GB2391002A

GB2391002A - Seat belt buckle assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2391002A
Application number: GB0301965A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joaquim Quadrada Jane; Victor Bustos Puigdemont
Original assignee: Autoliv Development AB
Current assignee: Autoliv Development AB
Priority date: 2002-07-19
Filing date: 2003-01-28
Publication date: 2004-01-28
Also published as: ES2309322T3; GB0301965D0; GB0216900D0; ATE402051T1; DE60322407D1; GB2391038A

Abstract

A seat belt buckle assembly comprises a webbing strap 5, a buckle 10 and an end piece 1, the strap comprising a main part, a first portion 6 inserted through a slot 4 in the end piece 1 and a second portion 9 inserted through a slot in the buckle 10. One of the portions 6,9 is stitched to the main part and the other portion is stitched to the combination of the main part and the said one portion. The strap portions 6,9 are typically wider than the lengths of the slots, so side strap portions 7,11 may be folded and tucked inwards to decrease its width near the slots. The assembly method may include producing a square stitching pattern 8 to form the combination, to which the other portion is stitched, preferably using a rhombic pattern 12. The superposition produces a three layered portion and enables the buckle 10 to be positioned close to the end piece 1, which may be anchored through a bolt hole 2.

Description

5 DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A SEAT BELT BUCKLE

ASSEMBLY"

THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a seat belt buckle assembly and more particularly relates to a seat belt buckle assembly for use as part of a seat belt arrangement in a motor vehicle such as a motor car.

A seat belt buckle must be located, within a motor vehicle, at a position where it may easily be found by an occupant of a vehicle attempting to fasten a safety belt in position, but the buckle should not be obtrusive.

20 Many seat belt buckle assemblies have been proposed previously, to be mounted easily in position within a motor vehicle. A typical buckle assembly incorporates an element extending from the buckle to an end piece or mounting plate, the mounting plate being provided with an aperture so that the mounting plate may be readily bolted to an anchor point provided within a motor vehicle.

There is, in some cases, a requirement for a very compact or small buckle assembly, especially where the buckle is to be positioned extremely close to the anchoring point.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved buckle assembly.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 5 seat belt buckle assembly, the assembly having: a webbing strap, an end piece defining a slot to receive the webbing strap and a buckle, the buckle having a slot to receive the webbing strap; the webbing strap having a first portion extending through the slot in the end piece and secured to the main part of the webbing strap and a second portion passing through the slot in the buckle and 10 secured to the main part of the webbing strap, one said portion being stitched directly to the main part of the webbing strap and the other portion being stitched to the combination of said one portion and the main part of the strap.

Preferably, the slot in the end piece and the slot in the buckle each have 15 a width less than the width of the strap, portions of the strap being tucked in in the region of each slot, the stitching connecting the other end portion to the combination of the first end portion and the main region of the strap extending only through three super-imposed layers of strap.

20 Advantageously, the stitching securing the other end portion to the combination of the first end portion and the main part of the strap is of rhombic form. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 25 method of assembling a seat belt buckle assembly having a webbing strap, an end piece defining a slot to receive the webbing strap and a buckle defining a slot to receive the webbing strap; the method comprising the steps of: passing one end of the strap through the slot in the end piece; passing the other end of the strap through the slot in the buckle; securing a first end of the strap to the

main piece of the strap using stitching and subsequently securing the other end of the strap to the combination of the one end of the strap and the main piece of the buckle using stitching.

5 Preferably, the strap is wider than each of said slots, the method comprising the straps of tucking in parts of the strap adjacent each slot and performing the first stitching in a region where there are only two super imposed layers of strap and performing the second stitching in a region where there are three super-imposed layers of strap.

Advantageously, said first end of the strap is passed through the slot in the end piece and the other end of the strap is passed through the slot in the buckle. 15 In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 20 FIGURE 1 is a view of a webbing strap and an end piece; and FIGURE 2 is a view of the webbing strap and end piece when secured to a seat belt buckle.

25 Referring initially to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, an end piece 1 is provided. The end piece 1 may be formed as a metal plate. Part of the metal plate defines an aperture or bolt hole 2 by means of which the end piece may be secured to an appropriate anchoring point within a vehicle. The end piece defines a furler portion 3 provided with an oval slot 4. The slot 4, as

will become clear from the following description, is intended to receive an end

part of a webbing strap.

A webbing strap 5 is provided, of elongate form. The strap 5 has a 5 width which is greater than the length of the slot 4.

One end 6 of the webbing strap may be passed through the slot 4, side regions of the belt being tucked inwardly, as indicated in phantom, 7, so that the relatively wide strap 5 may be accommodated within the relatively short slot 4.

10 The end piece 6 of the strap is super-imposed over the main region of the strap adjacent the end piece 1. The super-imposed regions are stitched using a square stitching pattern 8.

Subsequently the other end 9 of the strap is passed through a slot (not 15 shown) having a configuration similar to the slot 4, provided within a seat belt buckle 10 as shown in Figure 2.

Again, due to the relationship between the width of the strap 5 and the length of the slot in the buckle 10, edge portions of the strap 5 have to be 20 tucked inwardly, as indicated in phantom, 11. The end piece 9 of the strap, after passing through the slot in the buckle 5, is then superimposed over the stitching 8. Further stitching is then carried out, the stitching only being effected in the region where there are three superimposed layers of strap, that is to say, with the stitching not being effected in the region where strap is 25 tucked in as shown in phantom of 7 and 11. A rhombic stitching pattern 12 may be utilized.

The stitching 12 is located completely between the buckle 10 and the end piece 1.

s A buckle assembly is thus fabricated, the buckle assembly being very short. Thus the distance between the buckle 10 and the end piece 1 is minimal.

5 In the present specification "comprises" means "includes or consists of"

and "comprising" means "including or consisting of".

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following

claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in 10 terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

5 1. A seat belt buckle assembly, the assembly having: a webbing strap, an end piece defining a slot to receive the webbing strap and a buckle, the buckle having a slot to receive the webbing strap; the webbing strap having a first portion extending through the slot in the end piece and secured to the main part of the webbing strap and a second portion passing through the slot in the buckle 10 and secured to the main part of the webbing strap, one said portion being stitched directly to the main part of the webbing strap and the other portion being stitched to the combination of said one portion and the main part of the strap. 15
2. An assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the slot in the end piece and

the slot in the buckle each have a width less than the width of the strap, portions of the strap being tucked in in the region of each slot, the stitching connecting the other end portion to the combination of the first end portion and the main region of the strap extending only through three super-imposed layers of strap.
3. An assembly accordingly to Claim 2 wherein the stitching securing the other end portion to the combination of the first end portion and the main part of the strap is of rhombic form.

25
4. A method of assembling a seat belt buckle assembly having a webbing strap, an end piece defining a slot to receive the webbing strap and a buckle defining a slot to receive the webbing strap; the method comprising the steps of: passing one end of the strap through the slot in the end piece; passing the other end of the strap through the slot in the buckle; securing a first end of the

strap to the main piece of the strap using stitching and subsequently securing the other end of the strap to the combination of the one end of the strap and the main piece of the buckle using stitching.
5 5 A method according to Claim 4 wherein Me strap is wider than each of said slots, the method comprising the straps of tucking in parts of the strap adjacent each slot and performing the first stitching in a region where there are only two super-imposed layers of strap and performing the second stitching in a region where there are three super-imposed layers of strap.
6. A method according to Claim 4 or 5 wherein said first end of the strap is passed through the slot in the end piece and the other end of the strap is passed through the slot in the buckle.

IS
7. A seat belt buckle arrangement substantially and described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
8. A method of assembling a seat belt buckle assembly substantially and described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
9. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.