Improved fully automatic release type seat belt buckle body

Abstract

To provide a fully automatic release type seat belt buckle body which is improved by a method and means for maximally exhibiting the role of a lock claw part that is most important for securing functionality of an internal structure that prevents a tongue plate from unexpectedly detached when the tongue plate is inserted or when a vehicle body or a human body strongly swings.SOLUTION: There is provided a fully automatic release type seat belt buckle body in which a buckle mechanism portion and a solenoid portion are integrally formed. The buckle body comprises a lock claw portion and a plunger lock port that are disposed, in a plunger base column portion provided in the buckle mechanism portion, so that, when the buckle body is locked, the lock claw portion is arranged at a receiving portion of a tongue lock hole in an inserted tongue plate, and the plunger lock port is arranged at a receiving portion of the plunger base column portion facing a tongue distal end portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] To provide a buckle body with an improved release mechanism that automatically releases a belt without manual operation when a person tries to get out of a car seat. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a patent registered by the same applicant as the present application (hereinafter referred to as the prior registered patent) regarding a fully automatic release seat belt is known (see Patent Document 1). The buckle body described above has the buckle mechanism and solenoid parts installed in a buckle case as a whole in an L-shape, and inside each of the buckle mechanism and solenoid parts, a plunger part consisting of a movable iron core, i.e., the plunger mechanism piece and plunger base shaft part, are integrally provided in an L-shape. When the engine switch is turned on or off, an electromagnetic flow action occurs for a set period of a few seconds, causing the plunger mechanism piece, which is connected to the plunger base shaft part in the solenoid part, to push and pull the tongue plate a few millimeters toward the locking claw protruding from the opposing buckle base wall side, thereby locking and unlocking the structure. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7373049 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the locking mechanism shown in Patent Document 1, when the tongue plate is inserted, the pressure of the tongue plate descending down the slope of the locking claw, which slopes down toward the plunger receiving part, pushes the plunger mechanism piece away with such force that the locking claw enters the tongue lock hole and is locked, and the plunger mechanism piece is fixed back into place by the permanent magnet as if nothing had happened. This instantaneous process can be simplified for easy understanding as follows. If the tongue plate is 2 mm thick, when it is inserted into the buckle or released from the locking claw, the plunger must move back at least 2 mm. If it moves less than 3 mm, the magnetic force of the permanent magnet will pull the plunger back before the seat belt can pull it back and release it. However, if the plunger moves more than 4 mm, the seat belt will pull it back faster than the fixed magnetic force and force it to release. In other words, to allow the tongue plate to be inserted or to assist its release, the plunger must be guaranteed to move back within 2 to 4 mm. However, if an unexpected external pressure is forced to move the plunger continuously, intermittently, or continuously within the narrow tolerance range of 3 to 4 mm while the vehicle is locked while driving, the subtle deviation in the tolerance range of 1 to 2 mm could be exploited, causing the tongue plate to release momentarily before the permanent magnet can pull the plunger back. This process is repeated every time the car is driven. This means that each time, a strong force is applied to the plunger lock mechanism, particularly the delicate plunger receiving part that is part of it, which tends to loosen it. This force is always acting in the direction of releasing the locking claw, and this should not be overlooked. Deterioration over time due to the number of uses should also be expected. These are far too serious a problem to be dismissed as mere worry. This application aims to resolve these problems as a technical solution to the problem that the strong external pressure applied to the plunger lock mechanism piece via the tongue plate acts in a direction that causes it to unilaterally disengage from the lock pawl, and through repeated prototype testing, aims to provide a new horizon for the practical possibility of implementing the plunger lock mechanism, including improving its functional stability and structural reinforcement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This buckle body is constructed by incorporating a bidirectional holding solenoid, which has a movable iron core or plunger that moves in alternate directions when energized and de-energized, integrally with the buckle mechanism. If the buckle body in the applicant's previously registered