Abstract:
A belt guiding element for a child safety system, in particular for a child seat, can provide a high safety level and particularly highly comfortable use when the safety belt is inserted into the element and when the belt is removed therefrom. The belt guiding element comprises a slot for receiving a safety belt, on the vehicle side, in particular a three-point belt, and a locking element capable of being open or closed. The locking element enables, in an open position, for the safety belt to be inserted into the slot or the safety belt previously inserted into the slot, to be removed. In a closed position the locking element enables, the insertion or removal of the safety belt to be prevented. The locking element includes a lock lever which can pivot about a pin spaced apart from the slot.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of International Application PCT/DE 2005/001692, which has an international filing date of Sep. 21, 2005; this International Application was not published in English, but was published in German as WO 2006/037289, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The invention relates to a belt-guiding element for a child-safety system, or for a child seat, by which a child can be secured in a vehicle by a safety belt, for example a 3-point safety belt, of the vehicle. A child-safety system is known to be equipped with at least one belt-guiding element by which the safety belt is optimally positioned in the shoulder region of the child who is to be secured. In order to be able to accommodate the safety belt, such a belt-guiding element has to have an access opening through which the safety belt is introduced or “threaded in.” From a safety point of view, such an access opening should be as small as possible, in order to prevent any instances of the safety belt sliding out of the belt-guiding element. From a handling point of view, however, the access opening should be as large as possible, in order to allow the safety belt to be straightforwardly introduced and removed.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     One exemplary embodiment of the relates to a belt-guiding element for a child-safety system. The belt-guiding element comprises an accommodating slot for accommodating a vehicle-mounted safety belt and a locking element with an open position and a closed position. The locking element comprising a pivotable locking lever which can be pivoted about a pivot pin spaced apart from the accommodating slot. The safety belt can be inserted into the accommodating slot or an inserted safety belt can be removed from the accommodating slot when the locking element is in the open position. The safety belt is prevented from being inserted or removed when the locking element is in the closed position. At least a portion of the accommodating slot runs in the form of a circular path, and the pivot pin of the locking lever forms a center point of the circular path of the accommodating slot.  
         [0004]     Another embodiment relates to a child seat. The child seat comprises a belt-guiding element. The belt guiding element includes an accommodating slot for accommodating a vehicle-mounted safety belt and a locking element with an open position and a closed position. The locking element comprises a pivotable locking lever which can be pivoted about a pivot pin spaced apart from the accommodating slot. The safety belt can be inserted into the accommodating slot or an inserted safety belt can be removed from the accommodating slot when the locking element is in the open position. The safety belt is prevented from being inserted or removed when the locking element is in the closed position. At least a portion of the accommodating slot runs in the form of a circular path, and the pivot pin of the locking lever forms a center point of the circular path of the accommodating slot.  
         [0005]     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, appended claims, and the accompanying exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, which are briefly described below. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, appended claims, and the accompanying exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, which are briefly described below.  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a child seat of a child-safety system having a belt-guiding element.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  shows the belt-guiding element according to  FIG. 1  in the closed position.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  shows the belt-guiding element according to  FIGS. 1 and 2  in the open position.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  shows a second exemplary embodiment of a belt-guiding element.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates the second exemplary embodiment of a belt-guiding element of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     An object is to specify a belt-guiding element for a child-safety system, in particular for a child seat, which allows a high level of safety and, at the same time, is particularly easy to use for introducing and removing the safety belt; that is to say for fastening the safety belt over the child who is to be secured.  
         [0013]     Embodiments thus provide a belt-guiding element for a child-safety system, in particular for a child seat, in the case of which a locking element of the belt-guiding element, in its open position, makes it possible for the safety belt to be inserted into an accommodating slot of the belt-guiding element or for a previously inserted safety belt to be removed from the accommodating slot and, in its closed end position, prevents the safety belt from being inserted or removed. According to the invention, this locking element is formed by a pivotable locking lever which can be pivoted about a pivot pin which is spaced apart from the accommodating slot.  
         [0014]     One possible advantage of the belt-guiding element can be seen in that the belt-guiding element ensures a particularly high level of safety for the child who is to be secured; this is because the pivotable locking lever has a closed end position in which the fastened safety belt is reliably prevented from sliding out in an undesirable manner.  
         [0015]     According to an embodiment, a further essential advantage of the belt-guiding element is that it is very easy to use, since it is readily possible for the safety belt to be straightforwardly introduced into the accommodating slot, and removed therefrom, because the locking lever provides an open position which ensures easy access to the accommodating slot.  
         [0016]     A particularly large access opening for the introduction and removal of the safety belt is achieved, according to an advantageous configuration of the belt-guiding element, when the accommodating slot, at least in certain sections, runs in the form of a circle—that is to say over an “imaginary” circular path—and when the pivot pin of the locking lever forms the center point of the circular path of the accommodating slot. In this case, the locking lever is preferably arranged such that, during opening or closure of the locking lever, an end of the locking lever which is directed toward the accommodating slot describes a section of a “locking-lever circular path” which runs concentrically in relation to the accommodating slot. As a result of “circular” pivoting of the locking lever “parallel to”, or concentrically in relation to, the accommodating slot, the access opening is particularly large and the belt can also be introduced with just one hand, that is to say “single-handedly”.  
         [0017]     Comparably good accessibility to the accommodating slot can be achieved if, in each pivoting position, the locking lever is located in each case perpendicularly in relation to an imaginary tangent which is formed at that location of the preferably at least more or less circular accommodating slot which is located closest to the end of the locking lever in each case.  
         [0018]     In order to ensure that the safety belt has as defined a position as possible in the accommodating slot, there is preferably connected to the end of the locking lever which is directed toward the accommodating slot a positioning member, of which the outer contour corresponds to that section of the circular path over which the locking lever passes as it opens or closes, and which, in the closed end position of the locking lever, restrains, and positions, the safety belt in the accommodating slot.  
         [0019]     A housing of the belt-guiding element preferably has an accommodating opening for accommodating the positioning element in its entirety. In the open position of the locking lever, the positioning element is preferably fully inserted into this accommodating opening.  
         [0020]     Furthermore, it is considered to be advantageous if a covering element, in particular a covering plate, is arranged on the locking lever so as to prevent parts of the body, for example a finger of the child who is to be secured, or other objects from being inserted into the space between the locking lever and the housing, which retains the pivot pin of the locking lever. Such a covering element thus ensures, on the one hand, that the child who is to be secured does not get anything trapped and, on the other hand, that objects which could block the locking lever and prevent removal of the safety belt cannot be inserted into the pivoting region of the locking lever.  
         [0021]     The housing of the belt-guiding element preferably has an accommodating opening—referred to hereinbelow as further accommodating openings—for accommodating the covering element preferably in its entirety; the covering element, in the open position of the locking lever, is inserted into this further accommodating opening.  
         [0022]     The positioning member and the covering element may, for example, be integrally connected to the locking lever.  
         [0023]     In order to cut back on material and weight, a separating slot, for example, may be provided between the positioning member and the covering element. In this case, the separating slot is preferably dimensioned so as to prevent parts of the body of the child who is to be secured, or other “obvious” objects from being inserted into the separating slot.  
         [0024]     In order to ensure that the belt-guiding element is always closed when the vehicle is traveling, it is preferably configured such that it automatically closes completely. Such automatic closure is preferably effected by a spring element which interacts with the locking lever and always subjects the latter to a force in the direction of the closed end position of the locking lever.  
         [0025]     In order to allow particularly good accessibility to the accommodating slot, the locking lever is preferably arranged such that, in its open state, it releases at least a fifth of the size of the accommodating slot, preferably a third of, or half, the size of the accommodating slot.  
         [0026]     In order to ensure that the locking lever is arrested securely in its closed end position, the end of the locking lever is preferably provided with a latching element which interacts with a latching device on the housing, which retains the pivot bearing of the locking lever. The latching element of the locking lever and the latching device of the housing here are configured to match one another such that the latching device latches the locking lever in the closed end position of the latter and releases the same only when a predetermined deflecting force has been exceeded. The deflecting force may be, for example, such that it cannot usually be applied by the children who are to be secured, so that the locking lever can only be opened by adults. The correspondingly suitable deflecting force can be determined, for example, by series of tests.  
         [0027]     According to an embodiment, the belt-guiding element is of the most compact and space-saving form possible, for example, when the housing of the belt-guiding element, as seen in plan view, is at least more or less in the form of a circle segment, of which the segment size corresponds to approximately twice the maximum possible pivoting angle of the locking lever.  
         [0028]     The housing preferably has a rounded sliding surface. The pivotable locking lever is preferably pivoted inward for opening purposes, the opening of the accommodating slot being oriented upward.  
         [0029]     Moreover, the housing is, in an embodiment, advantageously equipped with a hook region. This hook region is preferably formed such that the safety belt is held in position even in the event of an accident.  
         [0030]     Embodiments also relate to a child-safety system, in particular a child seat, which is equipped with a belt-guiding element.  
         [0031]     In order, in the case of such a child-safety system, to achieve the highest possible level of safety as regards the positioning of the safety belt and also to allow the safety belt to be introduced and removed particularly easily, the child-safety system has, according to an embodiment, a belt-guiding element as has been described in detail above.  
         [0032]     The belt-guiding element may be fastened, for example, directly on the child seat. In order to position the belt-guiding element in the shoulder region of the child who is to be secured, it is preferably arranged at the shoulder height of the child.  
         [0033]     In order to allow optimum positioning of the safety belt even in the case of children of different heights, the position of the belt-guiding element on the child seat is preferably adjustable.  
         [0034]      FIG. 1  shows a vehicle seat  10 , which may be a rear vehicle-seat bench or also a front vehicle seat, that is to say the passenger seat. A child seat  20 , which forms a child-safety system, is fastened on the vehicle seat  10 . A child  30  is seated on the child seat  20  and is strapped in by a safety belt  40  of the motor vehicle. The safety belt  40  is a three-point safety belt.  
         [0035]     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , a belt-guiding element  60  is fastened on the child seat  20  in the region of the shoulder  50  of the child  30 . The safety belt  40  is guided through the belt-guiding element  60 , so that the belt-guiding element  60  positions the safety belt  40  in the region of the shoulder  50  of the child  30 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 2  illustrates the belt-guiding element  60  according to  FIG. 1  in detail. It can be seen in  FIG. 2  that the belt-guiding element  60  has a pivotable locking lever  100  which is mounted such that it can be pivoted about a pivot pin  110 . The pivot pin  110  or the pivot bearing is retained by a housing  120  of the belt-guiding element  60 .  
         [0037]     The pivotable locking lever  100  blocks the access to an accommodating slot  130  of the belt-guiding element  60 . The accommodating slot  130  runs in the form of a circle and thus forms the section of a circular path  135 ; the accommodating slot  130  serves for accommodating the safety belt  40  and thus for positioning the safety belt in the shoulder region of the child  30 .  
         [0038]     Pivoting the locking lever  100  renders the accommodating slot  130  accessible, so that the safety belt  40  can be inserted into the accommodating slot  130  or removed therefrom. The action of pivoting the locking lever  100  away can be seen in  FIG. 3 , because  FIG. 3  shows the locking lever  100  in its open position.  
         [0039]     It can also be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3  that, in an embodiment, the pivot pin  110  of the locking lever  100  is arranged such that it forms the center point M of the circular-path section  135  of the accommodating slot  130 . During opening or closure of the locking lever, an end  140  of the locking lever  100  which is directed toward the accommodating slot  130  thus describes a section of a circular path  150  which runs concentrically in relation to the accommodating slot  130 , which at least in certain sections runs in the form of a circle, and thus concentrically in relation to the circular-path section  135 . As a result of this arrangement of the pivot pin, moreover, in each pivoting position, the locking lever  100  is located in each case perpendicularly in relation to an imaginary tangent  160  which can be formed at that location of the circular path  135  of the accommodating slot  130  which is located closest to the end  140  of the locking lever  100  in each case.  
         [0040]     The length L of the locking lever  140  is preferably such that the opening distance D between the end  140  of the locking lever  100  in the open position of the latter, relative to its closed position, is at least a fifth, preferably a third to a half, of the overall width B of the accommodating slot  130 .  
         [0041]     In order to ensure that the locking lever  100  is always located in its closed position if the safety belt  40  is not to be introduced or removed, the locking lever is connected to a spring element (not illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) which may be accommodated, for example, in the housing  120 . By means of the spring element, the locking lever  100  is always pivoted into the closed position, which is illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0042]     In order also to ensure that the locking lever  100  remains securely in its closed end position if it is not to be pivoted away intentionally, the end of the locking lever  140  is equipped with a latching element  200  which interacts with a latching device  210  of the housing  120 . As soon as the locking lever  100  is moved into the position which is illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the latching element  200  latches with the latching device  210 , so that pivoting of the locking lever  100  is only possible when a predetermined minimum deflecting force is exceeded. The minimum deflecting force may be, for example, such that it cannot usually be readily applied by young children; this ensures that the child who is to be secured cannot readily remove the safety belt  40  on his/her own.  
