U.S. patent application number 13/574411 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-22 for tongue.
This patent application is currently assigned to ASHIMORI INDUSTRY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Ryuta Yamaguchi.
Application Number | 20120291239 13/574411 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44711954 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120291239 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yamaguchi; Ryuta |
November 22, 2012 |
TONGUE
Abstract
A tongue comprises a housing case in a substantially box form
for housing a tongue plate and inclusive of a through hole formed
at a position facing an insertion hole of the tongue plate so as to
allow insertion of a webbing, and a stopper bar, with a folded
portion of the webbing hung therearound, which is arranged striding
over the insertion hole of the tongue plate, allowed to slide back
and forth with reference to the tongue plate and urged rearward by
a urging unit in contact with a pair of front end surfaces on a
pair of engagement parts provided at longitudinal ends of the
stopper bar. The housing case includes a plurality of ribs arranged
upright on an inner surface thereof along a front-rear direction so
as to press the webbing which is arranged to face the inner surface
and hung around the stopper bar meets. The plurality of ribs are
arranged in parallel to one another in a direction orthogonal to a
sliding direction of the stopper bar.
Inventors: |
Yamaguchi; Ryuta; (Osaka,
JP) |
Assignee: |
ASHIMORI INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Osaka-shi, Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
44711954 |
Appl. No.: |
13/574411 |
Filed: |
March 3, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
March 3, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2011/054857 |
371 Date: |
July 20, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/593.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 11/2561 20130101;
A44B 11/2557 20130101; A44B 11/2553 20130101; Y10T 24/45241
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/593.1 |
International
Class: |
A44B 11/25 20060101
A44B011/25 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 30, 2010 |
JP |
2010-079721 |
Claims
1. A tongue comprising: a tongue plate including an engagement
portion which is to be engaged with a buckle device and arranged so
as to protrude from a substantially central position with reference
to a front edge portion of the tongue plate, and an insertion hole
which is formed at a substantially central part of the tongue plate
so as to allow insertion of a folded portion of a webbing folded
back in a longitudinal direction; a housing case in a substantially
box form for housing the tongue plate, the housing case including a
through hole which is formed at a position meeting with the
insertion hole of the tongue plate so as to allow insertion of the
webbing, and a slit hole formed at a front edge portion of the
housing case so as to allow insertion of the engagement portion; a
stopper bar, with the folded portion of the webbing hung
therearound, which is arranged striding over the insertion hole of
the tongue plate and allowed to slide back and forth with reference
to the tongue plate; and an urging unit which urges the stopper bar
so as to slide the stopper bar rearward while coming in contact
with a pair of front end surfaces on a pair of engagement parts
provided at longitudinal ends of the stopper bar, wherein the
housing case includes a plurality of ribs which are arranged
upright on an inner surface thereof along a front-rear direction so
as to press the webbing which is arranged to face the inner surface
and hung around the stopper bar, and wherein the plurality of ribs
are arranged in parallel to one another in a direction orthogonal
to a sliding direction of the stopper bar.
2. The tongue according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality
of ribs includes an edge face portion which presses the webbing,
the edge face portion including a slanted face portion which
extends obliquely frontward so as to press a rear edge portion of
the webbing hung around the stopper bar urged in a rearward by the
urging unit.
3. The tongue according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality
of ribs includes a planar face portion facing the stopper bar urged
in the rearward by the urging unit from a front edge portion of the
slanted face portion.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a tongue which is connected
to a webbing and is engaged with a buckle device in a detachable
manner.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, there have been proposed various types of
tongues which are connected to a webbing and are engaged with a
buckle device in a detachable manner. For instance, in a
webbing-length adjustment device housed in a plastic casing, a long
hole is arranged at a central part of a bottom plate and further,
projecting pieces are each formed at both sides on a front part of
the bottom plate. An adjustment bar is arranged over the long hole
so as to freely slide back and forth.
[0003] Then, a webbing is inserted through the long hole from an
outside of the bottom plate, guided upward to make a U-turn at the
adjustment bar and finally drawn out to the outside of the bottom
plate through the long hole. Further, in front of the adjustment
bar, an auxiliary bar placed in parallel with the adjustment bar is
arranged so as to freely slide back and forth. Between the
auxiliary bar and the projecting pieces, a spring is arranged,
whereby, owing to elastic force, the webbing is held tight between
the auxiliary bar and the adjustment bar and further, the
adjustment bar is pushed rearward by means of the auxiliary bar.
There has been known a webbing-length adjustment device for
seatbelt configured as described above (for instance, refer to
Japanese Examined Utility Model Application Publication No.
02-032526).
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] In the conventional webbing-length adjustment device for
seatbelt, the webbing is continuously held tight between the
auxiliary bar and the adjustment bar. Accordingly, such
configuration can prevent the webbing from slipping by inches
(hereinafter referred to as "microslip") which is caused by an
intermittent tension added to the webbing as an occupant moves
frontward, etc. when wearing a seatbelt.
[0005] However, in the webbing-length adjustment device for
seatbelt mentioned above, it is required to slidably arrange the
auxiliary bar in front of the adjustment bar, which leads to a
problem of increase in number of assemblage parts.
[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above
described problems and an object thereof is to provide a tongue
which can reduce the number of assemblage parts and prevent the
microslip.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0007] To achieve the object, there is provided an inventive tongue
comprising: a tongue plate including an engagement portion which is
to be engaged with a buckle device and arranged so as to protrude
from a substantially central position with reference to a front
edge portion of the tongue plate, and an insertion hole which is
formed at a substantially central part of the tongue plate so as to
allow insertion of a folded portion of a webbing folded back in a
longitudinal direction; a housing case in a substantially box form
for housing the tongue plate, the housing case including a through
hole which is formed at a position meeting with the insertion hole
of the tongue plate so as to allow insertion of the webbing, and a
slit hole formed at a front edge portion of the housing case so as
to allow insertion of the engagement portion; a stopper bar, with
the folded edge of the webbing hung therearound, which is arranged
striding over the insertion hole of the tongue plate and allowed to
slide back and forth with reference to the tongue plate; and an
urging unit which urges the stopper bar so as to slide the stopper
bar rearward while coming in contact with a pair of front end
surfaces on a pair of engagement parts provided at longitudinal
ends of the stopper bar, wherein the housing case includes a
plurality of ribs which are arranged upright on an inner surface
thereof along a front-rear direction so as to press the webbing
which is arranged to face the inner surface and hung around the
stopper bar, and wherein the plurality of ribs are arranged in
parallel to one another in a direction orthogonal to a sliding
direction of the stopper bar.
[0008] In the above tongue, when the stopper bar with the webbing
hung thereaound is housed in the housing case, the stopper bar is
urged rearward by the urging unit. Accordingly, the webbing is
urged so as to come in contact with the ribs between the stopper
bar and the plurality of ribs which are arranged upright on the
inner surface of the housing case, and the microslip is prevented.
Further, since the plurality of ribs are arranged upright along a
front-rear direction on the inner surface of the housing case, the
webbing can smoothly be moved in adjusting length of the
webbing.
[0009] Further, since the stopper bar is urged rearward by the
urging unit, the stopper bar is further pushed and moved toward the
rib side when a tension is applied to the webbing. Then, the
webbing hung around the stopper bar is pressed so as to make
inroads into the plurality of ribs, whereby the webbing can
effectively be retained. Further, since the above effect is
realized by simply arranging the stopper bar and the urging unit
within the housing case, the number of assemblage parts can be
reduced.
[0010] In the tongue of the present invention mentioned above, each
of the plurality of ribs includes an edge face portion which
presses the webbing, the edge face portion including a slanted face
portion which extends obliquely frontward so as to press a rear
edge portion of the webbing hung around the stopper bar urged in a
rearward by the urging unit.
[0011] In the above tongue, since the stopper bar is urged rearward
by the urging unit, the webbing hung around the stopper bar is more
effectively pressed so as to make inroads into the slanted face
portion of each of the plurality of ribs which are arranged upright
on the inner surface of the housing case. Thus, the webbing hung
around the stopper bar is reliably held between the plurality of
ribs and the stopper bar so as to effectively prevent the
microslip.
[0012] Further, in the tongue of the present invention mentioned
above, each of the plurality of ribs includes a planar face portion
facing the stopper bar urged in the rearward by the urging unit
from a front edge portion of the slanted face portion.
[0013] In the above tongue, the plurality of ribs are formed so
that each of those includes the planar face portion facing the
stopper bar urged by the urging unit rearward from the front edge
portion of the slanted face portion. Thereby, the plurality of ribs
can be elongated and the strength of the housing case can thus be
enhanced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a tongue according
to a present embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a rear view of a tongue plate which makes up the
tongue;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the tongue plate;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a side view of the tongue plate;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the tongue plate taken
along arrow A-A in FIG. 3;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a plain view of a stopper bar which makes up the
tongue;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the stopper bar taken
along line B-B in FIG. 6;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a plain view of a housing case which makes up the
tongue in which twisted coil springs are arranged with a lid
portion being opened;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a side view of the housing case;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the housing case taken
along line C-C in FIG. 8;
[0024] FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the housing case taken
along line D-D in FIG. 8;
[0025] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the tongue with a part
of inside seen through;
[0026] FIG. 13 is a cross sectional diagram of the tongue in case
no load is applied to a webbing;
[0027] FIG. 14 is a cross sectional diagram of the tongue in case a
load is applied to the webbing;
[0028] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a housing case for use in a
tongue according to another embodiment; and
[0029] FIG. 16 is a plain view of a housing case for use in a
tongue according to another embodiment.
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0030] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the tongue according to the
present invention will be described in detail while referring to
the accompanying drawings.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, a tongue I according to the present
embodiment basically consists of a tongue plate 2, a stopper bar 3
and a housing case 4.
[0032] The tongue plate 2 will be described based on FIG. 1 through
FIG. 5. The tongue plate 2 basically consists of a plate main body
2A in a substantially rectangular form, an engagement portion 2C,
and an insertion hole 2D. The engagement portion 2C is arranged so
as to protrude frontward from a substantially central position of a
front edge portion 2B of the plate main body 2A. The insertion hole
2D is formed at a substantially central part of the plate main body
2A.
[0033] Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the engagement portion 2C includes
a slanted portion 2E and a horizontal portion 2F. The slanted
portion 2E extends from the front edge portion 2B so as to slant
downward. The horizontal portion 2F extends in a horizontal
direction from an end of the slanted portion 2E. An engagement hole
2G in a rectangular form is arranged in the horizontal portion 2F
so as to be engaged with an engagement member of a buckle B (refer
to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14). A part W1 , a part of a webbing W folded
back in length direction is inserted through the insertion hole 2D,
as shown in FIG. 1.
[0034] A pair of drooping portions 2H are formed at longitudinal
end portions of the plate main body 2A. A pair of projecting
portions 2I are formed so as to project frontward from lower ends
of the drooping portions 2H. The pair of projecting portions 21 are
inserted and fitted in recess portions (not shown) formed at a
front side of the housing case 4. Similarly, a pair of projecting
portions 2J are formed so as to project rearward from the lower
ends of the drooping portions 2H, and are inserted and fitted in
recess portions (not shown) formed at a rear side of the housing
case 4.
[0035] Further, as shown in FIG. 2, on inner sides of the pair of
drooping portion 2H, a pair of slide movement guide portions 2K are
each formed to guide the stopper bar 3 to be described later. More
specifically, the stopper bar 3 is slided back and forth with
respect to the plate main body 2A by the pair of slide movement
guide portions 2K.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the stopper bar 3 is
composed of a webbing support portion 3A and guide support portions
3B. The webbing support portion 3A is wrapped with a folded portion
W2 of the webbing W. The guide support portions 3B are formed so as
to project frontward from both end portions of the webbing support
portion 3A.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 7, in the webbing support portion 3A, a
slanted portion 3C is formed so as to slant downward in a rear
direction. The guide support portions 3B are mounted on the slide
movement guide portions 2K of the tongue plate 2. The stopper bar 3
is thus arranged striding over the insertion hole 2D of the tongue
plate 2 and allowed to slide back and forth.
[0038] The housing case 4 is a case for housing the plate main body
2A of the tongue plate 2. Specifically, a housing main body 4A and
a lid member 4B are integrally formed into a box-like form which is
made openable and closable by means of a pair of connecting
portions 4C. A plurality of ribs 4D are sequentially arranged
upright along a front-rear direction on an inner surface so as to
extend from a rear wall to a bottom wall in the housing main body
4A.
[0039] Between a front edge portion 4E of the housing main body 4A
and an end portion 4F of the lid member 4B, and also between the
pair of connecting portions 4C, a gap 4G is formed, which serves as
a slit hole 4H that allows insertion of the engagement portion 2C
of the tongue plate 2 therethrough when the lid member 4B is closed
to fit in the housing main body 4A (refer to FIG. 12).
[0040] A pair of spring support portions 41 are arranged on a front
end side of the housing main body 4A. A pair of twisted coil
springs 5 are placed on the corresponding pair of spring support
portions 41. As shown in FIG. 8, end portions 5A of the pair of
twisted coil springs 5 are engaged with an inner wall of the front
edge portion 4E of the housing main body 4A, and other end portions
5B are free end portions. The other end portions 5B of the pair of
twisted coil springs 5 are engaged in contact with front end
surfaces of the corresponding pair of guide support portions 3B
(refer to FIG. 12). Thus, with its spring force, each twisted coil
spring 5 urges the stopper bar 3 so as to slide the stopper bar 3
rearward.
[0041] In the lid member 4B, a through hole 4J which allows the
webbing W to pass therethrough is formed at a position meeting with
the insertion hole 2D of the tongue plate 2. The webbing W is
inserted through the through hole 4J of the lid member 4B and
further, through the insertion hole 2D of the tongue plate 2.
[0042] In the housing main body 4A, three elastic engagement pieces
4Q are formed on a rear wall 4P. Between respective adjoining
elastic engagement pieces 4Q, two engagement portions 4R are
formed. Further, a pair of engagement grooves 4T are formed on a
pair of side walls 4S. On the other hand, in the lid member 4B,
three engagement portions 4U and two elastic engagement pieces 4V
are formed to correspond with the three elastic engagement pieces
4Q and the two engagement portions 4R, respectively, of the housing
main body 4A, and further, a pair of elastic engagement pieces 4W
are formed to correspond with the pair of engagement grooves 4T of
the housing main body 4A.
[0043] Thus, as shown in FIG. 12, the engagement portion 2C of the
tongue plate 2, to which the stopper bar 3 with the webbing W hung
therearound is mounted, is inserted through the slit hole 4H. The
other portions 5B of the pair of twisted coil springs 5 are made to
come in contact with the respective front end surfaces of the guide
support portions 3B. Further, the plate main body 2A of the tongue
plate 2 is pressed into the housing main body 4A, whereby a rear
edge portion of the plate main body 2A is elastically engaged with
the respective elastic engagement pieces 4Q so that the tongue
plate 2 is fixed in the housing main body 4A.
[0044] Once the lid member 4B is closed to fit in the housing main
body 4A by rotating the lid member 4B by means of the connecting
portions 4C, the elastic engagement pieces 4V are elastically
engaged with the respective engagement portions 4R and further, the
elastic engagement pieces 4W are elastically engaged with the
respective engagement grooves 4T. Thus, just a one-touch operation
of closing the lid member 4B to fit in the housing main body 4A
enables the elastic engagement pieces and the engagement portions
to elastically engage with each other so that the housing case 4
can easily be assembled with the tongue plate 2 housed therein.
[0045] Here, there will be explained about configuration of the
ribs 4D formed on the housing main body 4A of the housing case 4.
The respective ribs 4D are arranged in parallel to one another in a
direction orthogonal to a sliding direction of the stopper bar
3.
[0046] Further, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, each rib 4D has a
first slanted portion 4K, a first horizontal portion 4L, a second
slanted portion 4M and a second horizontal portion 4N in this order
as extending from the rear wall to the bottom wall of the housing
main body 4A. Of those portions, each second slanted portion 4M
includes a slanted surface slanted down in a front direction from
the first horizontal portion 4L. The second slanted portions 4M
serves to press the folded portion W2 of the webbing W hung around
the webbing support portion 3A of the stopper bar 3. The planar
second horizontal portions 4N are positioned to face the stopper
bar 3 which is kept in a state being urged rearward by the twisted
coil springs 5.
[0047] There will be explained a case that no load is applied to
the webbing W while the engagement portion 2C of the tongue plate 2
is engaged with the buckle B in the tongue 1 configured as
described above. As shown in FIG. 13, the stopper bar 3 is urged at
its both sides by the two twisted coil springs 5 toward a rib 4D
side, whereby the folded portion W2 of the webbing W that is hung
around the webbing support portion 3A of the stopper bar 3 is urged
so as to come into contact with the'ribs 4D between the stopper bar
3 and the second slanted portions 4M of the ribs 4D. Consequently,
the webbing W is effectively prevented from microslipping.
[0048] In contrast, in case that a load is applied to the webbing W
by a tension added to the webbing W while the engagement portion 2C
of the tongue plate 2 is engaged with the buckle B, the stopper bar
3 is furthermore pushed and moved toward the rib 4D side so that
the webbing W is strongly pressed against the second slanted
portions 4M of the ribs 4D, whereby the webbing W makes inroads
thereinto further. Thus, the webbing W is effectively retained.
[0049] As explained above, in the tongue 1 according to the present
embodiment, when the stopper bar 3 with the webbing W hung
thereaound is housed in the housing case 4, the stopper bar 3 is
urged rearward by the twisted coil springs 5. Accordingly, the
webbing W is urged so as to come in contact with the ribs 4D
between the stopper bar 3 and the plurality of ribs 4D which are
sequentially arranged upright on the inner surface from the rear
wall to the bottom wall of the housing case 4. Thereby, the
microslip is prevented. Further, since the plurality of ribs 4D are
arranged upright along a front-rear direction on the inner surface
from the rear wall to the bottom wall of the housing main body 4A
in the housing case 4, the webbing W can smoothly be moved in
adjusting length of the webbing W.
[0050] Further, since the stopper bar 3 is urged rearward by the
twisted coil springs 5, the stopper bar 3 is further pushed and
moved toward the rib 4D side when a tension is applied to the
webbing W. Thereby, the webbing W hung around the stopper bar 3 is
strongly pressed against the plurality of ribs 4D. The webbing W
thus makes inroads into the plurality of ribs 4D, whereby the
webbing W can be reliably retained. Further, since the above effect
is realized by simply arranging the stopper bar 3 and the twisted
coil springs 5 within the housing case 4, the number of assemblage
parts can be reduced.
[0051] Further, in the tongue 1 mentioned above, since the stopper
bar 3 is urged rearward by the pair of twisted coil springs 5, the
webbing W hung around the stopper bar 3 is more effectively pressed
by the second slanted portions 4M of the plurality of ribs 4D which
are arranged upright on the inner surface from the rear wall to the
bottom wall of the housing main body 4A in the housing case 4.
Thus, the webbing W hung around the stopper bar 3 is firmly held
between the plurality of ribs 4D and the stopper bar 3 so as to
reliably prevent the microslip.
[0052] Further, in the tongue I mentioned above, the plurality of
ribs 4D are formed so as to include the planar second horizontal
portions 4N facing the stopper bar 3 urged by the twisted coil
springs 5 rearward from front edge portions of the second slanted
portions 4M. Thereby, the plurality of. ribs 4D can thus be
elongated, and strength of the housing case 4 can be enhanced.
[0053] The present invention is not limited to the above-described
embodiment, but various improvements and alterations can be made
thereto without departing from the spirit of the present
invention.
[0054] In the housing case 4 of the tongue 1 according to the
embodiment described above, the plurality of ribs 4D are formed on
the inner surface extending from the rear wall to the bottom wall
of the housing main body 4A so as to be parallel with one another
and also linearly along a front-rear direction of the housing main
body 4A. However, there does not need to be limited to that
embodiment. For instance, as shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, a
housing main body 4A may be divided in two areas at a substantially
central line. In each area thus divided, first slanted portions 4K,
first horizontal portions 4L and second slanted portions 4M of
respective ribs 4D may be formed obliquely toward a central part
while second slanted portions 4N are formed mutually in
parallel.
* * * * *