JPH11206A - Buckle device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a buckle device capable of reducing resistance applied at the time of locking a tongue to a buckle main body by an energizing member and making dissociation force at the time of detaching the tongue from the buckle main body small. SOLUTION: This device is provided with the tongue and the buckle main body for engaging and disengaging the tongue. Then, the buckle main body is provided with a base 11, a latch plate 14 supported by the base 11 capable of locking the tongue, a guide pin 17 for controlling the movement of the latch plate 14 and a coil spring 15 for energizing the latch plate 14 in a tongue locking direction by energizing the guide pin 17 to a locking position when the latch plate 14 locks the tongue and energizing the latch plate 14 to a tongue unlocking direction by energizing the guide pin 17 to an unlocking position when the latch plate 14 unlocks the tongue and returns to a tongue unlocking position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a buckle device, and more particularly to a buckle device for a seat belt mounted on a seat of a vehicle such as an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a seat belt of a vehicle such as an automobile is provided with a seat belt in order to secure occupants. The buckle device for a seat belt usually includes a tongue (tongue piece) provided at an end of the belt, and a buckle main body for engaging and disengaging the tongue. The buckle body includes a latch plate having a latch portion for locking the tongue, a buckle base on which the latch plate is movably supported, and a spring for urging the latch plate in the locking direction. In this buckle device, when the tongue is inserted into the buckle body, one end of the latch plate is locked to the latch plate by the bias of the spring.

In this buckle device, if the urging force of the spring is weak, there is a possibility that the tongue may come off the buckle body even if the release button of the buckle device is not operated. For this reason, for example, when an abnormal impact such as a vehicle collision is received, there is a possibility that the latch plate is displaced by inertia and the tongue comes off from the buckle body, that is, the inertia is lost.

[0004] A buckle device that prevents this phenomenon from occurring is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-43333. In the buckle device, when the tongue (tongue) is locked to the buckle main body, a control member for preventing the tongue from being pulled out is inserted between the latch plate and the buckle base (frame), so that the latch plate and the buckle base are connected to each other. It employs a so-called two-stage lock system which prevents unexpected release of the lock with the buckle base.

When the tongue is withdrawn from the buckle body, the release button (push member) is pushed in the tongue insertion direction to move the control member from the lock position of the buckle base to the release position, and the latch plate and the buckle. The engagement with the base is released, thereby releasing the tongue from the buckle body.

[0006]

However, in the buckle device described in the above publication, the first spring for urging the latch plate in the tongue lock direction and the second spring for urging the control member in the tongue insertion direction. In addition, the first spring does not bias the latch plate in the tongue non-locking direction, so that the first spring has no effect of reducing the dissociation force when the tongue is removed from the buckle main body. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and has a simple structure, reduces the resistance applied when locking the tongue to the buckle body, and reduces the resistance of the tongue. It is an object of the present invention to provide a buckle device capable of reducing a dissociation force when detaching the buckle from a main body.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a buckle device comprising a tongue and a buckle body to which the tongue is disengaged, wherein the buckle body includes a base, A latch plate movably supported between the tongue lock position and the tongue unlock position on the base, a locking position for holding the latch plate at the tongue lock position, and a latch plate for the tongue unlock position. A guide member movably provided between a non-locking position that allows the latch plate and the latch plate to lock the tongue;
By urging the guide member in the locking position direction, the latch plate is urged in the tongue lock direction, and when the latch plate unlocks the tongue and returns to the tongue unlocked position, the guide is released. And a biasing member for biasing the latch plate in the tongue unlocking direction by biasing the member to the non-locking position.

With this structure, the urging member biases the guide member toward the locking position and biases the latch plate toward the tongue lock direction, and biases the guide member toward the non-locking position. And the latch plate is biased in the tongue unlocking direction. For this reason, the number of parts can be reduced, without complicating the assembly work,
The resistance applied when the tongue is locked to the buckle body can be reduced, and the dissociation force when the tongue is unlocked can be reduced.

[0010]

Next, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a buckle body constituting a buckle device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the buckle body shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state where the tongue is locked to the buckle main body shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the buckle device shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, a part of the release button is cut away for easy understanding.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the buckle device 1 according to the first embodiment includes a tongue 5 provided at an end of a belt.
And a buckle body 10 for engaging and disengaging the tongue 5.

As the tongue 5, a normal tongue for a seat belt can be used. A locking hole 6 is provided at one end, and a tongue 5 is provided at the other end.
Although not particularly shown, a belt connection hole for connecting the belt is formed.