         [0043]     It can also be seen in  FIG. 2  that a positioning member  300  is, for example, integrally fitted on the locking lever  100 . The positioning member  300  here is fastened on the locking lever  100  such that its outer contour  310  corresponds essentially to the course taken by the accommodating slot  130 . This ensures that, once it has been introduced into the accommodating slot  130 , the safety belt  40  remains securely in position, and cannot, for example, twist, as soon as the locking lever  100  reaches its closed position, which is shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0044]     The housing  120  contains, for the positioning member  300 , an accommodating opening  320  which, when the locking lever  100  pivots into the open position, which is illustrated in  FIG. 3 , accommodates the positioning member  300  in its entirety.  
         [0045]      FIG. 2  also shows a covering plate  400 , as a covering element, which is likewise, for example, integrally connected to the locking lever  100 . In an embodiment, the task of the covering plate is to prevent objects or, for example, fingers of the child who is to be secured from being inserted into the pivoting region of the locking lever  100 . The housing  120  has a covering plate  400  and a further accommodating opening  410 , which allows the covering plate  400  to be fully inserted when the locking lever  100  is pivoted into the open position.  
         [0046]     A separating slot  500 , for example, may be arranged between the covering plate  400  and the positioning member  300 , although such a separating slot  500  is not absolutely necessary.  
         [0047]     As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the housing  120 , as seen in plan view, is at least more or less in the form of a circle segment. The size of the circle segment here corresponds more or less to twice the pivoting angle ox over which the locking lever  100  passes as it pivots.  
         [0048]     In summary, the construction of the belt-guiding element  60  allows a maximum size for the opening  600  (see opening distance D in  FIG. 3 ) and thus particularly easy access to the accommodating slot  130 , the belt-guiding element at the same time being very compact, so that the safety belt  40  can easily be introduced and removed.  
         [0049]     The geometrical configuration of the housing  120 , in particular the rounded sliding surface  610  of the housing  120 , and the arrangement and the opening direction of the pivotable locking lever  100 —the pivotable locking lever  100  is pivoted inward (into the belt-guiding element) for opening purposes—result in the situation where the safety belt  40 , when being fastened, slides over the sliding surface  610 , virtually of its own accord, through the opening  600 , into the accommodating slot  130  and thus into the belt-guiding element  60 . In this case, the edge of the safety belt  40  opens the pivotable locking lever  100 . It is not necessary for the belt-guiding element  60  or the locking lever  100  to be gripped and actuated directly. The belt-guiding element  60  according to an embodiment shown in to FIGS.  1  to  3  thus results in (virtually) automatic belt positioning.  
         [0050]     Moreover, and this is a further possible advantage of the belt-guiding element  60  according to an embodiment shown in FIGS.  1  to  3 , the opening  600  of the accommodating slot  130  is oriented upward, so that the belt forces which occur in the event of a crash cannot subject the closure to loading. The accommodating slot  130  is thus preferably located—after installation on the vehicle seat—in the plane which is defined by the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and the transverse direction of the vehicle (x- and y-directions of the vehicle).  
         [0051]     In an embodiment, the region which is subjected to pronounced loading in the event of a crash, moreover, is formed in a hook-like manner (see hook region  620 ) such that the belt can be—that is to say even in the event of an accident—held in position. The hook region  620  is preferably arranged laterally or transversely in relation to the direction of travel.  
         [0052]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate a further exemplary embodiment of the belt-guiding element  60  according to  FIG. 1 . This second exemplary embodiment differs from the first exemplary embodiment in the configuration of the sliding surface  610 : in the case of the second exemplary embodiment according to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the sliding surface  610  is completely rounded in the front region  630  and—as seen from the sides—preferably has an oval or elliptically shaped tip  640 .  
         [0053]     Germany Priority Application DE 10 2004 048 997.1 filed Oct. 5, 2004, including the specification, drawings, claims and abstract, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
         [0054]     Given the disclosure of the present invention, one versed in the art would appreciate that there may be other embodiments and modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, all modifications attainable by one versed in the art from the present disclosure within the scope and spirit of the present invention are to be included as further embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is to be defined as set forth in the following claims.