U.S. patent application number 10/478481 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-21 for buckle device.
Invention is credited to Mori, Shinji, Muromachi, Tetsushi.
Application Number | 20040205944 10/478481 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19001486 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040205944 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Muromachi, Tetsushi ; et
al. |
October 21, 2004 |
Buckle device
Abstract
A buckle device which can ensure smooth unlocking over a long
period of time at low cost. A button slope 66 is a curved surface
opening toward a button 50 side with respect to an unlocking
direction. Accordingly, the increasing amount of force of the
button slopes 66 pressing abutted surfaces 86A with respect to the
amount of movement of the button 50 is small immediately after the
button 50 started to be pressed, and frictional resistance between
the button slopes 66 and the abutted surfaces 86A can be thereby
made smaller than before. Thus, wear of the abutted surfaces 86A
can be reduced or prevented. For example, even when coatings are
applied to the abutted surfaces 86A to reduce the frictional
resistance between the button slopes 66 and the abutted surfaces
86A so that the unlocking can be smoothly carried out, degree of
dependence on the coatings for reducing the frictional resistance
becomes lower than before so that the coatings can be kept long. As
a result, the unlocking can be smoothly carried out over a long
period of time.
Inventors: |
Muromachi, Tetsushi;
(Aichi-ken, JP) ; Mori, Shinji; (Aichi-ken,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Nixon Peabody
Suite 900
401 9th Street N W
Washington
DC
20004-2128
US
|
Family ID: |
19001486 |
Appl. No.: |
10/478481 |
Filed: |
June 2, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
May 22, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP02/04929 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/642 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 11/2515 20130101;
Y10T 24/4567 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
024/642 |
International
Class: |
A44B 011/25 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 25, 2001 |
JP |
2001-157658 |
Claims
1. A buckle device comprising: a device body into which a tongue
plate is insertable, the tongue plate being provided at a webbing
belt for restraining an occupant body; a locking member, which is
provided in said device body such that the locking member is
movable toward and away from the tongue plate inserted into said
device body, and which engages with the tongue plate to lock the
tongue plate inserted into said device body; and an unlocking
member, which moves relatively to said device body due to releasing
operation from the outside of said device body, and on which said
locking member slides at least during the relative movement and
which presses said locking member with the relative movement so as
to move said locking member in a direction in which said locking
member separates from the tongue plate; wherein each of abutting
portions of said unlocking member, on which said locking member
slides, comprises a curved surface, which descends in a releasing
operation direction which is the direction in which said unlocking
member moves when the lock is released, so as to protrude in a
release direction which is the direction in which said locking
member moves when the lock is released, and whose angle of
inclination with respect to the releasing operation direction
increases in a direction opposite to the releasing operation
direction.
2. Canceled
3. A buckle device according to claim 1, wherein an abutted portion
of said unlocking member, said abutting portion contacts, comprises
at least one of a curved surface and an inclined surface, a portion
of which contacting said abutting portion varies with the relative
movement.
4. A buckle device according to claim 3, wherein said unlocking
member comprises: a press portion, which is provided such that the
press portion is slidable in the direction in which said tongue
plate is inserted into said device body and in the opposite
direction thereto, and which slides into said device body due to a
pressing force along the insertion direction from the outside of
said device body; a first urging member, which urges said locking
member toward said tongue plate inserted into said device body; and
stoppers, which interfere with the unlocked locking member in a
state in which said press portion has not slid into said device
body, so as to hold said locking member at the unlocked
position.
5. A buckle device according to claim 4, wherein said locking
member includes a latch, which passes through an engagement hole
formed in said tongue plate so as to lock said tongue plate, and
said device body comprises a holding member, which holds said latch
such that said latch is slidable toward and away from said tongue
plate along a thickness direction of said tongue plate inserted
into said device body.
6. A buckle device according to claim 5, wherein said holding
member has a second urging member, which urges said unlocking
member in a direction opposite to the direction in which said
unlocking member moves when the lock of said tongue plate is
released.
7. A buckle device according to claim 3, wherein said locking
member includes a latch, which passes through an engagement hole
formed in said tongue plate so as to lock said tongue plate, and
said device body comprises a holding member, which holds said latch
such that said latch is slidable toward and away from said tongue
plate along a thickness direction of said tongue plate inserted
into said device body.
8. A buckle device according to claim 7, wherein said holding
member has a second urging member, which urges said unlocking
member in a direction opposite to the direction in which said
unlocking member moves when the lock of said tongue plate is
released.
9. A buckle device according to claim 1, wherein said unlocking
member comprises: a press portion, which is provided such that the
press portion is slidable in the direction in which said tongue
plate is inserted into said device body and in the opposite
direction thereto, and which slides into said device body due to a
pressing force along the insertion direction from the outside of
said device body; a first urging member, which urges said locking
member toward said tongue plate inserted into said device body; and
stoppers, which interfere with the unlocked locking member in a
state in which said press portion has not slid into said device
body, so as to hold said locking member at the unlocked
position.
10. A buckle device according to claim 9, wherein said locking
member includes a latch, which passes through an engagement hole
formed in said tongue plate so as to lock said tongue plate, and
said device body comprises a holding member, which holds said latch
such that said latch is slidable toward and away from said tongue
plate along a thickness direction of said tongue plate inserted
into said device body.
11. A buckle device according to claim 10, wherein said holding
member has a second urging member, which urges said unlocking
member in a direction opposite to the direction in which said
unlocking member moves when the lock of said tongue plate is
released.
