# US 2017/0280830 A1 · Illuminated seat belt buckle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0280830 A1 - Document ID: US20170280830A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/626,659 - Filed: 2017-06-19 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-19 - Assignees: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Witali EFFENBERGER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170280830A1 ## CPC - A44B 11/2565: {Illuminated buckles} - B60Q 3/242: Safety belts; Body harnesses - B60Q 3/60: characterised by optical aspects - B60Q 3/80: Circuits; Control arrangements (for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47) - A44B: BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE (fastenings specially adapted for footwear A43C) - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL ## Abstract An illuminated seat belt buckle for a seat belt. The seat belt buckle has a buckle housing, a locking mechanism, an insertion slot for a belt latch of the seat belt, an actuating button for release purposes, and an illuminating device which has at least one light source and is arranged in the seat belt buckle. The buckle housing has a light-permeable and annularly closed light outlet opening from which the coupled-in light provided by the illuminating device emerges. The light outlet opening surrounds the actuating button and/or the insertion slot in an encircling manner. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An illuminated seat belt buckle for a seat belt, the illuminated seat belt buckle comprising: a buckle housing; a locking mechanism; an insertion slot for a belt latch of the seat belt; an actuating button for releasing the illuminated seat belt buckle; and an illuminating device that has at least one light source and is arranged in the seat belt buckle, wherein the buckle housing has a light-permeable and annularly closed light outlet opening from which the coupled-in light provided by the illuminating device emerges and which circumferentially surrounds the actuating button and/or the insertion slot. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The illuminated seat belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the buckle housing includes an annularly closed cover shell, which is arranged on the end face and has an opening for the actuating button and/or the insertion slot, the light outlet opening being arranged in the cover shell. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The illuminated seat belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the cover shell is detachably connected to the buckle housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The illuminated seat belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the light outlet opening is formed by a light-diffusing element arranged in the cover shell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The illuminated seat belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the light-diffusing element and the cover shell are connected to each other in a form-fitting or integral manner. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The illuminated seat belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the light-diffusing element and the cover shell are a single piece. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The illuminated seat belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the light source of the illuminating device is formed by at least one LED or an LED module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The illuminated seat belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the illuminating device includes a light conductor, which receives light emerging from the light source and couples the light into the light outlet opening. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The illuminated seat belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the light conductor and the light source comprise a circuit board and at least one LED to form an integral structural unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The illuminated seat belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the light conductor has an annularly closed ring section, which is arranged congruently with the annular light outlet opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The illuminated seat belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the ring section of the light conductor at least partially abuts a back side of the light-diffusing element facing away from the visible side and/or a back side of the cover shell facing away from the visible side. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The illuminated seat belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the ring section of the light conductor is injection-molded onto the light-diffusing element or the cover shell. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The illuminated seat belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the light conductor has a light-deflecting structure, at least in sections, on an underside facing away from the light outlet opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The illuminated seat belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein a light-impermeable partition wall is provided, at least in sections, between the light source and the locking mechanism and/or between the light conductor and the locking mechanism. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The illuminated seat belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the light source is arranged and fixed between the partition wall and the buckle housing, and wherein a ring section of the light conductor is arranged and fixed between the partition wall and the cover shell. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The illuminated seat belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall is connected to the cover shell or the buckle housing to form a single piece.