GB2118619A - A safety-belt lock device - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety-belt buckle into which a tongue 2 attached to the belt can be entered and engaged, engagement being releasable by a hand-operated press button 6, comprises a housing 3 having at least two parts 3a, 3b displaceable one in relation to another in the direction of insertion of the tongue. The two parts are maintained in an extended position (Fig. 1) by a compression element 4 when the tongue 2 is not latched in the buckle and being displaceable into a contracted position (Fig. 2) on insertion of the tongue. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A safety-belt lock device This invention relates to a safety-belt lock or buckle-device into which a latch tongue attached to the belt can be inserted and engaged, engagement being releasable by means of a handoperated press button.

Such devices of safety belts are located at as low a level as possible in modern motor vehicles in order to achieve an optimum restraining effect.

However, a disadvantage may then be encountered in that the lock device may be lost to the belt-wearer's sight, for example due to articles of clothing hanging down over the device. This may unfavourably affect ease of insertion of the latch tongue into the lock or buckle device.

The present invention seeks to avoid this disadvantage and to provide an arrangement which permits satisfactory insertion of the latch tongue into the device, despite a low position.

According to the invention, the housing of the lock or buckle device comprises at least two parts which are displaceable one in relation to another in the direction of the insertion of the buckle tongue, the two parts being maintained in an extended position by a compression element when the tongue is not latched in the device and being displaceable into a contracted position on insertion of the tongue.

One embodiment of the invention by way of example will now be more fully described by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through a safeW- belt lock device in the open unlatched condition, and Figure 2 is a simiiar section but with the housing of the device contracted and the latch tongue locked.

The illustrated lock or buckle device 1 for a safety-belt system serves to receive a latch tongue 2 connected to the belt (in a manner not shown).

The device has a housing 3 comprising at least two parts 3a, 3b which are telescopically displaceable one in relation to another and are subject to the action of a compression spring 4, which tends to press the parts 3a, 3b apart into the extended condition shown in Figure 1.

On inserting the latch 2 into the lock device 1, the upper housing part 3a is pressed downwardly against the force of the spring 4 until a hook 5 which is pivotably mounted in relation to the part 3b, is swung over from one end position (Fig. 1) into another (Fig. 2) against the force of a spring (not shown) and thereby secures the tongue latch 2 in the lock device 1.

The upper part 3a of the housing is held down in the position shown in Fig. 2 because the upper part of the latch tongue 2 is wider than the said part 3a (as viewed in the direction of the arrow P in Fig. 1), so that the tongue 2 rests on the top of that part 3a.

The latch 2 and two housing parts 3a, 3b can be released by operating a press button 6, which acts on a tail portion of the hook 5 through a push rod 7.

The buckle or lock device 1 is attached to, for example, a vehicle seat by means of a shackle 8 in a manner not further illustrated.

1. A safety-belt lock or buckle device, into which a latch tongue attached to the belt can be inserted and engaged, engagement being releasable by means of a hand-operated press button, wherein the housing of the device comprises at least two parts which are displaceable one in relation to another in the direction of insertion of the tongue, parts are maintained in an extended position by a compression element and, when the tongue is not engaged in the lock, are displaceable into a contracted position on insertion of-the tongue.

2. A lock according to Claim 1, wherein the engagement of the two housing parts in the contracted position is effected by the latching means for the tongue.

3. A safety-belt lock or buckle device substantialiy as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A safety-belt lock device This invention relates to a safety-belt lock or buckle-device into which a latch tongue attached to the belt can be inserted and engaged, engagement being releasable by means of a handoperated press button. Such devices of safety belts are located at as low a level as possible in modern motor vehicles in order to achieve an optimum restraining effect. However, a disadvantage may then be encountered in that the lock device may be lost to the belt-wearer's sight, for example due to articles of clothing hanging down over the device. This may unfavourably affect ease of insertion of the latch tongue into the lock or buckle device. The present invention seeks to avoid this disadvantage and to provide an arrangement which permits satisfactory insertion of the latch tongue into the device, despite a low position. According to the invention, the housing of the lock or buckle device comprises at least two parts which are displaceable one in relation to another in the direction of the insertion of the buckle tongue, the two parts being maintained in an extended position by a compression element when the tongue is not latched in the device and being displaceable into a contracted position on insertion of the tongue. One embodiment of the invention by way of example will now be more fully described by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through a safeW- belt lock device in the open unlatched condition, and Figure 2 is a simiiar section but with the housing of the device contracted and the latch tongue locked. The illustrated lock or buckle device 1 for a safety-belt system serves to receive a latch tongue 2 connected to the belt (in a manner not shown). The device has a housing 3 comprising at least two parts 3a, 3b which are telescopically displaceable one in relation to another and are subject to the action of a compression spring 4, which tends to press the parts 3a, 3b apart into the extended condition shown in Figure 1. On inserting the latch 2 into the lock device 1, the upper housing part 3a is pressed downwardly against the force of the spring 4 until a hook 5 which is pivotably mounted in relation to the part 3b, is swung over from one end position (Fig. 1) into another (Fig. 2) against the force of a spring (not shown) and thereby secures the tongue latch 2 in the lock device 1. The upper part 3a of the housing is held down in the position shown in Fig. 2 because the upper part of the latch tongue 2 is wider than the said part 3a (as viewed in the direction of the arrow P in Fig. 1), so that the tongue 2 rests on the top of that part 3a. The latch 2 and two housing parts 3a, 3b can be released by operating a press button 6, which acts on a tail portion of the hook 5 through a push rod 7. The buckle or lock device 1 is attached to, for example, a vehicle seat by means of a shackle 8 in a manner not further illustrated. CLAIMS

1. A safety-belt lock or buckle device, into which a latch tongue attached to the belt can be inserted and engaged, engagement being releasable by means of a hand-operated press button, wherein the housing of the device comprises at least two parts which are displaceable one in relation to another in the direction of insertion of the tongue, parts are maintained in an extended position by a compression element and, when the tongue is not engaged in the lock, are displaceable into a contracted position on insertion of-the tongue.

2. A lock according to Claim 1, wherein the engagement of the two housing parts in the contracted position is effected by the latching means for the tongue.

3. A safety-belt lock or buckle device substantialiy as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.