12. A buckle device according to claim 1, wherein said locking
member includes a latch, which passes through an engagement hole
formed in said tongue plate so as to lock said tongue plate, and
said device body comprises a holding member, which holds said latch
such that said latch is slidable toward and away from said tongue
plate along a thickness direction of said tongue plate inserted
into said device body.
13. A buckle device according to claim 12, wherein said holding
member has a second urging member, which urges said unlocking
member in a direction opposite to the direction in which said
unlocking member moves when the lock of said tongue plate is
released.
14. Canceled
15. Canceled
16. Canceled
17. Canceled
18. Canceled
19. Canceled
20. Canceled
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a buckle device, which, in
a seat belt device for a vehicle, maintains a state in which a
webbing belt restrains the body of a vehicle occupant.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A seat belt device for restraining, by an elongated webbing
belt, the body of a vehicle occupant who is seated in a seat of a
vehicle, comprises a so-called buckle device. The buckle device
comprises a case, and is locked by passing a latch through a hole
formed in a tongue plate provided at the webbing belt in a state in
which the tongue plate is inserted into the case, so that the
webbing belt is fastened to the vehicle occupant.
[0003] In order to release this locked state, a release button
provided at the case is pressed. Button slopes having inclined
surfaces are formed in the release button. When the release button
is pressed and moved relatively to the case, the latch abuts
against the inclined surfaces of the button slopes. Further, the
release button is moved even more in the state in which the latch
abuts against the inclined surfaces of the button slopes, the latch
moves along the inclined surfaces and thereby separates from the
tongue plate, so that the lock of the tongue plate by the latch is
released.
[0004] As described above, when the release button is moved in the
state in which the latch abuts against the inclined surfaces of the
button slopes, friction causes between the latch and the inclined
surfaces of the button slopes. In order to reduce frictional
resistance therebetween so that the latch moves smoothly along the
inclined surfaces of the button slopes, coatings are generally
applied to the inclined surfaces of the button slopes and/or
portions of the latch abutting against the inclined surfaces.
[0005] However, while the lock is repeatedly released, the coatings
are deteriorated by the friction. In the state in which the
coatings are deteriorated, the locking is released less smoothly
than in the state in which the coatings are not deteriorated.
[0006] As a means for preventing the problem, the coatings may be
simply thickened. However, the thickened coatings increase
costs.
[0007] In view of the above facts, an object of the present
invention is to obtain a buckle device which can ensure smooth
unlocking over a long period of time at low cost.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In order to attain the above object, a buckle device of
claim 1 comprises: a device body into which a tongue plate is
insertable, the tongue plate being provided at a webbing belt for
restraining an occupant body; a locking member, which is provided
in the device body such that the locking member is movable toward
and away from the tongue plate inserted into the device body, and
which engages with the tongue plate to lock the tongue plate
inserted into the device body; and an unlocking member, which moves
relatively to the device body due to releasing operation from the
outside of the device body, and on which the locking member slides
at least during the relative movement and which presses the locking
member with the relative movement so as to move the locking member
in a direction in which the locking member separates from the
tongue plate; wherein each of abutting portions of the unlocking
member, on which the locking member slides, comprises plural
inclined surfaces, which descend in a direction opposite to the
direction in which the unlocking member moves relatively to the
device body when the locking member is pressed so as to protrude in
the direction in which the locking member is pressed, and which are
sequent in the direction of the relative movement, and which
relatively have larger angles of inclination in the direction of
the relative movement.
[0009] In a buckle device of claim 2 according to the present
invention of claim 1, the abutting portion comprises a curved
surface formed by a sequence of innumerable extremely minute
inclined surfaces.
[0010] In a buckle device of claim 3 according to the present
invention of claim 2, an abutted portion of the unlocking member,
the abutting portion contacts, comprises at least one of a curved
surface and an inclined surface, a portion of which contacting the
abutting portion varies with the relative movement.
[0011] In a buckle device of claim 4 according to the present
invention of claim 3, the unlocking member comprises: a press
portion, which is provided such that the press portion is slidable
in the direction in which the tongue plate is inserted into the
device body and in the opposite direction thereto, and which slides
into the device body due to a pressing force along the insertion
direction from the outside of the device body; a first urging
member, which urges the locking member toward the tongue plate
inserted into the device body; and stoppers, which interfere with
the unlocked locking member in a state in which the press portion
has not slid into the device body, so as to hold the locking member
at the unlocked position.
[0012] In a buckle device of claim 5 according to the present
invention of claim 4, the locking member includes a latch, which
passes through a through-hole formed in the tongue plate so as to
lock the tongue plate, and the device body comprises a holding
member, which holds the latch such that the latch is slidable
toward and away from the tongue plate along a thickness direction
of the tongue plate inserted into the device body.
[0013] In a buckle device of claim 6 according to the present
invention of claim 5, the holding member has a second urging
member, which urges the unlocking member in a direction opposite to
the direction in which the unlocking member moves when the lock of
the tongue plate is released.
[0014] In a buckle device of claim 7 according to the present
invention of claim 3, the locking member includes a latch, which
passes through a through-hole formed in the tongue plate so as to
lock the tongue plate, and the device body comprises a holding
member, which holds the latch such that the latch is slidable
toward and away from the tongue plate along a thickness direction
of the tongue plate inserted into the device body.
[0015] In a buckle device of claim 8 according to the present
invention of claim 7, the holding member has a second urging
member, which urges the unlocking member in a direction opposite to
the direction in which the unlocking member moves when the lock of
the tongue plate is released.
