HOUSING FOR A BELT BUCKLE

Abstract

A housing for a belt buckle includes two housing halves, which consist of plastic material and are connected to one another, and have a plurality of connecting pins, which likewise consist of plastic material and, for the purpose of connecting the housing halves, each have a first end arranged on a first of the housing halves and have a second end inserted in each case into a mount provided on the second of the housing halves. The housing halves are each covered on the outside by a soft body, wherein the soft bodies each consist of a softer plastic material than the housing halves and the connecting pins.

Claims

1. A housing for a belt buckle, comprising two housing halves (10, 12, 12), which consist of plastic material and are connected to one another, and comprising a plurality of connecting pins (16), which likewise consist of plastic material and, for the purpose of connecting the housing halves (10, 12, 12), each have a first end (18) arranged on a first of the housing halves (10) and have a second end inserted in each case into a mount (22, 22) provided on the second of the housing halves (12, 12), wherein the housing halves (10, 12, 12) are each covered on the outside by a soft body (24, 26, 26), wherein the soft bodies (24, 26, 26) each consist of a softer plastic material than the housing halves (10, 12, 12) and the connecting pins (16).

2. The housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting pins (16) each have their first end (18) molded into the first housing half (10) by plastic injection molding.

3. The housing as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connecting pins (16) each have a head portion (18) of enlarged cross section at their first end (18).

4. The housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the connecting pins (16) each have a portion (32) of enlarged cross section between their first end (18) and second end (20).

5. The housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing halves (10, 12, 12) are each encapsulated by the soft body (24, 26, 26) by plastic injection molding.

6. The housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outside of the first housing half (10) is formed from portions of different materials, and/or wherein the outside of the second housing half (12) is formed from portions of different materials, wherein the portions of different materials are concealed by the respective soft body (24, 26).

7. The housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one reinforcing rib (28) is arranged on the inside of the first housing half (10) and/or the inside of the second housing half (12, 12).

8. The housing as claimed in claim 7, wherein the connecting pins (16) are connected to one another via at least one reinforcing rib (28).

9. The housing as claimed in claim 8, wherein the connecting pins (16) and/or the at least one reinforcing rib (28) form/forms one or more of the portions of the outside of the first housing half (10).

10. The housing as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mounts (22) of the second housing half (12) are formed by inserts (34), which are connected to the second housing half (12) and are made from a material which is different from that of the second housing half (12).

11. The housing as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inserts (34) form one or more of the portions of the outside of the second housing half (12).

12. The housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outside of the first housing half (10) and/or the outside of the second housing half (12, 12) have/has at least one local unevenness, which is concealed by the respective soft body (24, 26, 26).

13. The housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the soft bodies (24, 26, 26) consist of an elastomer, in particular a thermoplastic elastomer.

14. The housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing halves (10, 12, 12) consist of polypropylene.

15. The housing as claimed in claim 14, wherein the connecting pins (16) consist of polyamide.

16. A belt buckle, in particular for a vehicle, comprising a housing as claimed in claim 1.

17. A housing for a belt buckle, comprising: a first housing half and a second housing half, the first housing half and the second housing half consisting of plastic material, the first housing half and the second housing half connected together by a plurality of connecting pins that consist of plastic material, wherein, for the purpose of connecting the first housing half and the second housing half, each connecting pin has a first end arranged on the first housing half and a second end inserted into a mount provided on the second housing half, wherein each of the first housing half and the second housing half is covered on the outside by a respective soft body, wherein each soft body consists of a plastic material that is softer than each of the plastic material of the first housing half, the plastic material of the second housing half and the plastic material of the connecting pins.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The invention will be explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to figures. Schematically:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a housing according to the invention for a belt buckle in a cross-sectional view according to a first exemplary embodiment,

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a housing according to the invention for a belt buckle in a cross-sectional view according to a second exemplary embodiment,

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the first housing half of a housing as shown in FIG. 1 or as shown in FIG. 2, and

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a partial plan view onto the first housing half shown in FIG. 3, without the soft body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Unless stated otherwise, identical reference signs in the figures denote the same objects.

[0031] The housing shown in FIG. 1 for a belt buckle of a vehicle, such as a passenger car or truck, comprises a first housing half 10 and a second housing half 12. The housing halves 10, 12 are each formed with a half-shell shape and between them delimit a space 14, in which in the fully assembled state the mechanical components of a belt buckle are accommodated. A plurality of connecting pins 16, of which two can be seen in FIG. 1, have a first end 18 held on the first housing half 10. The connecting pins 16 can consist of a different plastic material to the first housing half 10. In the example shown, the first end 18 of the connecting pins 16 forms a head portion 18, which, compared to the cylindrical basic shape of the connecting pins 16, in each case has an enlarged cross section. Moreover, the connecting pins 16 each have a free second end 20 (see FIG. 3), which lies opposite the first end 18 and is held in a cylindrical mount 22 of the second housing half 12, for example in a press fit. The mounts 22 of the second housing half 12 shown in FIG. 1 are an integral part of the second housing half 12. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the connecting pins 16 moreover each have a portion 32 of widened cross section between their first and second end 18, 20. This portion 32 extends like a flange around the circumference of the respective connecting pin 16, and for the most part is embedded into the material of the first housing half 10. In the example shown, the first housing half 10 is moreover covered completely by a soft body 24 on the outside. In the example shown, the second housing half 12 is likewise covered completely by a soft body 26 on the outside. The soft bodies 24, 26 each consist of a softer plastic material than the first and second housing halves and also the connecting pins 16.

[0032] The plan view shown in FIG. 4, in which the soft body 24 is not shown for reasons of illustration, shows part of the first housing half 10. It can be seen here that the connecting pins 16 are connected to one another via reinforcing ribs 28 and a gating point 30. In addition to the two connecting pins 16 shown in FIG. 4 in the plan view and in the sectional views of FIGS. 1 and 3, it is possible for example for two further connecting pins, in particular likewise connected via reinforcing ribs 28 and a gating point 30, to be formed on the opposing end (not shown in FIG. 4) of the first housing half 10. These connecting pins 16 can be formed so as to be identical in terms of their production, arrangement and configuration to the connecting pins 16 shown in the figures. Corresponding further mounts 22 for the connecting pins 16 are then provided in the second housing half 12, it being possible in turn for these mounts to be formed so as to be identical to the mounts 22 shown in FIG. 1.

[0033] For assembly, the first housing half 10 is connected to the second housing half 12 by pressing the connecting pins 20 protruding out of the first housing half 10 into the mounts 22.

[0034] It can moreover be readily seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 that the outside of the first housing half 10 is formed from portions of different materials. In particular, the connecting pins 16, specifically their first ends 18, their portions 32 and the reinforcing ribs 28 including the gating point 30, form portions of the outside of the first housing half 10. In particular, the first ends 18, the portions 32, the reinforcing ribs 28 and the gating point 30 extend as far as the outer surface of the first housing half 10. As already explained, the entire outside of the first housing half 10 is covered by the soft body 24, and therefore the different portions cannot be identified from the outside.

[0035] All of the component parts of the housing shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 consist of plastic material. The first housing half 10 can be produced by plastic injection molding, in particular three-component plastic injection molding. Thus, the connecting pins 16 together with the reinforcing ribs 28 can be molded via the gating point 30 into the first housing half 10 molded from plastic material. Moreover, the first housing half 10, including the connecting pins 16 and the reinforcing ribs 28 and the gating point 30, can be encapsulated with the soft body 24. The head portions 18 of widened cross section and also the portions 32 of the connecting pins 16 are embedded into the material of the first housing half 10. The same applies to the reinforcing ribs 28 and also the gating point 30. Correspondingly, the second housing half 12 can be produced by injection molding, and in particular can be encapsulated with the soft body 26 by two-component injection molding.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a housing according to the invention. This exemplary embodiment corresponds largely to the exemplary embodiment explained with reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. In particular, the first housing half 10, including the connecting pins 16, the reinforcing ribs 28 and the gating point 30 and also the soft body 24, is formed in a manner identical to the exemplary embodiment explained with reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.

[0037] The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2 differs from the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 merely in terms of the mounts for the connecting pins 16. Thus, in the case of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, inserts 34 consisting of a different material to the second housing half 12 have been molded into the second housing half 12, for example by two-component plastic injection molding, these inserts forming the mounts 22 for the second ends 20 of the connecting pins 16. In the process, the inserts 34 are embedded into the material of the second housing half 12. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the inserts 34 form portions of the outside of the second housing half 12 which consist of a different material to the other portions of the outer side. In particular, the inserts 34 in turn extend as far as the outer surface of the second housing half 12. In turn, all of these portions are concealed by the soft body 26 which completely covers the second housing half 12. The soft body 26 is in particular formed in a manner identical to the soft body 26. In the case of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the second housing half 12, including the inserts 34 and the soft body 26, is in particular made up of three different plastic materials. Correspondingly, the second housing half 12, including said components, can be produced by three-component plastic injection molding.

[0038] By way of example, the first housing half 10 and the second housing half 12 or 12 can consist of polypropylene. The soft bodies 24, 26 or 26 can consist, for example, of an elastomer, in particular a thermoplastic elastomer. By way of example, the connecting pins 16, including the reinforcing ribs 28 and the gating point 30, can consist of a polyamide. By way of example, the inserts 34 can consist of an ABS plastic material. Other materials or material combinations are of course also conceivable, however. On account of the complete coverage of the first and second housing halves 10, 12, 12, the invention allows for a large freedom of design, and therefore an optimal adaptation to the respective use.

[0039] It is to be clearly understood that the above description is intended by way of illustration and example only, is not intended to be taken by way of limitation, and that other changes and modifications are possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0040] 10 First housing half [0041] 12 Second housing half [0042] 12 Second housing half [0043] 14 Space [0044] 16 Connecting pins [0045] 18 First end of the connecting pins [0046] 20 Second end of the connecting pins [0047] 22 Mount [0048] 22 Mount [0049] 24 Soft body [0050] 26 Soft body [0051] 26 Soft body [0052] 28 Reinforcing rib [0053] 30 Gating point [0054] 32 Portion [0055] 34 Insert