EP0557983A1 - Seat belt buckle with pin locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to develop a safety belt buckle (100) for vehicles for receiving and locking an insertion tongue (14) in a housing (11), having a buckle key (12) for removing the locking, in particular having a buckle key which can be actuated downwards, in such a way that it is also shock-proof in the case of deceleration forces which act in the actuating direction of the buckle key and of the opening mechanism, and that the blocking pin is blocked against displacement into the release position under the effect of deceleration forces, it is proposed that a blocking element (19), which is mounted on the housing (11) so as to be pivotable about a pivot (18) and has a free first arm (20), can be moved into a locking position which blocks the locking element (116) against movement out of the blocking position and engages in the movement path (17) and, when the buckle key (12) is actuated, can be moved, releasing the movement path (17) of the locking element (116), out of the movement path (17) into an unlocking position, and the blocking element (19) has a second, angled pivoting arm (21) for actuating and pivoting the blocking element (19) by means of the buckle key (12) from a basic position, in which the blocking element (19) is located in the movement path (17), into a position which releases the blocking pin (16), the pivoting arm (21) being connected at its free end (21a) to the buckle key (12) via a connecting element (22). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a seat belt buckle for vehicles for receiving and locking a tongue in a housing and a lock button to release the lock, the lock button against a spring opens the load-bearing lock mechanism after actuation in the actuating direction after an opening stroke to release the lock tongue and wherein the tongue over A locking part pivotably mounted in the housing between an unlocking position and a locking position can be locked, which can be moved into a locking position and into a release position or into a locking position via a movement path guided in a link guide in the housing and on a movement path predetermined by the link guide and in a release position movable locking lever can be locked as a locking element, and with an ejector that the insertion tongue in the unlocked position of the lock steeply pushes out of the housing.

The function and task of a security lock, in particular for motor vehicles, is assumed to be generally known.

In order to increase occupant safety, an attempt is made to pull the seat belt buckle suddenly downward in the event of a trigger as part of the belt tensioning system, which is also known to be known, in order to pull both the lap belt and the shoulder belt tightly in this way.

The problem is that the belt buckle hits with a high delay (shock) against an end stop and an unintentional lock opening occurs because the lock button and the locking pin move downward due to their inertia and thereby unlock the lock mechanism.

It has therefore already been proposed a seat belt buckle for vehicles and for receiving and locking a tongue in a housing and a lock button to release the lock, the lock button against a spring opens the load-bearing lock mechanism after actuation after an opening stroke to release the lock tongue and wherein the insertion tongue can be locked via a locking part pivotably mounted in the housing between an unlocking position and a locking position, which can be locked via a locking pin guided in a link guide in the housing and movable into a locking position and into a release position, and with an ejector which moves the insertion tongue in the unlocking position of the locking element presses out of the housing.

This arrangement has the disadvantage that the locking pin, which is guided in a backdrop within the lock housing, could move from its locked position holding the locking member into the release position due to its inertia and the inertia of the lock key, so that the lock mechanism is unlocked and the lock tongue can be pulled out of the lock.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to further develop a seat belt buckle of the type mentioned, in particular with a lock button which can be actuated downwards, so that it is shock-proof even with decelerating forces which act in the actuating direction of the lock button and the opening mechanism, and that the locking pin against one Shift to the release position is blocked under the influence of delay forces.

This object is achieved by the features characterized in claim 1.

With such a design of the seat belt buckle it is ensured that the seat belt buckle cannot be unlocked unintentionally even when high mass forces occur, since the locking pin is held securely in its locking position because its path of movement in the backdrop is blocked by the locking element and the locking element does not first comes into play through acceleration forces. Here, a locking pin guided in a link guide and a correspondingly guided locking lever are regarded as the locking element as having the same effect, so that the locking element is referred to below as the locking pin.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that a locking pin receptacle is formed on a free end of the first arm. As a result, the locking pin is hooked, so to speak, in the locking element, and both lock each other and are secured against unintentional detachment from one another.

It is preferably provided that the locking pin receptacle is limited by an approximately parallel to a first section of the path of movement of the locking pin, upper boundary edge and two lateral boundary edges extending from the upper boundary edge to an opening of the locking pin receptacle, and that the design and arrangement is made so that in the event of a strong delay (shock), the locking pin moves into the locking pin receptacle and the locking element is thereby blocked.

In order to further increase security, it is provided that at least one of the boundary edges of the locking pin receptacle retraction forms an angle alpha of approximately 90 to a plane running through the pivot point of the locking element and an intended contact point of the locking pin with the boundary edge in the direction of a lower end of the boundary edge ^o or less. This ensures that the locking pin is arranged with its center of gravity so that when mass forces occur on the locking pin, these are transmitted to the locking element in such a way that it is rotated further into its position blocking the locking pin, so that its locking security in the event of a strong delay (shock ) increases, the locking element possibly being pressed into its locking position due to its own inertia.

According to another preferred embodiment, it is provided that an at least claw-shaped or hook-shaped attachment part is formed on a free end of the first arm, in order to increase safety the attachment part has an inwardly curved, hemispherical, or triangular or polygonal, contact surface for the locking pin. In this way, a jamming between the locking pin and the locking element is achieved, the above-described positive effects additionally occurring if mass forces occur.

It is provided that the locking element has an angled swivel arm for actuation and pivoting from a basic position in which the locking element or the locking pin receptacle or the claw-shaped or hook-shaped extension part of the movement path of the locking pin is in the unlocked position by the lock key. This embodiment has the advantage that the locking element is always in the movement path of the locking pin in a basic position, so that when the lock tongue is inserted and thus when the seat belt buckle is locked, it is ensured that the locking element is always in the movement path of the locking pin when the seat belt lock is locked , so that the greatest possible security against unintentional loosening under the influence of mass forces is given due to an acceleration or deceleration of the buckle.

It can advantageously be provided that one of the side edges of the locking pin receptacle, which is not provided for holding the locking pin in the event of acceleration, or an additional additional attachment part, under the locking part, preventing locking of the lock, if the locking element should not release the path of movement of the locking pin in the intended manner when locking, so that a secure locking and locking is always ensured by the locking pin.

Furthermore, it is advantageously provided that the locking element is actuated by the lock button via a connecting element between the swivel arm and the lock button.

The design of the individual parts and their arrangement is provided so that the first arm of the locking element to the second pivot arm has an angle beta of approximately 90 ^o . The force application points on the first and second arm lie approximately in a common plane.

It is provided that the locking element either has a center of gravity that falls in the pivot point or has a center of gravity that is spaced and arranged so that occurring G forces hold the locking part in its locking position.

The locking element is directly connected to the lock key designed as a sliding key via the coupling and has such a large mass of rotational inertia that even if the center of gravity and pivot point coincide, the lock key is retained.

Fig. 1

in einem Längsschnitt ein Sicherheitsgurtschloß mit eingeschobener und verriegelter Einsteckzunge in einer Verriegelungsstellung des Sperrelements,

Fig. 2 bis 6

in schematischen Teildarstellungen die Anordnung des Sperrstiftes, des Sperrelements und der einzelnen Elemente im Gehäuse bei verschiedenen Betätigungspositionen,

Fig. 7

in einer schematischen Teildarstellung das Sperrelement gemäß Fig. 1 bis 6, und

Fig. 8

in einer schematischen Teildarstellung eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Sperrelementes.

Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawing. Show it

Fig. 1

in a longitudinal section a seat belt buckle with inserted and locked tongue in a locking position of the locking element,

2 to 6

the arrangement of the locking pin, the locking element and the individual elements in the housing in different actuation positions in schematic partial representations,

Fig. 7

in a schematic partial representation of the locking element according to FIGS. 1 to 6, and

Fig. 8

in a schematic partial representation of a further embodiment of a locking element.

A first embodiment of a seat belt buckle 100 is shown in FIGS. 1 to 7. In the lock housing 11, which is embedded in the lock caps (not shown in the drawing), the lock key 12 is mounted for longitudinal displacement in the actuation direction B to open the lock mechanism 13 with the ejector 113, the cantilever 114 and the main spring 115. The training is provided in the usual way so that the lock button 12 opens the load-bearing lock mechanism 13 after an opening stroke to release the tongue 14, the tongue 14 is locked via a pivotally mounted in the lock housing 11 locking member 10 which via a in a link guide 15 of the lock housing 11 and lockable on a movement path 17 in a locking position and in a release position locking pin 16 can be locked. In the lock housing 11 is now on the lock housing 11 around a pivot point 18 pivotally mounted locking element 19 is provided, which has two locking element arms 20, 21, which preferably have an angle of approximately 90 ^° to one another and, in this embodiment, an angle beta of approximately 80 ^° to one another about the pivot point 18. The locking element 19 is rotatable about the pivot point 18 and the first arm 20 is designed to be movable into the path of movement 17 of the locking pin 16, in such a way that the locking element 19 is in the path of movement 17 of the locking pin 16 and this against movement from the Locked position blocked in the release position, as shown in Figure 1. To pivot the locking element 19 via the second arm 21, a connecting element 22 is provided on the lock key 12, which acts and moves the arm 21 when the lock key 12 is moved in the actuating direction B and pivots the locking element 19 about the pivot point 18 into the release position. The connecting element 22 is a so-called thrust crank mechanism 122, in which a pin 121a arranged at the free end 21a of the swivel arm 21 is movably arranged in a slot 121b of the lock key 12 and is carried along by slot 121 in the direction of movement when the lock key 12 is moved (Fig. 5), the pin 121a then simultaneously carrying out a corresponding upward or downward movement. Alternatively, a conventional swivel joint and a telescopic arm 21 can also be provided here in order to carry out the desired transmission of the linear movement of the lock key 12 into a rotational movement of the locking element 19. When the lock key 12, designed as a sliding key, is returned under the action of a spring, the locking element 19 is then moved over the connecting element 22 pivoted back into the basic position. Furthermore, a plunger part 23 is provided on the lock key 12 which, when the lock key is actuated appropriately in the actuation direction B after pivoting the locking element 19 from the locking position into a position releasing the movement path 17, acts on the locking pin 16 and moves it into the release position.