[0016] In a buckle device of claim 9 according to the present
invention of claim 3, the unlocking member comprises: a press
portion, which is provided such that the press portion is slidable
in the direction in which the tongue plate is inserted into the
device body and in the opposite direction thereto, and which slides
into the device body due to a pressing force along the insertion
direction from the outside of the device body; a first urging
member, which urges the locking member toward the tongue plate
inserted into the device body; and stoppers, which interfere with
the unlocked locking member in a state in which the press portion
has not slid into the device body, so as to hold the locking member
at the unlocked position.
[0017] In a buckle device of claim 10 according to the present
invention of claim 9, the locking member includes a latch, which
passes through a through-hole formed in the tongue plate so as to
lock the tongue plate, and the device body comprises a holding
member, which holds the latch such that the latch is slidable
toward and away from the tongue plate along a thickness direction
of the tongue plate inserted into the device body.
[0018] In a buckle device of claim 11 according to the present
invention of claim 10, the holding member has a second urging
member, which urges the unlocking member in a direction opposite to
the direction in which the unlocking member moves when the lock of
the tongue plate is released.
[0019] In a buckle device of claim 12 according to the present
invention of claim 2, the locking member includes a latch, which
passes through a through-hole formed in the tongue plate so as to
lock the tongue plate, and the device body comprises a holding
member, which holds the latch such that the latch is slidable
toward and away from the tongue plate along a thickness direction
of the tongue plate inserted into the device body.
[0020] In a buckle device of claim 13 according to the present
invention of claim 12, the holding member has a second urging
member, which urges the unlocking member in a direction opposite to
the direction in which the unlocking member moves when the lock of
the tongue plate is released.
[0021] In a buckle device of claim 14 according to the present
invention of claim 1, an abutted portion of the unlocking member,
the abutting portion contacts, comprises at least one of a curved
surface and an inclined surface, a portion of which contacting the
abutting portion varies with the relative movement.
[0022] In a buckle device of claim 15 according to the present
invention of claim 14, the unlocking member comprises: a press
portion, which is provided such that the press portion is slidable
in the direction in which the tongue plate is inserted into the
device body and in the opposite direction thereto, and which slides
into the device body due to a pressing force along the insertion
direction from the outside of the device body; a first urging
member, which urges the locking member toward the tongue plate
inserted into the device body; and stoppers, which interfere with
the unlocked locking member in a state in which the press portion
has not slid into the device body, so as to hold the locking member
at the unlocked position.
[0023] In a buckle device of claim 16 according to the present
invention of claim 15, the locking member includes a latch, which
passes through a through-hole formed in the tongue plate so as to
lock the tongue plate, and the device body comprises a holding
member, which holds the latch such that the latch is slidable
toward and away from the tongue plate along a thickness direction
of the tongue plate inserted into the device body.
[0024] In a buckle device of claim 17 according to the present
invention of claim 16, the holding member has a second urging
member, which urges the unlocking member in a direction opposite to
the direction in which the unlocking member moves when the lock of
the tongue plate is released.
[0025] In a buckle device of claim 18 according to the present
invention of claim 14, the locking member includes a latch, which
passes through a through-hole formed in the tongue plate so as to
lock the tongue plate, and the device body comprises a holding
member, which holds the latch such that the latch is slidable
toward and away from the tongue plate along a thickness direction
of the tongue plate inserted into the device body.
[0026] In a buckle device of claim 19 according to the present
invention of claim 18, the holding member has a second urging
member, which urges the unlocking member in a direction opposite to
the direction in which the unlocking member moves when the lock of
the tongue plate is released.
[0027] In a buckle device of claim 20 according to the present
invention of claim 1, the unlocking member comprises: a press
portion, which is provided such that the press portion is slidable
in the direction in which the tongue plate is inserted into the
device body and in the opposite direction thereto, and which slides
into the device body due to a pressing force along the insertion
direction from the outside of the device body; a first urging
member, which urges the locking member toward the tongue plate
inserted into the device body; and stoppers, which interfere with
the unlocked locking member in a state in which the press portion
has not slid into the device body, so as to hold the locking member
at the unlocked position.
[0028] In accordance with a buckle device relating to the present
invention of claim 1, when the locking member provided in the
device body engages with the tongue plate in a state in which the
tongue plate is inserted into the device body, the tongue plate is
locked by the locking member and restrained from moving in a
direction in which the tongue plate is removed from the device
body. Accordingly, the webbing belt provided with the tongue plate
becomes in a fastened state so that an occupant body is restrained
by the webbing belt.
[0029] When the unlocking member is operated from the outside of
the device body in the locked state in which the locking member
engages with the tongue plate, and thereby moved relatively to the
device body, the abutting portions of the unlocking member abut
against and press the locking member. The locking member moves, due
to the pressing force, in a direction in which the locking member
separates from the tongue plate, and thus, the lock of the tongue
plate by the locking member is released so that the tongue plate
can be removed from the device body.
[0030] In the buckle device of the present invention, each of the
abutting portions of the unlocking member, on which the locking
member slides, comprises plural inclined surfaces being sequent in
the direction in which the unlocking member moves relatively to the
device body when the locking member is pressed. The inclined
surfaces descend in a direction opposite to the direction of the
relative movement so as to protrude in the direction in which the
locking member is pressed, and relatively have larger angles of
inclination in the direction of the relative movement and face to
the direction opposite to the direction of the relative
movement.
[0031] Thus, immediately after the unlocking member started the
relative movement, since the angle of inclination of the inclined
surface forming the abutting portion is small, the distance at
which the locking member moves due to the pressing force from the
abutting portions is small. Thereafter, as the unlocking member
relatively moves, the locking distance gradually increases and the
distance at which the locking member moves gradually increases.
[0032] Since, in this manner, the amount of movement of the locking
member is small immediately after the unlocking member started to
move relatively to the device body, the pressing force, the
abutting portions apply to the unlocking member at the time of
starting to unlock, can be made small. As a result, frictional
resistance between the abutting portions and the abutted portions
at the time of starting to unlock becomes small.
[0033] Therefore, even if coating or the like is applied to the
locking member and/or the unlocking member in order to reduce the
frictional resistance between the abutting portions and the
portions of the locking member contacting the abutting portions,
degree of dependence on the coating or the like for reducing the
frictional resistance can be made small, and thus, deterioration of
the coating or the like can be prevented or reduced.
[0034] Although the abutting portion has a structure including a
sequence of plural inclined surfaces in the present invention, the
abutting portion is not limited to a planar surface in the present
invention. In other words, since a curved surface is formed by a
sequence of innumerable extremely minute inclined surfaces which
have different angles of inclination from each other, even if the
abutting portion is a curved surface, such a structure does not
contradict the structure of the present invention according to
claim 1.
[0035] The abutting portion of a buckle device relating to the
present invention of claim 2 comprises a curved surface formed by a
sequence of innumerable extremely minute inclined surfaces. When
the abutting portion comprises a curved surface in this manner,
rate of change for the angle of inclination along the direction, in
which the unlocking member moves relatively to the device body when
the locking member is pressed, is small. Accordingly, the pressing
force applied from the abutting portions (the unlocking member) to
the locking member does not change rapidly, and the locking member
can be thereby moved smoothly.
[0036] In a buckle device relating to the present invention of
claim 3, the abutted portion of the locking member corresponding to
the abutting portion of the unlocking member comprises an inclined
surface or a curved surface, and the portion of the abutted portion
contacting the abutting portion varies with the movement of the
unlocking member relative to the device body. Therefore, the
portion where the friction between the abutting portion and the
abutted portion causes basically varies all the time during
unlocking. Accordingly, not only specific portions of the abutting
portion and/or the abutted portion wear, and thus, even when the
above-described coating or the like is applied, deterioration of
the coating can be prevented or reduced even more.
[0037] In accordance with a buckle device relating to the present
invention of claim 4, the stoppers are provided at the unlocking
member. For example, in a state in which the tongue plate is not
inserted into the device body, the stoppers interfere with the
locking member so as to hold the locking member at the unlocked
position.
[0038] When the tongue plate is inserted into the device body in
this state to release the stoppers' interference with the locking
member, the first urging member forming the unlocking member moves
the locking member with the urging force thereof to engage the
locking member with the tongue plate. As a result, the tongue plate
is locked.
[0039] When the press portion of the unlocking member is pressed in
the state in which the tongue plate is locked by the locking
member, so that the unlocking member slides in the direction in
which the tongue plate is inserted into the device body, the
abutting portions move the locking member. Accordingly, the lock of
the tongue plate is released, and the stoppers interfere with the
locking member so as to hold the locking member at the unlocked
position.
[0040] In accordance with a buckle device relating to the present
invention of claim 5, the device body comprises the holding member,
for example, provided therein, and the latch serving as the locking
member is thereby held such that the latch is slidable along a
thickness direction of the tongue plate inserted into the device
body.
[0041] When the tongue plate is inserted into the device body and
the latch slides toward the tongue plate, the latch passes through
the through-hole formed in the tongue plate so as to lock the
tongue plate.
[0042] In accordance with a buckle device relating to the present
invention of claim 6, the holding member has the second urging
member. The unlocking member is urged by the urging force of the
second urging member in a direction opposite to the direction in
which the unlocking member moves when the lock of the tongue plate
is released.
[0043] Accordingly, unless the unlocking member moves against the
urging force of the second urging member, the lock of the tongue
plate is not released, and the buckle device can be thereby
prevented from being inadvertently unlocked.
[0044] In accordance with a buckle device relating to the present
invention of claim 7, the device body comprises the holding member,
for example, provided therein, and the latch serving as the locking
member is thereby held such that the latch is slidable along a
thickness direction of the tongue plate inserted into the device
body.
[0045] When the tongue plate is inserted into the device body and
the latch slides toward the tongue plate, the latch passes through
the through-hole formed in the tongue plate so as to lock the
tongue plate.
[0046] In accordance with a buckle device relating to the present
invention of claim 8, the holding member has the second urging
member. The unlocking member is urged by the urging force of the
second urging member in a direction opposite to the direction in
which the unlocking member moves when the lock of the tongue plate
is released.
[0047] Accordingly, unless the unlocking member moves against the
urging force of the second urging member, the lock of the tongue
plate is not released, and the buckle device can be thereby
prevented from being inadvertently unlocked.
[0048] In accordance with a buckle device relating to the present
invention of claim 9, the stoppers are provided at the unlocking
member. For example, in a state in which the tongue plate is not
inserted into the device body, the stoppers interfere with the
locking member so as to hold the locking member at the unlocked
position.
[0049] When the tongue plate is inserted into the device body in
this state to release the stoppers' interference with the locking
member, the first urging member forming the unlocking member moves
the locking member with the urging force thereof to engage the
locking member with the tongue plate. As a result, the tongue plate
is locked.
[0050] When the press portion of the unlocking member is pressed in
the state in which the tongue plate is locked by the locking
member, so that the unlocking member slides in the direction in
which the tongue plate is inserted into the device body, the
abutting portions move the locking member. Accordingly, the lock of
the tongue plate is released, and the stoppers interfere with the
locking member so as to hold the locking member at the unlocked
position.
[0051] In accordance with a buckle device relating to the present
invention of claim 10, the device body comprises the holding
member, for example, provided therein, and the latch serving as the
locking member is thereby held such that the latch is slidable
along a thickness direction of the tongue plate inserted into the
device body.
[0052] When the tongue plate is inserted into the device body and
the latch slides toward the tongue plate, the latch passes through
the through-hole formed in the tongue plate so as to lock the
tongue plate.
[0053] In accordance with a buckle device relating to the present
invention of claim 11, the holding member has the second urging
member. The unlocking member is urged by the urging force of the
second urging member in a direction opposite to the direction in
which the unlocking member moves when the lock of the tongue plate
is released.
[0054] Accordingly, unless the unlocking member moves against the
urging force of the second urging member, the lock of the tongue
plate is not released, and the buckle device can be thereby
prevented from being inadvertently unlocked.
[0055] In accordance with a buckle device relating to the present
invention of claim 12, the device body comprises the holding
member, for example, provided therein, and the latch serving as the
locking member is thereby held such that the latch is slidable
along a thickness direction of the tongue plate inserted into the
device body.
[0056] When the tongue plate is inserted into the device body and
the latch slides toward the tongue plate, the latch passes through
the through hole formed in the tongue plate so as to lock the
tongue plate.
[0057] In accordance with a buckle device relating to the present
invention of claim 13, the holding member has the second urging
member. The unlocking member is urged by the urging force of the
second urging member in a direction opposite to the direction in
which the unlocking member moves when the lock of the tongue plate
is released.
[0058] Accordingly, unless the unlocking member moves against the
urging force of the second urging member, the lock of the tongue
plate is not released, and the buckle device can be thereby
prevented from being inadvertently unlocked.
[0059] In a buckle device relating to the present invention of
claim 14, the abutted portion of the locking member corresponding
to the abutting portion of the unlocking member comprises an
inclined surface or a curved surface, and the portion of the
abutted portion contacting the abutting portion varies with the
movement of the unlocking member relative to the device body.
Therefore, the portion where the friction between the abutting
portion and the abutted portion causes basically varies all the
time during unlocking. Accordingly, not only specific portions of
the abutting portion and/or the abutted portion wear, and thus,
even when the above-described coating or the like is applied,
deterioration of the coating can be prevented or reduced even
more.
[0060] In accordance with a buckle device relating to the present
invention of claim 15, the stoppers are provided at the unlocking
member. For example, in a state in which the tongue plate is not
inserted into the device body, the stoppers interfere with the
locking member so as to hold the locking member at the unlocked
position.
[0061] When the tongue plate is inserted into the device body in
this state to release the stoppers' interference with the locking
member, the first urging member forming the unlocking member moves
the locking member with the urging force thereof to engage the
locking member with the tongue plate. As a result, the tongue plate
is locked.
[0062] When the press portion of the unlocking member is pressed in
the state in which the tongue plate is locked by the locking
member, so that the unlocking member slides in the direction in
which the tongue plate is inserted into the device body, the
abutting portions move the locking member. Accordingly, the lock of
the tongue plate is released, and the stoppers interfere with the
locking member so as to hold the locking member at the unlocked
position.
[0063] In accordance with a buckle device relating to the present
invention of claim 16, the device body comprises the holding
member, for example, provided therein, and the latch serving as the
locking member is thereby held such that the latch is slidable
along a thickness direction of the tongue plate inserted into the
device body.
[0064] When the tongue plate is inserted into the device body and
the latch slides toward the tongue plate, the latch passes through
the through-hole formed in the tongue plate so as to lock the
tongue plate.
[0065] In accordance with a buckle device relating to the present
invention of claim 17, the holding member has the second urging
member. The unlocking member is urged by the urging force of the
second urging member in a direction opposite to the direction in
which the unlocking member moves when the lock of the tongue plate
is released.
[0066] Accordingly, unless the unlocking member moves against the
urging force of the second urging member, the lock of the tongue
plate is not released, and the buckle device can be thereby
prevented from being inadvertently unlocked.
[0067] In accordance with a buckle device relating to the present
invention of claim 18, the device body comprises the holding
member, for example, provided therein, and the latch serving as the
locking member is thereby held such that the latch is slidable
along a thickness direction of the tongue plate inserted into the
device body.
[0068] When the tongue plate is inserted into the device body and
the latch slides toward the tongue plate, the latch passes through
the through-hole formed in the tongue plate so as to lock the
tongue plate.
[0069] In accordance with a buckle device relating to the present
invention of claim 19, the holding member has the second urging
member. The unlocking member is urged by the urging force of the
second urging member in a direction opposite to the direction in
which the unlocking member moves when the lock of the tongue plate
is released.
[0070] Accordingly, unless the unlocking member moves against the
urging force of the second urging member, the lock of the tongue
plate is not released, and the buckle device can be thereby
prevented from being inadvertently unlocked.
[0071] In accordance with a buckle device relating to the present
invention of claim 20, the stoppers are provided at the unlocking
member. For example, in a state in which the tongue plate is not
inserted into the device body, the stoppers interfere with the
locking member so as to hold the locking member at the unlocked
position.
[0072] When the tongue plate is inserted into the device body in
this state to release the stoppers' interference with the locking
member, the first urging member forming the unlocking member moves
the locking member with the urging force thereof to engage the
locking member with the tongue plate. As a result, the tongue plate
is locked.
[0073] When the press portion of the unlocking member is pressed in
the state in which the tongue plate is locked by the locking
member, so that the unlocking member slides in the direction in
which the tongue plate is inserted into the device body, the
abutting portions move the locking member. Accordingly, the lock of
the tongue plate is released, and the stoppers interfere with the
locking member so as to hold the locking member at the unlocked
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0074] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a buckle device in
position according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0075] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the
buckle device locked by a locking member (a latch) in
correspondence with FIG. 1.
[0076] FIG. 3 shows a positional relationship between the locking
member (the latch) and an abutting portion (a button slope)
immediately after starting to unlock.
[0077] FIG. 4 shows another positional relationship between the
locking member (the latch) and the abutting portion (the button
slope) in a state in which the locking member (the latch) has moved
more than the state in FIG. 3.
[0078] FIG. 5 shows another positional relationship between the
locking member (the latch) and the abutting portion (the button
slope) in a state in which the locking member (the latch) has moved
more than the state in FIG. 4.
[0079] FIG. 6 shows another positional relationship between the
locking member (the latch) and the abutting portion (the button
slope) in a state in which the locking member (the latch) has moved
more than the state in FIG. 5.
[0080] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the buckle device
according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0081] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a modified example of
the abutting portion (the button slope).
MOST PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTON
Structure of Present Embodiment
[0082] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a buckle device 10 in
position according to an embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the buckle device 10.
[0083] As shown in FIG. 7, the buckle device 10 comprises a
substantially box-shaped case 12 which is made of a synthetic
resin. As shown in FIG. 1, one end of the case 12 in the
longitudinal direction opens to form a slit opening 14 whose
longitudinal direction is along the transverse direction of the
case 12, and the other end of the case 12 in the longitudinal
direction opens to form an opening 16.
[0084] The case 12 contains a buckle body 20 inside. The buckle
body 20 comprises an anchor plate 26. The anchor plate 26 is formed
by, for example, bending a plate member at the center thereof in
the longitudinal direction so as to have a substantial U-shape, and
the anchor plate 26 is contained inside the case 12 such that the
opening end of the U-shape faces to the slit opening 14.
[0085] In the state in which the anchor plate 26 is contained in
the case 12, space between an upper plate 28 and a lower plate 30
of the anchor plate 26, the plates 28 and 30 being opposite to each
other in the vertical direction of the case 12, forms an insertion
portion 34. Further, at a bottom portion of the anchor plate 26
bent in the U-shape, i.e., at the end of the anchor plate 26 on the
opening 16 side, a slit-shaped insertion hole 32, whose
longitudinal direction is along the transverse direction of the
anchor plate 26, is formed in correspondence with a tongue plate
36.
[0086] A base end of the tongue plate 36 has a substantially
slit-shaped insertion hole through which an elongated webbing belt
is inserted, and a leading end of the tongue plate 36 slides
through the insertion hole 32 into the space between the upper
plate 28 and the lower plate 30, i.e., into the insertion portion
34.
[0087] As shown in FIG. 7, one end of a plate-shaped attachment
piece 22 is inserted into the space between the upper plate 28 and
the lower plate 30 from the opening end side of the anchor plate 26
bent in the U-shape, i.e., from the slit opening 14 side of the
anchor plate 26. The other end of the attachment piece 22 is fixed
to a vehicle at a side of a seat (e.g., driver seat or passenger
seat) provided inside the vehicle. The one end of the attachment
piece 22 inserted into the space between the upper plate 28 and the
lower plate 30 is fastened and fixed to at least one of the upper
plate 28 and the lower plate 30 by rivets 24, so that the anchor
plate 26 is attached to the vehicle.
[0088] An ejector 38 is contained inside the anchor plate 26 such
that the ejector 38 can slide along the longitudinal directions of
the anchor plate 26 (the direction of arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 2 and
the opposite direction thereto). An eject spring 40 is disposed
between the ejector 38 and the attachment piece 22 to urge the
ejector 38 toward the insertion hole 32 side (the direction
opposite to arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 2).
[0089] Further, at both ends of the ejector 38 in the transverse
direction, a pair of horn pieces 42 extend toward the attachment
piece 22 side (i.e., toward the slit opening 14 side of the case
12). Abutment portions 46 are respectively formed near tips of the
horn pieces 42. In correspondence with the abutment portions 46,
protrusions are formed in the anchor plate 26 so as to protrude
into the insertion portion 34. The protrusions correspondingly
interfere with the abutment portions 46 to limit the slide of the
ejector 38 within a predetermined range.
[0090] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, a button 50 forming an unlocking
member is disposed on the upper plate 28 of the anchor plate 26.
The button 50 is wholly formed in a substantially rectangular
frame-shape in a plan view. The button 50 comprises an operation
portion 52. The operation portion 52 has a pressing surface facing
to the opening 16 side. The pressing surface is pressed so that the
button 50 can be moved to the slit opening 14 side.
[0091] A pair of outer plates 54 extend parallel with each other
from a side of the operation portion 52 opposite to the pressing
surface (i.e., from the slit opening 14 side). Each of the outer
plates 54 is formed in a substantial plate-shape whose thickness
direction is along the transverse direction of the anchor plate 26.
The outer plates 54 are opposite to each other in the transverse
direction of the anchor plate 26.
[0092] Pawl pieces 62 extending toward the inner side are
respectively formed at the outer plates 54. The pawl pieces 62 can
engage with portions between the upper plate 28 and the lower plate
30 of the anchor plate 26 from outer sides of the anchor plate 26.
In the state in which the pawl pieces 62 engage with the anchor
plate 26, the button 50 cannot be released from the anchor plate 26
and can be slid along the longitudinal directions of the anchor
plate 26 (the direction of arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 7 and the
opposite direction thereto).
[0093] A pair of inner plates 58 are respectively provided on inner
sides of the outer plates 54. The inner plates 58 extend parallel
with each other from the side of the operation portion 52 opposite
to the pressing surface (i.e., from the slit opening 14 side) in
the same manner as the outer plates 54. Each of the inner plates 58
is formed in a substantial plate-shape whose thickness direction is
along the transverse direction of the anchor plate 26. The inner
plates 58 are opposite to each other in the transverse direction of
the anchor plate 26.
[0094] Stoppers 64 are respectively formed on inner surfaces of the
inner plates 58 (i.e., a stopper 64 is formed on a surface of one
inner plate 58 on the opposite other inner plate 58 side,
respectively). In the state in which the tongue plate 36 is not
inserted into the insertion portion 34, the stoppers 64 abut
against a latch 84 serving as a locking member, which will be
described later, so as to prevent the latch 84 from moving in an
engaging direction (the direction of arrow B in FIGS. 1 and 7).
Further, in the state in which the tongue plate 36 is inserted into
the insertion portion 34 and the latch 84 engages with an
engagement hole 88 of the tongue plate 36 (locked state: see FIG.
2), the stoppers 64 respectively abut against upper surfaces of
abutted pieces 86 of the latch 84 so as to prevent the latch 84
from moving in a disengaging direction (the direction opposite to
arrow B in FIGS. 1 and 7).
[0095] Button slopes 66 serving as abutting portions are
respectively formed on the inner surfaces of the inner plates 58 on
the operation portion 52 side with respect to the stoppers 64. The
button slope 66 descends toward the side opposite to the operation
portion 52 (i.e., the slit opening 14 side) so as to protrude
toward the side opposite to the anchor plate 26. A surface of the
button slope 66 facing to the side opposite to the anchor plate 26
gradually separates from the anchor plate 26 toward the operation
portion 52 side.
[0096] When the button 50 moves in an unlocking direction (the
direction of arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 7) in the locked state, the
button slopes 66 convert the pressing force to force which moves
the latch 84 in the disengaging direction (the direction opposite
to arrow B in FIGS. 1 and 7), and push abutted surfaces 86A serving
as abutted portions of the abutted pieces 86 from lower sides
thereof. Accordingly, the latch 84 moves in the disengaging
direction.
[0097] In this embodiment, the button slope 66 is not a planar
surface but a curved surface opening toward the button 50 side with
respect to the unlocking direction. Therefore, the angle of
inclination of the button slope 66 with respect to the unlocking
direction varies depending upon portions of the button slope 66
along the unlocking direction, and decreases in the unlocking
direction.
[0098] The above-described abutted surface 86A for contacting the
button slope 66 is a curved surface projecting toward the button
slope 66 side. The curvature of the abutted surface 86A is smaller
than that of the button slope 66.
[0099] On the upper plate 28, a holding block 80 serving as a
holding member, which straddles the inner plates 58, is disposed
upright at a position which is more inward than the outer plates 54
of the button 50. The holding block 80 has a pair of parallel
holding plates 82, between which the latch 84 is disposed. The
holding plates 82 prevent the latch 84 from moving in the
longitudinal directions of the anchor plate 26 (the direction of
arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 7 and the opposite direction thereto), and
allow the latch 84 to move in the engaging and disengaging
directions (the direction of arrow B in FIGS. 1 and 7 and the
opposite direction thereto).
[0100] The latch 84 is formed in a substantial U-shape in a front
view, and the abutted pieces 86 extend from upper ends thereof
toward outer sides in the transverse direction. Further, an
engagement piece 90 extends from the center of the latch 84 in the
transverse direction toward the anchor plate 26. When the tongue
plate 36 is inserted into the insertion portion 34 up to a
predetermined position, the engagement piece 90 passes through a
through hole 92 formed in the upper plate 28 of the anchor plate
26, engages with the engagement hole 88 of the tongue plate 36, and
further passes through a through hole 94 (see FIG. 2) formed in the
lower plate 30.
[0101] A pair of plate spring pieces 96 serving as second urging
members extend from the holding block 80 toward the operation
portion 52 of the button 50, and urge the button 50 toward the
opening 16 side. Accordingly, when the operation portion 52 is
pressed, appropriate resistance causes. Although the second urging
members are formed by the plate spring pieces 96 in this
embodiment, the second urging members may be any unlocking members,
i.e., any members that can urge the button 50 toward the opening 16
side in this embodiment, and are not limited to specific
embodiments. Thus, coil springs may be used in place of the plate
springs 96.
[0102] Leg portions 68 are respectively formed to protrude from
ends of the above-described inner plates 58 on the slit opening 14
side toward the anchor plate 26. The leg portions 68 respectively
pass through elongated holes 70 formed in the upper plate 28, and
locate between the upper plate 28 and the lower plate 30. The
longitudinal direction of the elongated hole 70 is along the
direction in which the button 50 slides. When the button 50 slides,
the leg portions 68 move along the elongated holes 70. Similarly,
when the leg portions 68 move along the elongated holes 70, the
button 50 slides.
[0103] The leg portions 68 passing through the elongated holes 70
locate on a track of the tongue plate 36 moving between the upper
plate 28 and the lower plate 30. When the tongue plate 36 has
reached a predetermined position between the upper plate 28 and the
lower plate 30, the ejector 38 abuts against the leg portions 68.
Further, when the tongue plate 36 slides even more in this state,
the leg portions 68 are pressed by the ejector 38 to move.
[0104] Further, one end of a plate spring-shaped lock spring 98
forming an unlocking member as a first urging member is attached to
the button 50. The other end of the lock spring 98 abuts against an
upper surface of the latch 84 to urge the latch 84 in the engaging
direction (the direction of arrow B in FIGS. 1 and 7).
Operation and Effect of the Present Embodiment
[0105] Next, operation and effect of the present embodiment will be
described.
[0106] In the buckle device 10 having the above-described
structure, in the state in which the tongue plate 36 is not
inserted into the insertion portion 34, the stoppers 64 of the
button 50 abut against the abutted pieces 86 of the latch 84 from
the lower side thereof, and thus, the latch 84 does not move in the
engaging direction (the direction of arrow B in FIGS. 1 and 7) by
the urging force of the lock spring 98.
[0107] When the tongue plate 36 is inserted into the insertion
portion 34, the tongue plate 36 engages with the ejector 38 and
presses it so that the ejector 38 slides against the urging force
of the eject spring 40. Further, when the ejector 38 slides up to a
predetermined position, the ejector 38 abuts against the leg
portions 68 of the button 50, and presses and moves the leg
portions 68.
[0108] When the leg portions 68 move, the stoppers 64 of the button
50 separate from the abutted pieces 86 of the latch 84. Therefore,
the latch 84 moves in the engaging direction (the direction of
arrow B in FIGS. 1 and 7) by receiving the urging force of the lock
spring 98, and, as shown in FIG. 2, the engagement piece 90 of the
latch 84 passes through the through hole 92 of the upper plate 28
and engages with the engagement hole 88 of the tongue plate 36. The
button 50 is pressed by the plate spring pieces 96 and moved in the
direction opposite to arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 7 so as to be in the
locked state. In this state, the stoppers 64 of the button 50 abut
against the abutted pieces 86 of the latch 84 from the upper side
thereof so as to prevent the latch 84 from moving in the
disengaging direction (the direction opposite to arrow B in FIG.
2). In the locked state, the tongue plate 36 is restrained from
being removed from the insertion portion 34 (the case 12) by the
engagement piece 90 of the latch 84.
[0109] When the operation portion 52 of the button 50 is pressed in
this state inside the case 12 in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
2, the state in which the stoppers 64 and the abutted pieces 86
face to each other is released first. When the state in which the
stoppers 64 and the abutted pieces 86 face to each other is
released, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the abutted surface 86A of the
abutted piece 86 abutting against the button slope 66 is guided
along the button slope 66 by the pressing force therefrom against
the urging force from the lock spring 98, while the abutted piece
86 moves upward, i.e., in the direction in which the abutted piece
86 separates from the tongue plate 36. The movement of the abutted
pieces 86 allows the latch 84 to come out of the engagement hole 88
first.
[0110] As shown in FIG. 1, when the latch 84 comes out of the
engagement hole 88, it becomes possible that the tongue plate 36
comes out of the insertion portion 34. When the ejector 38
receiving the urging force of the eject spring 40 presses the
tongue plate 36 in this state, the tongue plate 36 comes out of the
insertion portion 34. Further, when the pressing force applied to
the operation portion 52 of the button 50 is released in this
state, the button 50 returns, by the urging force of the plate
spring pieces 96, to the former position where the pressing force
is not applied thereto. As a result, the stoppers 64 of the button
50 abut against the abutted pieces 86 of the latch 84 again from
the lower side thereof so that the latch 84 is held.
[0111] As described above, in this buckle device 10, the button
slope 66 is not a planar surface but a curved surface opening
toward the button 50 side with respect to the unlocking direction.
The angle of inclination of the button slope 66 with respect to the
unlocking direction decreases in the unlocking direction.
Therefore, although frictional resistance between the button slopes
66 and the abutted surfaces 86A is relatively high, in general,
immediately after the button 50 (outer plates 54) started to be
pressed, since the angle of inclination of this button slope 66
decreases in the unlocking direction, the amount of upward movement
of the abutted surface 86A is relatively small immediately after
the button 50 (outer plates 54) started to be pressed.
[0112] Accordingly, the increasing amount of the force of the
button slopes 66 pressing the abutted surfaces 86A with respect to
the amount of movement of the button 50 is small, and the
frictional resistance between the button slopes 66 and the abutted
surfaces 86A can be thereby made smaller than before. Thus, wear of
the abutted surfaces 86A can be reduced or prevented. For example,
even when coatings are applied to the abutted surfaces 86A to
reduce the frictional resistance between the button slopes 66 and
the abutted surfaces 86A so that the unlocking can be smoothly
carried out, degree of dependence on the coatings for reducing the
frictional resistance becomes lower than before so that the
coatings can be kept long. As a result, the unlocking can be
smoothly carried out over a long period of time.
[0113] Further, since the coatings do not need to be thickened in
order to keep the smooth unlocking operation over a long period of
time, the cost is low.
[0114] As described above, in this buckle device 10, the abutted
surface 86A is a curved surface which projects toward the button
slope 66 side and the curvature of which is smaller than that of
the abutted surface 86A. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the
portion of the abutted surface 86A contacting the button slope 66
when the abutted piece 86 moves along the button slope 66 varies
depending upon positions of the abutted piece 86 on the button
slope 66. Accordingly, not only one portion of the abutted surface
86A always contacts the button slope 66, and hence, even if the
abutted surface 86A wears, the substantially entire abutted surface
86A wears uniformly. Thus, when a coating is applied to the abutted
surface 86A, the coating can wear uniformly, and early considerable
wear of one portion thereof can be prevented. As a result, effect
of the coating can be kept over a long period of time.
[0115] In this embodiment, the button slope 66 serving as an
abutting portion is a curved surface. However, as shown in FIG. 8,
the button slope 66 may be formed by a sequence of planar inclined
surfaces which relatively have smaller angles of inclination in the
unlocking direction.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0116] As described above, the buckle device according to the
present invention is available not only for a buckle device forming
a seat belt device for a vehicle but also for a buckle device
forming a seat belt device for things other than a vehicle, without
being limited to a specific embodiment of the seat belt device.
* * * * *