BELT BUCKLE DEVICE FOR A SEAT BELT

Abstract

A belt buckle device (1) for a seat belt including a belt buckle, a drive device (2) coupled or coupleable to the belt buckle, threaded sleeve (5) coupled or coupleable to the belt buckle, a guide part (12) attachable fixed with respect to the vehicle for guiding the threaded sleeve (5) and for supporting the threaded spindle (10), wherein a support plate (9) is provided on the threaded spindle (10) in the axial direction of the threaded spindle (10), which support plate (9) is not displaceable by a tensile force exerted by the belt buckle, via which support plate (9) the threaded spindle (10) is supported in the axial direction on a first thrust support (6) of the guide part (12) to take up tensile forces exerted by the belt buckle.

Claims

1. A belt buckle device for moving a seat belt buckle a seat belt system for a vehicle comprising; a drive device adapted to be coupled to the belt buckle, a threaded spindle rotationally driveable about its longitudinal axis by the drive device, which threaded spindle engages a thread of a threaded sleeve coupled or coupleable to the belt buckle, a guide part attachable fixed with respect to the vehicle for guiding the threaded sleeve and for supporting the threaded spindle, a support plate provided on the threaded spindle in the axial direction of the threaded spindle, which support plate is not displaceable by a tensile force exerted by the belt buckle, via which support plate the threaded spindle is supported in the axial direction on a first thrust support of the guide part to take up tensile forces exerted by the belt buckle.

2. The belt buckle device according to claim 1, further comprising; the threaded spindle is supported on a second thrust bearing to take up compressive forces exerted by the belt buckle.

3. The belt buckle device according to claim 2, further comprising; the second thrust bearing includes an opening through which the threaded spindle (10) extends.

4. The belt buckle device according to claim 1 further comprising; the support plate includes an opening through which the threaded spindle extends.

5. The belt buckle device according to claim 3 further comprising; the threaded spindle includes a radial shoulder, and the radial shoulder of the threaded spindle overlays the edge of the opening of the support plate, which edge is directed away from the threaded sleeve, or overlays the edge of the second thrust bearing, which edge is directed toward the threaded sleeve.

6. The belt buckle device according to claim 5, further comprising; the radial shoulder of the threaded spindle is disposed between the support plate and the second thrust bearing.

7. The belt buckle device according to claim 3 further comprising: the threaded spindle engages the opening of the support plate or the opening of the second thrust bearing with a threadless section.

8. The belt buckle device according to claim 3 further comprising; the threaded spindle is supported in the opening of the support plate or in the opening of the second thrust bearing, in each instance by a friction-reducing bearing insert.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The invention is described in the following using preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying Figures:

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a section of a belt buckle device according to the invention in an oblique view;

[0018] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged section of the threaded spindle including the radial shoulder and the support plate; and

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] In FIG. 1, a section of a belt buckle device 1 according to the invention and a drive device 2 can be seen, wherein the belt buckle itself must be envisaged and only the drive gear of the drive device 2 is illustrated. However, the drive device 2 itself of course is part of a unit generating the drive movement such as produced using an electric motor, for example, which unit drives for example the drive gear, e.g., via a toothed belt or a gear transmission.

[0021] The belt buckle device 1 furthermore includes a threaded spindle 10 connected to the drive device 2 for rotation therewith, a guide part 12, a fastening component 3 that is rigidly connected to the guide part 12 for attachment to a vehicle structure, and a threaded sleeve 5 fixed to the guide part 12, in which threaded sleeve 5 the threaded spindle 10 engages with the threads. The threaded sleeve 5 is for its part connected to a draw cable 4 in a manner fixed with respect to tension and compression. In the instance that the drive device 2 is activated, the threaded spindle 10 is rotationally driven via the drive gear such that the threaded sleeve 5 is moved in a linear direction, dependent on the direction of rotation of the threaded spindle 10, away from or toward the drive gear, and the belt buckle is either retracted or extended by the draw cable 4. The threaded sleeve 5 is formed as a U-shaped punched part including a thread insert and covered toward the exterior by a trim cover 8.

[0022] The threaded spindle 10 is supported with a threadless support extension 11 on an upright bearing flange 18 of the guide part 12 and furthermore includes a radial shoulder 15 disposed adjacent to the end connected to the drive gear. A first thrust support 6 is provided on the guide part 12, a support plate 9 being supported on said first thrust support 6. The support plate 9 has an opening 16 in which the threaded spindle 10 is supported with a first friction-reducing bearing insert 13. A second thrust bearing 7 is furthermore provided in the form of a formed part attached to the exterior of the guide part 12, which formed part likewise has an opening 17 in which the threaded spindle 10 is supported with a second friction-reducing bearing insert 14. The threaded spindle 10 thus engages both openings 16 and 17 in the second thrust bearing 7 and in the support plate 9, and the radial shoulder 15 is disposed between the second thrust bearing 7 and the support plate 9 or the first thrust support 6. In other words, this means that the threaded spindle with the radial shoulder 15 overlays the edge of the opening 16 of the support plate 9, which edge is directed away from the threaded sleeve 5, and overlays the edge of the opening 17 of the second thrust bearing 7, which edge is directed toward the threaded sleeve 5.

[0023] This proposed solution allows the threaded spindle 10 to be supported during the drive movement, depending on the direction of rotation, in the axial direction either on the second thrust bearing 7 or on the first thrust support 6 via the support plate 9. Provided that the belt buckle should be retracted, the threaded spindle 10 will be driven in a direction of rotation in which the threaded sleeve 5 in the representation in FIG. 3 will be moved to the left. In this instance, the threaded spindle 10 is supported via the support plate 9 on the first thrust support 6. In the instance that the belt buckle is to be extended, the threaded spindle 10 is driven in the other direction of rotation such that the threaded sleeve 5 in the representation of FIG. 3 is moved to the right. In this case, the threaded spindle 10 supports itself via the second thrust bearing 7 on the guide part 12. The first thrust support 6 with the adjoining support plate thus has an intentionally stiffer design since the anticipated axial forces arising during the retraction movement, that is during the tensioning of the seat belt strap, are generally greater than the axial forces arising during the extension of the seat belt strap, provided that the movement of the belt buckle is not disturbed by jammed objects or other external circumstances.

[0024] The threaded spindle 10 has a threadless design in those sections in which it engages with the openings 16 and 17, which can, however, also be achieved through the insertion of the threadless bearing inserts 13 and 14 such that the load on the bearing is reduced and the rotational movement is not disrupted.

[0025] The advantage of the proposed solution is evident in that the axial forces exerted on the threaded spindle are intentionally introduced into the guide part 12 and from there into the vehicle structure. It is thereby possible to prevent stressing the drive device 2 with axial forces. It furthermore evidently allows for improved support of the threaded spindle 10 in the radial and axial directions.

[0026] While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.