The buckle body 10 includes a buckle base 11 functioning as a frame, a slider 12 that moves in accordance with the insertion and removal of the tongue, a coil spring 13 that moves the slider 12, and a latch plate 14 that locks the tongue 5.
And a coil spring 15 for swinging the latch plate 14
A spring shaft 16 for supporting the coil spring 15, a guide pin 17 supported on the tip of the spring shaft 16 to control the movement of the latch plate 14, a release button 18 for unlocking the tongue 5, and a release button 18. A coil spring 19 for urging the tongue in and out of the tongue, a spring holder 20 with which the coil spring 19 abuts, and a rotatable weight 21 for pressing the latch plate 14 in the locking direction in response to the movement of the release button 18. A spring 22 for urging the weight 21 in the rotation direction. In addition,
A belt (not shown) is connected to the buckle body 10, similarly to the tongue 5.

The buckle base 11 comprises a bottom plate 11A and a pair of opposed side walls 11B and 1
1C. The tongue withdrawal direction of the bottom plate 11A (the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIGS. 2 to 4;
This direction is referred to as the “arrow X direction”.
A guide piece 26 for guiding the tongue 5 when inserting and removing the tongue 5 is formed. Further, the bottom plate 11A is provided with an opening 25 for allowing the slider 12 to slide in the insertion / removal direction of the tongue 5. At the approximate center of the end of the opening 25 in the arrow Y direction, the end of the coil spring 13 in the arrow Y direction (the direction indicated by the arrow Y in FIGS. 2 to 4; this direction is hereinafter referred to as the “arrow Y direction”) A locking projection 45 for locking the portion is formed.

At the ends of the side walls 11B and 11C in the direction of arrow X, L-shaped notches 29B and 29C for fixing the spring holder 20, and substantially U-shaped notches 30B and 30C, and annular projections 32B and 32C proximate to the bottom plate 11A and extending inward.
Are formed. These annular projections 32B and 32C
It constitutes a part of the tongue entrance 53 for inserting the tongue 5.

At substantially the center of the side walls 11B and 11C, substantially L-shaped windows 33B and 33C in which both ends of the guide pin 17 are movably supported are opened. The horizontal holes 34B and 34C opened in the arrow X direction, and the horizontal holes 34B and 34C are provided on the tongue insertion direction side of the windows 33B and 33C.
Support holes 35B and 3 provided below and connected to the entrance of
5C is formed. The horizontal holes 34B and 3B
4C is for guiding the release button 18 when it moves, which will be described in detail later. As will be described in detail later, support portions 46B and 46C, which are pivots (rotations) of the latch plate 14, are provided in the support holes 35B and 35C.
C is rotatably supported.

In the upper part of the side walls 11B and 11C, near the notches 29B and 29C, U-shaped grooves 36B and 36C for rotatably supporting a rotation shaft 60 as a rotation fulcrum of the weight 21 are provided in the vertical direction. It is open to. The side wall 1 is located below the U-shaped grooves 36B and 36C.
On the inner side of 1B and 11C, a convex portion 23 for suppressing the tongue 5 from moving upward when the tongue 5 is inserted is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the slider 12 has a substantially U-shaped cross section.
7 and a lower portion 3 having an L-shaped section provided on the lower surface of the upper plate 37.
8 and the coil spring 1
3 is held at one end. Note that the other end of the coil spring 13 is fixed to the locking portion 45 on the bottom surface 11A. The lower portion 38 of the slider 12 is fitted in the opening 25 of the buckle base 11, and is slidably supported. When the tongue 5 is inserted into the buckle body 10, the tongue 5 is pushed by the tip of the tongue 5 and is slid in the direction of the arrow Y against the urging force of the coil spring 13,
The leg portion 62 of the latch plate 14 is pressed to rotate the latch plate 14 counterclockwise. On the other hand, when the tongue 5 is pulled out, the slider 12 is returned in the arrow X direction by the urging force of the coil spring 13.

The latch plate 14 has a substantially T-shaped opening 40 into which a part of the spring shaft 16 is inserted at a substantially central portion thereof. When the tongue 5 is inserted into the buckle body 10, a latch portion 41 that is inserted into the locking hole 6 of the tongue 5 and locks the tongue 5 is formed to extend downward.
Side walls 11 are provided on both sides of the end of the latch plate 14 in the arrow Y direction.
Support portions 46B and 46C rotatably supported by the support holes 35B and 35C of B and 11C protrude. That is, the latch plate 14 rotates about the support portions 46B and 46C as a fulcrum, and moves the tongue 5 to the locked position and the unlocked position. Further, on both sides of the end of the latch plate 14 in the direction of the arrow Y, there are provided leg portions 62 extending downward, and the sliders 12 are pressed by the leg portions 62 as described above. It is possible.

Further, at the center of the latch plate 14 in the direction of the arrow XY, there is formed an inclined portion 42 which descends in the direction of the arrow X. A contact portion 43 protruding substantially perpendicular to the rotation direction of the latch plate 14 and substantially in contact with the coil spring 15 is provided substantially at the center of the end of the latch plate 14 in the direction of the arrow Y.
Is provided. Thus, it is preferable that the contact portion 43 is provided above the fulcrum (center of rotation) of the rotation of the latch plate 14. An opening 44 into which the shaft tip of the spring shaft 16 is inserted so as to be able to advance and retreat is formed substantially at the center of the contact portion 43.

The spring shaft 16 is formed with a shaft 47 on the side of the arrow Y and a hook-like support 48 for supporting the guide pin 17 on the side of the arrow X with the substantially L-shaped main body 50 interposed therebetween. This spring shaft 16 is
Lower portion of the latch plate 1 through the opening 40 of the latch plate 14.
Guide pin 1 placed on the lower side of
Reference numeral 7 denotes an upper surface of the latch plate 14, which moves from a substantially upper portion of the latch portion 41 to a vicinity of the inclined portion 42 at a predetermined position.
The coil spring 15 is loosely fitted on the shaft 47,
Due to the presence of the shaft 47, the coil spring 1
5 is prevented from being bent or broken when it expands and contracts.

Further, the diameter of the shaft 47 in the direction of the arrow Y from the substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction is smaller than that in the direction of the arrow X. The smaller diameter portion corresponds to the opening 44 formed in the latch plate 14. Can be freely penetrated. Further, the portion having a large diameter corresponds to the opening 44.
Without passing through the contact portion 4 together with the coil spring 15.
3 can be contacted. On both sides of the main body 50, there are formed convex portions 51 that can abut on the lower surface of the latch plate 14. The convex portion 51 prevents the spring shaft 16 from coming out of the latch plate 14 upward.

The spring holder 20 has convex portions 27B and 27C on the upper portions on both sides thereof, and convex portions 28B and 2
8C is formed. Also, the spring holder 20
The protrusions 52B52C are formed slightly inward from both side ends and on the upper side in the arrow Y direction. and again,
At the lower part of the spring holder 20, a tongue door 53
And a tongue guide portion 31 for guiding the tongue 5 when the tongue 5 is inserted and withdrawn is formed to protrude in the direction of the arrow X. Further, a concave portion 61 for locking an end of the coil spring 19 in the arrow Y direction is formed at a substantially central portion of the spring holder 20.

The spring holder 20 is fixed to the buckle base 11 on the arrow X side. To fix both, the projections 27B and 27C are cutouts 29B and 29C.
The projections 28B and 28C have notches 30B and 30C
Is performed by engaging each of them. The tongue guide portion 31, the annular protrusions 32B and 32C, and the guide piece 26 constitute a tongue entrance 53. Also,
The projections 52B and 52C are configured to close the upper portions of the U-shaped grooves 36B and 36C from inside the buckle base 11.

The release button 18 includes an operation section 54 having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and arms 55B and 55C extending horizontally in the arrow Y direction on both sides of the operation section 54. At the ends of the arms 55B and 55C in the arrow Y direction, projections 56B and 56C protruding inward are provided. The projections 56B and 56C are provided on the side walls 11B and 11B.
C is slidably supported by the horizontal holes 34B and 34C of C, and guides the movement of the release button 18 in the directions of the arrows XY. Further, when the release button 18 is moved in the direction of the arrow Y, the release button 18 pushes back both ends of the guide pin 17 in the direction of the arrow Y.
C is provided.

A holding portion 57 for holding the coil spring 19 is formed on the inner side surface of the operation portion 54 at a substantially central portion thereof. Pressing portions 25 capable of pressing the weight 21 are provided on both upper sides of the holding portion 57. The other end of the coil spring 19 held by the holding portion 57 is
The spring holder 20 is locked in the recess 61. The release button 18 is always urged in the direction of the arrow X by the coil spring 19.

The weight 21 has a structure in which cam-shaped pieces 59B and 59C formed in a flange shape are provided on both end faces of a main body 58 having a cam shape in cross section from the both end faces to the outside. Main body 58 and cam-shaped pieces 59B and 59C
At the upper eccentric position, these rotating shafts 60 are provided to extend outside the cam-shaped pieces 59B and 59C.

On the upper portions of the cam-like pieces 59B and 59C, a contact portion 65 with which the pressing portion 25 of the release button 18 contacts.
B and 65C are formed. The weight 21 is provided with a spring 22 for urging the weight 21 counterclockwise with the rotation shaft 60 as a fulcrum.

When the release button 18 is not pressed, the weight 21 has a predetermined gap between the pressing portion 25 of the release button 18 and the contact portions 65B and 65C.
That is, play is formed.

The weight 21 has both ends of the rotating shaft 60 rotatably supported by U-shaped grooves 36B and 36C of the side walls 11B and 11C. At this time, as described above, the convex portions 52B and 52C of the spring holder 20 are
In order to close the upper portions of B and 36C from the inside of the buckle base 11, the rotating shaft 60 is provided with U-shaped grooves 36B and 36C.
There is no departure from.

When the tongue 5 is inserted (see FIG. 3), the weight 21 arranged in this manner is located above the latch plate 14, and the biasing force of the spring 22 causes the latch plate 14 to move.
Press in the lock direction. On the other hand, when the tongue 5 is removed, the tongue 5 is rotated clockwise by the latch portion 41 of the latch plate 14 (see FIG. 2), and the latch plate 14 is not pressed down in the locking direction.

Next, a specific operation of the buckle device 1 will be described.

In order to lock the tongue 5 to the buckle main body 10, first, the tongue 5 is inserted into the buckle main body 10 from the tongue entrance 53. At this time, the tip of the tongue 5 moves the slider 12 in the direction of the arrow Y, presses both leg portions 62, and makes the latch plate 14 with the support portions 46B and 46C as fulcrums.
Is rotated counterclockwise. The movement of the slider 12 causes the coil spring 13 to be compressed.

At the same time as this operation, the spring shaft 1
6 rotates counterclockwise, and urges the guide pin 17 toward the locking position for holding the latch plate 14 at the tongue lock position, thereby urging the latch plate 14 in the tang lock direction.
At this time, the spring shaft 16
The guide plate 17 moves forward in the locking direction of the latch plate 14 to move the guide pin 17 in the tongue locking direction. The movement of the guide pin 17 is performed by moving both ends of the guide pin 17 into substantially L-shaped windows 33B and 33.
It is performed by moving in C. Specifically, both ends of the guide pin 17 first move vertically along the L-shape of the windows 33B and 33C. Next, both ends of the guide pin 17 pass through the corners of the windows 33B and 33C, move horizontally, stop at the locking position, and press the upper surface of the latch plate 14 near the latch portion 41. At this time, the guide pin 17 is moved by the horizontal upper edges of the windows 33B and 33C.
The latch plate 14 is locked so as not to move upward.
Can be securely locked.

When the guide pin 17 moves, it comes into line contact with the edges of the windows 33B and 33C, so that the frictional force generated during the movement can be reduced.

Further, since the coil spring 15 for moving the guide pin 17 is supported by the spring shaft 16, the coil spring 15 does not bend or break when the guide pin 17 is moved. The guide pin 17 is always positioned perpendicular to the coil spring 15. Further, the guide pin 17 is supported by a support portion 48 at a substantially central portion thereof. For this reason, both sides of the guide pin 17 are always operated in the same manner. For example, it is possible to prevent an inappropriate operation that causes a pseudo-latch phenomenon, such as a case where only one side of the guide pin 17 moves forward and backward.

Further, even if a pseudo latch is to occur, the guide pin 17 is returned to a predetermined latch plate locking position due to the presence of the inclined portion 42, so that generation of the pseudo latch can be prevented.

Further, simultaneously with the above operation, the weight 21
Is rotated counterclockwise by the urging force of the spring 22, and presses the latch plate 14 in the locking direction.

By this operation, the buckle body 10
From the state shown in FIG. 2 to the state shown in FIG.
The latch portion 41 of the latch plate 14 is inserted into the locking hole 6 of, and both are locked. In this manner, the tongue 5 is locked to the buckle body 10 as shown in FIGS.

When the tongue 5 is locked to the buckle main body 10, particularly, as shown in FIG.
Is reliably held at the lock position by the guide pin 17 and the weight 21. In addition, weight 2
Since there is play between the first contact portions 65B and 65C and the pressing portion 25 of the release button 18, for example, when the seat belt is pulled into the so-called pretensioner due to an impact such as a vehicle collision or the like, the release is performed. Even if G is applied to the button 18 in the direction of the arrow Y and the release button 18 slightly moves in the direction of the arrow Y due to inertia, the weight 21 can be prevented from being pressed by the release button 18 if this G is equal to or less than the set value. . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tongue 5 from coming off the buckle main body 10.

Next, when removing the tongue 5 from the buckle body 10, the release button 18 is pushed in the direction of arrow Y, and the pressing portion 25 of the release button 18 is
Contact the contact portions 65B and 65C of the
Is rotated clockwise to release the latch plate 14 from being held down.

At the same time, the push-back portions 66B and 66C of the release button 18 push both ends of the guide pin 17 to move the guide pin 17 to the non-locking position (FIG. (Position shown in 2)
Return to At this time, the coil spring 15 is compressed and urged (pulled) the guide pin 17 to the non-locking position, whereby the tip of the shaft 47 is gradually extended from the opening 44, and the coil spring 15 is pressed. Contact part 43
In the clockwise direction, that is, in the tongue unlocking direction.
By the operation of the coil spring 15, the tongue 5 can be pulled out of the buckle main body 10 with a smaller dissociating force. Also at this time, both sides of the guide pin 17 are always operated in the same manner as described above.

When the tongue 5 is disengaged from the buckle main body 10, the slide 12 is returned in the direction of the arrow X by the urging force of the spring 13, and the buckle main body 10 returns to the state shown in FIG.

The buckle body 10 having this structure is provided with a guide pin 1 by a coil spring 15 which is an urging member.
7, the urging of the latch plate 14 in the tongue lock direction and the urging of the guide pin 17 in the non-lock position, and the urging of the latch plate 14 in the tongue unlocking direction. Biasing can be performed.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the second embodiment, the same members as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The difference between the buckle device according to the second embodiment and the buckle device according to the first embodiment is the shape of the coil spring provided on the spring shaft. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the vicinity of the spring shaft of the buckle body 10 of the buckle device 2 according to the second embodiment, in which the side wall 11B is omitted, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the coil spring, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG. 5. In addition,
FIG. 7 does not show anything other than a part of the latch plate, the spring shaft and the weight so that the structure and operation of the coil spring can be easily understood.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, in the coil spring 115 according to the second embodiment, the end of the ring 115A at the end in the arrow X direction shown in FIGS. The tip of the next adjacent ring 115B is extended, and both extensions extend in the direction of arrow Y and are connected to form a loop-shaped extension 116.

The spring 115 is inserted into the spring 115, and the end 115 C of the extension 116 in the arrow Y direction is fixed to the base of the contact portion 43. The extension portion 116 allows the coil spring 115
Because it can improve the balance when expanding and contracting,
It is possible to further prevent the coil spring 115 from being bent, broken, or offset. Therefore, the occurrence of the pseudo latch described above can be further prevented. In the first and second embodiments, the case where a coil-shaped spring is used as the biasing member has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and includes various shapes such as a clip shape, a plate shape, and a hairpin shape. Can be used.

[0050]

As described above, in the buckle device according to the present invention, the urging member biases the guide member in the locking position direction and the latch plate in the tongue lock direction. The urging of the guide member in the direction of the unlocking position and the urging of the latch plate in the tongue unlocking direction can be performed. For this reason, the number of parts can be reduced, the resistance required when locking the tongue to the buckle body is reduced, and the disengaging force when the tongue is unlocked is reduced, without complicating the assembly work. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a buckle main body constituting a buckle device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the buckle main body shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a state where the tongue is locked to the buckle body shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the buckle device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the vicinity of a spring shaft of a buckle device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the coil spring shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 Buckle device 5 Tongue 10 Buckle body 11 Buckle base 12 Slider 13, 15, 19 Coil spring 14 Latch plate 16 Spring shaft 17 Guide pin 18 Release button 20 Spring holder 21 Weight 22 Spring

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A buckle device comprising a tongue and a buckle body to which the tongue is disengaged, wherein the buckle body is provided between a base and a tang lock position and a tang unlock position. A latch plate movably supported by the latch plate, a latching position for holding the latch plate at a tongue lock position, and a non-locking position for allowing the latch plate to assume a tongue unlocked position. A guide member provided so as to be able to urge the latch plate in the tongue lock direction by urging the guide member in the locking position direction when the latch plate locks the tongue. When the latch plate unlocks the tongue and returns to the tongue unlocked position, the guide member is urged to the unlocked position to urge the latch plate in the tongue unlocked direction. Buckle device including a member.