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US 7,842,894 B2Granted
Buckle for a safety belt
AssigneeRolf Prettl
InventorPeter Borst
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AssigneeRolf Prettl
InventorPeter Borst
Estimating the term…
A seat belt buckle for seat belts has a housing, an opening for inserting a seat belt tongue, a locking device for locking the seat belt tongue, and a release device for releasing the seat belt tongue from the lock. A sensor device electrically senses whether the seat belt tongue is locked, wherein the sensor device has a switch arrangement which can be activated by the seat belt tongue. The switch arrangement has an electrically conductive snap-action plate that can be moved between a first switched position and a second switched position. A mechanical activation device transmits a force exerted on the seat belt tongue during the insertion of the seat belt tongue onto the snap-action plate in order to move the snap-action plate from the first switched position into the second switched position. As a result, an electrical contact element is closed or opened.
A seat belt buckle for seat belts, the seat belt buckle comprising a housing, an opening for inserting a seat belt tongue, a locking device for locking the seat belt tongue, a release device for releasing the seat belt tongue from the locking device, and a sensor device for electrically sensing whether the seat belt tongue is locked, wherein the sensor device has a switch arrangement activated by the seat belt tongue,
A method for sensing whether a seat belt tongue is in a locked position within a seat belt buckle, comprising:
A method of manufacturing a seat belt buckle, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles: control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness
Sensing means arrangements therefor: for sensing locking of buckle
Including member having distinct formations and mating member selectively interlocking therewith: having electric or fluid powered, actuation or…
Vehicle fittings and parts
About 2 months of term left · ends 6 Jan 2027 (estimated)
The present invention relates to a seat belt buckle for seat belts, having a housing, an opening for inserting a seat belt tongue, a locking device for locking the seat belt tongue, a release device for releasing the seat belt tongue from the lock, and having a sensor device for electrically sensing whether the seat belt tongue is locked, wherein the sensor device has a switch arrangement which can be activated by the seat belt tongue.
Such a seat belt buckle is generally known and is used in particular in motor vehicles. In most countries there is a requirement to wear a seat belt in motor vehicles and many motor vehicle manufacturers would like at least to remind the driver to consider whether or not he has put on his seat belt.
The sensor device senses whether the seat belt tongue is locked, that is to say whether the seat belt has been put on. A signal which is output by the sensor device can be used, in a superordinate control device, to actuate suitable indicating means and/or displays (acoustic and/or visual).
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawing and will be explained in more detail in the following description. In the drawing:
FIG. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a seat belt buckle according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows a schematic, perspective view of a seat belt buckle according to a further embodiment of the invention in the opened state;
In FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a seat belt buckle according to the invention is generally designated by 10.
The seat belt buckle 10 serves as a seat belt buckle for a seat belt in a motor vehicle and has a housing 12.
An opening 14 for the insertion of a seat belt tongue 16 is formed on the housing 12. In addition, a locking device 18 is provided in the housing 12 in order to lock the seat belt tongue 16 (to close the seat belt).