JP2001233093A - Child seat detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a child seat detecting device capable of securely detecting whether a child seat is installed or not. SOLUTION: A plunger 82 to be slid in relation to a plunger 76 in a direction for coming close and separating to/from a bar body 20 is provided inside of the plunger 76 to be slid in a direction for coming close and separating to/from the bar body 20. When a frame 34 pushes the plunger 76 to the predetermined position, connection of the plungers 76, 82 by a solenoid 98 is released, and the plunger 82 is inserted into a bar insertion port 36. In this condition, when a lock piece 40 is lowered, the plunger 82 abuts on the lock piece 40 and while a sliding contact 86 of the plunger 82 and a fixed contact 88 of the plunger 76 are brought in contact with each other for electrical continuity, and when the lock piece 40 is not lowered, the plunger 82 is slid till it abuts on the bar body 20, and the sliding contact 86 and the fixed contact 88 are not brought in contact with each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a child seat detecting device for detecting whether or not a child seat is mounted on a vehicle seat.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a connection structure of a child seat for mounting a child seat to a vehicle seat,
There is a connection structure called a connector type. Hereinafter, the connector type connection structure will be briefly described.

[0003] This type of connecting structure has a rectangular bar-shaped frame extending from a child seat. A bar insertion port is formed at the tip of the frame. The inner width of the bar insertion opening is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the bar main body of the lock bar described later, so that the lock bar main body can be accommodated inside the bar insertion opening. A striker is rotatably supported inside the frame so that the striker is rotatable about the width direction of the frame. The striker includes an abutting piece positioned corresponding to the bar insertion port in an unlocked state, and a lock piece positioned corresponding to the bar insertion port in a locked state. Further, the striker is urged by the urging means in a direction to be in the locked state, and in the locked state, the striker cannot be moved except for a predetermined release operation.

On the other hand, in the gap between the seat back of the seat and the seat cushion, there is provided a substantially U-shaped lock bar which opens toward the rear of the seat in plan view and has a bar-shaped bar body as a bottom. In a state where the bar main body of the lock bar is inserted into the inside of the bar insertion port and the bar main body is brought into contact with the abutting piece, the frame is further moved to the bottom side of the bar insertion port (ie, , Child seat), the contact piece is displaced by the pressing force from the bar body,
When the contact piece moves to a position where the balance of the urging means is shifted, the lock piece moves to the opening side of the bar insertion opening from the bar main body by the urging force of the urging means, and the locking piece moves to the opening side of the bar insertion port. Close up. Thereby, the child seat can be fixed to the seat.

It is well known that when a child seat is mounted on a seat, it is generally preferable not to operate an airbag device corresponding to the seat on which the child seat is mounted. Correspondingly, a detection device for detecting whether or not the child seat is mounted is provided,
When the airbag computer that controls the airbag device receives a signal when the detection device detects that the child seat is mounted on the seat, the airbag device corresponding to the seat with the child seat is mounted in any case. There is also a child seat detection device for preventing the operation of the child seat.

[0006]

However, the conventional child seat detecting device detects the movement of the frame to such an extent that the bar main body is positioned between the lock piece and the bottom of the bar insertion opening. The configuration was such that the child seat was mounted. In such a configuration,
Even if the lock piece is not completely located between the bottom of the bar insertion opening and the open end, there is a possibility that the child seat is mounted.

An object of the present invention is to provide a child seat detecting device capable of reliably detecting whether or not a child seat is mounted in consideration of the above fact.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a child seat, wherein a mounting opening is formed at an end of the child seat in a mounting direction side, and an opening end of the mounting opening is formed. A frame provided with a lock piece movable to the bottom, and a mounting portion provided on the seat and entering the mounting opening when the child seat is mounted on the seat, the mounting portion comprising: A child seat detection mechanism applied to a child seat coupling mechanism for setting the child seat in a mounted state where a portion is located between a bottom portion of the mounting opening and the lock piece, wherein the mounting is performed on the mounting direction side of the mounting portion. Slidable in the mounting direction and in the opposite direction to the frame moving in the opposite direction and opposite to the mounting direction A first movable body that is urged and slides in the mounting direction by a pressing force from the frame that moves in the mounting direction, and the lock of the frame that moves in the mounting direction on the mounting direction side of the mounting portion. A second movable body provided slidably in the mounting direction and the opposite direction to the piece and urged in a direction opposite to the mounting direction, and pressed against the lock piece in the mounted state; Is integrally connected to the first moving body, and the position of the attaching portion in the mounting opening in a state where the first moving body is in contact with the frame is in the mounting opening in the child seat mounting state. Connecting means for releasing the connection between the first moving body and the second moving body in a state in which the first moving body has moved by a distance corresponding to a distance to a mounting portion; The distance corresponding to the distance from the position of the mounting portion in the mounting opening in a state where the first moving body is in contact with the frame to the position of the mounting portion in the mounting opening in the child seat mounting state. Determining means for determining whether or not the second moving body has moved with respect to one moving body.

According to the child seat detecting device having the above structure, when the child seat is moved in the mounting direction with the mounting portion inserted into the mounting opening of the frame, the frame also moves integrally in the mounting direction, and the leading end of the frame is moved. Is the first
The first moving body is pressed against the moving body in the mounting direction and moved. At this time, the second moving body is connected to the first moving body by the connecting means.
Since the second moving body is integrally connected to the moving body, the second moving body also moves in the mounting direction by the same distance as the first moving body.

[0010] Next, when the child seat is moved toward the mounting direction with respect to the seat to the predetermined mounting position, the mounting portion enters the predetermined distance from the opening end of the mounting opening to the bottom side. Further, at this time, the position from the position of the mounting portion to the frame in a state where the first moving body contacts the frame (that is, the position of the mounting portion in the mounting opening) to the position of the mounting portion to the frame in the above-described child seat mounting state. The first mobile unit moves by a distance corresponding to the distance, whereby the connection unit releases the connection between the first mobile unit and the second mobile unit. The second moving body is basically movable relatively to the first moving body, and is urged in a direction opposite to the mounting direction, so that the second moving body is connected to the first moving body by the connecting means. Is released, it moves in the direction opposite to the mounting direction.

Here, if the lock piece is interposed between the opening end of the mounting port and the mounting portion in the mounting port, and the child seat is securely mounted, the second moving body contacts the lock piece. . The determining means detects the amount of movement of the second moving body with respect to the first moving body, but the amount of movement of the first moving body and the second moving body in contact with the lock piece in the mounting direction in the mounting direction. , That is, the amount of movement of the second moving body with respect to the first moving body does not basically change. Therefore, the lock piece is interposed between the opening end of the bar insertion port and the mounting portion in the mounting port when it is detected that the second mobile body has moved by the predetermined distance with respect to the first mobile body, that is, It can be determined that the child seat is in the mounted state.

On the other hand, if the lock piece does not intervene between the opening end of the mounting port and the mounting portion in the mounting port, the second moving body moves until it contacts the mounting portion in the mounting port. At this time, the difference in the movement amount between the first moving body and the second moving body is the thickness of the lock piece (more specifically, the length of the lock piece along the mounting direction) as compared with the case where the lock piece is interposed. It increases by the amount of. Therefore, the pseudo child seat mounting state in which the lock portion only reaches the predetermined position in the mounting opening and the lock piece does not intervene is not determined to be a true child seat mounting state.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <Structure of this Embodiment> FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of a child seat connection structure 12 to which a child seat detection device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. I have. Prior to the description of the child seat detection device 10, the configuration of the child seat connection structure 12 will be described.

(Configuration of Child Seat Connection Structure 12)
As shown in FIG. 2, the child seat connection structure 12
Is provided with a lock bar 14 entirely formed of a rod material having a circular cross section made of a hard material such as metal. The lock bar 14 is formed so as to connect a pair of legs 16, 18 extending in the longitudinal direction substantially along the vehicle front-rear direction, and to the distal ends (substantially vehicle front side ends) of the pair of legs 16, 18. Bar body 2 as a mounting portion that is elongated along the substantially left-right direction of the vehicle
0. One lock bar 14 is disposed on each side of the vehicle 22 shown in FIG. 4 between the seat cushion 26 and the seat back 28 that constitute the front passenger seat 24 (seat) of the vehicle 22 in the left-right direction of the vehicle. In FIG. 3, the illustration of the lock bar 14 is omitted). The lock bar 14 disposed between the seat cushion 26 and the seat back 28 has an axially proximal end side (the opposite side to the bar body 20) of the legs 16, 18 directly or through a support means (not shown). It is fixed to the seat 24.

A connection device 32 provided on the child seat 30 is connected to the lock bar 14.

