficient dimensional stability, so that it can be fixed well and shaped according to the shape of the light emission to be realized.

Ferner ist die Lichtquelle über einen Lichtleiter mit dem Lichtleitkörper verbunden sein, so dass die Lichtquelle in einem größeren Abstand zu dem Lichtleitkörper und insbesondere an einem für die Befestigung und die elektrische Kontaktierung günstigen Ort an dem Gurtschloss befestigt werden kann, welcher unabhängig von dem Ort des Lichtleitkörpers und insbesondere von dem Ort der Lichtabstrahlfläche ist.Furthermore, the light source via a light guide to be connected to the light guide, so that the light source can be attached at a greater distance to the light guide and in particular at a convenient location for the attachment and the electrical contact location on the buckle, which is independent of the location of the Light guide body and in particular from the location of the light emitting surface.

Dabei weist der Lichtleiter eine der Lichtquelle zugeordnete Lichteintrittsfläche und zwei voneinander getrennte Lichtaustrittsflächen auf, wobei jeweils eine der Lichtaustrittsflächen einer Lichteintrittsfläche eines Lichtleitkörpers zugeordnet ist. Durch die vorgeschlagene Lösung wird das in den Lichtleiter eingekoppelte Licht auf zwei Lichtaustrittsflächen verteilt und aus diesen in die beiden Lichtleitkörper eingekoppelt. Der Lichtleiter bildet damit praktisch eine Verzweigung des von der Lichtquelle ausgehenden Lichtstromes. Dadurch kann eine einzige Lichtquelle zur Ausleuchtung der beiden Lichtabstrahlflächen des Lichtleitkörpers verwendet werden. Sofern weitere Lichtabstrahlflächen an dem Gurtschloss vorgesehen werden sollen, können diese durch weitere Lichtleiter oder durch weitere Verzweigungen in dem Lichtleiter an den Lichtstrom der Lichtquelle angekoppelt werden.In this case, the light guide has a light entry surface associated with the light source and two separate light exit surfaces, one of the light exit surfaces in each case being associated with a light entry surface of a light guide body. By the proposed solution, the light coupled into the light guide light is distributed to two light exit surfaces and coupled from these in the two light guide. The light guide thus practically forms a branch of the luminous flux emanating from the light source. This allows a single light source for illumination the two light emitting surfaces of the light guide can be used. If further light emitting surfaces are to be provided on the belt buckle, they can be coupled by further optical fibers or by further branches in the optical fiber to the luminous flux of the light source.

Insbesondere kann sich der Lichtleiter ausgehend von der Lichteintrittsfläche bevorzugt in zwei voneinander getrennte Äste verzweigen, wobei jeweils eine der Lichtaustrittsflächen einem der Äste zugeordnet ist. Die Äste des Lichtleiters dienen einer separaten Führung der beiden nach der Verzweigung voneinander getrennten Lichtströme zu den Lichteintrittsflächen der Lichtleitkörper. Dabei können die Äste des Lichtleiters beliebig geformt und durch eine flexible Ausbildung der Lichtleiter in dem Gurtschloss in Abhängigkeit von den zur Verfügung stehenden Platzverhältnissen beliebig verlegt werden.In particular, the light guide, starting from the light entry surface, can preferably branch into two branches which are separate from one another, one of the light exit surfaces being assigned to one of the branches in each case. The branches of the light guide serve for a separate guidance of the two light streams, which are separated from one another after the branching, to the light entry surfaces of the light guide bodies. In this case, the branches of the light guide can be arbitrarily shaped and laid arbitrarily by a flexible design of the light guide in the buckle depending on the available space.