In order to optimally carry out the motion sequences and to ensure that there is no unwanted unlocking even in the event of deceleration forces occurring in the acceleration direction a, very specific geometric relationships are provided, as are shown schematically in FIGS. 2 to 7. First, a distance I is provided between the corresponding boundary edges 26 of the locking pin receptacle recess 24 of the locking element 19 and the locking pin in the unaccelerated state shown in FIG. 7 in order to enable a pivoting movement of the locking element 19 into the release position, as is indicated in FIG. 6, before the tappet part 23 moves the locking pin 16 when actuated.

In the new lock design, the principle of operation of the known locks of the type mentioned at the outset was retained: when the seat belt buckle 100 is locked, the locking part 10 is supported, once under load, directly with the tip and once indirectly via the locking pin 16 on the housing 11, so that the tongue 14 does not can be pulled out (Fig. 2).

If the locking pin 16 is pushed by pressing the lock button 12 (FIG. 3) so that it moves into the unlocked position (FIG. 4), the seat belt buckle 100 opens and the tongue 14 is ejected.

When using a state-of-the-art lock on a strammer, the following can happen:
when the lock is fully tightened down, the lock hits the end stop at a speed of up to 50 km / h and is braked strongly in the process. Due to the inertia of the push button and the locking pin, these parts move further (into the lock) and lead to the opening of the lock and thus to the ejection of the insert tongue. To prevent this, a locking element 19 is provided, which either has a locking pin receptacle 24 or two claw-shaped or hook-shaped attachment parts 29, 30 (FIGS. 7 and 8) which hold the locking pin 16 in the locked position (FIG. 5 ). Due to the appropriate design and arrangement of the parts, the system lock button, locking element and locking pin is coordinated so that these parts do not move in the event of an impact and the seat belt buckle therefore remains locked. Nevertheless, it is ensured that the seat belt buckle can be unlocked by the user at any time: when the lock button 12 is pressed, the locking element 19 rotates, the lock button 12 pushes the locking pin 16 into the unlocked position (unlocking position) and the lock is open (FIG. 6).

It is provided in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 7 that at the free end 20a of the arm 20 a approximately rectangular locking pin receptacle 24 is formed, which is surrounded by an upper boundary edge 25, a front boundary edge 26 and a rear boundary edge 27 and is open via the opening 28 for the entry and exit of the locking pin 16. The front boundary edge 26 has an angle alpha of approximately 90 ^° or less and preferably to a plane E running through the pivot point 18 of the locking element 19 and an intended contact point K of the locking pin 16 with the boundary edge 26 in the direction of a lower end 26a of the boundary edge 26 about 70 ^o , so that a pressing force of the locking pin 16 on the boundary edge 26 leads to a rotation in the direction of the arrow Y. The locking pin receptacle 24, which moves the locking pin 16 into the locking pin receptacle 24 when acceleration forces occur, as shown in FIG. 1, and there is mutual support in all four directions, since up and down, ie perpendicular to the movement path 17, a support through the link guide 15, while in the direction of the movement path 17 is supported by the second surface of the locking pin receptacle recess 24 and the locking pin 16 is held by the deceleration force that occurs. This system also offers complete security even in the event of shocks, while at the same time ensuring that problem-free unlocking can take place, as shown in FIG. 6.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the locking element 19 has two claw-shaped or hook-shaped Extension parts 29,30, of which only one extension part 29 can be seen in the drawing and which are at a distance from one another. In the event of a critical acceleration, the hooks engage around the locking pin 16, so that this is securely held as in the case of the locking pin receptacle retraction. For this purpose, it is provided that the attachment part 29, 30 has an inwardly curved, hemispherical, or triangular or polygonal contact surface 31 for the locking pin 16. Here, too, there is a distance I between the lower tip 29a of the hook-shaped extension part 29 in the unaccelerated state shown in FIG. 8, in order to enable a pivoting movement of the locking element 19 into the release position before the plunger part 23 releases the locking pin when actuated shifts.

The basic idea in all embodiments is that by blocking both the locking pin and the lock button in the event of acceleration occurring, an inadvertent opening of the lock can be avoided.

