EP0453605A1 - Schloss für Sicherheitsgurte - Google Patents

Schloss für Sicherheitsgurte Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0453605A1
EP0453605A1 EP90108048A EP90108048A EP0453605A1 EP 0453605 A1 EP0453605 A1 EP 0453605A1 EP 90108048 A EP90108048 A EP 90108048A EP 90108048 A EP90108048 A EP 90108048A EP 0453605 A1 EP0453605 A1 EP 0453605A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
buckle
lock plate
latch piece
plate
upper edges
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP90108048A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0453605B1 (de
Inventor
Toshiaki Seto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
NSK Ltd
Original Assignee
NSK Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by NSK Ltd filed Critical NSK Ltd
Priority to DE1990611668 priority Critical patent/DE69011668T2/de
Priority to EP19900108048 priority patent/EP0453605B1/de
Publication of EP0453605A1 publication Critical patent/EP0453605A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0453605B1 publication Critical patent/EP0453605B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
    • A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
    • A44B11/00—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts
    • A44B11/25—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts with two or more separable parts
    • A44B11/2503—Safety buckles
    • A44B11/2507—Safety buckles actuated by a push-button
    • A44B11/2523—Safety buckles actuated by a push-button acting parallel to the main plane of the buckle and in the same direction as the fastening action

