Buckle for seat belt device

Abstract

Provided is a buckle for a seat belt device that makes it possible to suppress rattle between a tongue and the buckle which has a vibration function, while ensuring releasability of the tongue with respect to the buckle. A buckle device is a buckle 30 for a seat belt device 1, the buckle equipped with a vibration mechanism 38 and comprising an insertion part 32 that is configured such that a tongue 20 can be inserted thereinto and ejected therefrom in first direction D1, and a pressing mechanism 34 that presses the tongue 20 inserted into the insertion part 32 from direction D2 perpendicular to first direction D1 to oblique direction D3 inclined toward an ejection side of the tongue 20.

Description

Buckle of seat belt device ,

[0007] ,

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[0005] ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a buckle of a seat belt device.

[0002] As a seat belt device equipped on a vehicle seat, there is known one that includes a vibration motor inside the buckle and can give a warning to the vehicle occupant (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this seat belt device, when an occupant sitting on the seat is not wearing the seat belt, this fact is warned by the vibration of the vibration motor.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-083942

[0004] By the way, even when the seat belt is worn, it is desirable to utilize the vibration function of the buckle. For example, if the buckle is vibrated when drowsy driving is detected, a warning can be given to the driver. However, if the vibration motor repeatedly vibrates while the seat belt is worn, the tongue may rattle with the buckle, which may cause abnormal noise. In view of this point, a measure to press the tongue in the buckle can be taken, but there is a possibility that it may interfere with the release (discharge) of the tongue.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a buckle of a seat belt device that can suppress rattling between the tongue and the buckle while ensuring the release property of the tongue with respect to the buckle with a vibration function.

[0006] The buckle of the seat belt device according to one aspect of the present invention is a buckle of the seat belt device equipped with a vibration mechanism, and includes an insertion portion configured to be able to insert and discharge a tongue in a first direction, and a pressing mechanism that presses the tongue inserted into the insertion portion in an oblique direction inclined from a direction orthogonal to the first direction toward the discharge side of the tongue.

[0007] In this embodiment, the tongue inserted into the insertion section is pressed by the pressing mechanism in a direction perpendicular to the first direction (tongue thickness direction) and in the direction of discharging the tongue from the first direction (tongue discharge direction). The pressing in the tongue thickness direction presses the tongue against the buckle, suppressing rattling between the tongue and the buckle. Furthermore, since the pressing force includes a component in the tongue discharge direction, the release properties of the tongue (ease of discharging from the buckle) can be ensured.

[0008] This figure shows a vehicle seat equipped with a seat belt device according to an embodiment. This figure shows an example of a buckle and tongue of a seat belt device according to an embodiment. This figure shows an example of the buckle according to an embodiment, viewed from the back with a part of the buckle cover removed while the tongue is inserted. This figure shows the state when the tongue is inserted into the buckle according to an embodiment, where (a) shows the state before the tongue contacts the flap (when the flap is in the first position, i.e., the initial value), (b) shows the state when the tongue contacts the flap, (c) shows the state in which the tongue is being inserted into the buckle, (d) shows the state when the tongue is fully inserted into the buckle (when the flap is in the second position, i.e., the maximum rotation position), and (e) shows the state when the tongue is locked in the buckle (when the flap is in the third position, i.e., the pressed position). This is an enlarged view showing a flap, biasing member and support member according to another embodiment of the buckle according to an embodiment. This is a half cross-sectional view of part A in Figure 5. This is a perspective view of the flap in Figure 5. Figure 5 shows the snap-fit ​​portion of the flap, where (a) is a front view and (b) is a side view. Figure 5 shows the area around the rotation restricting portion of the flap, where (a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the support member and the rotation restricting portion and (b) is a perspective view of the rotation restricting portion. Figure 5 shows the area around the spring holding portion of the flap together with the biasing member.

