| Title of Invention | "BLOCKING ELEMENT FOR A SHOCKPROOF BELT BUCKLE" |
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| Abstract | Blocking element for a shockproof belt buckle with a mass body (10) with bearing elements for positioning in a belt buckle body so as to be rotatable round an axis (A-A), an operating element located on the mass body (10) for direct or indirect operation of the blocking element by means of a release button, and at least one arm (20) projecting away from the mass body for operation of a further blocking component of the belt buckle, characterised in that the stiffness of the arm (20) decreases with increasing distance from the mass body by means of least one stiffening strut (24, 26) being provided between each arm (20) and the mass body (10) and/or by means of at least one depression (28) being provided in each arm, whose depth in the direction of axis (A-A) increases with increasing distance from mass body (10). FIG. 2 |
| Full Text | Description Technical field of the invention The invention relates to a blocking element for a shockproof belt buckle according to the introductory section of Claim 1. State of the art Such a blocking element is known from EP 0 557 983 B1. in EP 0 557 983 a shockproof belt buckle with a rotatably located blocking element is described, which ensures the shockproof nature of the belt buckle. The blocking element exhibits a mass body, from which a lever extends, which is connected directly or indirectly with the release button of the belt buckle. Furthermore, two arms extend from the mass body, which exhibits bearing elements for location of the blocking element in the belt buckle housing. These arms are formed in such a way that they can interact with locking pins which effect blocking of the belt tongue in the belt buckle. The geometry and mass distribution of the belt buckle are selected in such a way, that when greater acceleration occurs, for example when the belt buckle meets an end stop in the course of a tensioning process, the blocking element swivels around its pivot, interacts with the blocking pins and therefore effects blocking of the buckle tongue in the belt buckle. Such blocking is necessary in order to prevent the high acceleration forces which act on the buckle button from leading to unintended release of the safety belt. The precise way in which such a shockproof belt buckle functions is described in detail in EP 0 557 983 B1, and therefore we shall not enter into such detail here. Because of design considerations it is necessary that at least one arm - in the embodiment described in EP 0 557 983 B1 there are two arms - project away from the mass body. This means that the arm can vibrate against the mass body, which, in the case of the generic blocking elements known up to now, has led to a disturbing noise which can be heard by the vehicle passengers. Object of the invention Starting from this point, it is the task of the invention to further develop a blocking element of the generic type in such a way that audible noise originating from the blocking element is decreased or completely avoided. This task is solved by a blocking element with the characteristics of Claim 1. Because of design considerations, it is not possible to completely suppress the vibration, so that the method was selected of shifting the natural frequencies of the vibrations to higher frequencies. Ideally, the lowest inherent frequency should lie above 17000 Hz which is above the limit of human hearing capability. According to the invention, this target is achieved as the blocking element is formed in such a way that the stiffness of the arm or the arms decrease with increasing distance from the mass body. In order to achieve this, different design measures can be implemented and preferred measures are described in the subclaims and in the preferred embodiment, namely: At least one stiffening strut can be provided between the arm and the mass body, and/or at least one depression per arm can be provided, whereby the depth of this depression increases with increasing distance from the mass body. The invention will now be described in more detail by means of an embodiment, referring to the figures. The figures are as follows: Short description of the drawings: Figure 1 A first perspective view of a blocking element and Figure 2 A second perspective view of a blocking element. Description of preferred embodiments Figures 1 and 2 show the same blocking element from different points of view. Mass body 10 exhibits two bearing pegs 12 serving as bearing elements, by means of which the blocking element can be mounted in the housing of a belt buckle so as to be capable of swivelling round axis A-A. Lever 14 extends from mass body 10, which serves as an actuating element. In mounted state, lever 14 creates the direct