Seat belt buckle

The invention relates to a seat belt buckle (10) comprising a locking mechanism for a plug-in latch and a casing (12) that encloses the locking mechanism and includes an inserting opening (14) for inserting the plug-in latch as well as a release opening (16) in which a release element (20) for releasing the locking mechanism is disposed. There is provided a sealing device (22) for sealing the inserting opening (14), when the plug-in latch is not inserted, and/or the release opening (16).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a seat belt buckle comprising a locking mechanism for a plug-in latch and a casing that encloses the locking mechanism and includes an inserting opening for inserting the plug-in latch as well as a release opening in which a release element for releasing the locking mechanism is arranged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Seat belt buckles have to work reliably for many years. It may occur especially in the area of the back seats that seat belt buckles are not in use for months but nevertheless have to permit, of course, insertion of the plug-in latch and safe locking thereof upon the first use.

It is the object of the invention to provide a seat belt buckle which excels by being extremely robust.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a generic seat belt buckle in which a sealing device is provided which seals the inserting opening when the plug-in latch is not inserted and/or the release opening. In this way foreign matter is prevented from penetrating the interior of the belt buckle. The sealing device is designed especially to prevent liquids from penetrating the casing through the release opening or the inserting opening. Thus sugary beverages or food residues, for instance, are prevented or impeded from penetrating and consequently cannot lead to increased adhesion to components or gluing of the release button.

A compact design of the belt buckle is permitted, for instance, when the release opening and the inserting opening are merged and constitute a joint opening of the casing.

The sealing device can have a casing projection facing inwardly in the direction of the release opening and forming the edge of the release opening, wherein in its home position the release element is adjacent to the casing projection and is preferably forced against the casing projection. Such sealing device can be manufactured in a compact and inexpensive manner.

So as to permit an improved function of the sealing device an elastic seal can be provided at the casing projection and/or at the release element.

The elastic seal is connected, for instance, integrally with the casing and/or the release element. It is preferably manufactured by two-component injection molding. This facilitates the assembly of the belt buckle and prevents the elastic seal from detaching from the casing, for instance.

For an improved sealing of the inserting opening the sealing device may include a flap for closing and sealing the inserting opening.

Preferably the flap is formed such that upon inserting the plug-in latch into the inserting opening the flap releases the latter. This enables the vehicle occupant to easily operate the belt buckle.

It is possible that the flap is adjacent to a contact surface at the casing and/or at the release element and is preferably loaded by a spring against the casing or the release element.

For an enhanced sealing function an elastic seal can be provided at the flap and/or at the casing.

In order to permit easy assembly the elastic seal can be connected integrally with the flap and/or the casing and can preferably be manufactured by two-component extrusion molding.

In order to prevent small particles from penetrating the belt buckle even when the plug-in latch is inserted, the sealing device can be appropriately designed such that the inserting opening is sealed when the plug-in latch is inserted. Preferably the sealing device is suited to prevent liquids from penetrating the casing through the inserting opening.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1illustrates a belt buckle10comprising a casing12that encloses a locking mechanism for a plug-in latch. The casing12includes an inserting opening14for inserting the plug-in latch as well as a release opening16which are merged and form a joint opening18of the casing12. In the release opening16a release element20for releasing the locking mechanism is disposed. The locking mechanism of the belt buckle10is released by pressing the release element20and the plug-in latch is released.

FIG. 2shows a top view onto the belt buckle10including the joint opening18and the release element20disposed therein. In the shown embodiment, the plug-in opening14is restricted, on the one hand, by the casing12and, on the other hand, by the release element20.

Alternatively, it is also possible that the inserting opening14and the release opening16are provided in the form of separate openings in the casing12of the belt buckle10.

A sealing device22is provided for sealing the release opening16and the inserting opening14when the plug-in latch is not inserted. The sealing device22comprises a flap24biased, for instance, in the direction of the closed position which closes and seals the inserting opening14.

FIG. 3shows a sectional view along the sectional plane inFIG. 2. The casing12includes a casing projection28facing inwardly in the direction of the release opening16and forming the edge of the release opening16, wherein in its home position the end face of the release element20is adjacent to the casing projection28, as is easily visible from the detailed view ofFIG. 4. The casing projection28permits a very compact design of the sealing device22for sealing the release opening16.

In its home position the release element20is forced against the casing projection28by the locking mechanism, whereby good sealing is obtained between the release element20and the casing projection28.

FIG. 3furthermore illustrates a sectional view of the flap24of the sealing device22which closes and seals the inserting opening14for the plug-in latch. The flap24is supported rotatably about an axis of rotation25in the casing12of the belt buckle10. In its sealing position the flap24is adjacent to a contact face at the release element20. A spring30loads the flap24against the contact face of the release element20.

If the vehicle occupant inserts the plug-in latch into the belt buckle10for fastening the seat belt, the plug-in latch presses against the flap24and the flap24is pivoted about the axis of rotation25so as to release the inserting opening14. In this way the vehicle occupant can insert the plug-in latch into the inserting opening14of the belt buckle10in a simple and conventional manner and especially requires no separate step for opening the inserting opening14.

When the plug-in latch is inserted, the flap24is loaded by the spring30against the plug-in latch and seals the inserting opening14even when the plug-in latch is inserted.

FIG. 5shows a sectional view of the belt buckle10along the sectional plane V-V. The release element20extends in the sectional plane on both sides of the inserting opening14. As is clearly evident from the detailed view inFIG. 6, the release element20is adjacent to the casing projection28of the casing12.

The flap24has an end wall32which substantially closes the inserting opening14as well as two side walls34by which the flap24is adjacent to the release element20.

In the shown embodiment the flap24is supported on the casing12and is adjacent to the release element20in a tight-fitting manner. It is also possible that the flap24is attached to the release element20and is in sealing contact with the casing12.

In order to permit optimum sealing the casing projection28is in the form of an elastic seal which is integrally connected to the casing12. Another elastic seal which is integrally connected to the flap24is provided at the flap24. The casing12including the elastic casing projection28and the flap24having the elastic seal are manufactured by two-component extrusion molding.

It is alternatively possible that the casing12, the release unit20and the flap24are made of substantially non-elastic materials and are merely loaded to contact each other.

The flap24and/or other components of the seat belt buckle or the casing visible through the inserting opening14, especially rattle-prevention elements or guide elements, can consist of fluorescent material or can be illuminated by a light source for better visibility in the dark. It is especially easily possible to design such elements of fluorescent material when said components are separate components which are connected to the casing.