[0009] Referring to the attached drawings, an example of a seat belt device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention mounted on a vehicle will be described. In this document, up and down, left and right, and front and back are defined as follows. When an occupant is seated in a normal posture in a seat (vehicle seat), the direction the occupant is facing is referred to as the front, and the opposite direction is referred to as the rear. When indicating the axis of the coordinate system, this is referred to as the front-rear direction or the vehicle front-rear direction. Similarly, when an occupant is seated in a normal posture, the right side of the occupant is referred to as the right direction, and the left side of the occupant is referred to as the left direction. When indicating the axis of the coordinate system, this is referred to as the left-right direction or the vehicle width direction. Likewise, when an occupant is seated in a normal posture, the direction of the occupant's head is referred to as the up direction, and the direction of the occupant's waist is referred to as the down direction. When indicating the axis of the coordinate system, this is referred to as the up-down direction.

[0010] In this book, "occupant" refers to a dummy used for frontal crash tests (a human body dummy for frontal crash tests as defined by the Hybrid III AM50 / NHTSA [National Highway Traffic Safety Administration] standards [49CFR Part 572 Subpart E and O]), with a physique equivalent to that of an average American male, approximately 175 cm tall, 88 cm sitting, and 78 kg in weight.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the seat belt device 1 is installed in association with the vehicle seat 5. The seat belt device 1 has a webbing 10, a tongue 20, and a buckle 30. The webbing 10 is inserted through the tongue 20. The buckle 30 is configured to allow insertion and removal of the tongue 20.

[0012] With the tongue 20 inserted into the buckle 30 and locked, the webbing 10 has a shoulder webbing 10a extending from the upper anchor 12 to the tongue 20, and a lap webbing 10b extending from the tongue 20 to the lap anchor 14. The shoulder webbing 10a restrains the occupant's chest area by being diagonally placed from the upper left or right side of the occupant seated in the vehicle seat 5 to the lower left or right side of the occupant. The lap webbing 10b restrains the occupant's waist area by being placed across from the left or right side of the occupant to the other side. The upper anchor 12 is provided, for example, on the upper part of the seat back of the vehicle seat 5, but in other embodiments it may be provided on the upper part of the side wall of the passenger compartment. The lap anchor 14 is fixed to the vehicle structure (e.g., the vehicle frame).

[0013] As shown in Figure 2, the tongue 20 has an insert portion 22 and a gripping portion 24. The insert portion 22 is configured to be insertable into the insertion portion 32 of the buckle 30. The gripping portion 24 is configured not to be inserted into the insertion portion 32. The gripping portion 24 is generally the part that the crew member holds with their hand when putting on the webbing 10. The gripping portion 24 has an elongated insertion hole 28 that penetrates the tongue 20 in the thickness direction, and the webbing 10 is inserted through the insertion hole 28.

[0014] The tongue 20 is formed in a roughly T-shape overall. The insert portion 22 extends in the vertical direction of the "T" (hereinafter referred to as the "insertion direction"), and the gripping portion 24 extends in the horizontal direction of the "T" (hereinafter referred to as the "width direction"). A latch hole 26 is formed through the tip side of the insert portion 22 in the thickness direction of the tongue 20 (a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction and the width direction). When the insert portion 22 is fully inserted into the insertion portion 32, the latch hole 26 engages with a latch member (not shown) inside the buckle 30. As a result, the tongue 20 is locked to the buckle 30.

[0015] In the tongue 20, the insert portion 22 and the gripping portion 24 are made of different materials. For example, the insert portion 22 is made of metal, and the gripping portion 24 is made of resin. To give one example, the insert portion 22 is formed by press-forming a metal plate, and the gripping portion 24 is formed by molding a portion of the outer surface of this press-formed metal plate with a synthetic resin material. The gripping portion 24 is thicker than the insert portion 22.

[0016] The buckle 30 has a main body portion 30a covered by a buckle cover 30b. The buckle cover 30b is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape by, for example, an upper cover and a lower cover.

[0017] The main body portion 30a has a latch member for locking the tongue 20. A strip-shaped buckle stay 39 extending to the outside of the buckle cover 30b is connected to the main body portion 30a, and the buckle 30 is fixed to the vehicle body via the buckle stay 39.

[0018] The buckle cover 30b has an opening on the side opposite to the extension of the buckle stay 39. The upper half of this opening is provided so that the release button 33 is exposed. Below the release button 33, which is the lower half of the opening, an insertion portion 32 into which the tongue 20 is inserted is defined. By pushing the release button 33 inward into the buckle cover 30b, the latch hole 26 is released by the latch member, and the tongue 20 can be ejected from the buckle 30.

[0019] As shown in Figure 3, the buckle 30 is equipped with a vibration mechanism 38 for vibrating the buckle 30. The vibration mechanism 38 is, for example, located inside the buckle cover 30b, adjacent to the main body 30a. The vibration mechanism 38 has, for example, a vibration motor 200 covered by a motor cover. The vibration motor 200 is, for example, a DC brush motor that has an eccentric weight and generates vibration by the rotation of the eccentric weight. The vibration mechanism 38 may also have an ECU that controls the vibration motor 200, or sensors that are electrically connected to the ECU to detect the conditions inside and outside the vehicle (for example, vehicle acceleration, occupant movement and health condition, etc.). The vibration mechanism 38 can operate the vibration motor 200 when the tongue 20 is attached to the buckle 30 and when it is not attached. Through this operation, the vibration of the vibration motor 200 is transmitted to the occupant via the buckle 30.

[0020] Let's return to Figure 2 for explanation. The insertion portion 32 of the buckle 30 is configured to allow the tongue 20 to be inserted into and ejected in a first direction D1. The first direction D1 corresponds to the extending direction of the insert portion 22 of the tongue 20. The latch member described above is arranged inside the insertion portion 32.

[0021] The buckle 30 has a pressing mechanism 34 on the outside of the entrance of the insertion portion 32. The pressing mechanism 34 has a flap 35 configured to be able to contact the tongue 20, and a biasing member 36 that biases the tongue 20 via the flap 35. The pressing mechanism 34 is configured to press the tongue 20 inserted into the insertion portion 32, and the direction of this pressing is an oblique direction D3 that is inclined toward the discharge side of the tongue 20 from a direction D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1 (see Figure 4). Direction D2 corresponds to the thickness direction of the tongue 20.

[0022] The flaps 35 and biasing members 36 can be one or more, and in this case there are two. The two flaps 35, 35 are provided on both sides in the width direction of the insertion and discharge path of the tongue 20 to the insertion portion 32, and correspondingly the two biasing members 36, 36 are provided to individually bias the two flaps 35, 35. The two flaps 35, 35 contact both ends in the width direction of the gripping portion 24 of the tongue 20, and the biasing members 36, 36 bias both ends in the width direction of the gripping portion 24 in an oblique direction D3 via the flaps 35, 35.

[0023] The flap 35 is rotatably supported by the support member 37. The biasing member 36 is attached between the flap 35 and the support member 37. The biasing member 36 is here composed of a torsion coil spring, but other elastic materials can also be used. The support member 37 is provided below the release button 33, facing the insertion and discharge path of the tongue 20 to the insertion portion 32. Here, the support member 37 is formed integrally with the buckle cover 30b (see Figure 3). In other embodiments, the support member 37 may be attached to the buckle cover 30b. Also, although two support members 37 are arranged facing each other corresponding to the two flaps 35, 35, in other embodiments, it is possible to use a single support member 37.

[0024] Figure 4 shows the state when the tongue 20 is inserted into the buckle 30. Figure 4(a) shows the state before the tongue 20 contacts the flap 35, Figure 4(b) shows the state when the tongue 20 contacts the flap 35, Figure 4(c) shows the state when the tongue 20 is in the process of being inserted into the buckle 35, Figure 4(d) shows when the tongue 20 is fully inserted into the buckle 30, and Figure 4(e) shows the state when the tongue 20 is locked into the buckle 30.

[0025] The flap 35 is configured to rotate between a first position (initial position) shown in Figure 4(a) and a second position (maximum rotation position) shown in Figure 4(d). In the initial position, the flap 35 extends perpendicularly to a virtual horizontal plane 100 including direction D1. The biasing member 36 biases the flap 35 toward the first position. The rotation of the flap 35 is restricted so that it remains in the first position when the tongue 20 is not inserted into the insertion portion 32 (an example will be described later in Figure 5 and subsequent figures).

[0026] As the tongue 20 is inserted into the insertion portion 32 (see Figures 4(a) to 4(d)), the flap 35 rotates against the biasing member 36 due to contact with the tongue 20. In the example shown in Figure 4, the insertion force of the tongue 20 pushes the upper part of the flap 35 against the gripping portion 24 of the tongue 20, causing the flap 35 to rotate clockwise against the spring force of the biasing member 36.

[0027] As the flap 35 rotates, the contact angle 80 between the flap 35 and the tongue 20 becomes variable. The contact angle 80 indicates how much the contact surface between the flap 35 and the tongue 20 is inclined with respect to a reference. Using a virtual horizontal plane 100 that includes direction D1 as a reference, the contact angle 80 gradually decreases as the insertion of the tongue 20 into the insertion part 32 progresses.

[0028] As the tongue 20 is inserted into the insertion section 32, the flap 35 presses the tongue 20 in an oblique direction D3. As the tongue is inserted, the flap 35 rotates, and the oblique direction D3 gradually approaches the direction D2, which is the thickness direction of the tongue 20. This suppresses the increase in insertion force of the tongue 20 compared to when the flap does not rotate. The pressing force applied to the tongue 20 via the flap 35 is based on the restoring force of the biasing member 36, which contracts as the tongue is inserted.

[0029] As shown in Figure 4(d), when the tongue 20 is fully inserted into the buckle 30, the flap 35 rotates to its maximum rotational position (second position). At this time, a latch member (not shown) inside the buckle 30 engages with the latch hole 26 of the tongue 20, thereby producing a mechanical sound indicating that the attachment is complete (for example, a click). This sound indicates that the tongue 20 has been successfully attached to the buckle 30, allowing the occupant to recognize this.

[0030] Subsequently, when the crew releases their grip on the tongue 20, the tongue 20 locks into the buckle 30 in a position slightly returned in the discharge direction (see Figure 4(e)). This is done by the spring force of the biasing member 36 or by a spring inside the buckle 30 (not shown), which pushes the tongue 20 back in the discharge direction. The tongue 20 can be pushed back in the discharge direction by a maximum of the length of the latch hole 26. In the position where the tongue 20 is pushed back (as shown in Figure 4(e)), the locking portion of the latch member engages with the inner wall on the far side of the latch hole 26 (the inner wall opposite to the discharge direction), and the tongue 20 is locked into the buckle 30.

[0031] In the transition from Figure 4(d) to Figure 4(e), the flap 35 rotates slightly counterclockwise due to the spring force of the biasing member 36. Once the transition to Figure 4(e) is complete, the flap 35 is in a position inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane 100 (the third position, the pressed position).

[0032] As shown in Figure 4(e), when the tongue 20 is locked, it remains pressed in an oblique direction D3 via the flap 35. The presence of a component in the thickness direction (direction D2) in the pressing force allows the tongue 20 to be pressed against the buckle 30. This suppresses rattling between the tongue 20 and the buckle 30 in a buckle 30 equipped with a vibration mechanism 38. Furthermore, the inclusion of a component in the discharge direction (D1) in the pressing force ensures ease of discharge (release) of the tongue 20 from inside the buckle 30.

[0033] As described above, the portion of the tongue 20 that the flap 35 contacts is the gripping portion 24. More specifically, the flap 35 contacts the tip side (insert portion 22 side) of the gripping portion 24. Here, the flap 35 contacts the corner surface connecting the tip surface and the bottom surface of the gripping portion 24. The corner surface is formed as a curved surface. On the other hand, the flap 35 has an inclined surface 40 as the portion that contacts the corner surface. The inclined surface 40 extends in a direction inclined with respect to direction D1, and faces and contacts the corner surface of the gripping portion 24.

[0034] Next, referring to Figures 5 to 10, we will describe a different embodiment of the flap 35, biasing member 36, and support member 37 from those shown in Figures 2 to 4.

[0035] As shown in Figure 5, two flaps 35, 35 are supported by one support member 37. Two biasing members 36 are attached between the two flaps 35, 35 and the support member 37. The inclined surface 40 of the flap 35 is formed at the end of the flap 35. The support member 37 supports the flap 35 so as to expose the inclined surface 40. The support member 37 is provided below the release button 33 so as to protrude forward from the lower end of the buckle cover 30b.

[0036] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the flap 35 is made up of a shaft-shaped member and has an inclined surface 40 at one end in the longitudinal direction. The flap 35 has, in order from the end opposite to the inclined surface 40, a retaining portion 35a, a rotation restricting portion 35b, a shaft portion 35c, and a spring holding portion 35d coaxially. The shaft portion 35c is cylindrical and is rotatably supported by the bearing portion 37c of the support member 37.

[0037] The support member 37 has a cavity for inserting and supporting the flap 35 in the longitudinal direction. Within the cavity of the support member 37, a mounting portion 37a, a stopper portion 37b, a bearing portion 37c, and a spring storage portion 37d are formed, corresponding to the retaining portion 35a, rotation restricting portion 35b, shaft portion 35c, and spring holding portion 35d of the flap 35. The mounting portion 37a of the support member 37 holds the retaining portion 35a of the flap 35 in a retaining state. The mounting portion 37a has a stepped portion 37a1 for locking the tip of the flap 35.

[0038] As shown in Figure 8, the retaining portion 35a of the flap 35 is configured in a snap-fit ​​shape with a notch at its tip. Specifically, the tip of the retaining portion 35a has two notched pieces 45, 45 that are divided into upper and lower sections from the tip to the base. Here, viewed from the axial direction, the two notched pieces 45, 45 are each composed of a semicircular portion and a fan-shaped portion. Each notched piece 45 has an inclined portion 46 that is inclined to widen radially from the tip to the base, and a cylindrical portion 47 of the same diameter that extends from the inclined portion 46 to the base. Each notched piece 45 has a engaging portion 48 at the boundary between the inclined portion 46 and the cylindrical portion 47 that engages with the stepped portion 37a1 of the support member 37.

[0039] As shown in Figure 9, the rotation restricting portion 35b of the flap 35 has a semicircular cross-section and a semicircular protrusion 35b1 at the center of the semicircle. Figure 9(a) shows the case when the tongue 20 is not inserted into the insertion portion 32, in which case half of the rotation restricting portion 35b abuts against the stopper portion 37b of the support member 37. As a result, the rotation of the flap 35 is restricted so that it remains in the initial position (first position: the position shown in Figure 4(a)). In order for the maximum rotation range of the flap 35 to be a predetermined angle (90 degrees in this case), a cavity is formed in the support member 37 that is like a circle with a quarter circle missing, and the horizontal plane extending along the axial direction that defines this cavity constitutes the stopper portion 37b. Furthermore, a recess 37b1 is formed at the intersection of a horizontal plane and a vertical plane extending along the axial direction that defines this cavity, and a protrusion 35b1 of the rotation restricting portion 35b rotatably contacts this recess 37b1.

[0040] As shown in Figure 10, the spring holding portion 35d of the flap 35 holds the biasing member 36, which is a torsion coil spring, in place. The area around the attached biasing member 36 is covered by the wall surface of the spring housing portion 37d of the support member 37. The spring holding portion 35d has a support portion 35d1 that supports one end of the torsion coil spring. The other end of the torsion coil spring abuts against the spring housing portion 37d of the support member 37.

[0041] Here, when attaching the flap 35 and the biasing member 36 to the support member 37, first, the biasing member 36 is passed through the tip side of the flap 35 and attached to the spring holding portion 35d. Next, the flap 35 is inserted into the support member 37 from the tip side along the axial direction. The retaining portion 35a of the flap 35 is passed in order over the spring storage portion 37d, the bearing portion 37c, and the stopper portion 37b of the support member 37 and fitted into the mounting portion 37a. At this time, the inclined portions 46, 46 of the notches 45, 45 of the retaining portion 35a are elastically deformed by the wall surface of the mounting portion 37a in a direction toward each other and then restored to their original shape, so that the engaging portion 48 is locked to the stepped portion 37a1. By this locking, the flap 35 is supported by the support member 37 in an axially locked state.

[0042] In this retained state, the flap 35 is rotatably supported by the support member 37 by at least the cylindrical portion 47 and the shaft portion 35c of the retaining portion 35a. The flap 35 is also biased toward the initial position by the biasing member 36, and the rotation restricting portion 35b abuts against the stopper portion 37b to keep it in the initial position (see Figure 9(a)).

[0043] When the flap 35 receives an insertion force from the tongue 20, the flap 35 rotates around its axis. On this axis, the convex portion 35b1 and the concave portion 37b1 are in axial contact. As the flap 35 rotates, the rotation restricting portion 35b separates from the stopper portion 37b. That is, the flap 35 rotates from the initial position toward the maximum rotation position (second position: Figure 4(d)). When the tongue 20 is fully inserted into the insertion portion 32 and then locked, the flap 35 is in the pressed position (third position: Figure 4(e)). As described above, the tongue 20 is maintained in a state of being pressed in the oblique direction D3 via the flap 35.

[0044] As described above, the buckle 30 of the seat belt device 1 according to the embodiment is equipped with a vibration mechanism 38 and includes a pressing mechanism 34 that presses the tongue 20 inserted into the insertion portion 32 in an oblique direction D3 inclined toward the discharge side thereof. Therefore, as described above, it is possible to suppress rattling between the tongue 20 and the buckle 30 while ensuring the release property of the tongue 20.

[0045] Further, in the seat belt device 1 according to the embodiment, the flap 35 is configured to contact the gripping portion 24 among the insert portion 22 and the gripping portion 24 of the tongue 20. Thereby, compared with the case where the flap 35 is brought into contact with the insert portion 22, the moment applied to the tongue 20 locked within the buckle 30 becomes larger. Therefore, the biasing force (spring force) of the biasing member 36 can be reduced. Further, since the flap 35 is brought into contact with the resin-molded portion (gripping portion 24), the durability of the tongue 20 can be improved as compared with the case where the flap 35 is brought into contact with the insert portion 22.

[0046] The embodiments described above are for facilitating the understanding of the present invention and are not for limiting and interpreting the present invention. Each element included in the embodiments, as well as their arrangement, material, conditions, shape, size, etc. are not limited to those exemplified and can be appropriately changed. Also, it is possible to partially substitute or combine the configurations shown in different embodiments.

[0047] For example, the position of the pressing mechanism 34 is not limited to the above. For example, the pressing mechanism 34 may be provided inside the insertion portion 32. Also, although the support member 37 is integrated with the buckle cover 30b, by making it a separate body, the entire pressing mechanism 34 (flap 35, biasing member 36, and support member 37) can be made into a structure that can be retrofitted to the buckle cover 30b. Further, the vibration mechanism 38 may be provided in the main body portion 30a.

[0048] The buckle 30 may have a mechanism other than those described in the above examples. For example, a case for protecting the vibration mechanism 38 may be provided. Further, among other things, the buckle 30 may have an illumination mechanism, a display such as an organic EL, a mechanism (wired or wireless) enabling connection to a vehicle, and / or a built-in ECU, microphone, battery, USB port, or speaker.

[0049] <Additional Considerations Regarding Various Embodiments>

[0050] [Embodiment 1] A buckle of a seat belt device equipped with a vibration mechanism, the buckle including an insertion portion configured to be able to insert and eject a tongue in a first direction, and a pressing mechanism configured to press the tongue inserted into the insertion portion in an oblique direction inclined from a direction orthogonal to the first direction toward the ejection side of the tongue.

[0051] [Embodiment 2] The pressing mechanism of the buckle of the seat belt device according to Embodiment 1 includes a flap configured to be able to contact the tongue, and a biasing member configured to bias the tongue inserted into the insertion portion in the oblique direction via the flap.

[0052] [Embodiment 3] The flap of the buckle of the seat belt device according to Embodiment 2 is configured to rotate against the biasing member by contact with the tongue when the tongue is inserted into the insertion portion.

[0053] [Embodiment 4] The flap of the buckle of the seat belt device according to Embodiment 3 rotates such that the contact angle with the tongue varies when the tongue is inserted into the insertion portion.

[0054] [Embodiment 5] The flap of the buckle of the seat belt device according to any one of Embodiments 2 to 4 rotates such that the direction in which the tongue is pressed gradually approaches a direction orthogonal to the first direction when the tongue is inserted into the insertion portion.

[0055] [Embodiment 6] A seat belt buckle in any one of embodiments 2 to 5, wherein the flap is configured to be rotatable between a first position and a second position, the biasing member biases the flap toward the first position, and the flap rotates from the first position toward the second position against the biasing member as the tongue is inserted into the insertion part.

[0056] [Embodiment 7] The buckle of the seat belt device of Embodiment 6, wherein the flap is restricted from rotating so as to remain in the first position when the tongue is not inserted into the insertion part.

[0057] [Embodiment 8] The pressing mechanism further comprises a support member that rotatably supports the flap, the flap having: a shaft portion rotatably supported by a bearing portion of the support member; a rotation restricting portion provided coaxially with the shaft portion and contacting a stopper portion of the support member when the tongue is not inserted into the insertion portion to restrict the flap to the first position; and a retaining portion provided coaxially with the shaft portion and held in a retaining state by a mounting portion of the support member. This is the seat belt device buckle according to embodiment 6 or 7.

[0058] [Embodiment 9] The buckle of the seat belt device of Embodiment 8, wherein the retaining portion is configured in a snap-fit ​​shape with a notch at the tip.

[0059] [Embodiment 10] The buckle of the seat belt device according to embodiment 8 or 9, wherein the biasing member is composed of a torsion coil spring, and the flap further has a spring holding portion coaxial with the shaft portion for holding the torsion coil spring.

[0060] [Embodiment 11] A seat belt device buckle from any one of Embodiments 8 to 10, wherein the support member is formed integrally with the buckle cover or attached to the buckle cover.

[0061] [Embodiment 12] The flap is a buckle of any one of the seat belt devices from Embodiments 2 to 11, having an inclined surface that can contact the tongue.

[0062] [Embodiment 13] The flap is a buckle of any one of the seat belt devices from Embodiments 2 to 12, positioned outside the entrance of the insertion portion.

[0063] [Embodiment 14] The buckle of the seat belt device of Embodiment 13, wherein the flap is configured to be able to contact the tongue on both sides in the width direction in the insertion and discharge path of the tongue to the insertion portion.

[0064] [Embodiment 15] A seat belt buckle in any one of embodiments 2 to 14, wherein the tongue has an insert portion that is inserted into the insertion portion and a gripping portion that is not inserted into the insertion portion, and the flap is configured to contact the gripping portion.

[0065] [Embodiment 16] A seat belt device comprising a buckle for one of the seat belt devices from Embodiments 1 to 15.

[0066] 1...Seat belt device, 5...Vehicle seat, 10...Webbing, 10a...Shoulder webbing, 10b...Wrap webbing, 12...Upper anchor, 14...Wrap anchor, 20...Tang, 22...Insert part, 24...Grip part, 26...Latch hole, 28...Through hole, 30...Buckle, 30a...Main body part, 30b...Buckle cover, 32...Insertion part, 33...Release button, 34...Pressing mechanism, 35...Flap, 35a...Retaining part, 35b...Rotation restricting part, 35b1...Protrusion, 35c...Shaft portion, 35d...Spring holding portion, 35d1...Support portion, 36...Biasing member, 37...Support member, 37a...Mounting portion, 37a1...Step portion, 37b...Stopper portion, 37b1...Recess, 37c...Bearing portion, 37d...Spring storage portion, 38...Vibration mechanism, 39...Buckle stay, 40...Inclined surface, 46...Inclined portion, 47...Cylinder portion, 48...Engaging portion, 80...Contact angle, 100...Horizontal plane, 200...Vibration motor, D1...First direction, D2...Direction perpendicular to the first direction, D3...Diagonal direction

Claims

1. A seat belt buckle equipped with a vibration mechanism, comprising: an insertion portion configured to allow insertion and discharge of a tongue in a first direction; and a pressing mechanism that presses the tongue inserted into the insertion portion in an oblique direction inclined toward the discharge side of the tongue from a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

2. The buckle of the seat belt device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing mechanism comprises a flap configured to be in contact with the tongue, and a biasing member that biases the tongue inserted into the insertion portion in the oblique direction via the flap.

3. The buckle for a seat belt device according to claim 2, wherein the flap is configured to rotate against the biasing member by contact with the tongue as the tongue is inserted into the insertion portion.

4. The buckle of the seat belt device according to claim 3, wherein the flap rotates so as the tongue is inserted into the insertion portion, the contact angle with the tongue is variable.

5. The buckle of the seat belt device according to claim 3, wherein the flap rotates such that, as the tongue is inserted into the insertion portion, the direction in which it presses the tongue gradually approaches a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

6. The buckle for a seat belt device according to claim 2, wherein the flap is configured to be rotatable between a first position and a second position, the biasing member biases the flap toward the first position, and the flap rotates from the first position toward the second position against the biasing member as the tongue is inserted into the insertion portion.

7. The buckle of a seat belt device according to claim 6, wherein the flap is restricted from rotating so as to remain in the first position when the tongue is not inserted into the insertion portion.

8. The buckle for a seat belt device according to claim 6, wherein the pressing mechanism further comprises a support member that rotatably supports the flap, and the flap comprises: a shaft portion rotatably supported by a bearing portion of the support member; a rotation restricting portion provided coaxially with the shaft portion and contacting a stopper portion of the support member when the tongue is not inserted into the insertion portion to restrict the flap to a first position; and a retaining portion provided coaxially with the shaft portion and held in a retaining state by a mounting portion of the support member.

9. The buckle for the seat belt device according to claim 8, wherein the retaining portion is configured in a snap-fit ​​shape with a notch at its tip.

10. The buckle for a seat belt device according to claim 8, wherein the biasing member is composed of a torsion coil spring, and the flap further has a spring holding portion coaxial with the shaft portion for holding the torsion coil spring.

11. The buckle of the seat belt device according to claim 8, wherein the support member is formed integrally with the buckle cover or is attached to the buckle cover.

12. The buckle of the seat belt device according to any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein the flap has an inclined surface that can contact the tongue.

13. The buckle of the seat belt device according to any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein the flap is positioned outside the entrance of the insertion portion.

14. The buckle of the seat belt device according to claim 13, wherein the flap is configured to be able to contact the tongue on both sides in the width direction of the insertion and discharge path of the tongue to the insertion portion.

15. The buckle for a seat belt device according to any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein the tongue has an insert portion that is inserted into the insertion portion and a gripping portion that is not inserted into the insertion portion, and the flap is configured to contact the gripping portion.

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