patent, "Fully Automatic Release Seat Belt," is L-shaped, then this application is an inverted L-shaped buckle. However, in the following explanation, the vertical side of the outer inverted L-shaped buckle body will be referred to as the buckle mechanism and the horizontal side will be referred to as the solenoid. In the buckle mechanism, Sharing the same ceiling wall, the side of the solenoid unit is called the mechanism unit front wall and the opposite side is called the mechanism unit rear wall, and the interior surrounded by these three walls forms the locking mechanism cabinet. Within this locking mechanism cabinet, a movable iron core, i.e., a plunger base column, is installed on a scale that almost fills the entire cabinet from the ceiling wall to the bottom, while leaving approximately 3 mm of free space along the mechanism unit rear wall side, and a tongue insertion hole that receives a tongue plate inserted from the ceiling wall is provided in a manner that descends to the middle of the cabinet. At the plunger base, The locking claw is formed in a nose-like protrusion that slopes downwards to a height that meets the lowest part of the tongue lock hole of the tongue plate that has been inserted and lowered to the bottom. Just below the nose-like claw is a recess that forms a mouth-like recess, and has the depth, length and width to fit snugly around the tip of the tongue plate (hereinafter referred to as the tongue tip), forming a plunger locking opening. A push lever button is provided on the outside of the front wall of the mechanism, facing the area immediately below the plunger lock port, that penetrates the wall and allows the plunger base to be manually pushed to release the lock in the event of an emergency. In the solenoid section, The outer shell forms an inverted L-shaped horizontal piece, one protruding end of which is called the front wall of the solenoid section, and the internal space shares the bottom area of ​​the locking mechanism housing. A continuous, integral movable iron core extends perpendicularly from the front of the base of the plunger base shaft along the internal center line of the horizontal piece to form the plunger base shaft. Surrounding the plunger base shaft are three sections, in order from the buckle mechanism side: a section in the direction of displacement when not energized, a permanent magnet section, and a section in the direction of displacement when energized. The tip of the plunger base shaft that extends into the section in the direction of displacement when energized travels back and forth between the front wall of the solenoid section and the front wall of the solenoid section by a distance of approximately 3 mm, which corresponds exactly to the free space between the plunger base shaft and the rear wall of the mechanism section. Thus, in the locked state, The plunger base shaft portion is pulled and moved together with the plunger base post portion toward the displacement direction portion when energized, and the tip of the plunger base shaft portion comes into close contact with the front wall of the solenoid portion, and the plunger base post portion creates a space between itself and the rear wall of the mechanism portion, while gripping the tip of the tongue plate into the plunger lock opening and simultaneously fitting the lock claw portion into the tongue lock hole, In the unlocked state, The plunger base shaft, together with the plunger base post, is pulled and moves in the direction of displacement when de-energized, and the tip of the plunger base shaft creates space between it and the front wall of the solenoid, while the plunger locking opening separates from the tip of the tongue, and at the same time the locking claw also comes out of the tongue lock hole, and the plunger base post fits tightly against the rear wall of the mechanism, and these simultaneous processes are accompanied by the instantaneous release of the tongue plate. When the buckle is locked while driving, if an unexpected external impact force is applied to the buckle mechanism via the seat belt and tongue plate, the tongue plate will end up pushing itself against the locking claws as it tries to push away what is holding it (i.e., it will be impossible to release it). This is an improved fully automatic release seat belt buckle with the above features. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] In the previously registered patent "Fully Automatic Release Seat Belt," (1) when the engine key is turned on, an electromagnetic current is generated for only three seconds, causing the plunger base shaft in the solenoid to move toward the position of the locking claw (the locking claw in the present application) together with the plunger locking mechanism piece (the plunger base portion in the present application) toward the part that is displaced when electricity is applied, and the plunger locking mechanism piece comes into close contact with the locking claw in the opposing position, and regardless of whether the tongue plate is inserted or not, the locking claw blocks the tongue insertion hole (the tongue insertion hole in the present application) halfway, (2) after three seconds the electromagnetic current disappears, and instead the plunger base shaft and plunger locking mechanism piece are fixed as a unit by the permanent magnet, and the locked state is maintained, ▲3▼Normally, three seconds pass by the time you sit in the driver's seat, feel for the seat belt, put it on your body, and get your hands on the tongue plate, so to insert the tongue plate into the buckle body, just like with a normal manual buckle, you give a strong push down the sloping surface of the locking claw that blocks the tongue insertion hole partway, causing the locking claw to pass through the tongue lock hole, completing the seat belt fastening, and then you can start driving. ▲4▼Since no electricity flows within the buckle mechanism while driving, there is no risk of the entire buckle body overheating due to heat generation and accumulation. ▲5▼When driving stops and the engine key is turned OFF, an electromagnetic current is generated for only three seconds, and the plunger base shaft part along with the plunger mechanism piece moves toward the non-energized direction part, releasing the tongue lock hole from the locking claw via the lock release piece, and at that moment the tongue plate is pulled up by the belt in one go and detached. When the usage cycle, as described above in steps 1 to 5, finally closes, even if the person skips the necessary steps to release themselves from the seat belt restraints, the belt will automatically release them. Especially among the elderly, the number of people who "accidentally forget to release their seat belt" is increasing. The belt pulls back unexpectedly with force, causing pain to the shoulders, neck, upper arms, etc., and in some cases even leading to chronic illness. This paper presents a remarkable functional device, the "fully automatic release seat belt," that will contribute to society by addressing the seat belt problem that inevitably accompanies automobile use, which will continue to increase as the "legs" of an aging society, which will become even more serious in the future. The buckle mechanism itself shown above is adopted as is in the present invention, and the technical components are also the same. The only improvement added by the present invention is a change in the installation location of the locking claw (locking claw portion in this application), and the resulting important advantages, which are more than you might imagine, will be explained below. In the process of (1) above, when manually pushing the tongue plate into the tongue insertion hole, the plunger lock mechanism piece (and therefore the plunger base shaft, which is a continuous, integral part of it) could be felt to have a slight wobble (or wobbles). If the product had been sold, consumers (drivers) probably wouldn't have noticed it, but to the engineers who developed the device, it was an unsettling and eerie "wobbles" that was hard to resist. The same thing happened when we tried changing the shape of the locking claws and the angle of the slope at which the tip of the tongue slopes down. The last idea we had was a very human analogy: because the locking claws are opposed to each other, the plungers end up fighting (combating) each other, and the plunger stumbles and wobbles every time it is struck by the locking claws. Instead of the locking claws and the plunger fighting, we thought it would be better to make the locking claws our ally and hold the locking claws ourselves. After repeated prototype testing, we arrived at the "locking claw" that is part of the plunger base. After repeated experiments, the subtle, eerie "wobbling" sensation that had been haunting me completely disappeared, as if by magic. How can we explain this stark fact? When a person is suddenly thrust forward by a stranger, they instinctively lose their balance and take a hasty step back, barely managing to hold on or even fall. However, when they step back themselves, they take a step back, one foot at a time, so they do not lose their balance uncomfortably. One can only acknowledge the providential nature that is manifested in the outcome of this simple and clear phenomenon. That is, in this case, the tongue plate, which is being pushed into the tongue insertion hole, tries to push the plunger away by descending obliquely over the locking claw, blocking its path, just for a moment before it passes the locking claw blocking its path through the tongue lock hole. At this time, in the L-shaped buckle mentioned above, this acts as a dangerous pressure that pushes the plunger away and causes it to separate from the locking claw, but in the reverse L-shaped buckle of the present invention, the more the tongue plate tries to push the plunger away, the more tightly it presses against the locking claw, making it more difficult to release, which only results in a stronger locked state. Furthermore, with the L-shaped design, if the external pressure transmitted through the combination of the locking claw and tongue plate becomes strong and intense, the external pressure applied to the solenoid base wall by the plunger base shaft tip increases, raising the risk of destabilizing the outer structure of the buckle body. In contrast, with the inverted L-shaped design of the present application, the external pressure applied to the buckle mechanism is unlikely to act in a direction that would separate the solenoid. Therefore, the risk of strain accumulating in a direction that would undermine the structural robustness of the buckle body has been greatly reduced. Thus, in terms of the change in position of the same inventive element from the "locking claw" to the "plunger locking claw portion," the buckle body used in the "fully-automatic-release seatbelt" manifested a clear inventive step through a partial improvement from an "L-shape" to an "inverted L-shape," raising the prospects for the implementation of the "fully-automatic-release seatbelt" to a new level. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1]A cross-sectional view clearly showing the internal structure of the present invention in a locked state during use. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 in a state toward unlocking. [Figure 3] 2 is a plan view showing the AB cross section of the present invention shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 3 is a plan view showing the A'-B' cross section of the present invention shown in FIG. [Figure 5] Front view of tongue plate [Figure 6] External perspective view of the present invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The structural features relating to the implementation of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings, and the actual method of use will also be explained. The buckle body is formed by incorporating a bidirectional holding solenoid, which has a movable iron core, or plunger, that moves alternately when energized and de-energized, integrally with the buckle mechanism. If the buckle body in the applicant's previously registered patent, "Fully Automatic Release Seat Belt," is L-shaped, then this application is an inverted L-shaped buckle. In the following explanation, the vertical side of the outer inverted L-shaped buckle body will be referred to as the buckle mechanism (1) and the horizontal side as the solenoid (2). In the buckle mechanism (1), The solenoid unit (2) side is called the mechanism unit front wall (4) and the opposite side is called the mechanism unit rear wall (5) while sharing the ceiling wall (7). The interior surrounded by these three walls forms a locking mechanism (6) chamber. Within this locking mechanism chamber (6), a movable iron core, i.e., a plunger base column (8) is installed so as to fill the entire chamber from the ceiling wall (7) to the bottom, with a free space of about 3 mm along the mechanism unit rear wall (5). A tongue insertion hole (17) for receiving a tongue plate (16) inserted from the ceiling wall (7) is provided in a manner that descends to the middle of the chamber. In the plunger base portion (8), The plunger lock hole (19) of the fully inserted tongue plate (16) protrudes like a nose at an angle downwards to form the lock claw (9). The area just below the nose is recessed like a mouth, forming a plunger lock opening (10) with a depth, length and width that perfectly fits the tip of the tongue plate, i.e., the tongue tip (18). A push lever button (21) penetrates the front wall (4) of the mechanism, facing the area immediately below the plunger lock port (10), and is provided on the outside of the wall to manually push the plunger base (8) to release the lock in the event of an emergency. In the solenoid section (2), The outer shell forms an inverted L-shaped horizontal piece, one of whose protruding ends is called the solenoid section front wall (3), and the internal space shares the bottom area of ​​the locking mechanism housing (6). A continuous, integral movable iron core extends perpendicularly from the front of the base of the plunger base shaft (12) along the internal center line of the horizontal piece to form the plunger base shaft (12). Surrounding the plunger base shaft (12) are formed three sections, in order from the buckle mechanism section (1) side: a non-energized displacement direction section (13), a permanent magnet section (15), and an energized displacement direction section (14). The tip of the plunger base shaft (12) extending into the energized displacement direction section (14) travels back and forth between the solenoid section front wall (3) and this space is approximately 3 mm, which corresponds exactly to the free space between the plunger base shaft (12) and the mechanism section rear wall (5). Thus, in the locked state, The plunger base shaft portion (12) and the plunger base post portion (8) are pulled and moved toward the energized displacement direction portion (14), and the tip of the plunger base shaft portion (12) comes into close contact with the front wall (3) of the solenoid portion, and the plunger base post portion (8) creates a space between itself and the rear wall (5) of the mechanism portion, and the tongue tip portion (18) is gripped into the plunger lock opening (10), and at the same time, the lock claw portion (9) is fitted into the tongue lock hole (19). In the unlocked state, The plunger base shaft portion (12) moves together with the plunger base post portion (8) in the non-energized displacement direction portion (13) by being pulled, and the tip of the plunger base shaft portion (12) creates a space between it and the front wall (3) of the solenoid portion, while the plunger locking port (10) moves away from the tongue tip portion (18). At the same time, the locking claw portion (9) also comes out of the tongue lock hole (19), and the plunger base post portion (8) fits tightly against the rear wall (5) of the mechanism portion. These simultaneous processes are accompanied by the instantaneous release of the tongue plate (16). The structural features of the present invention are summarized as above, but they can be used in exactly the same way as the buckle body for the previously registered patent "fully automatic release seat belt," and the specific method of use and operation is also the same. However, the "locking claw" which had an independent position in the previously registered patent has been reorganized into a "locking claw portion (9)" which is positioned as part of the plunger base portion (8) in the present invention, which represents an important improvement and evolution. (1) The evolutionary inventive step brought about by the only structural improvement change is described in detail in the section on [Effects of the Invention], but the "wobbling and rattling" that was always felt when inserting the tongue plate (16), even if it was only slight, should have been recognized as a qualitative inadequacy of the locking mechanism as an item related to safety, and in the worst case scenario, as a defect that could potentially endanger the life of the user. 2) The tongue plate (16), which is inserted as the initial operation just before driving, connects the locking claw and plunger part in a mechanical functional relationship. The swaying of the vehicle body and the driver exerts external pressure on the entire device mechanism, creating a “shaking and wobbling” feeling that gives an eerie feeling of uneasiness. No other method or means could be found to eliminate this, and only the “locking claw part (9)” with its appropriate placement provided a solution. ▲3▼ As a result, not only when the buckle is inserted, but also when various external pressures of different magnitudes are transmitted through the tongue plate (16) while riding, the tongue plate (16) does not move away from the locking claw portion (9) but always moves more strongly toward the locking claw portion (9) in proportion to the strength of the external pressure, so that even when it is hit by an unexpected strong impact, a tragic release will not occur unless the buckle body itself is destroyed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0009] 1 buckle mechanism, 2 solenoid, 3 solenoid front wall, 4 Mechanism front wall, 5 Mechanism back wall, 6 Lock mechanism storage, 7 Ceiling wall, 8 Plunger base, 9 Locking claw, 10 Plunger lock port, 11 Push lever button, 12 plunger base portion, 13 non-energized displacement direction portion, 14: Displacement direction portion when energized; 15: Permanent magnet portion; 16 tongue plate, 17 tongue insertion hole, 18 tongue tip, 19 Tanglock hole, 20 Lenoid ceiling wall, 21 Push lever button

Claims

1. A buckle body in which a buckle mechanism part and a solenoid part are respectively provided integrally with each other, with the former having a plunger base part and the latter having a plunger base shaft part, An improved fully automatic release seat belt buckle is characterized in that the plunger base has a locking claw portion at the portion that comes into contact with the tongue lock hole of the tongue plate inserted all the way in, and a plunger locking opening at the portion that comes into contact with the tip of the tongue.

2. When the tongue plate is locked, 2. An improved fully automatic release seat belt buckle according to claim 1, characterized in that there is no free space between the tip of the plunger base shaft and the front wall of the solenoid section, and external pressure transmitted through the tongue plate is absorbed toward the rear of the plunger base shaft, which has free space at that time, so that the solenoid section does not act in a direction that upsets the structural connection with the buckle mechanism section.

3. 2. An improved fully automatic release seat belt buckle according to claim 1, characterized in that even if the tongue plate moves violently due to external pressure while the vehicle is in a locked state, it always presses itself more firmly against the locking claw portion, and the only chance for escape is when the locking claw portion retracts on its own, which occurs when the vehicle stops and the engine switch is turned off.

4. 2. An improved fully automatic release seat belt buckle according to claim 1, characterized in that a push lever button is provided on the outside of the front wall of the mechanism, facing the area immediately below the plunger lock port of the plunger base post across the wall, for manually pushing the plunger base post to release the lock in the event of an emergency.

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