JP2002345509A - Buckle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a buckle which is inexpensive, and can secure smooth unlocking for a long time. SOLUTION: A button slope 66 is a curved surface opened toward a button 50 side in a direction of unlocking. A small increase in the pressing force of the button slope 66 pressing a butted side 86A in relation to the amount of movement of the button 50 immediately after the start of pressing allows frictional resistance to be smaller than previously, whereby wear of the butted side 86A can be reduced or prevented. Even when, for example, the butted side 86A is treated with a coating, frictional resistance between the button slope 66 and the butted side 86A is reduced to facilitate unlocking, dependence of a reduction in the frictional resistance on a coating decreases, and the coating can be made to last longer. Therefore, smooth unlocking can be made for a long time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a buckle device for holding an occupant's body in a restrained state by a webbing belt in a vehicle seat belt device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A buckle device is provided as a part of a seat belt device for restraining the body of an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat by a long belt-shaped webbing belt. This buckle device has a case, and in a state where the tongue plate provided on the webbing belt is inserted into the case, the latch penetrates a hole formed in the tongue plate to be in a locked state, and the state of mounting the webbing belt is determined. I do.

In order to release the locked state, a release button provided on the case is pressed. A button slope having an inclined surface is formed on the release button, and when the release button is pressed to move the release button relative to the case, the latch comes into contact with the inclined surface of the button slope. Further, when the release button is further moved in a state where the latch is in contact with the slope of the button slope, the latch moves along the slope, and the movement of the latch separates the latch from the tongue plate, thereby causing the latch to move the tongue plate. The lock is released.

[0004]

By the way, the frictional resistance between the latch and the slope of the button slope generated when moving in contact with the slope of the button slope is reduced, and the latch along the slope of the button slope is reduced. In order to facilitate the movement, the slope of the button slope or the contact portion between the latch and the slope is usually coated.

[0005] However, the coating itself is deteriorated due to friction as the lock release is repeated, and in such a deteriorated state of the coating, the lock is not released more smoothly than before the deterioration.

On the other hand, as one means for ensuring smooth unlocking over a long period of time, it is conceivable to make the coating thicker than before, but increasing the thickness increases the cost. .

An object of the present invention is to provide a buckle device that can ensure smooth unlocking over a long period of time at a low cost in consideration of the above facts.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a buckle device, wherein a tongue plate provided on a webbing belt for restraining an occupant's body can be inserted therein.
A lock member provided on the apparatus main body so as to be movable toward and away from the tongue plate inserted into the apparatus main body, and locking the tongue plate inserted into the apparatus main body by engaging with the tongue plate. And a relative movement with respect to the apparatus main body by a release operation from the outside of the apparatus main body, and at least the lock member is slidably contacted at the time of the relative movement so as to separate from the tongue plate with the relative movement. An unlocking member that presses and moves a member, and wherein the abutting portions of the unlocking member with which the locking member slides are unlocked with respect to the device main body when each of the pressing members presses the locking member. Inclining relative to the direction opposite to the relative movement direction of the member and facing the side of the lock member in the pressing direction together with the relative movement direction Continued, and further, is configured to include a plurality of slopes inclined angle towards located relative the relative movement direction is increased, it is characterized in that.

According to the buckle device having the above structure, when the lock member provided on the device main body is engaged with the tongue plate in a state where the tongue plate is inserted into the device main body, the tongue plate is locked by the lock member, and the device is locked. The movement of the tongue plate in the direction in which it is withdrawn from the main body is restricted. As a result, the webbing belt provided with the tongue plate is in a worn state, and the occupant's body is restrained by the webbing belt.

When the unlocking member is operated from the outside of the apparatus main body in the locked state in which the locking member is engaged with the tongue plate, and the unlocking member is relatively moved with respect to the apparatus main body, the abutting portion of the unlocking member is provided. Abuts against the lock member to press the lock member. This pressing force moves the lock member in a direction away from the tongue plate, whereby the lock of the tongue plate by the lock member is released, and the tongue plate can be removed from the apparatus main body.

In the buckle device, the contact portion of the unlocking member with which the locking member slides includes a plurality of slopes continuous in the direction of relative movement of the unlocking member with respect to the device body when the locking member is pressed. Is done. Each slope is inclined with respect to the direction opposite to the relative movement direction and faces toward the pressing direction of the lock member, but each inclination angle is larger when located on the relative movement direction side,
It faces the opposite side to the relative movement direction.