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an improvement in or relating to the structure of a buckle in a seat belt applied to a seat of a motor vehicle to protect an occupant in the event of a collision or the like, so that an associated tongue can be unlatched from the buckle by a reduced, namely, lighter operating force.
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the overall construction of a seat belt.
  • the seat is provided with a seat belt similar to that shown in FIG. 6.
  • a tongue plate 2 through which a continuous lap-shoulder webbing 1 extends is latched in a buckle 4 which is secured to an upper end of an anchor member 3 supported at a lower end thereof on a stationary part of the motor vehicle.
  • a release button of the buckle 4 is pressed to release the latching between the buckle 4 and the tongue plate 2, so that the webbing 1 is taken up in an unillustrated retractor. Accordingly, the occupant is no longer prevented from leaving the seat 5.
  • FIGS. 2-5 The structure of such a conventionally-known buckle 4 will first be described with reference to FIGS. 2-5. Some parts shown in FIG. 2 have slightly different shapes from their corresponding parts depicted in FIG. 3-4. It is to be noted that these parts have no relevance to the subject matter of the present invention.
  • a buckle base 8 is held within a spacing defined by an upper cover 6 and a lower cover 7, and is connected at one end thereof to a proximal end portion of an anchor member 3 (see FIG. 6).
  • the buckle base 8 has been formed by bending a metal plate having sufficient rigidity, such as a steel plate in a flattened square U-shaped transverse cross-section.
  • the buckle base 8 includes a flat base plate portion 9, which lies right above the lower cover 7, and upright side wall portions 10,10 extending at right angles from both side edges of the base plate portion 9.
  • Designated at numeral 11 is a buckle latch piece for bringing the buckle base 8 of the buckle 4 into engagement with the associated tongue plate 2.
  • the buckle latch piece 11 has a detent 12 at a front end portion, which is positioned closer to the free end of the buckle 4 and is a left-hand end portion as viewed in FIGS. 2-4.
  • lugs 13,13 extend laterally from both side edges of buckle latch piece 11 into first through-holes 14,14 formed in the corresponding upright side wall portions 10,10, whereby the buckle latch piece 11 is supported rockably about the rear end portion thereof between the paired upright side wall portions 10,10.
  • Numeral 15 indicates a lock plate which unless a button 18 to be described subsequently is pressed by the occupant, holds the buckle latch piece 11 at a lock position, namely, at a position where the detent 12 is positioned close to the base plate portion 9 as shown in FIG. 5 to be described subsequently.
  • Both lateral end portions of the lock plate 15 are inserted in second through-holes 16,16 formed in the corresponding upright side wall portions 10,10 in such a way that the lateral end portions are movable to limited extents in both up-and-down and rear-and-front directions as viewed in the drawings.
  • the lock plate 15 is composed of a plate-like member having a predetermined width in the direction of the length of the buckle 4, namely, in the horizontal direction as viewed in the drawings.
  • Disposed between the rear edge of the lock plate 15 and the buckle latch piece 11 is a lock plate spring 17 in the form of a compression spring, whereby a spring force is applied to the lock plate 15 in an upward and frontward direction.
  • a push-out spring 21 in the form of a compression spring is arranged between the buckle slider 19 and a catch seat 20 formed in the base plate portion 9 of the buckle base 8, whereby a forward spring force is always exerted to the buckle slider 19.
  • the release button 18 is disposed movably back and forth between the lower face of the upper cover 6 and the upper edges of the upright side wall portions 10,10 of the buckle base 8.
  • a button spring 24 in the form of an extension spring is provided between a hook 22 formed at a rear end portion of the release button 18 and a hook 23 formed at a front portion of the buckle latch piece 11, so that a forward spring force is applied to the release button 18 and a clockwise turning spring force is exerted to the buckle latch piece 11.
  • a free end portion 2a of the tongue plate 2 is inserted into a slit-like gap 25 defined between the lower face of the release button 18 and the upper face of the base plate portion 9 of the buckle base 8 (see FIG. 4), thereby to push the buckle slider 19 rearward (rightward as viewed in FIGS. 2-4) against the spring force of the push-out spring 21.
  • the lock plate 15 is associated with the buckle latch piece 11 in such a way that they are slidable relative to each other only in the directions of planes in which they lie respectively.
  • the lock plate 15 also rocks in the same direction, i.e., counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 4, and eventually the lock plate 15 is pushed by the spring force of the lock plate spring 17 into the constricted hole portions 16a,16a formed on the front sides of the second through-holes 16,16.
  • the lock plate 15 is held in this state, so that the front end portion of the buckle latch piece 11 is prevented from moving upward.
  • the release button 18 is pressed toward the basal end portion of the buckle 4 (i.e., rightwards as viewed in FIG. 4) against the spring force of the button spring 24, whereby the lock plate 15 is pushed rearward by rear faces 18a (see FIG. 4) of side wall portions formed in the release button 18.
  • both the lateral end portions of the lock plate 15 are disengaged from the corresponding constricted hole portions 16a,16a of the second through-holes 16,16, and are brought into the broader hole portions 16b,16b formed behind and in continuation with the constricted hole portions 16a,16a so that the lock plate 15 becomes movable upwardly.
  • the buckle latch piece 11 is rockable clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 4, about a pivot formed by the engagement between the first through-holes 14,14 and the corresponding lugs 13,13.
  • the buckle latch piece 11 thus rocks clockwise by the spring force of the button spring 24.
  • the detent 12 formed at the front end portion of the buckle latch piece 11 is upwardly pulled out of the opening 28 of the tongue plate 2 so that the tongue plate 2 and the buckle 4 can be separated from each other.
  • upper edges 29 of the constricted hole portions 16a formed on the front sides of the second through-holes 16 to loosely receive the corresponding lateral end portions of the lock plate 15 are parallel to the upper surface of the buckle latch piece 11 in a locked state (also to the base plate portion 9 as a matter of fact), namely, when the tongue plate is latched in the buckle 4. Therefore, the lower surface of the lock plate 15 and the upper surface of the buckle latch piece 11 are caused to contact with each other over a wide area when the lock plate 15 and the buckle latch piece 11 are brought into a locked state.
  • the term "upper” as used herein indicates an element, portion, part or the like farther from the base plate portion 9 of the buckle base 8 while the term “lower” indicates the corresponding element, portion, part or the like closer to the base plate portion 9. It is therefore to be noted that the indication of “upper” or “lower” does not necessarily conform with the position in actual use.
  • An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a seat belt buckle which does not involve such inconvenience.
  • a buckle for a seat belt including a buckle base formed by bending a metal plate in a flattened square U-shaped transverse cross-section and having a base plate portion and a pair of opposing upright side wall portions extending from both side edges of the base plate portion, a buckle latch piece pivotally supported at a rear end portion thereof on the upright side wall portions and having at a front end thereof a detent releasably engageable with an opening formed in an associated tongue plate, a spring normally biasing the buckle latch piece in a direction that the detent moves away from the base plate portion, a pair of through-holes formed in a mutually-opposing relation in the paired upright side wall portions, respectively, said through holes defining in a continuous relation broader hole portions on rear sides thereof and constricted hole portion on front sides thereof, a lock plate arranged movably back and forth on an upper surface of the buckle latch piece and loosely received at both lateral ends thereof in the paired through-holes,
  • Upper edges of the constricted hole portions of the paired through-holes extend obliquely relative to the base plate portion whereby the distances between the upper edges and the base plate portion increase as rear ends of the upper edges are approached.
  • the buckle When the tongue plate is latched in or unlatched from the seat belt buckle of the present invention constructed as described above, the buckle operates in substantially the same manner as the conventional seat belt buckle described above.
  • the upper edges of the constricted hole portions are formed oblique or aslant relative to the base plate portion and a spring force is applied upwardly and frontwardly to the lock plate by the lock plate spring.
  • the lock plate is therefore tilted relative to the upper surface of the buckle latch piece so that the lower surface of the lock plate and the upper surface of the buckle latch piece are not brought into firm contact with each other over a wide area.
  • the seat belt buckle according to the present invention therefore requires a smaller force for operating the release button to release the engagement between the tongue plate and the buckle in spite of the fact that its structure is still simple and its manufacturing cost is not high.
  • FIG. 1 elements of structure similar to the corresponding ones in the conventional example of FIGS. 2-5 are identified by like reference numerals. Description of such elements is omitted herein.
  • upper edges 29' of the constricted hole portions 16a of the paired through-holes 16 extend obliquely and upwardly at an angle ⁇ relative to the base plate portion 9 of the buckle base 8 so that the distances between the upper edges 29' and the base plate portion 9 increases as rear ends of the upper edges 29' (namely, the righthand ends of the upper edges 29' as viewed in FIG. 1) are approached.
  • the buckle 4 operates in exactly the same manner as the conventional buckle described above.
  • the force required to press the release button 18 so as to release the engagement between the buckle 4 and tongue plate 2 is lighter in the buckle 4 of the present invention compared with the conventional seat belt buckle.
  • the upper edges 29' of the constricted hole portions 16a extend obliquely relative to the base plate portion 9.
  • the constricted hole portions 16a make up the front parts of the second through-holes 16 in which both lateral end portions of the lock plate 15 are loosely received and when the tongue plate 2 is latched in the buckle 4, the lateral end portions of the lock plate 15 are positioned in the constricted hole portions 16a, respectively.
  • the lock plate spring 17 provided between the lock plate 15 and the buckle latch piece 11, a spring force is applied to the lock plate 15 in an upward and frontward direction.
  • the lock plate 15 is caused to turn in such a way that the lock plate 15 is twisted counter-clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1, whereby the upper surfaces of both the lateral end portions of the lock plate 15 are brought into firm contact with the corresponding upper edges 29'.
  • the lock plate 15 lies obliquely relative to the upper surface of the buckle latch piece 11 so that the lower surface of the lock plate 15 is in contact with the upper surface of the buckle latch piece 11 only at an extremely small area of a front end portion of the former surface and both the surfaces are no longer allowed to contact with each other over a wide area.
  • the lock plate 15 is not prevented from tilting relative to the upper surface of the buckle latch piece 11 by the engagement between the neck portion 23' of the hook 23 of the buckle latch piece 11 and the notch 27 of the lock plate 15, because the engagement is loose.
  • the inclination ⁇ of the upper edges 29' of the constricted hole portions 16a is suitably about 3-8 degrees. If ⁇ is smaller than the lower limit, no substantial advantageous effects can be brought about over the conventional buckle. On the other hand, ⁇ values greater than the upper limit lead to a reduction in the function to hold the latch piece 11.

Landscapes

  • Buckles (AREA)
  • Automotive Seat Belt Assembly (AREA)
EP19900108048 1990-04-27 1990-04-27 Schloss für Sicherheitsgurte Expired - Lifetime EP0453605B1 (de)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE1990611668 DE69011668T2 (de) 1990-04-27 1990-04-27 Schloss für Sicherheitsgurte.
EP19900108048 EP0453605B1 (de) 1990-04-27 1990-04-27 Schloss für Sicherheitsgurte

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19900108048 EP0453605B1 (de) 1990-04-27 1990-04-27 Schloss für Sicherheitsgurte

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0453605A1 true EP0453605A1 (de) 1991-10-30
EP0453605B1 EP0453605B1 (de) 1994-08-17

Family

ID=8203919

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19900108048 Expired - Lifetime EP0453605B1 (de) 1990-04-27 1990-04-27 Schloss für Sicherheitsgurte

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0453605B1 (de)
DE (1) DE69011668T2 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106136473A (zh) * 2016-08-31 2016-11-23 唐文刚 内穿式自动皮带扣

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2173243A (en) * 1985-03-28 1986-10-08 Loyd S Industri As Safety belt buckle
EP0318031A1 (de) * 1987-11-26 1989-05-31 Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha Schnalle mit einem Schalter zum Aufspüren des Verriegelungszustands der Steckzunge

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2173243A (en) * 1985-03-28 1986-10-08 Loyd S Industri As Safety belt buckle
EP0318031A1 (de) * 1987-11-26 1989-05-31 Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha Schnalle mit einem Schalter zum Aufspüren des Verriegelungszustands der Steckzunge

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106136473A (zh) * 2016-08-31 2016-11-23 唐文刚 内穿式自动皮带扣

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69011668D1 (de) 1994-09-22
DE69011668T2 (de) 1995-01-12
EP0453605B1 (de) 1994-08-17

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