INSERTION TONGUE

Abstract

In a locking tongue (10) for a seat belt comprising an inserting portion (12) adapted to be inserted in a belt buckle and a deflecting portion (14) for webbing, wherein the deflecting portion (14) includes a webbing passage (20) as well as a damping element (22) for the webbing and the clamping element (22) is movable between a home position in which the webbing is freely movable and a blocking position in which the clamping element is moved against a wall of the webbing passage so that the webbing is clamped between the clamping element (22) and the wall of the webbing passage (20), and wherein at least one spring element (34) is provided for forcing the clamping element (22) into the home position, it is provided that the spring element (34) is formed integrally on the deflecting portion (14).

Claims

1-4. (canceled)

5. The locking tongue (10) for a seat belt comprising an inserting portion (12) adapted to be inserted into a belt buckle and a deflecting portion (14) for webbing, wherein the deflecting portion (14) includes a webbing passage (20) as well as a clamping element (22) for the webbing and the clamping element (22) is movable between a home position in which the webbing is freely movable and a blocking position in which the clamping element (22) can be moved against a wall of the webbing passage (20) so that the webbing is clamped between the clamping element (22) and the wall of the webbing passage (20), and wherein at least one spring element (34) is provided for forcing the clamping element (22) to the home position, characterized in that the spring element (34) is formed integrally on the deflecting portion (14).

6. The locking tongue according to claim 5, wherein in that the locking tongue (10) includes an overmolding (18), especially made from plastic material, and the spring element (34) is formed integrally with the overmolding (18).

7. The locking tongue according to claim 5, wherein the spring element (34) is a leaf spring projecting with a free end (36) into a guideway along which the clamping element (22) is guided.

8. The locking tongue according to claim 5, wherein a retaining pin (32) is provided on which the clamping element (22) is supported.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Further advantages and features are found in the following description in connection with the enclosed drawings, wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a locking tongue according to the invention,

[0013] FIG. 2 shows the locking tongue of FIG. 1 in the mounted state, and

[0014] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the locking tongue of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION

[0015] In FIGS. 1 and 2 a locking tongue 10 for a seat belt in a vehicle is illustrated. The locking tongue 10 has an inserting portion 12 adapted to be inserted into a belt buckle and to be looked in the same as well as a deflecting portion 14 adapted to be threaded onto webbing 16 and to deflect said webbing 16.

[0016] The deflecting portion 14 includes an overmolding 18 made from plastic material which completely encloses the deflecting portion 14. At the deflecting portion 14 a webbing passage 20 through which the webbing 16 is guided (cf. FIG. 3) as well as a clamping element 22 are provided the functioning of which will be explained hereinafter.

[0017] The webbing 16 is deflected in U-shape by the deflecting portion 14, the webbing 16 being guided with a clamping portion 23 around the clamping element 22 and through the webbing passage 20. The clamping portion 23 divides the webbing 16 into a first section 24 and a second section 26, the first section 24 being guided around the pelvis region of a vehicle occupant and the second section 26 extending around the upper body part of the vehicle occupant starting from the locking tongue 10.

[0018] In the initial state of the locking tongue 10 shown in FIG. 3 the webbing 16 is freely movable through the deflecting portion 14 of the locking tongue 10 so that, in connection with a belt retractor, adaptation in length of the two sections 24, 26 of the webbing 16 is possible. In this way, the seat belt can be adjusted so that both sections 24, 26 are adjacent to the vehicle occupant. Thus, when the seat belt blocks, forward out-of-place movement of the vehicle occupant is reliably prevented.

[0019] As is evident from FIGS. 1 and 2, the clamping element 22 is supported laterally in guide passages 27 in which the clamping element 22 is movable along a guideway 29 from a home position to the blocking position. The guide passages 27 are open to one side so that the clamping element 22 can be inserted into the guide passages 27 from the open ends 28.

[0020] In the area of the open ends 28 passages 30 for a retaining pin 32 extending transversely to the guide passages 27 are provided at the overmolding 18.

[0021] For mounting the locking tongue 10 the damping web 22 is introduced from the open ends 28 into the guide passages 27. In order to prevent the clamping element 22 from slipping out of the guide passages 27, the retaining pin 32 is subsequently inserted into the passages 30 in an inserting direction E. The retaining pin 32 projects into the guideway 29 so that the clamping element 22 is prevented from falling or slipping out. In addition, the retaining pin 32 forms a stop for the clamping element 22, as will be explained hereinafter.

[0022] As is further evident from FIG. 1, two spring elements 34 each of which forms a leaf spring are integrally formed at the overmolding 18. Each of the free ends 36 of the spring elements 34 projects into the guideway 29 of the clamping element 22. The spring elements 34 are formed integrally with the overmolding 18 and are preferably injection-molded to the base of the locking tongue 10 together with said overmolding.

[0023] The spring elements 34 are shaped so that the clamping element 22 is adjacent thereto when it is inserted in the guideway 29 and, resp., in the guide passages 27. The spring elements 34 force the clamping element 22 into a home position in which the clamping element 22 contacts the retaining pin 32. In said home position the webbing 16 is freely movable in the webbing passage 20.

[0024] When, in the case of restraint, a tensile force acts on the webbing 16 and, resp., on the two sections 24, 26 of the webbing 16, the clamping element 22 is displaced from the home position to the blocking position, when said tensile force is stronger than the spring force of the spring elements 34. In the blocking position the cross-section of the webbing passage 20 is narrowed by the clamping element 22 so that the webbing 16 is clamped. For example, the clamping element 22 clamps the webbing 16 against a wall 38 of the webbing passage 20.

[0025] In this position of the clamping element 22 the webbing 16 is fixed to the locking tongue 10. Hence shortening of the first section 24 and thus constriction of the first section 24 laid around the pelvis by a forward displacement of the upper body part and the extension of the second section 28 resulting therefrom are reliably excluded.

[0026] When the case of restraint is completed and the tensile force acting on the webbing 16 and, resp., on the sections 24, 26 of the webbing 16 decreases, the damping element 22 is returned to the home position by the spring force of the spring elements 34.

[0027] The configuration of the spring elements 34 integrally with the overmolding 18 and, resp., the locking tongue 10 offers the advantage that a substantially easier and quicker mounting of the locking tongue 10 is possible. It is not necessary to insert and align separate spring elements in a complicated manner and to fix said spring elements during the inserting operation of the damping element 22. The clamping element 22 merely has to be fixed against the spring force of the spring elements 34 until the retaining pin 32 has been inserted into the passages 30, thus causing the clamping element 22 to be fixed to the locking tongue 10.

[0028] Other than in the embodiment shown here, any shapes of the spring elements 34 are possible, as a matter of course. It is merely required to form the spring elements 34 integrally with the deflecting portion 14, especially with the overmolding 18, and to shape them so that they force the clamping element 22 into the home position.