or indirect link between the blocking element and the release button of the belt buckle. Furthermore, two arms 20 extend from mass body 10, which each exhibit a claw-formed end section 22. The claw-formed end sections 22 serve to act on the locking pins in the blocked state. The inner sides 20A of the arms and the inner side 10A of the mass body form a U. Lever 14 and arms 20 are at approximately right angles to one another. Design measures are taken which ensure that the stiffness of the arms decrease with increasing distance from the mass body as follows: On the one hand two stiffening struts 24, 26 extend per arm 20 between the inner sides 20A of the arms and the inner side 10A of the mass body. Within this arrangement, the first stiffening strut 24 extends up to approximately one half of arm 20, while the second stiffening strut 26 extends only up to around a quarter to a sixth of the length of the arm. Such stiffening struts are assigned to both arms 20, however in Figure 2 only the stiffening stmts belonging to one arm are shown. The first stiffening strut 24 primarily causes raising of the first inherent bending frequency of arm 20, while second stiffening strut 26 primarily causes a raising of the first inherent torsion frequency. Furthermore, at their inner sides 20A, arms 20 exhibit depressions 28 in the form of sloping pockets. The depth of these depressions 28 increases as the distance from axis A-A increases, in other words with increasing distance from mass body 10. These depressions 28 lead on the one hand to a reduction in weight and also to the desired stiffness progression of the arms. The blocking element is preferably a one-piece metal component, which is preferably also manufactured using the die-casting process. List of reference numbers 10 mass body 10A inner side of mass body 12 bearing pegs 14 lever 20 arm 20A inner side of arm 22 claw-shaped end section 24 first stiffening strut 26 second stiffening strut 28 depression WE CLAIM: 1. Blocking element for a shockproof belt buckle with a mass body (10) with bearing elements for positioning in a belt buckle body so as to be rotatable round an axis (A-A), an operating element located on "the mass body (10) for direct or indirect operation of the blocking element by means of a release button, and at least one arm (20) projecting away from the mass body for operation of a further blocking component of the belt buckle, characterised in that the stiffness of the arm (20) decreases with increasing distance from the mass body by means of least one stiffening strut (24, 26) being provided between each arm (20) and the mass body (10) and/or by means of at least one depression (28) being provided in each arm, whose depth in the direction of axis (A-A) increases with increasing distance from mass body (10). 2. Blocking element as claimed in claim 1, wherein two arms (20) extend from mass body (10). 3. Blocking element as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein two stiffening struts (24,26) are provided for each arm. 4. Blocking element as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein none of the stiffening struts (24, 26) extend up to the third of the arm which is the furthest away from the mass body. 5. Blocking element as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein it is formed as a one-piece metal component. |
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4700-DELNP-2006-Abstract (10-11-2009).pdf
4700-DELNP-2006-Claims (10-11-2009).pdf
4700-DELNP-2006-Correspondence Others-(22-03-2011).pdf
4700-delnp-2006-correspondence others.pdf
4700-DELNP-2006-Correspondence-Others (10-11-2009).pdf
4700-delnp-2006-correspondence-others-1.pdf
4700-DELNP-2006-Description (Complete) (10-11-2009).pdf
4700-delnp-2006-description (complete).pdf
4700-DELNP-2006-Drawings (10-11-2009).pdf
4700-DELNP-2006-Form-1 (10-11-2009).pdf
4700-DELNP-2006-Form-18-(02-12-2008).pdf
4700-DELNP-2006-Form-27-(22-03-2011).pdf
4700-DELNP-2006-GPA (10-11-2009).pdf
4700-DELNP-2006-Petition-137 (10-11-2009).pdf
| Patent Number | 237189 | |||||||||
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| Indian Patent Application Number | 4700/DELNP/2006 | |||||||||
| PG Journal Number | 51/2009 | |||||||||
| Publication Date | 18-Dec-2009 | |||||||||
| Grant Date | 09-Dec-2009 | |||||||||
| Date of Filing | 17-Aug-2006 | |||||||||
| Name of Patentee | AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB, | |||||||||
| Applicant Address | SE-447 83 VARGARDA, SWEDEN | |||||||||
Inventors:
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| PCT International Classification Number | A44B 11/25 | |||||||||
| PCT International Application Number | PCT/EP2005/001047 | |||||||||
| PCT International Filing date | 2005-02-03 | |||||||||
PCT Conventions:
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