US4933818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Illuminated safety belt buckle
Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
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Filing: 1989-02-13
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Granted: 1990-06-12
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Expires: 2009-02-13
Abstract
Abstract An illuminated safety belt buckle, especially for a motor vehicle, having a buckle housing and a key to actuate a securing device that is disposed in the housing. When an associated buckle tongue is inserted into the insertion slot formed in the housing, the securing device interlocks with the tongue. To provide illumination for the key and the insertion slot, a single light source is disposed in the buckle housing beyond these functional components. A light-conducting path of light-conducting material couples the light source with the key and the insertion slot.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Eckmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:26
CPC Classifications
A; A44; A44B; A44B11/00; A44B11/25; A44B11/2503; A44B11/2546; A44B11/2565; A44B11/2507; A44B11/2523; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
In an illuminated safety belt buckle having a guasi-static light-conducting system with which movable cables and leads are completely eliminated, especially for a motor vehicle, having a buckle housing and a sliding key to actuate a securing device that is disposed in said housing to one side thereof and that, when an associated buckle tongue is inserted into a funnel-like insertion slot that is formed in the housing to the other side thereof, interlocks with said tongue, with a source of light being disposed in said buckle housing to provide illumination for said sliding key and said funnel-like insertion slot for said buckle tongue, including the improvement therewith wherein: said source of light is a single light source that is disposed directly longitudinally to one side in said buckle housing beyond said sliding key and said funnel-like insertion slot as functional components that are to be illuminated by said single light source in particular; and a light-conducting path of highly transparent material is provided to couple said light source with said sliding key and said funnel-like insertion slot, with said light-conducting path comprising prefabricated material portions that are to be placed in said buckle housing, and with said light-conducting path having at least one tap that branches off between said light source and said sliding key on the one side and said funnel-like insertion slot on the other side.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
In an illuminated safety belt buckle having a guasi-static light-conducting system with which movable cables and leads are completely eliminated, especially for a motor vehicle, having a buckle housing and a sliding key to actuate a securing device that is disposed in said housing to one side thereof and that, when an associated buckle tongue is inserted into a funnel-like insertion slot that is formed in the housing to the other side thereof, interlocks with said tongue, with a source of light being disposed in said buckle housing to provide illumination for said sliding key and said funnel-like insertion slot for said buckle tongue, including the improvement therewith wherein: said source of light is a single light source that is disposed directly longitudinally to one side in said buckle housing beyond said sliding key and said funnel-like insertion slot as functional components that are to be illuminated by said single light source in particular; and a light-conducting path of highly transparent material is provided to couple said light source with said sliding key and said funnel-like insertion slot, with said light-conducting path comprising prefabricated material portions that are to be placed in said buckle housing, and with said light-conducting path having at least one tap that branches off between said light source and said sliding key on the one side and said funnel-like insertion slot on the other side.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A safety belt buckle according to claim 1, in which interposed in said light-conducting path is at least one transfer location where said material portions are disposed next to one another without contacting each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A safety belt buckle according to claim 2, which includes a transfer location between a material portion that is disposed on said key and a portion of said light-conducting path that is disposed in said buckle housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A safety belt buckle according to claim 1, in which said light-conducting path deviates from a linear path, with the involved material portions being embodied with a minimum radius for clustered deflection of a light beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A safety belt buckle according to claim 4, in which surfaces of said material portions in the vicinity of said radii are polished.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A safety belt buckle according to claim 1, in which said light-conducting path deviates from a linear path, with bent portions of said material portions being provided with reflector surfaces designed for clustered deflection of a light beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A safety belt buckle according to claim 6, in which surfaces of said material portions in the vicinity of said bent portions are polished.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A safety belt buckle according to claim 1, in which said common light source for illuminating said key and insertion slot is provided with portions that lead to these parts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A safety belt buckle according to claim 1, which includes only two functional components that are connected specifically to said light source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A safety belt buckle according to claim 1, in which said material of said light-conducting path is acrylic glass.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A safety belt buckle according to claim 1, in which said light source is a light diode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A safety belt buckle according to claim 1, in which said light source is a bulb.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-06-11 | 1993-12-11 | 1994-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-11 | 1997-12-11 | 1998-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-11 | 2001-12-11 | 2002-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |