Buckle device and buckle cover attachment method

Abstract

To provide a buckle device in which a buckle is covered with a buckle cover and a position of the buckle cover with respect to the buckle can be fixed.SOLUTION: A buckle device includes a buckle body 2 of a seat belt device, and a buckle cover 1 mounted to the buckle body 2. The buckle cover 1 is a non-woven fabric product covering at least a lower part of the buckle body 2, and has: a peripheral wall part 10 covering an outer peripheral surface of the buckle body 2; and a bottom surface part 12 continuing to a lower end of the peripheral wall part 10 and covering a bottom surface of the buckle body 2. At least a part of a region of the peripheral wall part 10 and the outer peripheral surface of the buckle body 2 are fused to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a buckle device constituting a part of a seatbelt device provided in a moving body such as an automobile, and a buckle cover attaching method for attaching a buckle cover to a buckle. [Background technology]

[0002] Seat belt devices installed in automobiles and other vehicles are configured so that a tongue, through which a webbing for restraining an occupant is looped, latches onto a buckle located on the side of the seat. In recent years, due to design requirements, many vehicles do not have sufficient clearance between the buckle and the center console, seat side cover, etc. In such cases, there has been a problem in that the buckle may swing when driving on rough roads, come into contact with or interfere with surrounding parts, and cause abnormal noise.

[0003] Cited Document 1 describes a method of preventing interference with the center console by covering the buckle with a buckle cover made of a stretchable material woven into a sleeve shape and having a high-friction rubber member on the inner circumferential surface. However, the buckle cover in Cited Document 1 may not have sufficient friction with the inner circumferential surface depending on the material of the buckle, and since the buckle cover itself is stretchable, there is a risk that it may slip off or flip up if touched by a person. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3172982 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a buckle device and a buckle cover attaching method in which the buckle is covered with a buckle cover and the position of the buckle cover relative to the buckle can be fixed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The buckle device of the present invention comprises a buckle body of a seat belt device and a buckle cover attached to the buckle body, wherein the buckle cover is a nonwoven fabric molding that covers at least the lower part of the buckle body, and has a peripheral wall portion that covers the outer surface of the buckle body, and a bottom portion that is connected to the lower end of the peripheral wall portion and covers the bottom surface of the buckle body, and at least a portion of the peripheral wall portion is welded to the outer surface of the buckle body.

[0007] In one aspect of the present invention, an opening is formed in the bottom surface portion, and a bracket extending from a lower portion of the buckle body is inserted through the opening.

[0008] In one aspect of the present invention, the buckle cover further has an extension piece extending downward from the edge of the opening, a first fixing hole formed in the extension piece, a second fixing hole formed in the bracket, and a fixing member inserted into the first fixing hole and the second fixing hole.

[0009] The buckle cover mounting method of the present invention is a method for mounting a buckle cover, which is a nonwoven fabric molding that covers at least the lower part of the buckle body, to the buckle body of a seat belt device, wherein the buckle cover is a rectangular tube having a peripheral wall portion that covers the outer peripheral surface of the buckle body and a bottom portion that is connected to the lower end of the peripheral wall portion and covers the bottom surface of the buckle body, with a first opening at the top and a second opening formed in the bottom portion, and the lower end of a bracket extending from the bottom of the buckle body is passed through the first opening and the second opening of the buckle cover in that order, the buckle body is pushed into the buckle cover so that the bottom surface of the buckle body contacts the bottom portion, and at least a portion of the peripheral wall portion is welded to the outer peripheral surface of the buckle body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] In the buckle device of the present invention, the buckle cover covers the buckle to suppress the generation of abnormal noise and also fixes the position of the buckle relative to the buckle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a buckle cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the buckle cover as viewed from below. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the buckle cover attached to the buckle body. [Figure 5] 5A to 5E are diagrams showing examples of welded portions. [Figure 6] 6A to 6F are diagrams showing examples of welded portions. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a modified buckle cover as viewed from below. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the buckle cover attached to the buckle body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the buckle cover 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is a generally rectangular tube that covers at least the lower part of the buckle body 2 of a seatbelt device, and includes a peripheral wall 10 and a bottom surface 12 that is continuous with the lower end of the peripheral wall 10. The up-down direction of the buckle cover 1 attached to the buckle body 2 in Figure 1 is the up-down direction when the buckle cover 1 is installed in a vehicle. Hereinafter, the up-down direction of the buckle cover 1 refers to the up-down direction when the buckle cover 1 is installed in a vehicle.

[0014] The size and shape of the buckle cover 1 are adapted to the outer shape of the buckle body 2. The buckle cover 1 is a nonwoven fabric molded body made by heating and pressurizing nonwoven fabric in a molding machine, and is hard and has shape retention. Examples of nonwoven fabric materials include pulp, cotton, polyester, polypropylene, and nylon. The thickness of the buckle cover 1 is, for example, about 0.3 to 5.0 mm.

[0015] The top of the buckle cover 1 forms an opening 11. The peripheral wall 10 has a pair of opposing side surfaces 10a, 10b and a pair of opposing side surfaces 10c, 10d. The side surfaces 10c, 10d connect the peripheral edges of the pair of side surfaces 10a, 10b. The side surfaces 10a, 10b are wider than the side surfaces 10c, 10d, and the horizontal cross section of the peripheral wall 10 is generally rectangular.

[0016] A substantially rectangular opening 13 (bottom opening) is formed in the bottom portion 12. The opening 13 is formed closer to the side surface 10b than the center of the bottom portion 12. The opening 13 may reach the side surface 10b, with the center of the lower edge of the side surface 10b being positioned higher than the bottom portion 12. The longitudinal sides of the opening 13 are substantially parallel to the side surfaces 10a and 10b, and the lateral sides are substantially parallel to the side surfaces 10c and 10d. The longitudinal width of the opening 13 is approximately 50 to 90% of the width of the side surfaces 10a and 10b. The lateral width of the opening 13 is approximately 10 to 80% of the width of the side surfaces 10c and 10d.

[0017] Next, a method for attaching the buckle cover 1 to the buckle body 2 will be described.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 4, a bracket 3 extends from the bottom of the buckle body 2. The lower end of the bracket 3 is passed through the openings 11 and 13 of the buckle cover 1 in that order, and the buckle body 2 is pushed into the buckle cover 1 so that the bottom surface of the buckle body 2 comes into contact with the bottom surface portion 12 of the buckle cover 1. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the lower half of the buckle body 2 is housed in the buckle cover 1. The outer peripheral surface and bottom surface of the buckle body 2 are covered by the peripheral wall portion 10 and bottom surface portion 12 of the buckle cover 1, respectively. As described above, the size and shape of the buckle cover 1 are adapted to the outer shape of the buckle body 2, and there is almost no gap between the inner peripheral surface of the buckle cover 1 and the buckle body 2.

[0019] The height (length in the vertical direction) of the buckle cover 1 is preferably about 20 to 60% of the height of the buckle body 2 .

[0020] Next, the side surface 10b of the buckle cover 1 is welded to the outer peripheral surface of the buckle body 2 facing the side surface 10b, thereby fixing the buckle cover 1 to the buckle body 2. The welding method is not particularly limited, and ultrasonic welding, high-frequency welding, laser welding, heat welding, etc. can be used.

[0021] The entire surface of the side surface 10b may be welded, or only a partial area may be welded.

[0022] For example, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, a rectangular area can be welded. The shaded areas in the figures indicate the welded areas. As shown in Figures 5C and 5D, a linear area extending in the left-right direction can also be welded. As shown in Figure 5E, a V-shaped area can also be welded.

[0023] As shown in Figures 6A, 6B, and 6C, two upper left and right locations on the side surface 10b may be welded. As shown in Figure 6D, two linear regions extending in the vertical direction may be welded. As shown in Figures 6E and 6F, in addition to the two upper left and right locations, a linear region extending in the horizontal direction in the middle of the vertical direction may be welded.

[0024] The opposing surfaces of the buckle cover 1 and the buckle body 2 may be welded together not only on the side surface 10b but also on at least one of the side surfaces 10a, 10c, and 10d.

[0025] The buckle device, in which the buckle cover 1 is welded and fixed to the buckle body 2, is mounted on a vehicle by connecting the lower end of the bracket 3 to a body member (not shown) of the vehicle such as an automobile. At this time, the buckle device is mounted on the vehicle so that the side surface 10b of the buckle cover 1 faces (contacts) the side surface of the seat cushion of the vehicle seat. An insertion space for a tongue through which webbing for restraining an occupant is passed is provided at the top of the buckle body 2.

[0026] Because the buckle body 2 is covered with the buckle cover 1, it is possible to suppress the generation of abnormal noise caused by the buckle body 2 interfering with the center console, seat side trim, etc. Furthermore, the buckle cover 1 is made of a hard material made from molded nonwoven fabric, and is welded to the buckle body 2, which prevents the buckle cover 1 from shifting out of position relative to the buckle body 2. When the seat cushion is raised or lowered by the seat lifter function, frictional force is generated in the buckle cover 1, but because the buckle cover 1 is firmly fixed to the buckle body 2 by welding, it is possible to prevent the buckle cover 1 from shifting out of position relative to the buckle body 2.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 7, an extension piece 14 may extend downward from the center of the longitudinal side of opening 13 (the lower side of side surface 10b). A fixing hole 15 (insertion hole) is formed in extension piece 14. The size of extension piece 14 is not particularly limited, but for example, the width of extension piece 14 is about 20 to 50% of the longitudinal width of opening 13. Furthermore, the length of extension piece 14 in the vertical direction is about 10 to 30 mm.

[0028] Before and after welding the buckle cover 1 and the buckle body 2, as shown in Fig. 8, the fixing holes (not shown) provided in the bracket 3 are aligned with the fixing holes 15 of the extension pieces 14, and fixing members 4 such as rivets (not shown) are inserted through the aligned holes to fix them. Fixing the extension pieces 14 and the bracket 3 with the fixing members 4 can more effectively prevent the buckle cover 1 from shifting in position relative to the buckle body 2.

[0029] A hard nonwoven fabric sheet having a shape that matches the side surface of the buckle body 2 may be produced by heating and pressurizing the nonwoven fabric in a molding machine, and this nonwoven fabric sheet may be welded and attached to the side surface of the buckle body 2 to secure it in place.

[0030] The above-described embodiment is an example of the present invention, and the present invention may have other configurations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1 buckle cover 2 Buckle body 3 Bracket

Claims

1. a buckle body of a seat belt device; a buckle cover attached to the buckle body; Equipped with the buckle cover is a nonwoven fabric molding that covers at least a lower portion of the buckle body, a peripheral wall portion covering an outer peripheral surface of the buckle body; a bottom surface portion that is connected to a lower end of the peripheral wall portion and covers a bottom surface of the buckle body; and The buckle device has at least a partial area of ​​the peripheral wall portion and an outer peripheral surface of the buckle body welded together.

2. An opening is formed in the bottom surface portion, The buckle device according to claim 1 , wherein a bracket extending from a lower portion of the buckle body is inserted through the opening.

3. The buckle cover further includes an extension piece extending downward from a peripheral edge of the opening, and a first fixing hole is formed in the extension piece. A second fixing hole is formed in the bracket, The buckle device according to claim 2 , wherein a fixing member is inserted through the first fixing hole and the second fixing hole.

4. A method for attaching a buckle cover, which is a nonwoven fabric molding that covers at least a lower portion of a buckle body of a seat belt device, to the buckle body, comprising: The buckle cover has a rectangular cylindrical shape having a peripheral wall portion covering the outer peripheral surface of the buckle body and a bottom surface portion connected to the lower end of the peripheral wall portion and covering the bottom surface of the buckle body, the top portion being a first opening, and the bottom surface portion being formed with a second opening, a lower end portion of the bracket extending from the lower portion of the buckle body being passed through the first opening and the second opening of the buckle cover in that order, and the buckle body being pushed into the buckle cover so that the bottom surface of the buckle body is in contact with the bottom surface portion; A buckle cover attaching method in which at least a portion of the peripheral wall portion is welded to the outer peripheral surface of the buckle body.

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