Therefore, immediately after the relative movement of the unlocking member is started, the moving distance of the lock member due to the pressing force from the abutting portion is small because the inclination angle of the slope forming the abutting portion is small. , The moving distance of the lock member gradually increases as the lock distance gradually increases.

As described above, since the amount of movement of the lock member immediately after the release member starts to move relative to the apparatus main body is small, the pressing force applied by the contact portion to the lock release member at the start of the lock release is reduced. As a result, the frictional resistance between the abutting portion and the abutted portion at the time of starting the lock release is reduced.

For this reason, in order to reduce the frictional resistance between the contact portion and the portion of the lock member that contacts the contact portion,
Even if a coating or the like is applied to the lock member or the unlocking member, the dependence of the frictional resistance reduction on the coating or the like can be reduced, and the deterioration of the coating or the like can be prevented or reduced.

In the present invention, the abutment portion includes a plurality of continuous slopes, but the abutment portion is not limited to a flat surface in the present invention. That is, since the curved surface is made up of an infinite number of extremely small inclined surfaces having different inclination angles, even if the abutting portion is a curved surface, it does not contradict the configuration of the present invention.

The buckle device according to the second aspect is the first aspect.
In the present invention described above, the contact portion is configured to include a curved surface formed by countless continuous slopes.

In the buckle device configured as described above, the abutting portion is formed including a curved surface formed by countless continuous slopes. By configuring the contact portion including the curved surface as described above, the rate of change of the inclination angle in the direction of relative movement of the unlocking member with respect to the apparatus main body when the locking member is pressed is reduced. Therefore, the pressing force applied from the contact portion (lock release member) to the lock member does not suddenly change, and the lock member can be moved smoothly.

The buckle device according to the third aspect is the first aspect of the invention.
Or, in the present invention according to claim 2, the contacted portion of the unlocking member with respect to the contact portion, at least one of a slope and a curved surface where a contact portion with the contact portion changes with the relative movement. It is characterized by having been configured to include this.

In the buckle device having the above-described structure, the contacted portion of the lock member with respect to the contact portion of the lock release member is formed including a slope or a curved surface, and the relative position of the lock release member with respect to the apparatus body causes the contact of the lock member with the contact portion. The contact area of the contacted part changes. Thus, when the lock is released, basically the friction between the contact portion and the contact portion always occurs in another portion. Therefore, only a specific portion of the contact portion or the contacted portion is not worn, and even when the above-described coating or the like is applied, deterioration of the coating can be further prevented or reduced.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <Structure of the present embodiment> FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a buckle device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention at an appropriate position, and FIG. An exploded perspective view of the device 10 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 7, the buckle device 10 has a case 12 formed of a synthetic resin material into a substantially box shape. As shown in FIG. 1, one end in the longitudinal direction of the case 12 is opened by a slit hole 14 elongated along the width direction of the case 12, and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the case 12 is opened by an opening 16. I have.

The case 12 has a buckle body 2 inside.
0 is stored. The buckle body 20 has an anchor plate 26. The anchor plate 26 is, for example,
The plate member is formed by bending a central portion in the longitudinal direction into a substantially U-shape, and is housed inside the case 12 so that an opening end in a state of being bent in a U-shape faces the slit hole 14.

When the case 1 is housed in the case 12,
The upper plate 28 of the anchor plate 26 facing the height direction of 2
An insertion portion 34 is provided between the lower plate 30 and
An opening width corresponding to the tongue plate 36 is provided at the bottom of the anchor plate 26 bent in the shape of a letter, that is, at the end of the anchor plate 26 on the opening 16 side.
A slit-like insertion hole 32 is formed in the longitudinal direction along the width direction of No. 6.

The tongue plate 36 has a substantially slit-shaped insertion hole (not shown) formed on the base end side, and a long belt-shaped webbing belt is inserted through the tongue plate 36.
Is inserted from the tip end side through the insertion hole 32 into the space between the upper plate 28 and the lower plate 30, that is, into the insertion portion 34 while sliding.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, from the opening end side of the anchor plate 26 bent in a U-shape, that is, from the slit hole 14 side of the anchor plate 26, the upper plate 28 and the lower plate 30 One end side of the plate-shaped mounting piece 22 is inserted between them. The other end of the mounting piece 22 is fixed to the vehicle at a side of a seat (for example, a driver's seat or a passenger seat) provided in a room of the vehicle, and is mounted between the upper plate 28 and the lower plate 30. One end of the piece 22 is fastened and fixed to at least one of the upper plate 28 and the lower plate 30 by the rivet 24, so that the anchor plate 26 is attached to the vehicle.

An ejector 38 is slidably accommodated inside the anchor plate 26 along the longitudinal direction of the anchor plate 26 (the direction of the arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the opposite direction). An eject spring 40 is arranged between the ejector 38 and the mounting piece 22, and urges the ejector 38 toward the insertion hole 32 (the direction opposite to the arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 2).

Further, a pair of square pieces 42 are provided at both ends in the width direction of the ejector 38 on the side of the mounting piece 22 (ie, the case 12).
(Toward the slit hole 14 side). A contact portion 46 is formed near the tip of each of the square pieces 42. The anchor plate 26 corresponds to these contact portions 46.
Are formed so as to protrude into the insertion portion 34, and these projections interfere with the corresponding contact portions 46, thereby restricting the slide of the ejector 38 to a certain range.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, a button 50 is disposed on the upper plate 28 of the anchor plate 26. The button 50 is generally formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape in plan view. The button 50 has an operation unit 52. The operating section 52 has a pressing surface facing the opening 16 side, and the button 50 can be moved to the slit hole 14 side by pressing this pressing surface.

A pair of outer plates 54 extend parallel to each other from the side opposite to the pressing surface of the operation section 52 (ie, from the slit hole 14 side). Each of these outer plates 54
It is formed in a substantially plate shape having a thickness direction along the width direction of the anchor plate 26, and faces each other in this width direction.

Each outer plate 54 is formed with a claw piece 62 directed inward. These nail pieces 62 are attached to the anchor plate 26.
Between the upper plate 28 and the lower plate 30 of the anchor plate 26 from outside the anchor plate 26. In the engaged state, the button 50 cannot be detached from the anchor plate 26, and , Can be slid along the longitudinal direction of the anchor plate 26 (the direction of arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 7 and the direction opposite thereto).

A pair of inner plates 58 are provided inside the outer plates 54. Like the outer plate 54, the inner plate 58 extends parallel to each other from the side opposite to the pressing surface of the operation unit 52 (that is, from the slit hole 14 side). Each of these inner plates 58 has a substantially plate-like shape having a thickness direction along the width direction of the anchor plate 26 and faces each other in the width direction.

A stopper 64 is formed on the inner surface of these inner plates 58 (ie, the surface on the other side of the inner plate 58). When the tongue plate 36 is not inserted into the insertion portion 34, the stopper 64 abuts on a latch 84 as a lock member described later, and engages in the engagement direction (FIGS. 1 and 7).
(In the direction of arrow B). The stopper 64 is provided so that the tongue plate 36
When the latch 84 is engaged with the engaging hole 88 of the tongue plate 36 (locked state: see FIG. 2),
The latch 8 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the contact piece 86 of the latch 84 to release the latch 8 in the disengaging direction (the direction opposite to the arrow B in FIGS. 1 and 7).
4 is prevented from moving.

A button slope 66 is formed on the inner surface of the inner plate 58 closer to the operation section 52 than the stopper 64 is. The button slope 66 is a slope inclined so as to face in a direction opposite to the anchor plate 26 with respect to a direction opposite to the operation unit 52 (that is, the slit hole 14 side), and faces the opposite side to the anchor plate 26. The surface is gradually separated from the anchor plate 26 toward the operation unit 52 side.

When the button slope 66 is in the locked state, the button 50 is unlocked (the direction of arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 7).
, The pressing force is converted into a force for moving the latch 84 in the disengagement direction (the direction opposite to the arrow B in FIGS. 1 and 7), and the contact surface 86A of the contact piece 86 is converted. Press from below. As a result, the latch 84 moves in the disengagement direction.

Here, in the present embodiment, the button slope 66 is not a flat surface but the button 5 in the unlocking direction.
The curved surface is open toward the zero side. For this reason,
The inclination angle of the button slope 66 with respect to the unlocking direction differs depending on the position of the button slope 66 along the unlocking direction, and the inclination of the button slope 66 is smaller toward the unlocking direction.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned contact surface 86A in contact with the button slope 66 is a curved surface that protrudes toward the button slope 66. However, the curvature of the contact surface 86A is smaller than the curvature of the button slope 66.

The upper plate 28 is provided with a holding block 80 that straddles the inner plate 58 at a position inside the outer plate 54 of the button 50. The holding block 80 has a pair of parallel holding plates 82, and the latch 8 is located between the holding plates 82.
4 are arranged. The holding plate 82 is an anchor plate 2
6 is prevented from moving in the longitudinal direction (the direction of the arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 7 and the opposite direction), and the engagement direction and the disengagement direction (the direction of the arrow B in FIGS. 1 and 7 and the opposite direction). Direction).

The latch 84 has a substantially U-shape when viewed from the front, and has a contact piece 86 extending outward from the upper end in the width direction. An engagement piece 90 extends from the center of the latch 84 in the width direction toward the anchor plate 26. When the tongue plate 36 is inserted into the insertion portion 34 to a predetermined position, the engagement pieces 90 pass through the through holes 92 formed in the upper plate 28 of the anchor plate 26 and are inserted into the engagement holes 88 of the tongue plate 36. The lower plate 30 is engaged with the through hole 94 (see FIG. 2).

From the holding block 80, a pair of leaf spring pieces 96 serving as a releasing member urging means is provided on the operating portion 5 of the button 50.
2 and urges the button 50 toward the opening 16. Thereby, an appropriate resistance is generated when the operation unit 52 is pressed. In this embodiment, the release member urging means is constituted by the leaf spring piece 96. However, the release member urging means urges the button 50 toward the opening 16 side, that is, in this embodiment. Any configuration is sufficient,
It is not limited to a specific form. Therefore,
A coil spring may be used instead of the plate spring 96.

On the other hand, the slit holes 1
From the end on the 4th side, the legs 68 are directed toward the anchor plate 26.
Are formed to protrude. The leg 68 penetrates a long hole 70 formed in the upper plate 28 and is located between the upper plate 28 and the lower plate 30. The long hole 70 is elongated along the sliding direction of the button 50. When the button 50 slides, the leg 68 moves along the long hole 70, and
As the button 8 moves along the long hole 70, the button 50 slides.

The leg 68 penetrating through the elongated hole 70 is located on the locus of movement of the tongue plate 36 which moves between the upper plate 28 and the lower plate 30, and a predetermined distance between the upper plate 28 and the lower plate 30. When the tongue plate 36 reaches the position, the ejector 38 comes into contact with the leg 68, and in this state, the tongue plate 36
When slides, the leg 68 is pressed by the ejector 38 and moves.

Further, one end of a leaf spring-shaped lock spring 98 is attached to the button 50. The other end of the lock spring 98 is in contact with the upper surface of the latch 84 and urges the latch 84 in the engagement direction (the direction of the arrow B in FIGS. 1 and 7).

<Operation and Effect of the Present Embodiment> Next, the operation and effect of the present embodiment will be described.

In the buckle device 10 having the above-described structure, the stopper 64 of the button 50 is in contact with the contact piece 86 of the latch 84 from below when the tongue plate 36 is not inserted into the insertion portion 34. Therefore, the latch 84 does not move in the engagement direction (the direction of the arrow B in FIGS. 1 and 7) due to the urging force of the lock spring 98.

When the tongue plate 36 is inserted into the insertion portion 34, the tongue plate 36 engages with the ejector 38, and the tongue plate 36 presses the ejector 38, and slides the ejector 38 against the urging force of the eject spring 40. Further, when the ejector 38 slides to a predetermined position, the ejector 38
8, the leg 68 is pressed and moved.

Since the stopper 64 of the button 50 is separated from the abutted piece 86 of the latch 84 by the movement of the leg 68, the latch 84 receives the urging force of the lock spring 98 and engages in the engaging direction (FIGS. 1 and 2). 7 in the direction of the arrow B), and as shown in FIG.
8 penetrates through the through holes 92 and engages with the engaging holes 88 of the tongue plate 36. The button 50 is pushed by the leaf spring piece 96 and moves in the direction opposite to the arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 7 to be in a locked state, and the stopper 64 of the button 50 abuts on the contact piece 86 of the latch 84 from above. Thus, the movement of the latch 84 in the disengagement direction (the direction opposite to the arrow B in FIG. 2) is prevented. In this locked state, the case 1
2) from the tongue plate 36.
Are regulated by the engagement pieces 90 of the first.

On the other hand, from this state, the operation unit 5 of the button 50
2 and press the button 50 in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
2, first, the facing state between the stopper 64 and the contacted piece 86 is released. When the opposing state of the stopper 64 and the contact piece 86 is released, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the contact surface 86 </ b> A of the contact piece 86 contacting the button slope 66. But button slope 66
The contact piece 86 moves upward, that is, in a direction away from the tongue plate 36 while being guided by the button slope 66 against the urging force from the lock spring 98 due to the pressing force from the lock spring 98. Thereby, first, this contact piece 8
The movement of 6 causes the latch 84 to come out of the engagement hole 88.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the latch 84 comes out of the engagement hole 88, the tongue plate 36 is inserted into the insertion portion 3.
4, the ejector 38 receiving the urging force of the eject spring 40 presses the tongue plate 36, and the tongue plate 36 exits from the insertion portion 34. Further, when the pressing force applied to the operation unit 52 of the button 50 is released in this state, the button 50 returns to the position before the pressing force was applied by the urging force of the leaf spring piece 96. As a result, the button 50 is again attached to the contact piece 86 of the latch 84.
The stopper 64 abuts from below, and the latch 84 is held.

