Buckle assembly with light emitting diode and optical guide

• US 9,151,485 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2013
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Woodham, Darryle R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHENG, DIANA
• Application Number:
  US13/773,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20140239853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 340/457.1, 340/457, 340/438, 340/687, 701/45, 701/36, 108/268, 108/271, 208/801.1, 315/362
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2515 acting parallel to the main plane of the buckle and perpendicularly to the direction of the fastening action
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2565 Illuminated buckles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4866 Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0064 Health, life-saving or fire-fighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source

Abstract

A buckle assembly is configured to releasably interlock with a seat belt tongue. The assembly includes a light emitting diode (LED) positioned at least partially within a housing. The LED is configured to emit a light when the seat belt tongue is not interlocked with the assembly. An optical guide is positioned at least partially within the housing and composed of a substantially light transmitting material. The LED is positioned such that the light emitted by the LED passes through the optical guide. In a first embodiment, the optical guide is an ejector member at least partially positioned within the housing. In a second embodiment, the optical guide is a lens at least partially positioned within the housing.

Claims

1. A buckle assembly configured to releasably interlock with a seat belt tongue, the assembly comprising:

a housing;

a light-emitting diode (LED) positioned at least partially within the housing, the LED being configured to emit a light when the seat belt tongue is not interlocked with the assembly;

an optical guide positioned at least partially within the housing and composed of a substantially light transmitting material, the LED being positioned such that the light emitted by the LED passes through the optical guide;

wherein the optical guide is a lens at least partially positioned within the housing;

wherein the lens includes a first segment and a second segment;

a pushbutton positioned at least partially within the housing, wherein the pushbutton defines a first and a second wall having a first and a second window, respectively;

wherein the first segment of the lens is configured to guide a first portion of the light emitted by the LED to travel through the first segment of the lens, the first portion of the light being transmitted through the first window in the first wall of the pushbutton; and

wherein the second segment of the lens is configured to guide a second portion of the light emitted by the LED to travel through the second segment of the lens, the second portion of the light being transmitted through the second window in the second wall of the pushbutton.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an ejector member at least partially positioned within the housing, the ejector member being movable between a first and second position corresponding to a released and locked position of the seat belt tongue, respectively.

3. The assembly of claim 2, in combination with the seat belt tongue, wherein:

the housing includes a cavity for receiving the seat belt tongue; and

the ejector member is biased to eject the seat belt tongue from the cavity.

4. The assembly of claim 2, in combination with the seat belt tongue, further comprising:

a jutting member positioned at least partially within the housing;

wherein the housing includes a cavity for receiving the seat belt tongue, the jutting member being biased to lock the seat belt tongue in the cavity; and

a pushbutton configured to unlock the seat belt tongue from the cavity when the pushbutton is depressed.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second wall is substantially perpendicular to the first wall.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the lens includes an incident surface and a first and a second transmitting surfaces;

wherein a first and a second portion of the light emitted by the LED enter the lens at the incident surface; and

wherein the first and second portions of the light exit the lens at the first and second transmitting surfaces, respectively.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein:

at least a portion of the incident surface defines a substantially semi-circular shape; and

the first and second transmitting surfaces of the lens are configured to scatter the first and second portions of the light, respectively.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pushbutton includes:

a first section defining a depressable push surface;

a first and a second leg extending away from the first section;

a second section contiguous with the first section and positioned between the first and second legs, the second section defining a hollow space; and

wherein the LED and the lens are positioned at least partially within the hollow space in the second section.

9. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a circuit board operatively connected to and configured to operate the LED, the circuit board including at least one resistor.

10. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising:

a carrier configured to operatively connect the circuit board and the LED to the housing;

an aperture in the housing configured to receive at least a portion of the carrier; and

wherein the carrier includes at least one protrusion configured to snap into the aperture in the housing, thereby retaining the LED and circuit board fixedly relative to the housing.

11. A vehicle comprising:

a seat belt tongue;

a buckle assembly configured to releasably interlock with the seat belt tongue, wherein the assembly includes;

a housing having a cavity configured to receive the seat belt tongue;

a light-emitting diode (LED) positioned at least partially within the housing, the LED being configured to emit a light when the seat belt tongue is not interlocked with the assembly;

a pushbutton positioned at least partially within the housing, wherein the pushbutton defines a first and a second wall having a first and a second window, respectively; and

an optical guide positioned at least partially within the housing and composed of a substantially light transmitting material, the LED being positioned such that the light emitted by the LED passes through the optical guide;

wherein the optical guide is a lens at least partially positioned within the housing, the lens including a first segment and a second segment;

wherein the first segment of the lens is configured to guide a first portion of the light emitted by the LED to travel through the first segment of the lens, the first portion of the light being transmitted through the first window in the first wall of the pushbutton; and

wherein the second segment of the lens is configured to guide a second portion of the light emitted by the LED to travel through the second segment of the lens, the second portion of the light being transmitted through the second window in the second wall of the pushbutton;

a latch sensor operatively connected to the assembly and configured to detect whether the seat belt tongue is interlocked with the assembly;

a controller operatively connected to the latch sensor and the LED;

wherein the latch sensor is configured to transmit a first signal to the controller when the seat belt tongue is not interlocked with the buckle assembly and a second signal to the controller when the seat belt tongue is interlocked with the buckle assembly; and

wherein the controller is configured to activate the LED to emit a first color upon receiving the first signal from the latch sensor.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to activate the LED to emit a second color upon receiving the second signal from the latch sensor.

13. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising:

an ejector member at least partially positioned within the housing, the ejector member being movable between a first and second position corresponding to a released and locked position of the tongue, respectively.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising:

a magnetic element fixedly connected to the ejector member and within a proximity of the latch sensor; and

wherein the latch sensor includes at least one hall effect sensor configured to sense the position of the magnetic element, thereby detecting whether the seat belt tongue is interlocked with the assembly.

15. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the latch sensor includes an optical proximity sensor configured to detect the position of the ejector member.