Die Erfindung wird im Folgenden anhand bevorzugter Ausführungsformen unter Bezugnahme auf die beigefügten Figuren erläutert. Dabei zeigt

Fig. 1:
ein Gehäuse eines Gurtschlosses mit zwei Lichtabstrahlflächen in Schrägansicht;
Fig. 2:
ein Gehäuse mit zwei Lichtabstrahlflächen in einer ersten Ausführungsform in Sicht auf den Einführschlitz; und
Fig. 3:
ein Gehäuse mit zwei Lichtabstrahlflächen in einer zweiten Ausführungsform in Sicht auf den Einführschlitz.
The invention will be explained below with reference to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. It shows
Fig. 1:
a housing of a buckle with two light emitting surfaces in an oblique view;
Fig. 2:
a housing with two light emitting surfaces in a first embodiment in view of the insertion slot; and
3:
a housing with two light emitting surfaces in a second embodiment in view of the insertion slot.

In der Fig. 1 ist eine Hälfte eines Gehäuses 1 eines Gurtschlosses einer Sicherheitsgurteinrichtung für ein Fahrzeug zu erkennen. In dem Gehäuse 1 ist eine Drucktaste 2 vorgesehen, welche in dem Gehäuse 1 verschiebbar geführt und durch eine Öffnung 28 an der Stirnseite des Gehäuses 1 zugänglich ist. In dem Gehäuse 1 ist ferner eine der Übersicht halber nicht dargestellte Verriegelungsmechanik vorgesehen, welche durch Herunterdrücken der Drucktaste 2 bzw. Einschieben der Drucktaste 2 in das Gehäuse 1 gelöst werden kann. Die zu erkennende Hälfte des Gehäuses 1 wird nach der Montage der Verriegelungsmechanik durch eine zweite nicht dargestellte Hälfte vervollständigt, so dass die Verriegelungsmechanik zu allen Seiten hin von dem Gehäuse 1 umfasst ist.In the Fig. 1 is one half of a housing 1 of a buckle of a seat belt device for a vehicle to recognize. In the housing 1, a push button 2 is provided which is guided displaceably in the housing 1 and accessible through an opening 28 on the end face of the housing 1. In the housing 1, a locking mechanism, not shown for clarity is also provided, which can be solved by depressing the push button 2 or insertion of the push button 2 in the housing 1. The half of the housing 1 to be recognized is completed after assembly of the locking mechanism by a second half, not shown, so that the locking mechanism is encompassed on all sides by the housing 1.

Die Drucktaste 2 und die Öffnung 28 des Gehäuses 1 sind so bemessen, dass zwischen der Drucktaste 2 und einem Randabschnitt 23 des Gehäuses 1 ein Einführschlitz 12 vorhanden ist, in welchen eine Gurtzunge der Sicherheitsgurteinrichtung zur Verriegelung in der Verriegelungsmechanik des Gurtschlosses einführbar ist. Der Einführschlitz 12 ist dadurch seitlich durch die Drucktaste 2 an einer Seite und an der anderen Seite durch den Randabschnitt 23 des Gehäuses 1 begrenzt, wie auch in den Fig. 2 und Fig. 3 zu erkennen ist. Die Länge L des Einführschlitzes 12 ist kürzer als die Breite B der Drucktaste 2 in Richtung der Längsrichtung des Einführschlitzes 12 bemessen, wobei der Einführschlitz 12 etwa mittig zu der Drucktaste 2 angeordnet ist, so dass die Drucktaste 2 den Einführschlitz 12 in Längsrichtung in beide Richtungen überragt. Seitlich der Drucktaste 2 sind in dem Gehäuse 1 zwei Schlitze 10 und 11 vorgesehen, welche einen an den Verlauf der angrenzenden Randseiten 24 und 25 der Drucktaste 2 angepassten Verlauf aufweisen (siehe Fig. 2 und Fig. 3). Die Form der Öffnung 28 in dem Gehäuse 1 entspricht zumindest in etwa der Querschnittsform der Drucktaste 2, so dass die Schlitze 10 und 11 auch parallel zu den die Öffnung 28 bildenden Rändern des Gehäuses 1 verlaufen. Ferner ist an der von der Öffnung 28 abgewandten Seite der Hälfte des Gehäuses 1 eine einseitig offene Aufnahme 29 vorgesehen, in welcher eine Trägerplatte 4 mit einer darauf befestigten Lichtquelle 3 in Form einer LED befestigbar ist. Neben der Lichtquelle 3 können auf der Trägerplatte 4 zusätzlich auch verschiedene Speicher- und Rechenmodule zur Ansteuerung der Lichtquelle 3 und/oder zur Verarbeitung weiterer Signale, wie z.B. eines Gurtschlossschalters, vorgesehen sein.The push button 2 and the opening 28 of the housing 1 are dimensioned such that between the push button 2 and a rim portion 23 of the housing 1, an insertion slot 12 is present, in which a belt tongue of the seat belt device for locking in the locking mechanism of the buckle is insertable. The insertion slot 12 is characterized bounded laterally by the push button 2 on one side and on the other side by the edge portion 23 of the housing 1, as well as in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 can be seen. The length L of the insertion slot 12 is shorter than the width B of the push button 2 dimensioned in the direction of the longitudinal direction of the insertion slot 12, wherein the Insertion slot 12 is arranged approximately centrally of the push button 2, so that the push button 2 projects beyond the insertion slot 12 in the longitudinal direction in both directions. Side of the push button 2, two slots 10 and 11 are provided in the housing 1, which have a matched to the course of the adjacent edge sides 24 and 25 of the push button 2 course (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 ). The shape of the opening 28 in the housing 1 corresponds at least approximately to the cross-sectional shape of the push button 2, so that the slots 10 and 11 are also parallel to the edges 28 of the housing 1 forming the opening. Further, on the side facing away from the opening 28 side of the half of the housing 1, a unilaterally open receptacle 29 is provided, in which a support plate 4 with a light source 3 mounted thereon in the form of an LED can be fastened. In addition to the light source 3, various storage and computing modules for controlling the light source 3 and / or for processing further signals, such as a buckle switch, may also be provided on the carrier plate 4.

Weiterhin sind ein Lichtleiter 5 und zwei Lichtleiterkörper 8 und 9 in dem Gehäuse 1 vorgesehen. Die Lichtleiterkörper 8 und 9 sind aus einem formstabilen, transparenten Kunststoff, wie z.B. Polycarbonat oder PMMA, mit lichtleitenden Eigenschaften ausgebildet und weisen jeweils einen Fixierabschnitt 19 und 20 und einen Einkoppelabschnitt 21 und 22 auf. Die Fixierabschnitte 19 und 20 sind in der Querschnittsform korrespondierend zu der Formgebung der Schlitze 10 und 11 ausgebildet, so dass die Lichtleitkörper 8 und 9 mit den Fixierabschnitten 19 und 20 jeweils von der Innenseite des Gehäuses 1 in einen der Schlitze 10 und 11 eingesteckt werden können. Alternativ können die Lichtleitkörper 8 und 9 aber auch in einem 2K-Spritzverfahren von dem Kunststoff des Gehäuses 1 umspritzt werden. Die Lichtleiterkörper 8 und 9 weisen dabei im Übergang von den Fixierabschnitten 19 und 20 auf die Einkoppelabschnitte 21 und 22 eine Stufe auf, welche die Einstecktiefe der Lichtleitkörper 8 und 9 mit den Fixierabschnitten 19 und 20 in die Schlitze 10 und 11 begrenzen. Die durch die Stufe begrenzte Einstecktiefe der Fixierabschnitte 19 und 20 ist dabei so bemessen, dass die Stirnseiten der Fixierabschnitte 19 und 20 in der befestigten Stellung mit der angrenzenden Oberfläche des Gehäuses 1 nach außen hin eine homogene, stufenlose Oberfläche bilden. Die Außenseiten der Einkoppelabschnitte 21 und 22 der Lichtleitkörper 8 und 9 sind ferner so geformt, dass die Lichtleitkörper 8 und 9 in der befestigten Stellung seitlich an der Innenwandung des Gehäuses 1 anliegen und dadurch zusätzlich fixiert sind. Die Fixierabschnitte 19 und 20 sind im Querschnitt so geformt, dass sie die Schlitze 10 und 11 vollständig und lückenlos ausfüllen. Die Lichtleitkörper 8 und 9 sind an den Stirnseiten der Einkoppelabschnitte 21 und 22 mit Lichteintrittsflächen 15 und 16 und an den Stirnseiten der Fixierabschnitte 19 und 20 mit Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 versehen.Furthermore, a light guide 5 and two light guide bodies 8 and 9 are provided in the housing 1. The light guide bodies 8 and 9 are formed of a dimensionally stable, transparent plastic, such as polycarbonate or PMMA, with light-conducting properties and each have a fixing section 19 and 20 and a coupling-in section 21 and 22. The fixing portions 19 and 20 are formed in the cross-sectional shape corresponding to the shape of the slits 10 and 11, so that the light guide 8 and 9 can be inserted with the fixing portions 19 and 20 respectively from the inside of the housing 1 in one of the slots 10 and 11 , Alternatively, the light guide 8 and 9 but also in a 2K injection molding of the plastic of the housing 1 are encapsulated. The light guide body 8 and 9 have in the transition from the Fixing portions 19 and 20 on the coupling portions 21 and 22 a step, which limit the insertion depth of the light guide 8 and 9 with the fixing portions 19 and 20 in the slots 10 and 11. The limited by the step insertion depth of the fixing portions 19 and 20 is dimensioned so that the end faces of the fixing portions 19 and 20 in the fastened position with the adjacent surface of the housing 1 to the outside form a homogeneous, continuous surface. The outer sides of the coupling portions 21 and 22 of the light guide 8 and 9 are further shaped so that the light guide 8 and 9 rest in the fastened position laterally against the inner wall of the housing 1 and are thus additionally fixed. The fixing portions 19 and 20 are formed in cross-section so that they fill the slots 10 and 11 completely and completely. The optical waveguides 8 and 9 are provided at the end faces of the coupling-in sections 21 and 22 with light-entry surfaces 15 and 16 and at the end faces of the fixing sections 19 and 20 with light-emitting surfaces 13 and 14.

Der Lichtleiter 5 weist eine Lichteintrittsfläche 27 auf, welche in der befestigten Stellung des Lichtleiters 5 der Lichtquelle 3 gegenüberliegt, so dass das von der Lichtquelle 3 abgestrahlte Licht in den Lichtleiter 5 eintritt. Ausgehend von der Lichteintrittsfläche 27 wird das von der Lichtquelle 3 abgestrahlte Licht zunächst in einem Anfangsabschnitt des Lichtleiters 5 bis zu einer Verzweigungsstelle weitergeleitet, in der sich der Lichtleiter 5 in zwei Äste 6 und 7 verzweigt. Das Licht wird dann in den Ästen 6 und 7 weiter jeweils bis zu einer Lichtaustrittsfläche 17 und 18 an den Stirnseiten der Äste 6 und 7 weitergeleitet. Die Äste 6 und 7 sind so bemessen und in sich flexibel, dass sie in dem Hohlraum 26 des Gehäuses 1 entsprechend der zur Verfügung stehenden Bauraumverhältnisse in einem gekrümmten Verlauf verlegt werden können. Dabei sind die Äste 6 und 7 in der Länge so bemessen und derart verlegt, dass die Lichtaustrittsflächen 17 und 18 an den Stirnseiten der Äste 6 und 7 den Lichteintrittsflächen 15 und 16 der Einkoppelabschnitte 21 und 22 gegenüberliegen. Das von der Lichtquelle 3 ausgesendete Licht wird damit zunächst durch die Lichteintrittsfläche 27 in den Lichtleiter 5 eingeleitet, dann weiter durch die Äste 6 und 7 bis zu den Lichtaustrittsflächen 17 und 18 weitergeleitet. Aus den Lichtaustrittsflächen 17 und 18 wird das Licht durch die Lichteintrittsflächen 15 und 16 in die Lichtleitkörper 8 und 9 eingeleitet und schließlich über die Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 der Fixierabschnitte 19 und 20 abgestrahlt. Die Lichteintrittsflächen 27, 15 und 16 sowie die Lichtaustrittsflächen 17 und 18 und die Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 können durch eine entsprechende Oberflächenbearbeitung aufgeraute Oberflächen gebildet sein, welche z.B. durch ein chemisches Verätzen oder durch eine mechanische Bearbeitung verwirklicht sein kann. Die vorgeschlagene Lösung der Verwendung einer zentralen Lichtquelle 3, einem Lichtleiter 5 und den beiden Lichtleitkörpern 8 und 9 weist den Vorteil auf, dass die Lichtquelle 3 mit der Trägerplatte 4 an einem zur Halterung und Kontaktierung günstigen Ort angeordnet werden kann, und dass das Licht über den Lichtleiter 5 und die Lichtleitkörper 8 und 9 an einen vorbestimmten Ort geleitet und dort abgestrahlt werden kann. Dadurch können die Platzierung der Lichtquelle 3 und der Ort der Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 praktisch unabhängig voneinander gewählt werden. Alternativ können die Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 aber auch durch selbstleuchtende, elektrisch aktivierbare Folien oder durch gasgefüllte Lichtquellen gebildet sein.The light guide 5 has a light entry surface 27, which is opposite to the light source 3 in the fastened position of the light guide 5, so that the light emitted by the light source 3 enters the light guide 5. Starting from the light entry surface 27, the light emitted by the light source 3 is first forwarded in an initial section of the light guide 5 to a branching point in which the light guide 5 branches into two branches 6 and 7. The light is then forwarded further in the branches 6 and 7 in each case to a light exit surface 17 and 18 at the end sides of the branches 6 and 7. The branches 6 and 7 are dimensioned and flexible in that they in the cavity 26 of the housing 1 according to the available space conditions can be laid in a curved course. The branches 6 and 7 are dimensioned in length and laid in such a way that the light exit surfaces 17 and 18 at the end faces of the branches 6 and 7, the light entry surfaces 15 and 16 of the coupling sections 21 and 22 are opposite. The light emitted by the light source 3 is thus initially introduced through the light entry surface 27 into the light guide 5, then further passed through the branches 6 and 7 to the light exit surfaces 17 and 18. From the light exit surfaces 17 and 18, the light is introduced through the light entry surfaces 15 and 16 in the light guide 8 and 9 and finally emitted via the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 of the fixing sections 19 and 20. The light entry surfaces 27, 15 and 16 and the light exit surfaces 17 and 18 and the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 may be formed by a corresponding surface processing roughened surfaces, which may be realized for example by a chemical etching or by a mechanical processing. The proposed solution of using a central light source 3, a light guide 5 and the two light-guiding bodies 8 and 9 has the advantage that the light source 3 can be arranged with the support plate 4 at a convenient location for holding and contacting, and that the light over the light guide 5 and the light guide 8 and 9 can be passed to a predetermined location and emitted there. Thereby, the placement of the light source 3 and the location of the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 can be selected practically independently. Alternatively, the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 may also be formed by self-illuminating, electrically activatable films or by gas-filled light sources.

Die Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 sind linienförmig ausgebildet und weisen einen an die angrenzenden Randseiten 24 und 25 der Drucktaste angepassten Verlauf auf, wie in den Fig. 2 und Fig. 3 zu erkennen ist. Ferner erstrecken sich die Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 bis zu den Enden des Einführschlitzes 12 und schließen den Einführschlitz 12 zwischen sich ein. Die Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 und der Einführschlitz 12 bilden dadurch praktisch eine die Drucktaste 2 an drei Seiten umfassende Linie. Dabei weisen die Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 bevorzugt eine identische oder kleinere Breite als der Einführschlitz 12 auf, so dass der Insasse den Einführschlitz 12 mit der Gurtzunge in jedem Fall trifft, wenn er die Gurtzunge mit der Stirnseite über eine die Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 miteinander verbindende Position positioniert und dann in Richtung des Gurtschlosses bewegt. Ferner umfassen die Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 die in der Öffnung 28 des Gehäuses 1 befindliche Stirnfläche durch die Drucktaste 2, so dass der Insasse die Drucktaste 2 auch bei Dunkelheit sehr einfach treffen kann, indem er einfach auf die Fläche zwischen den Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 drückt.The light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 are formed linear and have a to the adjacent edge sides 24 and 25th the pushbutton customized course, as in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 can be seen. Further, the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 extend to the ends of the insertion slot 12 and include the insertion slot 12 between them. The light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 and the insertion slot 12 thereby form practically a pushbutton 2 on three sides comprehensive line. In this case, the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 preferably have an identical or smaller width than the insertion slot 12 so that the occupant hits the insertion slot 12 with the belt tongue in each case when he the belt tongue with the front side via a light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 interconnecting Position positioned and then moved in the direction of the buckle. Further, the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 include the end face located in the opening 28 of the housing 1 by the push button 2, so that the occupant can easily hit the push button 2 even in the dark simply by pressing on the surface between the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 ,

In der Fig. 2 weist die Drucktaste 2 eine sich an einer Seite in Richtung des Einführschlitzes 12 konisch verjüngende Formgebung auf. Damit sind die Randseiten 24 und 25 so geformt, dass sie in Richtung des Einführschlitzes 12 aufeinander zu laufen. Die Schlitze 10 und 11 und die darin angeordneten Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 der Lichtleitkörper 8 und 9 sind in etwa parallel zu den Randseiten 24 und 25 ausgerichtet und verlaufen damit ebenfalls in Richtung des Einführschlitzes 12. Damit bilden die Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 zusammen eine in Richtung des Einführschlitzes 12 gerichtete Pfeilform. Ferner verlaufen die Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 in Richtung des Einführschlitzes 12 bis nahezu zu dessen Enden, so dass sie den Benutzer optisch zu dem Einführschlitz 12 führen. In der Fig. 3 ist eine alternative Ausführungsform der Erfindung zu erkennen, bei der die Drucktaste 2 eine rechteckförmige Querschnittsform aufweist. Die Schlitze 10 und 11 und die darin angeordneten Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 sind ebenfalls parallel zu den nächstliegenden Randseiten 24 und 25 der Drucktaste 2 verlaufend geformt. Dabei verlaufen die Schlitze 10 und 11 und die Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 jeweils um eine Ecke der Drucktaste 2 und weisen eine L-Form auf, wobei diese so angeordnet sind, dass zwei der Schenkel parallel zueinander und zwei der Schenkel aufeinander zu gerichtet sind. Dabei umfassen die Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 die beiden seitlichen Randseiten 24 und 25 und die beiden an den Einführschlitz 12 angrenzenden Abschnitte der dem Einführschlitz 12 zugewandten Randseite der Drucktaste 2. Da der Einführschlitz 12 eine kürzere Länge L als die in diese Richtung gerichtete Breite B der Drucktaste 2 aufweist, überragt die Drucktaste 2 den Einführschlitz 12 über dessen Enden hinaus. Damit laufen die Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 in Richtung der Enden des Einführschlitzes 12 aufeinander zu und umrahmen dadurch die Drucktaste 2, wodurch diese optisch besonders gut kenntlich gemacht wird.In the Fig. 2 For example, the pushbutton 2 has a shape that tapers conically on one side in the direction of the insertion slot 12. Thus, the edge sides 24 and 25 are shaped so that they run towards each other in the direction of the insertion slot 12. The slots 10 and 11 and arranged therein light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 of the light guide 8 and 9 are aligned approximately parallel to the edge sides 24 and 25 and thus also extend in the direction of Einführschlitzes 12. Thus, the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 together form a in the direction the insertion slot 12 directed arrow shape. Furthermore, the light-emitting surfaces 13 and 14 extend in the direction of the insertion slot 12 almost to its ends, so that they guide the user optically to the insertion slot 12. In the Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which the push button 2 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape. The slots 10 and 11 and arranged therein Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 and 14 are also formed parallel to the nearest edge sides 24 and 25 of the push button 2 extending. The slots 10 and 11 and the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 each extend around a corner of the push button 2 and have an L-shape, wherein these are arranged so that two of the legs are parallel to each other and two of the legs are directed towards each other. In this case, the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14, the two lateral edge sides 24 and 25 and the two adjacent to the insertion slot 12 portions of the insertion slot 12 facing edge side of the push button 2. Since the insertion slot 12 has a shorter length L than the width B directed in this direction Push button 2, the push button 2 dominates the insertion slot 12 beyond the ends thereof. Thus, the light emitting surfaces 13 and 14 run towards each other in the direction of the ends of the insertion slot 12 and thereby frame the pushbutton 2, whereby this is optically particularly well marked.

Beiden Ausführungsformen ist gemeinsam, dass die Betätigungsfläche der Drucktaste 2, der Einführschlitz 12, die Stirnseite des Gehäuses 1 und die Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 und 14 symmetrisch zu einer durch die Mitte des Einführschlitzes 12 und die Mitte der Drucktaste 2 verlaufenden Mittenachse M geformt und ausgerichtet sind.Both embodiments have in common that the actuating surface of the push button 2, the insertion slot 12, the end face of the housing 1 and the Lichtabstrahlflächen 13 and 14 are symmetrical to a through the center of the insertion slot 12 and the center of the push button 2 extending center axis M shaped and aligned.

Claims (13)

  1. An illuminated belt lock for a safety belt device of a motor vehicle, comprising:
    - a housing (1),
    - a pushbutton (2) which is movable in the housing (1),
    - an insertion slot (12) bordered by an edge section (23) of the housing (1) and the pushbutton (2) for inserting a belt tongue which is lockable in the belt lock, and
    - at least one light reflecting surface (13, 14), wherein
    - the light reflecting surface (13, 14) has a linear contour, the shape of which is adapted to the shape of an edge side (24) of the pushbutton (2) arranged on the side viewed in the direction toward the insertion slot (12), wherein
    - the light reflecting surface (13, 14) is arranged on a light conducting body (8, 9) securely arranged to the housing (1) of the belt lock,
    characterized in that
    - a light source (3) is provided that is connected by an light guide to the light conducting body (8, 9), wherein
    - the light guide (5) has a light entry surface (27) assigned to the light source (3) and two light exit surfaces (17, 18) separated from each other, wherein
    - each one of the light exit surfaces (17, 18) is assigned to one light entry surface (15, 16) of the light conducting body (8, 9).
  2. The illuminated belt lock according to claim 1, characterized in that
    - the light reflecting surface (13, 14) extends up to one of the ends of the insertion slot (12).
  3. The illuminated belt lock according to claim 2, characterized in that
    - the light reflecting surface (13, 14) has an identical or lesser width than the insertion slot (12).
  4. The illuminated belt lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
    - two light reflecting surfaces (13, 14) are provided which are arranged on different, opposing edge sides (24, 25) of the pushbutton (2).
  5. The illuminated belt lock according to claim 4, characterized in that
    - the light reflecting surfaces (13, 14) are configured symmetrical to a middle axis (M) of the pushbutton (2).
  6. The illuminated belt lock according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that
    - the insertion slot (12) has a shorter length (L) than the width (B) of the pushbutton (2) aligned parallel to the longitudinal extension of the insertion slot (12), and
    - the light reflecting surfaces (13, 14) are configured to run toward each other at the edge sides (24, 25) of the pushbutton (2) toward the ends of the insertion slot (12).
  7. The illuminated belt lock (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that
    - the light reflecting surfaces (13, 14) extend up to the ends of the insertion slot (12) and enclose the insertion slot (12) between themselves.
  8. The illuminated belt lock according to claim 1, characterized in that
    - the light conducting body (8, 9) has a fixing section (19, 20) set in a wall of the housing (1) and a coupling-in section (21, 22) extending into a cavity (26) arranged within the housing (1), and
    - the light reflecting surface (13, 14) is arranged on the fixing section (18, 19) and a light entry surface (15, 16) is arranged on the coupling-in section (21, 22).
  9. The illuminated belt lock according to claim 8, characterized in that
    - the light conducting body (8, 9) is shaped such that it lies at least sectionally flat on an inner wall of the housing (1) with the coupling-in section (21, 22).
  10. The illuminated belt lock according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that
    - the light reflecting surface (13, 14) is configured larger than the light entry surface (15, 16).
  11. The illuminated belt lock (1) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that
    - the light conducting body (8, 9) is configured to expand conically starting from the light entry surface (15, 16) toward the light reflecting surface (13, 14).
  12. The illuminated belt lock (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that
    - the lighting conducting body (8, 9) is formed from a dimensionally stable transparent plastic part.
  13. The illuminated belt lock according to claim 1, characterized in that
    - starting from the light entry surface (27), the light guide (5) branches into two branches (6, 7) that are separate from each other, and each one of the light exit surfaces (17, 18) is assigned one of the branches (6, 7).
EP16727521.3A 2015-06-08 2016-06-08 Illuminated safety belt buckle for a safety belt device of a motor vehicle Active EP3302161B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102015210450.8A DE102015210450A1 (en) 2015-06-08 2015-06-08 Illuminated belt buckle for a safety belt device of a motor vehicle
PCT/EP2016/062988 WO2016198432A1 (en) 2015-06-08 2016-06-08 Illuminated safety belt buckle for a safety belt device of a motor vehicle

Publications (2)

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EP3302161A1 EP3302161A1 (en) 2018-04-11
EP3302161B1 true EP3302161B1 (en) 2019-08-07

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US (1) US10383406B2 (en)
EP (1) EP3302161B1 (en)
JP (1) JP6656775B2 (en)
KR (1) KR102043033B1 (en)
DE (1) DE102015210450A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2016198432A1 (en)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102016204961B4 (en) * 2016-03-24 2022-08-11 Autoliv Development Ab Illuminated belt lock for a safety belt device in a motor vehicle

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS63106307U (en) * 1986-12-27 1988-07-09
DE3904125A1 (en) 1988-02-13 1989-08-24 Autoflug Gmbh Illuminated safety belt buckle
US5892436A (en) * 1996-11-08 1999-04-06 Trw Inc. Illuminated seat belt buckle
US20070236917A1 (en) * 2006-04-07 2007-10-11 Tk Holdings Inc Lighted soft touch buckle for restraint system
DE102007047704B4 (en) 2007-10-05 2018-03-01 Autoliv Development Ab Illuminated belt buckle for a vehicle safety belt
US20120089302A1 (en) * 2010-10-06 2012-04-12 Griffin John A Illuminated seat belt receptacle
DE202012012254U1 (en) * 2012-12-20 2013-02-22 Key Safety Systems, Inc. Belt buckle for a vehicle seat belt
DE102013003978B4 (en) * 2013-03-08 2022-06-09 Zf Automotive Germany Gmbh Seat belt buckle and method of installing a seat belt buckle
CN106572724B (en) * 2014-07-15 2020-08-21 Trw汽车股份有限公司 Safety belt lock

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US20180192744A1 (en) 2018-07-12
EP3302161A1 (en) 2018-04-11
JP6656775B2 (en) 2020-03-04
KR20180014035A (en) 2018-02-07
US10383406B2 (en) 2019-08-20
KR102043033B1 (en) 2019-11-12
DE102015210450A1 (en) 2016-12-08
WO2016198432A1 (en) 2016-12-15
JP2018524050A (en) 2018-08-30

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