(Configuration of Connector Type Connecting Device 32) FIG.
The connecting device 32 is a so-called “connector-type connecting device”, and includes a tubular frame 34 having a rectangular cross section and having a base end side fixed to the child seat 30 with respect to the longitudinal middle portion thereof. A bar insertion port 36 is formed at the distal end of the frame 34 as an attachment port that opens toward the distal end side of the frame 34 and penetrates along the width direction of the frame 34. The bar insertion opening 36 has an opening width larger than the outer diameter of the bar main body 20 of the lock bar 14 described above, and can accommodate the bar main body 20 inside thereof.

A striker 38 is arranged inside the frame 34. The striker 38 includes a lock piece 40 as a lock portion and a contact piece 42, and a connecting portion between the lock piece 40 and the contact piece 42 is pivotally connected to the frame 34 so as to be rotatable around the width direction of the frame 34. Supported. Further, a biasing means (not shown) is housed inside the frame 34, and the biasing means is configured to bias the striker 38 bidirectionally around a predetermined rotational position. A restricting mechanism (not shown) for restricting the rotation of the striker 38 is housed inside the frame 34, and the bar body 20 of the striker 38 is inserted inside the bar insertion opening 36 along the width direction of the frame 34. The restricting mechanism restricts the rotation of the striker 38 in a state where the striker 38 is swiveled until is seen. This restriction mechanism can be released, for example, by pressing a release button (not shown) provided on the base end side of the frame 34 (that is, the main body side of the child seat 30).

(Configuration of Child Seat Detecting Apparatus 10)
On the other hand, the child seat detection device 10 includes a case 72. As shown in FIG. 2, the case 72 is formed with a through hole 74 through which the legs 16, 18 of the lock bar 14 described above penetrate. 72 is supported by the lock bar 14. As shown in FIG. 1, a box-shaped plunger 76 as a first moving body is slidably accommodated in the case 72 along the longitudinal direction of the legs 16, 18. The tip of the plunger 76 is the case 72.
Project through the side wall on the side of the bar body 20.

A compression coil spring 78 is disposed between the plunger 76 and a side wall of the case 72 opposite to the bar body 20 to urge the plunger 76 toward the bar body 20. .

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the inside of the plunger 76 is formed as a cylindrical portion 80 penetrating along the longitudinal direction of the legs 16 and 18, and inside the cylindrical portion 80 is a second movable member. A plate-like plunger 82 as a body is slidably accommodated in the direction in which the cylindrical portion 80 penetrates. The thickness of the plunger 82 is the same as the bar insertion port 3 of the frame 34 described above.
6, the plunger 82 can enter the inside of the bar insertion opening 36.
A compression coil spring 84 is disposed between the plunger 82 and the side wall of the case 72 opposite to the bar main body 20, and urges the plunger 82 toward the bar main body 20.

Further, a sliding contact 86 elongated along the longitudinal direction of the bar body 20 is fixed to one (lower) end face of the plunger 82 in the thickness direction. On the inner wall of the cylindrical portion 80, a pair of fixed contacts 8 separated by a predetermined distance along the longitudinal direction of the bar body 20.
8 is fixed. As described above, the plunger 76
On the other hand, the plunger 82 is slidable along the direction in which the cylindrical portion 80 penetrates.
When a predetermined slide position with respect to
6 connects and conducts the fixed contact 88.
Here, the predetermined slide position of the plunger 82 with respect to the plunger 76 is defined as the above-described bar insertion port 36.
From the end face of the plunger 76 on the side of the bar body 20 by a length L corresponding to the distance from the opening end of the plunger 76 to the lock piece 40 when the lock piece 40 is lowered.
This is a slide position in a state where the end surface on the 0 side protrudes toward the bar main body 20 side.

A rib 92 is provided upright on the lower wall of the case 72, and a pair of fixed contacts 94 having the same configuration as the pair of fixed contacts 88 described above are arranged on the rib 92. A sliding contact 96 having the same configuration as the moving contact 86 described above is provided on the lower surface of the plunger 76 corresponding to the pair of fixed contacts 94. The fixed contact 94 and the sliding contact 96 are provided so as to contact and conduct when the plunger 76 reaches a predetermined sliding position with respect to the case 72. Here, the predetermined sliding position of the plunger 76 with respect to the case 72 means that the frame 34 is in the case 7 until the bar body 20 enters the inside of the bar insertion opening 36 to a position where the lock piece 40 can be lowered.
2 corresponds to the slide position of the plunger 76 due to the pressing from the frame 34 when approaching the position 2.

Further, the plunger 76 is provided with a solenoid 98 as a connecting means.
Is embedded with a magnetic body 100 such as a metal. The solenoid 98 is energized by being energized, and
00, and the plunger 76 and the plunger 8 are simulated.
And 2 are integrated. This solenoid 98 is electrically connected to a computer 102 as determination means,
The computer 102 controls energization of the solenoid 98. The computer 102 is also electrically connected to the pair of fixed contacts 88 described above, and detects and determines whether the pair of fixed contacts 88 are electrically connected to each other.

The computer 102 is also electrically connected to the above-mentioned pair of fixed contacts 94, and detects and determines whether or not the pair of fixed contacts 94 is conductive through the sliding contact 96.

Further, the computer 102 is connected to the passenger seat 2
4 is connected to the activation device 106 of the airbag device 104 provided on the front side of the vehicle, and when the conduction state of the pair of fixed contacts 88 is detected, it is determined that the child seat 30 is attached, and the activation stop signal is generated. Send to activation device 106.

The activation device 106 is connected to an acceleration sensor 110 which also forms the airbag device 104. When the acceleration sensor 110 detects a deceleration greater than or equal to a predetermined magnitude of the vehicle 22, that is, a rapid deceleration state of the vehicle 22, the acceleration sensor 110 sends an activation signal to the activation device 106, and the activation device 10
Make 6 The activation device 106 that has received the activation signal activates the main body 108 having a bag or the like to inflate and deploy the bag toward the front of the occupant in the front passenger seat 24, but when the activation stop signal is received from the computer 102, , Acceleration sensor 1
The detection of the deceleration of 10 is stopped, or the main body 108 is not operated even if a start signal from the acceleration sensor 110 is received.

<Operations and Effects of the Present Embodiment> Next, the operations and effects of the present child seat detecting apparatus 10 will be described.

When attaching the child seat 30 to the passenger seat 24, first, the child seat 30 is arranged in front of the seat back 28 of the passenger seat 24, and the frame 3
4, the bar body 20 is inserted into the opening end of the bar insertion port 36. In this state, when the child seat 30 is slid toward the rear side of the passenger seat 24 in the mounting direction, the bar body 20 is inserted into the bar insertion port 36. When the child seat 30 is further moved substantially toward the rear side of the vehicle in this state, the bar body 20 comes into contact with the contact piece 42 of the striker 38, and the bar body 20 pushes the contact piece 42 substantially toward the vehicle front side. Press. When the striker 38 rotates by a predetermined angle in response to this pressing force, the balance of the urging force of the urging means for urging the striker 38 is broken, and the urging means rotates the striker 38. Thereby, the lock piece 40 of the striker 38
Is located substantially rearward of the vehicle with respect to the bar main body 20 to restrict the bar main body 20 from coming out of the bar insertion opening 36 (that is, the child seat 30 is mounted).

When the bar body 20 enters the bar insertion opening 36 of the frame 34, the distal end of the frame 34 comes into contact with the distal end of the plunger 76, and the plunger 76 is placed on the case 72 side, that is, on the mounting direction side of the child seat 30. To move the plunger 76 against the urging force of the compression coil spring 78. In this state,
Since the solenoid 98 of the plunger 76 is energized, the plunger 82 moves together with the plunger 76.

The frame 34 is mounted in the mounting direction until the bar body 20 reaches the vicinity of the bottom of the bar insertion opening 36, that is, the locking piece 40 of the striker 38 can be positioned substantially rearward of the bar body 20 with respect to the vehicle. When the plunger 76 moves and the plunger 76 moves accordingly, the sliding contact 96 of the plunger 76 and the fixed contact 94 of the case 72 conduct. The conduction between the sliding contact 96 and the fixed contact 94 is detected by the computer 102, and after a predetermined time (for example, one second) has passed after the sliding contact 96 and the fixed contact 94 have been conducted, the computer 102 The energization of the solenoid 98 is released, and the connection between the plunger 76 and the plunger 82 is released.

The plunger 82 disconnected from the plunger 76 is slid with respect to the plunger 76 toward the bar body 20 (ie, in the direction opposite to the direction in which the child seat 30 is mounted) by the urging force of the compression coil spring 84. Into the bar insertion opening 36.

At this time, if the lock piece 40 is located closer to the open end of the bar insertion opening 36 than the bar body 20, that is, if the child seat 30 is in a true mounted state, the plunger 82 contacts the lock piece 40. . Here, the bar body of the plunger 82 from the end face of the plunger 76 on the side of the bar body 20 by a length corresponding to the distance from the opening end of the bar insertion opening 36 to the lock piece 40 when the lock piece 40 is lowered. In the state where the end surface on the side of the bar 20 protrudes toward the bar body 20, the sliding contact 86 is connected to the pair of fixed
8 is conducted. The computer 102 that has detected the conduction of these fixed contacts 88 determines that the child seat 30 is attached, and sends a start / stop signal to the starter 106. As a result, the airbag device 104 is not activated when the child seat 30 is mounted on the passenger seat 24.

On the other hand, the bar body 20 is inserted into the bar insertion opening 36 until the lock piece 40 can be lowered due to some trouble.
The sliding contact 96 and the fixed contact 9 can be moved even when the lock piece 40 is
When a predetermined time (for example, one second) elapses after the connection of the solenoid 4 to the computer 4, the computer 102 releases the energization of the solenoid 98 and releases the connection between the plunger 76 and the plunger 82. As a result, the plunger 82 slides with respect to the plunger 76 and enters the bar insertion opening 36, but since the lock piece 40 does not descend, the plunger 82 contacts the bar body 20. Here, the plunger 8 cannot contact the lock piece 40 because the lock piece 40 is not lowered.
As a matter of course, 2 slides more than when it comes into contact with the lock piece 40 by the length D of the lock piece 40 along the sliding direction of the plunger 82. Therefore, although the sliding contact 86 temporarily contacts the fixed contact 88, the sliding contact 86 immediately moves to the bar body 20 side from the fixed contact 88, and as a result, the fixed contact 88 is disconnected. Therefore,
In this state, the computer 102 does not determine that the child seat 30 is attached.

As described above, the present child seat detection apparatus 10 can reliably detect only the true mounted state of the child seat 30.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably detect whether or not a child seat is mounted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a child seat connection structure including a child seat detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an overview of a structure on a seat side of a child seat connection structure including a child seat detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a system of a child seat detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Child seat detection apparatus 12 Child seat connection structure 20 Bar body (attachment part) 24 Passenger's seat (seat) 30 Child seat 34 Frame 36 Bar insertion slot (mounting slot) 40 Lock piece 76 Plunger (first moving body) 82 Plunger (Second movement) Body) 98 solenoid (connection means) 102 computer (judgment means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Seiwa Otaki 3-260 Toyota, Oguchi-machi, Niwa-gun, Aichi Prefecture Inside Tokai Rika Electric Works, Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshiyasu Kawai 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Motor Corporation F-term (reference) 3B087 CE00 CE06 DE00 DE08 DE09

Claims (1)

[Claims] An attachment opening is formed at an end of the child seat in the attachment direction side with respect to the seat, and a lock piece movable between an opening end of the attachment opening and a bottom is provided. And a mounting portion provided on the seat and entering the mounting opening in a state where the child seat is mounted on the seat, wherein the mounting portion includes a bottom portion of the mounting opening and the lock piece. A child seat detection device applied to a child seat connection mechanism for setting the child seat in a mounting state located therebetween, wherein the mounting direction is opposite to the frame that moves in the mounting direction on the mounting direction side of the mounting portion. And slidably provided in the opposite direction and urged in a direction opposite to the mounting direction, and moved in the mounting direction. A first moving body that slides in the mounting direction by a pressing force from a frame, and the mounting direction and opposite to the lock piece of the frame that moves in the mounting direction on the mounting direction side of the mounting portion. And a second movable body that is urged in a direction opposite to the mounting direction and pressed against the lock piece in the mounted state, and integrally connects the second movable body to the first movable body. A distance corresponding to a distance from a position of the mounting portion in the mounting opening in a state where the first moving body is in contact with the frame to a position of the mounting portion in the mounting opening in a mounting state of the child seat. Connection means for releasing the connection between the first moving body and the second moving body only when the first moving body has moved, and wherein the first moving body has contacted the frame. The second moving body with respect to the first moving body by a distance corresponding to a distance from a position of the mounting portion in the mounting opening in a state to a position of the mounting portion in the mounting opening in the child seat mounting state. A determination means for determining whether or not the child seat has moved. A child seat detection device, comprising: