JPH08183426A - Buckle driving device for seat belt - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To attach a tongue of a seat belt to a buckle one-handed. CONSTITUTION: A buckle driving device 501 for a three-point type seat belt 105 is provided with a buckle supporting mechanism, which supports a buckle 1 in such a manner that the buckle can move in three directions: fore-and-aft direction of a vehicle, or X-direction; vertical direction, or Y-direction; and width direction of the vehicle, or Z-direction, and a driving mechanism, which moves the buckle 1 in the three directions. The device 501 is also provided with a controlling means, which, by controlling the driving mechanism, positions the buckle 1, when the seat belt 105 is to be attached, at almost the middle in the fore-and-aft direction Y of a seat cushion 12A and moreover at the initial position P1 a little to the center in the width direction X of the seat cushion 12A and which moves the buckle 1 again to an optimum position P2 in attaching the seat belt, after the seat belt 105 was attached temporalily.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seat belt buckle driving device applied to a three-point seat belt device for an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 15 shows a general structure of a three-point seat belt device for an automobile. In this figure, 1
2 is a seat provided with a seat cushion 12A and a seat back 12B, 100 is a seat belt device, and 150 is a steering wheel.

In this seat belt device 100, a seat belt 105 is pulled out from a retractor 103 fixed to a lower portion of a center pillar 101, and the seat belt 1
05 passes through the shoulder anchor 107 fixed to the upper portion of the center pillar 101, passes through the through ring portion of the tongue 109, and is further connected to the outer anchor 111 fixed to the lower portion of the center pillar 101.

Then, as shown in FIG. 16, the tongue 109 is grasped, the seat belt 105 is pulled out, and the tongue 109 is inserted into and engaged with the buckle 115 of the inner anchor 113 arranged on the side opposite to the seat cushion 12A. By tying them together, the occupants can be restrained.

Here, the shoulder anchor 107 to the tongue 109 is referred to as a shoulder belt 105A, and the tongue 109 to the inner anchor 113 is referred to as a lap belt 105B.

FIG. 17 shows a conventional buckle drive device (actual flat blade 2-1 which makes it easy to insert the tongue 109 into the buckle 115.
No. 08641). This buckle drive device includes a case 130 that supports the buckle 115 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction (Y direction in the drawing), and a drive motor 132 that moves the buckle 115 in the front-rear direction.

In this buckle drive device, the buckle 115 is at the forward position before the seat belt is worn, so that the seat belt can be worn at a position where it is easy to see. Further, when the seat belt is worn, the buckle 115 is moved rearward by the drive motor 132 to keep the seat belt in a tensioned state. Also, when the engine stops,
The buckle 115 is advanced to the initial position by the motor 132, which facilitates the removal and attachment of the seat belt.

[0008]

By the way, when an occupant wears a seatbelt, in a conventional general seatbelt device, as shown in FIG. 16, the tongue 109 pulled from near the right shoulder is placed on the opposite side. Move to the height near the hipbone position (near the seat cushion seat surface height) and buckle 115
Had to be inserted and engaged.

Therefore, it cannot be worn only by rotating the shoulder and the waist, and it is necessary to rotate the elbow. In addition, the pull-out force increases with an increase in the pull-out amount of the seat belt 105. It was difficult to wear.

On the other hand, when the conventional buckle drive device shown in FIG. 17 is applied to a three-point seat belt device,
Because the buckle can be attached at a position where it is easy to see,
The seat belt can be easily worn to some extent.

However, since the buckle moves only in the front-rear direction and the vertical position of the buckle and the position in the vehicle width direction are not adjusted at all, it is still difficult to attach the seat belt tongue to the buckle with one hand. is there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a seat belt buckle device capable of easily engaging the tongue of the seat belt with the buckle with one hand.

[0013]

According to the invention of claim 1, a buckle drive for a seat belt is provided, which is provided on a side of a seat cushion of a vehicle seat and has a buckle for engaging and disengaging a tongue of a three-point seat belt. In a device, a buckle support mechanism that movably supports the buckle in three directions of a vehicle front-rear direction, a vertical direction, and a vehicle width direction, a drive mechanism that moves the buckle in the three directions, and a control of the drive mechanism. Allows the buckle to be positioned at an initial position approximately before the seat belt in the front-rear direction and near the center of the seat cushion in the vehicle width direction, and when the seat belt is worn after the seat belt is worn. And a control means for moving to an optimum position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the buckle driving device for a seat belt according to the first aspect, the control means determines the optimum position when the seat belt is worn, the load distribution with respect to the seat cushion, and the seat reclining. It is characterized in that it includes an optimum position calculating means for calculating based on the angle and the posture of the occupant obtained from at least one of the vehicle speeds.

A third aspect of the present invention is the seat belt buckle driving device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the buckle support mechanism includes a front-back direction moving mechanism that supports the buckle so as to be movable in the vehicle front-back direction. A vertical movement mechanism that supports the buckle so as to be movable in the vertical direction and a vehicle width direction movement mechanism that supports the buckle so as to be movable in the vehicle width direction.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the buckle driving device for a seat belt according to the third aspect, the front-rear direction moving mechanism includes a rail extending in the front-rear direction, which is arranged laterally of the seat cushion. A slider supported by a rail and movable along the rail, and the buckle is supported by the slider.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the seat belt buckle drive device according to the fourth aspect, the rail is formed so as to incline upward toward the front, and the rail and the slider move in the vertical direction. It is characterized in that the mechanism is configured.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the buckle driving device for a seat belt according to the fourth or fifth aspect, wherein the slider connected to the slider is wound and unwound as one of the driving mechanisms. Is provided with a slider driving mechanism for moving the slider along the rail.

The invention of claim 7 is a buckle drive device for a seat belt according to any one of claims 5 to 6, wherein:
A knuckle is lockably connected to the slider, and a base end of a support bar having the buckle at its tip is turnable in the vehicle width direction via a turning shaft serving as the vehicle width direction moving mechanism to the knuckle. It is characterized by being connected.

The invention of claim 8 is the buckle drive device for a seat belt according to claim 7, wherein a motor for rotating the rotating shaft is one of the drive mechanisms, either directly or via a wire. It is characterized in that it is indirectly connected to the rotating shaft.

The invention of claim 9 is the buckle drive device for a seat belt according to claim 7, wherein a transmission mechanism for converting the movement of the slider into the rotational movement of the rotary shaft is provided. According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the buckle drive device for a seat belt according to the fifth aspect, the rail is inclined upward toward the front and at the same time, is twisted toward the center of the seat cushion in the vehicle width direction. The rail and the slider form the vertical movement mechanism and the vehicle width direction movement mechanism.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the buckle drive device for a seat belt according to the fourth aspect, the vertical movement mechanism is a guide rail extending in the vertical direction integrated with a slider of the longitudinal movement mechanism. And an up-down slider supported by the guide rail and movable in the up-down direction along the guide rail. The up-down slider is provided with the up-and-down slider via a rotating shaft as the vehicle width direction moving mechanism. The base end of the support bar that has a buckle at the tip,
It is characterized in that it is connected so as to be rotatable in the vehicle width direction.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the seat belt buckle driving device according to any one of the fourth to eleventh aspects, wherein the slider is provided in addition to the front-rear direction moving mechanism including the rail and the slider. A second front-rear moving mechanism including a rotating shaft that supports the buckle so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction, and a drive mechanism for the second front-rear moving mechanism is one of the drive mechanisms. It is characterized by being provided.

[0024]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the buckle is positioned before the seat belt is worn, at a substantially intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the seat cushion and at an initial position near the center of the seat cushion in the vehicle width direction. The tongue can be brought to the position of the buckle by rotating the shoulder and waist without rotating the elbow, and the tongue can be easily inserted and engaged with the buckle with one hand.

Further, once the seat belt is worn, the buckle automatically moves in the vehicle width direction, the up-down direction, and the front-back direction to provide an optimal position for tensioning the seat belt (a lateral position near the occupant's hip bone). ). At this time, since the buckle moves in the vehicle width direction and fits in the optimum position, the lap belt can be given an appropriate slack, and the occupant can be restrained better while reducing the feeling of pressure.

When the tongue is removed, the buckle moves in the front-rear direction, the up-down direction, and the vehicle width direction, and is easy to see again and positioned at the initial position where the tongue can be mounted with one hand.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the optimum position for wearing the seat belt is calculated based on the load distribution with respect to the seat cushion, the seat reclining angle, and the posture of the occupant obtained from at least one of the vehicle speeds, and the position thereof is calculated. The buckle is moved and held.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the buckle is supported by the longitudinal movement mechanism, the vertical movement mechanism, and the vehicle width direction movement mechanism so as to be movable in three directions. Therefore, the buckle can be three-dimensionally moved along a free path by appropriately combining movements in each direction.

According to the invention of claim 4, the buckle can be moved in the front-rear direction by moving the slider along the rail.

In the invention of claim 5, the buckle can be moved upward by moving the slider forward along the rail, and the buckle can be moved downward by moving the slider backward along the rail. it can.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the slider can be moved in the front-rear direction by winding and unwinding the wire by the slider drive mechanism.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the knuckle locks on the slider when an urgent tension acts on the seat belt. Further, by rotating the rotating shaft, the buckle can be moved in the vehicle width direction.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, when the motor is rotated, the rotating shaft is rotated and the buckle is moved in the vehicle width direction.

According to the ninth aspect of the invention, when the slider is moved along the rail, the operation is transmitted to the rotating shaft by the transmission mechanism, the rotating shaft rotates, and the buckle moves in the vehicle width direction. That is, the movement of the slider causes the buckle to move simultaneously in the front-rear direction and the vehicle width direction.

According to the tenth aspect of the invention, when the slider is moved in the front-rear direction along the rail, the buckle moves not only in the front-rear direction but also in the up-down direction and the vehicle width direction due to the inclination and twist of the rail.

In the eleventh aspect of the invention, the buckle moves in the front-rear direction by moving the slider along the rail. Further, the buckle moves in the vertical direction by moving the vertical slider along the guide rail. Also,
The buckle moves in the vehicle width direction by rotating the rotating shaft.

According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, the buckle can be positioned at a more delicate position by operating the second front-rear moving mechanism.

[0038]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the buckle drive device 501 of this embodiment is arranged on the left side of the seat cushion 12A of the right driver's seat.

The buckle driving device 501 includes a buckle 1 for inserting and engaging a tongue of a seat belt,
A buckle support mechanism (described later) for movably supporting the buckle 1 in three directions including the vehicle front-rear direction, the vertical direction, and the vehicle width direction;
Drive mechanism for moving the buckle 1 in the three directions (described later)
And a position control device (control means) 17 (see FIG. 2) for controlling the position of the buckle 1.

The position control device 17 controls the drive mechanism to set the buckle 1 before the seat belt is worn, at an approximately initial position in the front-rear direction of the seat cushion 12A and near the center of the seat cushion 12A in the vehicle width direction. Position P1
Has a function of moving the buckle 1 to the optimum position P2 when the seat belt is worn after the seat belt is worn.

Here, the initial position P1 is, specifically,
The positions are shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C. That is, the position in the vehicle front-rear direction is the middle position of the seat cushion 12A in the front-rear direction dimension L1. The position in the vehicle width direction is from the left end of the seat cushion 12A to the seat cushion 12A.
It is a position within a range of 1/4 to 1/3 of the width L2 of A. The vertical position (height) is the steering wheel 150.
It is a position corresponding to the lower end of.

2 and 3, the buckle driving device 501 is shown.
Shows the details of. In all figures, the arrow X direction indicates the vehicle width direction, the arrow Y direction indicates the front-rear direction, and the arrow Z direction.
The direction indicates the vertical direction.

Buckle 1 of this buckle drive device 501
Is a tongue 109 of the seat belt 105 (see FIG. 15)
It has an engagement opening (illustration) for inserting / engaging the tongue, a manual operation button (not shown) for releasing the engagement of the tongue, and a sensor 18 for detecting attachment / detachment of the tongue.

The buckle 1 is provided at the tip of the support bar 1A.
It is fixed in a posture in which the engagement port is directed toward the tip side. The base end portion of the support bar 1A is rotatably connected to the knuckle 2 in the vehicle width direction (here, the arrow C direction in FIG. 3) via a left / right rotation shaft 3 as a vehicle width direction moving mechanism. There is.

The knuckle 2 is rotatable in the front-rear direction by a slider 8 supported by a rail 13 via a front-rear rotating shaft (corresponding to a second front-rear moving mechanism) 7 (here, FIG. 2). It can be rotated in the direction of the arrow B).

The slider 8 is composed of a frame having a U-shaped cross section with an open upper end, fitted on the outer periphery of the rail 13, and supported movably along the rail 13 in the direction of arrow a.
The rail 13 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction on the side of the seat cushion 12A (see FIG. 1), and linearly inclines upward toward the front.

In the buckle driving device 501 of the present embodiment, the rail 13 and the slider 8 constitute a front-rear direction moving mechanism and a vertical direction moving mechanism. Both these mechanisms and the left-right direction as the vehicle width direction moving mechanism described above. The rotating shaft 3 constitutes a buckle support mechanism that supports the buckle 1 so as to be movable in three directions of up-down direction, front-rear direction, and vehicle width direction.

The rail 13 has a U-shaped cross section having a bottom plate 13a and two side plates 13b, 13b, and has a stopper 13P at the front end thereof for defining the movement limit of the slider 8. The lower end of the knuckle 2 is accommodated between the both side plates 13b, 13b of the rail 13, and when a force in the pulling direction acts on the buckle 1 and the knuckle 2 pivots, the lower end of the knuckle 2, for example, is the rail 13. It is adapted to bite into and lock the bottom plate 13a.

The buckle drive device 501 includes
A first wire 14 for moving the slider 8 back and forth
A second wire 9 for rotating the front-rear rotating shaft 7 and a third wire 4 for rotating the left-right rotating shaft 3.

These first, second and third wires 14,
9 and 4, the tip ends of which are respectively connected to the slider 8, the front-rear rotating shaft 7, and the left-right rotating shaft 3 (the connection to the rotating shafts 7 and 3 is a connection in a form in which it can be rotated). The proximal ends are pulleys 15, 10a, 10b,
It is guided to the rear through 5a and 5b and connected to the wire winding motors 16, 11, and 6. Then, by driving the wire winding motors 16, 11, and 6, the first,
The second and third wires 14, 9 and 4 are wound and unwound to move the slider 8 in the front-rear direction, rotate the knuckle 2 in the front-rear direction, and rotate the support bar 1A in the vehicle width direction. You can move.

In this embodiment, these wire winding motors 16, 11, 6 and the first, second and third wires 14,
A drive mechanism for the buckle is constituted by the pulleys 9, 4 and the pulleys 15, 10a, 10b, 5a, 5b.

Three wire winding motors 16, 11, 6
Are controlled by a drive signal from the position control device 17. The position control device 17 includes a reclining angle detection sensor 2 arranged on the seat back 12B (see FIG. 1).
0, signals from the load distribution sensor 21 arranged on the seat cushion 12A, and the speed sensor 22 for detecting the vehicle speed are input, and the position control device 17 calculates the posture and the like of the occupant from these signals, and based on these signals. The optimum position P2 of the buckle 1 when the seat belt is worn is calculated and a drive signal is output to each of the wire winding motors 16, 11, and 6.

Next, the operation of the buckle drive device 501 will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. FIG. 5 shows the contents when the seat belt is worn, and FIG.
Shows the contents after the seat belt is worn.

In this buckle drive device 501, the position of the buckle 1 is initially set to the initial position P1 (before wearing the seat belt). As shown in FIG. 4, the initial position P1 is a position substantially in the front-rear direction of the seat cushion 12A and near the center of the seat cushion 12A in the vehicle width direction. Instead, the tongue 109 can be brought to the position of the buckle 1 only by rotating the shoulder and waist, and the tongue 109 can be easily inserted and engaged with the buckle 1 with one hand.

When the ignition key is turned on in this state (step S201 in the flow of FIG. 5) and the vehicle is stopped (step S202 is YES), it is determined whether the tongue is engaged with the buckle 1 or not. Sensor 18
Is detected and the signal is sent to the position control device 17.

When the seat belt is worn (step S
If 203 is YES), at the same time, signals from the load distribution sensor 20 and the reclining angle detection sensor 20 provided on the seat 12 are also sent to the position control device 17, where the posture of the occupant is calculated, and accordingly, the posture is calculated. , The optimum position of the buckle 1 (position where the lap belt is applied to the hip bone) P2 is calculated (step S204).

If the seat belt is not worn, the process for wearing the seat belt (step S205) is performed, and then the process proceeds to step S204. Then, in step S206, the wire winding motors 16, 11, 6
To drive the wire winding motors 16, 11 and 6 to move the buckle 1 respectively.

Each wire winding motor 16, 11,
6 wires 1 simultaneously or in a suitable order and at a suitable speed
When the winding of Nos. 4, 9 and 4 is started, the left and right rotating shaft 3
Is rotated to move the buckle 1 in the vehicle width direction, the front-rear rotation shaft 7 is rotated to move the buckle 1 in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the slider 8 moves on the rail 13 to move the buckle 1 up and down. And move back and forth. By these operations, the buckle 1 is set at the optimum position P2 when the seat belt is worn.

At this time, the buckle 1 is in the vehicle width direction (X direction).
Since the lap belt (refer to 105B in FIG. 15) can be given an appropriate slack because the lap belt moves to the optimum position P2, the occupant can be restrained better while reducing the feeling of pressure.

On the other hand, the vehicle is stopped in such a seat belt wearing state (step S21 of the flow of FIG. 6).
1), turn off the ignition key (step S21
If YES, the seat belt is removed (step S21).
3 is YES), the buckle 1 moves to the initial position P1 (step S214). When the seat belt is not removed (NO in step S213), the seat belt is removed (step S215), and the process proceeds to step S214.

When the buckle 1 is returned to the initial position P1,
From the position control device 17, the wire winding motors 16, 11,
Send a drive signal to 6. Then, the wire winding motor 1
6, 11, 6 by the first, second and third wires 14,
9 and 4 are delivered simultaneously or at an appropriate order and speed,
In response to this, the left / right rotating shaft 3, the front / rear rotating shaft 7, and the slider 8 operate in the opposite direction to the above, and the buckle 1
Moves in the front-rear direction (Y direction), the up-down direction (Z direction), and the vehicle width direction (X direction), and is again positioned at the initial position P1 where the occupant can easily see and can wear the tongue 109 with one hand, and the next seat belt. Prepare for installation.

In this case, the initial position P1 of the buckle 1 is
Since the position is also easy for the occupant to see, it is possible to expect an effect of promoting wearing of the seat belt.

Further, in this embodiment, since the buckle 1 can be independently moved in the front-rear direction, the vertical direction and the vehicle width direction, the buckle 1 can be freely moved by appropriately combining the operations in the respective directions. There is also an effect that it can be moved three-dimensionally (for example, the shortest path that does not interfere with the occupant).

In the actual operation, when the first wire 14 is driven to move the slider 8, the second wire 9 and the third wire 4 are synchronized so as to compensate for the movement. Need to drive. Further, when the second wire 9 is driven, it is necessary to drive the third wire 4 synchronously so as to similarly compensate the movement of the knuckle 2.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The buckle drive device 502 of this embodiment is characterized in that it drives the front-rear rotating shaft 7 and the left-right rotating shaft 3.
Is driven by the motors 23 and 24 directly connected to the shafts 3 and 7 without using the second and third wires 9 and 4 and the wire winding motors 11 and 6 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Is in the point. The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment.

In this buckle driving device 502, when the buckle 1 is moved, the slider 8 is driven by driving the wire winding motor 16 as in the first embodiment. For the shaft 7, the motors 23 and 24 are directly driven. The other points are exactly the same as the first embodiment.

According to the buckle drive device 502, the wire drive system (here, the second and third wires 9, 4 and the wire drive motors 11, 6) can be reduced, so that there is an advantage that the structure becomes compact. .

Further, since the drive system using the second and third wires 9 and 4 is eliminated, there is no need to perform the wire compensation control when the slider 8 is moved or the knuckle 2 is rotated, and the control operation is simplified. Become.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

The characteristic feature of the buckle drive device 503 of this embodiment is that the left and right rotating shaft 3 is driven by the third wire 4 and the wire winding motor 6 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).
It is performed by a transmission shaft (transmission mechanism) 25 arranged between the rail 13 and the left / right rotation shaft 3.

The transmission shaft 25 is rotatably supported by the knuckle 2 and the slider 8. The transmission shaft 25 has a universal joint 25a which absorbs relative rotation of the knuckle 2 and the slider 8 in the middle of its length, and has an upper end. A gear 25b that meshes with the gear 3a of the left / right rotation shaft 3, and a rail 13 at the lower end.
It has a gear 25c that meshes with the rack 26 formed on the.

As a result, when the slider 8 moves along the rail 13, power is transmitted in the order of rack 26 → gear 25c → transmission shaft 25 → gear 25b → gear 3a → horizontal rotation shaft 3 to the left / right rotation shaft. 3 is interlockingly rotated. The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment.

In the buckle drive device 503, when the slider 8 is moved in the front-rear direction, the left and right rotating shaft 3 is rotated in conjunction with the action of the transmission shaft 25. Therefore, by driving the wire winding motor 16, the buckle 1 can be simultaneously moved not only in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction but also in the vehicle width direction. The other points are exactly the same as the first embodiment.

According to this buckle drive device 503, the drive source for the left and right rotating shaft 3 can be omitted, so that the mechanism is simplified and the operation control is simplified as compared with the second embodiment.
Weight reduction can be achieved.

The rack 26 provided on the rail 13 is
It may be arranged at any position of the rail 13 and the rack 26
Instead of, the holes that mesh with the gears may be provided in a row.

The gears may be arranged in any combination, and a transmission mechanism other than the gears may be used.

Further, the drive of the front-rear turning shaft 7 is performed by the second
As in the embodiment, the motor may be directly connected.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

The buckle drive device 504 of this embodiment is characterized in that the drive mechanism for the left / right rotating shaft 3 is omitted, and the rail 2 is provided.
The feature is that the shape of 7 has been devised.

That is, the rail 27 has a three-dimensional shape as it inclines upward toward the front and is twisted toward the center of the seat cushion 12A in the vehicle width direction. The other structure is the same as that of the device of the third embodiment except that the transmission shaft 25 and the rack 26 are removed.

In this buckle drive device 504, when the slider 8 is moved in the front-rear direction along the rail 27, the buckle 1 moves not only in the front-rear direction but also in the up-down direction and the vehicle width direction due to the inclination and twist of the rail 27. . Therefore, the rail 27 and the slider 8 constitute a longitudinal movement mechanism, a vertical movement mechanism, and a vehicle width direction movement mechanism. The other points are exactly the same as in the first embodiment.

According to the buckle driving device 504, the buckle 1 can be moved not only in the front / rear direction but also in the up / down direction and the vehicle width direction only by driving the wire winding motor 16 to move the slider 8 in the front / rear direction. Because it is possible, it is not necessary to separately provide a vertical movement mechanism and a vehicle width direction movement mechanism,
It is possible to simplify the mechanism, simplify the operation control, and reduce the weight.

In the actual operation, the wire winding motor 11 is driven to move the forward / backward rotating shaft 7 to move the buckle 1 in the forward / backward direction regardless of the operation of the slider 8. The left / right pivot shaft 3 is used for manually adjusting the angle of the buckle 1 in the vehicle width direction.

[Fifth Embodiment] Next, a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the buckle drive device 505 of this embodiment,
First, instead of using the slanted rail 13 as in the above-described embodiment, a horizontal rail 28 is used, which is installed on the floor surface of the vehicle, and the slider 8 is mounted on the rail 28 in the direction of arrow a in the figure. It is mounted so that it can move freely.

FIG. 14 shows the installation state of the buckle driving device 505.

Further, a guide rail 34 is erected integrally with the slider 8, and a vertical slider 30 is mounted on the guide rail 34 so as to be vertically movable as shown by an arrow D in FIG. The base end portion of the support bar 1A of the buckle 1 is connected to the vertical slider 30 via a horizontal rotary shaft 32 that is rotated by a motor 29. In this case, a drive mechanism that can be locked by, for example, a gear and a rack is provided between the vertical slider 30 and the guide rail 34.

Further, the slider 8 is adapted to be moved by the wire 14 and the wire winding motor 16 as in the first embodiment, and the vertical slider 30 is arranged to move the fourth wire 31 (here Then, although there are only two wires, in order to distinguish them from the first, second, and third wires in the above-mentioned embodiment, they are moved by a wire winding motor 36 and a wire 31. There is. In this case, the vertical slider 30 may be moved by rotating the gear meshing with the rack by the fourth wire 31, or the vertical wire 31 may be directly moved by the fourth wire 31. . Since other configurations are not much different from those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this buckle driving device 505, the buckle 1 moves only forward and backward by driving the slider 8. Further, the buckle 1 moves only up and down by driving the up and down slider 30. Further, the buckle 1 is rotated only in the vehicle width direction by driving the left / right rotation shaft 32 by the motor 29. Then, the position control of the buckle 1 is performed by combining these operations.

Since the upper and lower sliders 30 are moved by the fourth wire 31, it is necessary to perform the above-mentioned compensation control when the slider 8 moves.

According to the buckle driving device 505, the front-back, up-down, and vehicle-width directions can be independently performed. Therefore, the buckle 1 can be moved along a free path (the shortest path that does not disturb the occupant). You can

Further, since the rail 28 can be installed horizontally on the floor of the vehicle body, there is an advantage that the rail 28 can be installed without changing the shape of the seat cushion 12A (see FIG. 1) and the like.

[0096]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, before the seat belt is worn, the buckle is moved not only in the longitudinal direction but also in the vertical direction and the vehicle width direction to position the buckle at the initial position. Therefore, the occupant can easily wear the seat belt with one hand in a state in which it is easy to see. Further, after the wearing, the buckle automatically moves in the front-rear direction, the vehicle width direction, and the up-down direction and is set at the optimal position for tensioning the seat belt, so that the occupant can be reliably restrained.

Further, since the initial position of the buckle is also a position which is easy for the occupant to see, it is possible to expect an effect of promoting wearing of the seat belt.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the occupant can be restrained in an optimum state according to the posture of the occupant.

According to the invention of claim 3, since the buckle can be moved along a free path, the shortest path that does not disturb the occupant can be arbitrarily set.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the rail and slider are used to move in the front-back direction, the operation is stable and the buckle can be supported with high strength.

According to the invention of claim 5, the buckle can be moved not only in the front-rear direction but also in the up-down direction by moving the slider in the front-rear direction. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a vertical movement mechanism, and the structure is simple.

According to the invention of claim 6, since the slider is moved by winding and unwinding the wire, the mechanism can be simple and strong.

According to the invention of claim 7, the buckle can be moved in the vehicle width direction by rotating the rotating shaft. Therefore, the buckle can be supported movably in the vehicle width direction with a simple and compact structure.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the rotating shaft for moving the buckle in the vehicle width direction is driven by the motor, the buckle can be moved in the vehicle width direction independently of other operations.

According to the ninth aspect of the invention, when the slider is moved in the front-rear direction, the buckle moves in the vehicle width direction in conjunction with each other. Therefore, the drive source of the rotating shaft can be omitted, the mechanism can be simplified, the operation control can be simplified, and the weight can be reduced.

According to the tenth aspect of the invention, the buckle can be moved not only in the front-rear direction but also in the up-down direction and the vehicle width direction simply by moving the slider in the front-rear direction. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a vertical movement mechanism and a vehicle width direction movement mechanism, and simplification of the mechanism and simplification of operation control as well as weight reduction can be achieved.

According to the eleventh aspect of the invention,
The movement in the vehicle width direction can be performed independently, and the buckle can be moved along a free path. Further, since the rail can be formed horizontally, it can be installed on the floor of the vehicle body, and the above effect can be obtained without changing the shape of the seat cushion or the like.

According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, in addition to the front-rear movement mechanism including the rail and the slider, the second front-rear movement mechanism including the rotation shaft is provided, so that the buckle is rotated in the front-rear direction. However, it can be moved in a more delicate path. Further, both the front-rear direction moving mechanism can be selectively used according to the purpose.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a buckle driving device of a first embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a side view, and (c) is a front view.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the buckle drive device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the buckle drive device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view used for explaining the operation of the buckle drive device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control operation when the seat belt is worn by the buckle driving device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control operation at the time of removing the seat belt of the buckle drive device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a buckle driving device of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a buckle driving device of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a buckle driving device of the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a buckle drive device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a buckle driving device of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a buckle drive device of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a buckle driving device of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat equipped with the buckle drive device of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional general seat belt device.

FIG. 16 is an operation explanatory view of a conventional seat belt device.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional buckle drive device.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat including the buckle drive device of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 501 Buckle drive device 1 Buckle 2 Knuckle 3 Left and right rotating shaft 4 First wire 9 Second wire 14 Third wire 5a, 5b, 15, 10a, 10b Pulley 6, 11, 16 Wire winding motor 7 Forward and backward rotation Moving shaft 8 Slider 12 Vehicle seat 12A Seat cushion 13 Rail 17 Position control device (control means) 20 Reclining angle detection sensor 21 Load distribution sensor 22 Speed sensor 105 Seatbelt 109 Tongue P1 Initial position P2 Optimal position when seatbelt is mounted X car Width direction Y Front-back direction Z Vertical direction 502 Buckle drive device 23 Motor 24 Motor 503 Buckle drive device 25 Transmission shaft (transmission mechanism) 26 Rack 504 Buckle drive device 27 Rail 505 Buckle drive device 28 Rail 29 Motor 3 Vertical slider 31 fourth wire 33 pulley 32 lateral pivot shaft 34 the guide rails 36 motor

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A buckle drive device for a seat belt, which is provided on a side of a seat cushion of a vehicle seat and has a buckle for engaging and disengaging a tongue of a three-point seat belt. Direction, vehicle width direction 3
A buckle support mechanism that movably supports the buckle, a drive mechanism that moves the buckle in the three directions, and a drive mechanism that controls the drive mechanism so that the buckle is attached to the seat cushion before and after the seat belt is worn. A seat belt, which is positioned substantially at an intermediate portion and is located at an initial position near the center of the seat cushion in the vehicle width direction, and which has a control means for moving the buckle to an optimum position when the seat belt is worn after the seat belt is worn. Buckle drive device. 2. The seatbelt buckle driving device according to claim 1, wherein the control means sets an optimum position when the seatbelt is worn, a load distribution with respect to the seat cushion, a seat reclining angle, and a vehicle speed. A buckle drive device for a seat belt, characterized in that it includes an optimum position calculation means for calculating it based on the posture of the occupant obtained from at least one. 3. The buckle driving device for a seat belt according to claim 1, wherein the buckle support mechanism includes a front-rear direction moving mechanism that supports the buckle so as to be movable in a vehicle front-rear direction, and the buckle is vertically moved. A seatbelt buckle drive device comprising: a vertical movement mechanism that supports the buckle so that the buckle can move in any direction; and a vehicle width direction movement mechanism that supports the buckle that can move in the vehicle width direction. 4. The seat belt buckle drive device according to claim 3, wherein the front-rear direction moving mechanism includes a rail extending laterally in the front-rear direction, which is arranged laterally of the seat cushion, and is supported by the rail. A buckle driving device for a seat belt, comprising a slider movable along a rail, and the buckle being supported by the slider. 5. The buckle drive device for a seat belt according to claim 4, wherein the rail is formed so as to incline upward toward the front, and the rail and the slider constitute the vertical movement mechanism. A seat belt buckle drive device characterized in that 6. The buckle driving device for a seat belt according to claim 4, wherein the slider is driven along the rail by winding and unwinding a wire connected to the slider as one of the driving mechanisms. A buckle drive device for a seat belt, characterized in that a slider drive mechanism for moving the seat belt is provided. 7. The seatbelt buckle drive device according to claim 5, wherein a knuckle is lockably connected to the slider or the rail, and the knuckle is moved in the vehicle width direction. A seatbelt buckle drive device, wherein a base end of a support bar having the buckle at the tip is connected to a seat belt so as to be rotatable in a vehicle width direction via a rotating shaft as a mechanism. 8. The seat belt buckle drive device according to claim 7, wherein a motor that rotates the rotating shaft is one of the drive mechanisms, either directly or indirectly through a wire. A buckle drive device for a seat belt, wherein the buckle drive device is connected to a moving shaft. 9. The buckle driving device for a seat belt according to claim 7, further comprising a transmission mechanism that converts the movement of the slider into the rotational movement of the rotating shaft. Drive. 10. The seat belt buckle drive device according to claim 5, wherein the rail inclines upward toward the front, and at the same time, is twisted in the vehicle width direction center direction of the seat cushion, the rail and the slider. The seat belt buckle driving device, wherein the vertical movement mechanism and the vehicle width direction movement mechanism are configured by the above. 11. The buckle driving device for a seat belt according to claim 4, wherein the vertical movement mechanism is a guide rail that extends in the vertical direction and is integrated with a slider of the longitudinal movement mechanism. And a vertical slider that is movable in the vertical direction along the guide rail and that has the buckle at the distal end of the vertical slider via a rotary shaft that serves as the vehicle width direction moving mechanism. A buckle drive device for a seat belt, wherein a base end of a support bar is connected so as to be rotatable in a vehicle width direction. 12. The buckle drive device for a seat belt according to claim 4, wherein the buckle is attached to the slider in addition to the front-rear direction moving mechanism including the rail and the slider. A second front-rear direction moving mechanism including a rotating shaft that supports the second front-rear direction moving mechanism, and a drive mechanism for the second front-rear direction moving mechanism is provided as one of the drive mechanisms. A buckle drive device for seat belts.