As described above, in the buckle device 10, the button slope 66 is not a flat surface but a curved surface that opens toward the button 50 in the unlocking direction. Regarding the inclination angle of the slope 66, the inclination angle of the button slope 66 is smaller toward the unlocking side. Therefore, the frictional resistance between the button slope 66 and the contact surface 86A is relatively high immediately after the start of pressing the button 50 (the outer plate 54), but the button slope 66 is inclined more toward the unlocking direction. Since the angle is small, the rising amount of the contact surface 86A immediately after the start of pressing is relatively small. For this reason, button 5
The button slope 66 for the movement amount of 0 is the contact surface 86
The amount of increase in the pressing force for pressing A is small, and the frictional resistance can be reduced as compared with the related art. Thereby, abrasion of the contact surface 86A can be reduced or prevented.
In order to reduce the frictional resistance between the button slope 66 and the abutting surface 86A by applying a coating to the button slope 66 to smoothly release the lock, the degree of dependence on the coating for reducing the frictional resistance is lower than in the past. It becomes smaller and allows the coating to last longer. Therefore, smooth unlocking can be performed over a long period of time.

In addition, in order to maintain a smooth unlocking operation for a long period of time, it is not necessary to thicken the coating or the like, so that the cost is reduced.

As described above, the present buckle device 10
Since the contact surface 86A protrudes toward the button slope 66 and has a curvature smaller than the curvature of the contact surface 86A, the contact surface 86A as shown in FIGS.
When the contact piece 86 moves along the button slope 66, the contact portion between the contact surface 86A and the button slope 66 changes depending on the position of the contact piece 86 on the button slope 66. Therefore, only a part of the contact surface 86A does not always contact the button slope 66. Therefore, even if the contact surface 86A is worn, the contact surface 86A is worn.
Almost all of A is worn on average. Thus, when the coating is applied to the abutted surface 86A, the coating can be worn on average, and it is possible to prevent a large portion from being worn early. As a result, the effect of the coating can be maintained for a long time.

In this embodiment, the button slope 66 as the contact portion has a curved surface. However, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of flat slopes having a smaller inclination angle toward the unlocking direction are provided as shown in FIG. The button slope 66 may be formed continuously.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention, smooth unlocking can be performed for a long time at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view at an appropriate position of a buckle device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing a locked state by a lock member (latch).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a lock member (latch) and a contact portion (button slope) immediately after the start of unlocking.

4 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a lock member (latch) and a contact portion (button slope) in a state where the lock member (latch) has further moved from the state of FIG. 3;

5 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a lock member (latch) and a contact portion (button slope) in a state where the lock member (latch) has further moved from the state of FIG. 4;

6 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a lock member (latch) and a contact portion (button slope) when the lock member (latch) is further moved from the state of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the buckle device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a modification of a contact portion (button slope).

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Buckle apparatus 12 Case (apparatus main body) 36 Tongue plate 50 Button (lock release member) 66 Release surface (contact part, contact surface) 84 Latch (lock member) 86A Contact surface

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus main body capable of inserting a tongue plate provided on a webbing belt for restraining an occupant's body into the apparatus main body, and the apparatus main body capable of moving toward and away from the tongue plate inserted into the apparatus main body. A locking member that locks the tongue plate inserted into the apparatus main body by engaging with the tongue plate; and a relative movement with respect to the apparatus main body by a release operation from outside the apparatus main body. A lock release member that slides the lock member at least during the relative movement and presses and moves the lock member in a direction away from the tongue plate with the relative movement, and the lock member includes The abutment portions of the unlocking member that slide in contact with the device main body when each of the abutting portions presses the locking member. The release member is inclined with respect to the direction opposite to the relative movement direction and is directed toward the pressing direction of the lock member and is continuous with the relative movement direction. A buckle device comprising a plurality of slopes having a large inclination angle. 2. The buckle device according to claim 1, wherein the abutment portion includes a curved surface formed by countless continuous slopes. 3. The contacted portion of the unlocking member with respect to the contacting portion is configured to include at least one of a slope and a curved surface where a contacting portion with the contacting portion changes with the relative movement. The buckle device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein