Buckle device

Abstract

Provided is a buckle device capable of reducing cost while preventing foreign matter from entering between contacts of a switch. The buckle device comprises: a buckle body unit 1; a switch unit 10 that detects latching of a tongue; an upper cover 2 and a lower cover 3 that accommodate the buckle body unit 1 and the switch unit 10; and a switch contactor 7 that transmits movement of an ejector 6 to the switch unit 10. The switch unit 10 has a fixed terminal 12, a movable terminal 11, and a switch slider 13 that changes the posture of the movable terminal 11 in conjunction with the switch contactor 7. The fixed terminal 12, the movable terminal 11 and the switch slider 13 are attached to a switch base 14. At least a part of a surface of the switch base 14 is an open surface, and the open surface is closed by the lower cover 3.

Description

Buckle device

[0001] The present invention relates to a buckle device for a seat belt device equipped on a seat of an automobile or the like.

[0002] In general, vehicles such as automobiles are provided with a seat belt device for restraining an occupant on a seat having a seat bottom (seat bottom) where the occupant sits and a backrest (seat back) located on the back of the occupant. The seat belt device includes a webbing for restraining the occupant, a retractor for winding up the webbing, a buckle disposed on the side surface of the seat, and a tongue (tongue plate) disposed on the webbing, and restrains the occupant on the seat by fitting the tongue into the buckle.

[0003] A conventional buckle has a latch member that enters a locking hole of an inserted tongue to lock the tongue, an ejector that presses the tongue in a direction to disengage it from the buckle when the latch member releases the locking with the tongue, and an ejector spring that constantly biases the ejector in a direction in which the tongue disengages from the buckle. These members are attached to a base formed of a U-shaped frame having a pair of side walls and a bottom.

[0004] The buckle is provided with a switch for detecting that the tongue has been inserted and latched. For example, a switch having a contact type contact is known. Such a switch can lead to contact failure if foreign matter enters between the contacts. In order to suppress the intrusion of foreign matter, a structure in which the contact type contact is sealed with a case can be considered, but there is a problem that the number of parts increases by the amount of the sealing case and the cost increases.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-513416

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional situation, and an object thereof is to provide a buckle device that can reduce costs while preventing foreign matter from entering between the contacts of the switch.

[0007] The buckle device of the present invention comprises a buckle body having a latch member that engages with and latches an inserted tongue, an operating button for releasing the latch of the tongue by the latch member, an ejector that moves in conjunction with the insertion and removal of the tongue, a base that includes a bottom surface and a pair of side walls that rise from the short-side edges of the bottom surface and supports the ejector on the bottom surface so as to be movable in the tongue insertion and removal direction, a switch unit installed on the outside of the side walls for detecting the latch of the tongue, and an upper cover and lower cover housing the buckle body and the switch unit. The device comprises a bar and a switch contactor connected to the ejector, which moves together with the ejector between the bottom surface of the base and the lower cover and transmits the movement of the ejector to the switch unit, wherein the switch unit has a fixed terminal, a movable terminal, a switch slider that changes the position of the movable terminal in conjunction with the switch contactor, and a switch base to which the fixed terminal, the movable terminal and the switch slider are attached, the switch base having at least a portion of its surface as an open surface, the open surface being covered by the lower cover.

[0008] In one aspect of the present invention, the lower cover has a bottom plate portion and a lower peripheral wall portion rising from the periphery of the bottom plate portion, and the bottom plate portion and a part of the lower peripheral wall portion close the open surface.

[0009] In one aspect of the present invention, the upper cover has a canopy portion and an upper peripheral wall portion that rises from the periphery of the canopy portion, and a rib extending in the vertical direction is provided on the inner side surface of the upper peripheral wall portion, the lower end of the rib contacts the upper plate of the switch base.

[0010] In one aspect of the present invention, the movable terminal is bent in an L-shape, and the bent portion is in contact with the switch slider, and the terminal contact portion of the switch slider includes an upper surface, a lower surface, and a slope connecting the upper surface and the lower surface.

[0011] In one aspect of the present invention, when the switch portion is of the normally closed type, the switch slider is installed such that the upper surface of the terminal contact portion contacts the bent portion when the tongue is not inserted, and the lower surface of the terminal contact portion contacts the bent portion when the tongue is inserted. When the switch portion is of the normally open type, the switch slider is installed such that the lower surface of the terminal contact portion contacts the bent portion when the tongue is not inserted, and the upper surface of the terminal contact portion contacts the bent portion when the tongue is inserted.

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce costs while preventing foreign matter from entering between the contacts of a switch.

[0013] This is an exploded perspective view of a buckle device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a plan view of the base to which the ejector and switch contactor are attached, viewed from the bottom. This is a side view of the switch section. This is a perspective view of the switch section from below. This is a perspective view of the switch section from above. This is a diagram showing the switch section housed in the cover. This is a side view of the switch section. This is a side view of the switch section according to another embodiment. This is a side view of the switch section according to another embodiment.

[0014] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 7.

[0015] As shown in Figure 1, the buckle device comprises a buckle body 1, a switch 10, and an upper cover 2 and a lower cover 3 that house the buckle body 1 and the switch 10. The buckle body 1 locks the inserted tongue (not shown) and releases the tongue when the operation button 5 is pressed. In this embodiment, the vertical direction refers to the vertical direction in Figure 1. That is, the vertical direction when the buckle device is placed on a horizontal plane with the upper cover 2 on the top and the lower cover 3 on the bottom.

[0016] The upper cover 2 has a roughly rectangular canopy portion 20 and upper peripheral wall portions 21 to 24 that rise from the periphery of the canopy portion 20. The operation button 5 can be operated through an opening 2a formed in the upper peripheral wall portion 21. A tongue insertion opening is also formed in the opening 2a.

[0017] The upper peripheral wall portions 22 and 23 descend from a pair of edges of the canopy portion 20 in a direction perpendicular to the tongue insertion / removal direction. One or more ribs 22a (see Figure 6) extending in the vertical direction are formed on the inner side surface of the upper peripheral wall portion 22. Similar ribs may be formed on the upper peripheral wall portion 23. The upper peripheral wall portion 24 faces the upper peripheral wall portion 21.

[0018] The lower cover 3 has a substantially rectangular bottom plate portion 30 and lower peripheral wall portions 31 to 34 that rise from the periphery of the bottom plate portion 30. The lower peripheral wall portions 32 and 33 rise from a pair of edges of the bottom plate portion 30 in a direction perpendicular to the tongue insertion and removal direction. The upper cover 2 and the lower cover 3 are assembled by engaging the upper peripheral wall portion 21 and the lower peripheral wall portion 31, and bringing the lower surfaces of the upper peripheral wall portions 22 to 24 and the upper surfaces of the lower peripheral wall portions 32 to 34 into contact with each other.

[0019] The switch unit 10 is positioned along the lower side wall 32. The lower cover 3 is provided with a slot for inserting and securing the switch unit 10.

[0020] The configuration of the buckle body 1 is not particularly limited, but for example, it may include a latch member having a claw that can engage with the opening of the tongue, an operating button 5 for releasing the latch member, a base 4 that movably supports the latch member and the operating button 5, a lock pin supported by the base 4 that restrains the movement of the latch member engaged with the tongue in the release direction, an ejector 6 (see Figure 2) slidably arranged in the longitudinal direction of the base 4 and capable of biasing the tongue in the direction of detaching it from the buckle body 1, and a lever rotatably supported by the base 4 that prevents the operating button 5 from moving when it receives an inertial force in the release direction when the tongue and the latch member are engaged.

[0021] The base 4 is a U-shaped frame having a pair of side wall portions 41 (see Figure 2) that rotatably support the latch member, and a bottom portion 40 that connects the pair of side wall portions. The bottom portion 40 is a rectangular member in plan view, with the side wall portions 41 rising from a pair of side edges at both ends in the short direction of the base (the direction perpendicular to the tongue insertion / removal direction). The side wall portions 41 are parallel to the longitudinal direction of the base.

[0022] A retaining hole 42 extending in the longitudinal direction of the base 4 is formed in the bottom surface 40 of the base 4, and the ejector 6 is supported in the retaining hole 42 so as to be movable in the tongue insertion and removal direction. An ejector spring (not shown) is also placed in the retaining hole 42 and biases the ejector 6. A protrusion 43 is formed on the edge of the retaining hole 42, and the protrusion 43 is inserted inside one end of the ejector spring. The other end of the ejector spring is attached to the ejector 6.

[0023] A rod-shaped switch contactor 7 extending in the short direction of the base is connected to the ejector 6. The switch contactor 7 is positioned between the bottom surface 40 of the base 4 and the bottom plate 30 of the lower cover 3, and slides together with the ejector 6.

[0024] The switch contactor 7 is longer than the width of the base 4 in the shorter direction, and its end protruding outward from the side wall of the base 4 contacts the leg portion 13b of the switch slider 13 of the switch section 10, which will be described later. The switch contactor 7 transmits the movement of the ejector 6 to the switch slider 13.

[0025] When the tongue is inserted into the insertion opening 2a of the upper cover 2, the ejector 6 is pushed in by the tongue, causing the ejector 6 to rotate in a direction that engages the latch member with the tongue. The latch member engages with the opening of the tongue, and the tongue can be restrained by the buckle body 1.

