Seat belt device

Abstract

To inhibit increase of the width of a seat belt and reduce a load applied to a chest of an occupant wearing the seat belt.SOLUTION: A seat belt device 10 includes a seat belt 20 which is formed in a belt-like form and has a shoulder belt part 24 disposed along a chest P5 of an occupant P in a state where the seat belt 20 is worn by an occupant P of a vehicle. In the shoulder belt part 24, multiple slits 26 are formed along a longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt part 24. These slits 26 open in a width direction of the shoulder belt part 24 when the shoulder belt part 24 is pressed in its thickness direction. The action allows a peripheral edge part of each slit 26 in the shoulder belt part 24 to be along a shape of the chest P5 of the occupant P and thereby reduces a load applied to the chest P5 of the occupant P wearing the seat belt 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat belt device. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a seat belt device having a seat belt worn by a vehicle occupant and a retractor that winds up the seat belt. The seat belt has a shoulder belt portion that is placed along the chest of the vehicle occupant. The width of the shoulder belt portion of the seat belt is set wider than the width of the portion of the seat belt that is wound up by the retractor. This makes it possible to distribute the load acting on the chest of the occupant from the shoulder belt portion during a full-front collision of the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-245786 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, from the viewpoint of making the seat belt easier to handle when fastening it and preventing a decrease in comfort, it is desirable to be able to prevent an increase in the width of the seat belt. However, the configuration described in Patent Document 1 above leaves room for improvement in this regard.

[0005] In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a seat belt device that can reduce the load on the chest of an occupant wearing a seat belt while suppressing an increase in the width of the seat belt. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The seat belt device according to claim 1 includes a seat belt having a shoulder belt portion that is formed in a belt shape and that is arranged along the chest of a vehicle occupant when the seat belt is worn by the vehicle occupant, and a pressure sensor that is formed on the shoulder belt portion and that is configured to be capable of adjusting the width of the shoulder belt portion when the shoulder belt portion is pressed in a thickness direction. Width direction and a slit that opens toward the occupant's chest, the shoulder belt portion being configured to be disposed obliquely along the chest of the occupant, and on one side of a bisector that divides the shoulder belt portion in its width direction, a plurality of the slits that are formed linearly along the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion are disposed at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion, and on the other side of the bisector, a plurality of the slits that are formed linearly along the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion are disposed at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion, and the plurality of slits disposed on one side of the bisector and the plurality of slits disposed on the other side of the bisector are disposed so as to be shifted in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion.

[0007] According to the seat belt device of claim 1, when the seat belt is fastened to a vehicle occupant, the shoulder belt portion of the seat belt is disposed along the chest of the occupant. When the occupant's chest presses the shoulder belt portion in the thickness direction of the shoulder belt portion, the slit opens. This allows the peripheral portion of the slit in the shoulder belt portion to conform to the shape of the occupant's chest. In this way, in the seat belt device of claim 1, by forming the above-mentioned slit in the shoulder belt portion, it is possible to reduce the load on the chest of the occupant wearing the seat belt while suppressing an increase in the width of the seat belt. The seatbelt device described in claim 2 comprises a seat belt having a shoulder belt portion formed in a belt shape and placed along the chest of a vehicle occupant when worn by the occupant, and a slit formed in the shoulder belt portion that opens in at least one of the longitudinal and width directions of the shoulder belt portion when the shoulder belt portion is pressed in its thickness direction, the shoulder belt portion including a first belt-shaped member in which a plurality of linear slits are formed continuously along the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion and spaced apart in the width direction of the shoulder belt portion, and a plurality of second belt-shaped members arranged along the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion and woven with the first belt-shaped member, and the linear slit along the width direction of the shoulder belt portion is formed between a pair of the second belt-shaped members adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion. Effect of the Invention

[0008] The seat belt device according to the present invention has an excellent effect of reducing the load on the chest of an occupant wearing a seat belt while suppressing an increase in the width of the seat belt. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a seat belt of a seat belt device according to a first embodiment is fastened to an occupant seated in a vehicle seat. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing a shoulder belt portion of the seat belt. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the positional relationship between the chest of a vehicle occupant and a shoulder belt portion. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the ribs and shoulder belt portion of the occupant taken along line 4-4 shown in FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] 5 is a front view corresponding to FIG. 3, showing the positional relationship between the chest of a vehicle occupant and a shoulder belt portion of a seat belt device of a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a front view corresponding to FIG. 3, showing the positional relationship between the chest of a vehicle occupant and a shoulder belt portion of a seat belt device of a third embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is an enlarged plan view showing a shoulder belt portion of a seatbelt device according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] (Seatbelt device 10 of the first embodiment) A seat belt device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.

[0011] 1, a seat belt device 10 of this embodiment is for restraining the body of an occupant P seated in a vehicle seat 12 in the event of a vehicle emergency (e.g., a collision, etc.). Note that the arrows FR, UP, LH, and RH shown in the figure indicate the front side, upper side, left side, and right side of the seat, respectively, as seen by the occupant P seated in the vehicle seat 12. Hereinafter, when the directions of front-rear, up-down, and left-right are simply used for the explanation, they will indicate front-rear in the front-rear direction of the seat, up-down in the up-down direction of the seat, and left-right in the left-right direction of the seat, unless otherwise specified.

[0012] The vehicle seat 12 includes a seat cushion 14 that supports the buttocks P1 of the occupant P from below, and a seat back 16 that is supported by the rear end of the seat cushion 14 and supports the back P2 of the occupant P from the rear side. The vehicle seat 12 also includes a headrest 18 that is supported by the upper end of the seat back 16 and supports the head P3 of the occupant P from the rear side.

[0013] The seat belt device 10 of this embodiment is a three-point seat belt device. The seat belt device 10 includes a seat belt 20 worn around the body of an occupant P seated in a vehicle seat 12, a retractor (not shown) that winds up the seat belt 20, a tongue plate (not shown) through which the seat belt 20 is inserted, and a buckle (not shown) with which the tongue plate engages. The seat belt 20 is also called a webbing.

[0014] The seat belt 20 is formed in a belt shape with a width and a thickness set to a substantially constant dimension along the longitudinal direction. A tongue plate (not shown) through which the seat belt 20 is inserted is engaged with a buckle provided on the right side of the seat cushion 14 of the vehicle seat 12, so that the seat belt 20 is worn on the body of the occupant P seated in the vehicle seat 12. Here, a portion of the seat belt 20 that is stretched in the left-right direction along the waist P4 of the occupant P seated in the vehicle seat 12 is called a lap belt portion 22. Also, a portion of the seat belt 20 that is stretched diagonally along the chest P5 of the occupant P seated in the vehicle seat 12 is called a shoulder belt portion 24. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the shoulder belt portion 24 is stretched diagonally along the chest P5 of the occupant P in a state in which it is inclined from the left side to the right side as it goes from the upper side to the lower side.

[0015] 2 and 3, a plurality of slits 26 are formed in the shoulder belt portion 24. Here, the width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24 is indicated by an arrow W, the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24 is indicated by an arrow L, and the thickness direction of the shoulder belt portion 24 is indicated by an arrow T. The portion of the seat belt 20 that becomes the shoulder belt portion 24 differs depending on the physique of the occupant P wearing the seat belt 20. Therefore, in this embodiment, the range of physiques of the occupant P wearing the seat belt 20 is determined in advance, and a plurality of slits 26 are formed in the seat belt 20 in a range that can become the shoulder belt portion 24.

[0016] The slit 26 is formed linearly along the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24. More specifically, the slit 26 is a rectangular opening in which the dimension S1 in the width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24 is set to be extremely small relative to the dimension S2 in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24. In the following description, the dimension S1 in the width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24 of the slit 26 is called the "slit width dimension S1," and the dimension S2 in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24 of the slit 26 is called the "slit length dimension S2." In FIG. 2, the slit width dimension S1 of the slit 26 is illustrated as being larger than the actual dimension. As an example, the slit width dimension S1 of the slit 26 is set to a dimension in which the edge 26A on one side in the width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24 and the edge 26A on the other side in the width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24 of the slit 26 abut or are close to each other when no external force is applied to the shoulder belt portion 24.

[0017] In this embodiment, on one side of a bisector 28 that divides the shoulder belt portion 24 in the width direction, a plurality of slits 26 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24, and on the other side of the bisector 28, a plurality of slits 26 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the plurality of slits 26 arranged on one side of the bisector 28 and the plurality of slits 26 arranged on the other side of the bisector 28 are arranged to be shifted in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24. As a result, in this embodiment, the plurality of slits 26 formed in the shoulder belt portion 24 are arranged alternately on one side and the other side in the width direction along the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24.

[0018] (Actions and Effects of the Present Embodiment) Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, according to the seat belt device 10 of this embodiment described above, when the seat belt 20 is fastened to an occupant P seated in the vehicle seat 12, the lap belt portion 22 of the seat belt 20 is positioned along the waist region P4 of the occupant P, and the shoulder belt portion 24 of the seat belt 20 is positioned along the chest region P5 of the occupant P.

[0020] Here, when the chest P5 of the occupant P seated in the vehicle seat 12 presses the shoulder belt portion 24 in the thickness direction of the shoulder belt portion 24 due to a frontal collision of the vehicle, the slit 26 opens in the width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24, and the peripheral portion 26B of the slit 26 is displaced to fit the shape of the chest P5 of the occupant P. More specifically, in the example using the skeleton model 30 of the occupant P shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the peripheral portion 26B of the slit 26 is displaced to fit the shape of the ribs P6 of the chest P5 of the occupant P. This distributes the pressure of the portion of the chest P5 of the occupant P that is in contact with the shoulder belt portion 24. Specifically, in the configuration in which the slits 26 are formed linearly along the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24 and are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24 as in this embodiment, the pressure generated on the chest P5 of the occupant P can be dispersed in the width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24, which is the portions on both sides of the slits 26. This reduces the load on the chest P5 of the occupant P. Also, in the configuration of this embodiment, it is not necessary to increase the width dimension of the shoulder belt portion 24 in order to reduce the load on the chest P5 of the occupant P. As a result, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the feeling of use of the seat belt 20 and the comfort when wearing the seat belt 20 caused by increasing the width dimension of the shoulder belt portion 24.

[0021] In this embodiment, the shoulder belt portion 24 has a linear configuration in which a plurality of slits 26 are arranged alternately on one side and the other side in the width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24. This makes it possible to increase the number of divisions of the shoulder belt portion 24 in a cross section cut along the horizontal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24 while suppressing an increase in the number of slits 26 and the slit length dimension S2 in a configuration in which the shoulder belt portion 24 is arranged diagonally along the chest P5 of the occupant P. Note that the number of divisions of the shoulder belt portion 24 can be set to three at the position of the cross section shown in FIG. 4. This makes it possible to distribute the pressure generated on the chest P5 of the occupant P in the width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24, which is the portions on both sides of the slits 26, while suppressing an increase in the number of slits 26 and the slit length dimension S2.

[0022] (Seatbelt device 32 of second embodiment) Next, a seat belt device 32 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 5. In the seat belt device 32 according to the second embodiment, members and parts corresponding to those of the seat belt device 10 according to the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as those of the seat belt device 10 according to the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof may be omitted.

[0023] 5, in the seat belt device 32 of this embodiment, a plurality of slits 27 formed linearly along the width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24 are formed in the shoulder belt portion 24 of the seat belt 20. In this embodiment, on one width direction side of the shoulder belt portion 24, a plurality of slits 27 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24, and on the other width direction side of the shoulder belt portion 24, a plurality of slits 27 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24. In this embodiment, the plurality of slits 27 arranged on one width direction side of the shoulder belt portion 24 and the plurality of slits 27 arranged on the other width direction side of the shoulder belt portion 24 are each arranged at the same position in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24.

[0024] In the seat belt device 32 of the present embodiment described above, a plurality of slits 27 are formed linearly along the width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24 in the shoulder belt portion 24. In this configuration, when the chest P5 of the occupant P presses the shoulder belt portion 24, the slits 27 open in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24. This allows the pressure generated in the chest P5 of the occupant P to be dispersed in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24, which are both sides of the slits 27.

[0025] (Seatbelt device 34 of the third embodiment) Next, a seat belt device 34 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 6 and Fig. 7. In the seat belt device 34 according to the third embodiment, members and parts corresponding to the seat belt device 10 according to the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as those corresponding to the seat belt device 10 according to the first embodiment, and the description thereof may be omitted.

[0026] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, in the seat belt device 34 of this embodiment, the shoulder belt portion 24 is configured so that a first belt-shaped member 36 and a second belt-shaped member 38 also formed in a belt shape are woven together.

[0027] As an example, the first belt-shaped member 36 is a portion of the seat belt 20 that corresponds to the shoulder belt portion 24. That is, the first belt-shaped member 36 and the seat belt 20 are the same member. The first belt-shaped member 36 has two linear slits 26 formed continuously along the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24. The two slits 26 formed in the first belt-shaped member 36 are disposed at an interval in the width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24. As a result, the first belt-shaped member 36 is divided into three in the width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24 by the two slits 26.

[0028] As an example, the second belt-shaped member 38 is a belt-shaped member whose longitudinal direction is the width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24. The longitudinal dimension of the second belt-shaped member 38 is set to be approximately the same as the width dimension of the first belt-shaped member 36 (the dimension in the width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24). In this embodiment, the second belt-shaped members 38 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24 and woven with the first belt-shaped member 36. In detail, both side portions 38A in the longitudinal direction of one second belt-shaped member 38 are disposed on one side in the thickness direction of the first belt-shaped member 36, and a central portion 38B in the longitudinal direction of one second belt-shaped member 38 is disposed on the other side in the thickness direction of the first belt-shaped member 36. Moreover, both longitudinal side portions 38A of another second belt-shaped member 38 adjacent to the one second belt-shaped member 38 are disposed on the other thickness side of the first belt-shaped member 36, and a longitudinal central portion 38B of the other second belt-shaped member 38 is disposed on one thickness side of the first belt-shaped member 36. The first belt-shaped member 36 and the multiple second belt-shaped members 38 are joined by sewing or the like at both ends in the width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24. Here, a linear slit 27 is formed along the width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24 between a pair of second belt-shaped members 38 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion 24.

[0029] In the seat belt device 34 of the third embodiment described above, the first belt-shaped member 36 and the multiple second belt-shaped members 38 are woven together, and multiple slits 26, 27 are formed along the longitudinal and width directions of the shoulder belt portion 24. This makes it possible to disperse pressure generated on the chest of the occupant P around the slits 26 while suppressing a decrease in the strength of the shoulder belt portion 24.

[0030] In the seat belt devices 10, 32, 34 of the above-described embodiments, the slits 26, 27 extending along the longitudinal direction and width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24 are formed in the shoulder belt portion 24, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the shoulder belt portion 24 may be formed with slits extending in a direction inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction and width direction of the shoulder belt portion 24.

[0031] Moreover, the configurations of the seat belt devices 10, 32, 34 of the above-described embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0032] (Additional Note) The seat belt device of the second aspect is the seat belt device described in the first aspect, wherein a plurality of the slits are formed in the shoulder belt portion, and the plurality of slits are formed linearly along the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion and are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion.

[0033] According to the seat belt device of the second aspect, a plurality of slits are formed linearly along the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt and are arranged at intervals along the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt. This allows the slits to open in the width direction of the shoulder belt when the occupant's chest presses against the shoulder belt. As a result, the pressure generated on the occupant's chest can be dispersed in the width direction of the shoulder belt, which is the portions on both sides of the slits.

[0034] The seat belt device of the third aspect is the seat belt device of the first aspect, wherein a plurality of the slits are formed in the shoulder belt portion, and the plurality of slits are formed linearly along the width direction of the shoulder belt portion and are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion.

[0035] According to the seat belt device of the third aspect, a plurality of slits are formed linearly along the width direction of the shoulder belt and are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt. This allows the slits to open in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt when the occupant's chest presses against the shoulder belt. As a result, the pressure generated on the occupant's chest can be dispersed in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt, which is the portions on both sides of the slits.

[0036] The seatbelt device of a fourth aspect is the seatbelt device of the second aspect, in which a plurality of the slits are arranged alternately on one side and the other side in the width direction of the shoulder belt portion.

[0037] According to the seat belt device of the fourth aspect, a plurality of slits formed linearly along the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion are alternately arranged on one side and the other side in the width direction of the shoulder belt portion. This makes it possible to increase the number of divisions of the shoulder belt portion in a cross section cut along the horizontal direction of the shoulder belt portion while suppressing an increase in the number and length of the slits in a configuration in which the shoulder belt portion is arranged diagonally along the chest of the occupant. This makes it possible to distribute the pressure generated on the chest of the occupant in the width direction of the shoulder belt portion, which is the portions on both sides of the slits, while suppressing an increase in the number and length of the slits.

[0038] The seat belt device of a fifth aspect is the seat belt device of the first aspect, in which the shoulder belt portion is configured by weaving together a first belt-shaped member and a second belt-shaped member also formed in a belt shape.

[0039] According to the seat belt device of the fifth aspect, the first belt-shaped member and the second belt-shaped member are woven together, which makes it possible to prevent a decrease in strength of the shoulder belt portion while dispersing pressure generated on the occupant's chest around the slit.

[0040] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above, and it is of course possible to implement the present invention in various other modified forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 10 Seat belt device 20 Seatbelt 24 Shoulder belt section 26 Slit 27 Slit 32 Seat belt device 34 Seat belt device 36 First belt-shaped member 38 Second belt-shaped member P Crew P5 Chest

Claims

1. a seat belt having a shoulder belt portion that is formed in a belt shape and is placed along a chest of a vehicle occupant when the seat belt is worn by the vehicle occupant; a slit formed in the shoulder belt portion, the slit opening in a width direction of the shoulder belt portion when the shoulder belt portion is pressed in a thickness direction thereof; Equipped with The shoulder belt portion is configured to be disposed obliquely along the chest of the occupant, on one side of a bisector dividing the shoulder belt portion in its width direction, a plurality of the slits formed linearly along the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion, and on the other side of the bisector, a plurality of the slits formed linearly along the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion, A seat belt device in which the multiple slits arranged on one side of the bisector and the multiple slits arranged on the other side of the bisector are shifted in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion.

2. a seat belt having a shoulder belt portion that is formed in a belt shape and is placed along a chest of a vehicle occupant when the seat belt is worn by the vehicle occupant; a slit formed in the shoulder belt portion, the slit opening in at least one of the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the shoulder belt portion when the shoulder belt portion is pressed in a thickness direction thereof; Equipped with the shoulder belt portion includes a first belt-shaped member in which a plurality of linear slits are formed continuously along a longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion and spaced apart in a width direction of the shoulder belt portion, and a plurality of second belt-shaped members are woven with the first belt-shaped member while being arranged along the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion, A seat belt device, wherein the slit is linear and extends along the width direction of the shoulder belt portion between a pair of the second belt-shaped members adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder belt portion.

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