Reference symbol list:

Seat belt buckle

100

Ejector

113

Cantilever

114

Main spring

115

Locking part

10th

Lock housing

11

Lock button

12

Lock mechanism

13

Tongue

14

Arrow direction

B

Direction of acceleration

a

Scenery tour

15

Lock pin

16.116

Trajectory

17.17a, 17b

pivot point

18th

Locking element

19th

poor

20th

free end

20a

poor

21

free end

21a

clutch

22

Ram part

23

Lock pin receptacle recovery

24th

Boundary edge

25,26,27

lower end

26a

opening

28

Lugs

29.30

lower tip

29a

area

31

Slider crank gear

122

pen

121a

slot

121b

Claims (12)

Seat belt buckle (100) for vehicles for receiving and locking a tongue (14) in a housing (11) and a lock button (12) to release the lock, the lock button (12) against a spring (115) when actuated in the direction of actuation (arrow B) the load-bearing lock mechanism (13) opens after an opening stroke to release the insertion tongue (14), and the insertion tongue (14) can be locked via a locking part (10) which is pivotably mounted in the housing (11) between an unlocking position and a locking position and which can be locked via a in a slide guide (15) in the housing (11) and on a movement path (17) predetermined by the slide guide (15) into a locking position and into a release position movable locking pin (16) or on a predetermined movement path into a locking position and into a Release position movable locking lever as a locking element (116) can be locked, and with an ejector (114), which pushes the insertion tongue (14) out of the housing (11) in the unlocked position of the locking part (10),
characterized,
that a locking element (19) pivotably mounted on the housing (11) about a pivot point (18) with a free first arm (20) into a locking position which locks the locking element (116) against movement from the locking position and engages in the movement path (17) is movable and upon actuation of the lock button (12) the movement path (17) of the locking element (116) can be released from the movement path (17) into an unlocking position, and that the locking element (19) has a second, angled pivot arm (21) for actuating and pivoting the locking element (19) by the lock key (12). from a basic position, in which the blocking element (19) is in the movement path (17), into a position releasing the blocking pin (16), the swivel arm (21) at its free end (21a) with the lock key (12) is connected via a connecting element (22). Seat belt buckle according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the connecting element (22) is a sliding crank mechanism (122). Seat belt buckle according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized,
that at a free end (20a) of the first arm (20) a locking pin receiving recess (24) is formed. Seat belt buckle according to claim 3,
characterized,
that the locking pin receptacle (24) through a to a first section (17a) of the movement path (17) of the locking pin (16) as a locking element (116) approximately parallel, upper boundary edge (25) and two from the upper boundary edge (25) to one Opening (28) of the locking pin receptacle recess (24) extending lateral boundary edges (26,27) is limited. Seat belt buckle according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized,
that at least one of the boundary edges (26) of the locking pin receiving recess (24) to a through the pivot point (18) of the locking element (19) and an intended contact point (K) of the locking pin (16) with the boundary edge (26) extending plane (E) in Towards a lower end (26a) of the boundary edge (26) has an angle alpha of approximately 90 ^° or less. Seat belt buckle according to claim 1,
characterized,
that an at least claw-shaped or hook-shaped extension part (29, 30) is formed on a free end (20a) of the first arm (20). Seat belt buckle according to claim 6,
characterized,
that the extension part (29, 30) has an inwardly curved, hemispherical or triple or polygonal contact surface (31) for the locking pin (16). Seat belt buckle according to one of claims 2 to 7,
characterized,
that one of the side edges (26, 27) of the locking pin receptacle recess (24) or the attachment part (29, 30) of the free first arm (20) of the locking element (19) in the movement path (17) arranged and unaccelerated state in an acceleration direction (a ) a first distance (I) to the locking pin (16) is arranged in order to enable a pivoting movement of the locking element (19) in the release position. Seat belt buckle according to one of claims 1 to 8,
characterized,
that the first arm (20) of the locking element (19) to the second pivot arm (21) has an angle beta of approximately 90 ^o . Seat belt buckle according to one of claims 1 to 9,
characterized,
that the locking element (19) with its center of gravity and its pivot point (18) is designed and arranged in such a way that its locking safety increases in the direction of acceleration (direction of arrow a) in the event of strong deceleration (shock) and that the locking element (19) due to the inertia in its locking position is pressed. Seat belt buckle according to one of claims 1 to 10,
characterized,
that the mass of the locking pin (16) and the lock button (12) and the mass of the locking element (19) cooperate so that the sum of the torque (inertial forces x lever arms) around the pivot point (18) acts so that the locking element (19 ) is pressed into its locking position. Seat belt buckle according to one of claims 1 to 10,
characterized,
that the rotational moment of inertia of the locking element (19) is so large that a rotational movement of the locking element (19) around the pivot point (18) during a briefly occurring acceleration state (shock) is reliably avoided or only leads to a small movement which does not open the lock .

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