[0026] On the other hand, to remove the tongue, pressing the operation button 5 causes the latch member to rotate in the disengagement direction, releasing the tongue's opening from the latch member. The tongue is then ejected to the outside of the buckle device via the ejector 6 by the biasing force of the ejector spring.

[0027] The switch unit 10 detects when the tongue is inserted and latched, and is installed between the side wall of the base 4 and the lower side wall 32 of the lower cover 3.

[0028] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the switch unit 10 has a movable terminal 11, a fixed terminal 12, and a switch slider 13, which are assembled to the switch base 14.

[0029] The switch base 14 has a top plate 14a that is roughly rectangular in plan view, short side walls 14b and 14c that rise from a pair of short sides of the top plate 14a, and a long side wall 14d that rises from one of a pair of long sides of the top plate 14a. The surface facing the top plate 14a and the surface facing the long side wall 14d are open surfaces.

[0030] The movable terminal 11 and the fixed terminal 12 are arranged within the area enclosed by the top plate 14a, the short side walls 14b and 14c, and the long side wall 14d. The fixed terminal 12 is elongated and plate-shaped, and is arranged along the lower surface of the top plate 14a. The base end of the fixed terminal 12 is connected to the harness 15.

[0031] The movable terminal 11 is elongated and plate-shaped, and is positioned below the fixed terminal 12. The movable terminal 11 has an L-shaped bent leaf spring structure. The base end of the movable terminal 11 is connected to the harness 16. As the posture of the movable terminal 11 changes, contact / non-contact between the tip of the movable terminal 11 and the tip of the fixed terminal 12 switches.

[0032] The tip of the movable terminal 11 beyond the bent portion 11a is a sloping section that becomes higher towards the tip. The rear end (base end) of the movable terminal 11 beyond the bent portion 11a is a sloping section that becomes higher towards the rear. The bent portion 11a is in contact with the switch slider 13.

[0033] The longitudinal side wall 14d of the switch base 14 has protrusions (ridges) formed on both sides along its lower edge. The claw portion 13a of the switch slider 13 engages with these protrusions. As a result, the switch slider 13 is attached to the lower edge of the longitudinal side wall 14d of the switch base 14 and becomes slidable along the longitudinal direction of the switch base 14.

[0034] The switch slider 13 contacts the bent portion 11a of the movable terminal 11. The terminal contact portion includes an upper surface 13c and a lower surface 13d that are staggered and parallel to the sliding direction of the switch slider 13, and a sloped surface 13e that connects the upper surface 13c and the lower surface 13d.

[0035] Two legs 13b extend from the bottom of the switch slider 13, across the longitudinal side wall 14d of the switch base 14, toward the opposite side from the movable terminal 11 and fixed terminal 12, that is, toward the center of the lower cover 3 when the switch unit 10 is attached to the lower cover 3.

[0036] When attaching the switch unit 10 to the lower cover 3, insert the switch unit 10 into the slot of the lower cover 3 so that the longitudinal side wall 14d of the switch base 14 is on the base 4 side of the buckle body 1, and the open surface facing the longitudinal side wall 14d is on the lower side wall 32 side of the lower cover 3. By inserting the switch unit 10 into the slot, the open surface facing the longitudinal side wall 14d of the switch base 14 is closed by the lower side wall 32 of the lower cover 3, and the open surface facing the upper plate 14a is closed by the bottom plate 30 of the lower cover 3.

[0037] As a result, the movable terminal 11 and the fixed terminal 12 are surrounded by the upper plate 14a of the switch base 14, the short side walls 14b and 14c, the long side wall 14d, and the lower side wall portion 32 and bottom plate portion 30 of the lower cover 3, preventing foreign matter from entering between the contacts of the movable terminal 11 and the fixed terminal 12.

[0038] In this embodiment, a portion of the switch base 14 is an open surface, and this open surface is covered by the lower cover 3. Compared to the case in which a switch base that seals the movable terminal 11 and fixed terminal 12 is used, the number of parts can be reduced and costs can be lowered. In addition, the size of the switch section 10 can be reduced, so the buckle device can be miniaturized.

[0039] The switch unit 10 may be attached to the lower cover 3 after the buckle body 1 is attached, or the buckle body 1 may be attached to the lower cover 3 after the switch unit 10 is attached. In either case, the end of the switch contactor 7 is positioned between the two legs 13b of the switch slider 13. This causes the switch slider 13 to slide in conjunction with the sliding of the switch contactor 7.

[0040] After attaching the buckle body 1 and switch 10 to the lower cover 3, the upper cover 2 is attached from above to create the buckle device. At this time, as shown in Figure 6, the lower end of the rib 22a provided on the inner side surface of the upper peripheral wall 22 of the upper cover 2 contacts the upper surface of the upper plate 14a of the switch base 14. Because the upper plate 14a is pressed down from above by the rib 22a, upward movement of the switch 10 is prevented.

[0041] Figure 3 shows the position of the switch contactor 7 when the tongue is not inserted into the buckle device. At this time, the bent portion 11a of the movable terminal 11 is in contact with the upper surface 13c of the switch slider 13, and the tip of the movable terminal 11 is in contact with the tip of the fixed terminal 12.

[0042] When the tongue is inserted into the buckle device, the ejector 6 is pushed in by the tongue, the latch member engages with the opening in the tongue, and the tongue is latched. At this time, as shown in Figure 7, the switch slider 13 slides together with the ejector 6 and the switch contactor 7. As the switch slider 13 slides, the bent portion 11a of the movable terminal 11 moves relative to the switch slider 13 from the upper surface 13c to the lower surface 13d via the slope 13e. As a result, the movable terminal 11 moves downward, and the tip of the movable terminal 11 and the tip of the fixed terminal 12 become non-contact. A signal is output to the vehicle side that detects that the contact state between the movable terminal 11 and the fixed terminal 12 has changed and the tongue has been latched.

[0043] When the operation button 5 is pressed to release the tongue opening from the latch member, the tongue is ejected to the outside of the buckle device via the ejector 6 by the biasing force of the ejector spring. At this time, as shown in Figure 3, the switch slider 13 slides together with the ejector 6 and the switch contactor 7, and the tip of the movable terminal 11 and the tip of the fixed terminal 12 come into contact. The contact state between the movable terminal 11 and the fixed terminal 12 changes, and a signal is output to the vehicle side to detect that the tongue has been released.

[0044] In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the rib 22a of the upper cover 2 prevents the switch unit 10 from coming off has been described. However, it is also possible to provide a mechanism for preventing the switch unit 10 from coming off by using the lower cover 3 in addition.

[0045] The method of fixing the switch unit 10 to the lower cover 3 may be press contact, or may be laser welding or ultrasonic welding.

[0046] In the above-described embodiment, the so-called normally closed switch unit 10 in which the tip of the movable terminal 11 and the tip of the fixed terminal 12 are in contact when the tongue is not inserted into the buckle device has been described. However, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, by using a switch slider 13' in which the positional relationship between the upper surface 13c and the lower surface 13d is reversed, it is possible to operate as a normally open type.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 8, when the tongue is not inserted into the buckle device, the bent portion 11a of the movable terminal 11 is in contact with the lower surface 13d of the switch slider 13', and the tip of the movable terminal 11 and the tip of the fixed terminal 12 are separated.

[0048] When the tongue is inserted into the buckle device, as shown in FIG. 9, the switch slider 13' slides together with the ejector 6 and the switch contact 7. As the switch slider 13' slides, the bent portion 11a of the movable terminal 11 relatively moves from the lower surface 13d to the upper surface 13c on the switch slider 13. As a result, the movable terminal 11 moves upward, and the tip of the movable terminal 11 and the tip of the fixed terminal 12 come into contact.

[0049] Since the operation type of the switch unit 10 can be changed only by replacing the switch slider 13, which is a component of the switch unit 10, it is possible to realize switch units with different operation types at low cost.

[0050] [[ID=了18]]The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0051] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2025-025199 filed on February 19, 2025, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0052] 1. Buckle body 2. Upper cover 3. Lower cover 4. Base 5. Operation button 6. Ejector 7. Switch contactor 10. Switch section 11. Movable terminal 12. Fixed terminal 13. Switch slider 14. Switch base 15, 16. Harness

Claims

1. A buckle body having a latch member that engages with and latches the inserted tongue, an operating button for releasing the latch of the tongue by the latch member, an ejector that moves in conjunction with the insertion and removal of the tongue, and a base that includes a bottom surface and a pair of side walls that rise from the short side edges of the bottom surface, and supports the ejector on the bottom surface so as to be movable in the tongue insertion and removal direction; a switch unit installed on the outside of the side walls for detecting the latch of the tongue; an upper cover and a lower cover housing the buckle body and the switch unit; and a switch contactor connected to the ejector, which moves together with the ejector between the bottom surface of the base and the lower cover, and transmits the movement of the ejector to the switch unit. The buckle device comprises a switch section having a fixed terminal, a movable terminal, a switch slider that changes the position of the movable terminal in conjunction with the switch contactor, and a switch base to which the fixed terminal, the movable terminal, and the switch slider are attached, wherein at least a portion of the switch base is an open surface, and the open surface is covered by the lower cover.

2. The buckle device according to claim 1, wherein the lower cover has a bottom plate portion and a lower peripheral wall portion rising from the periphery of the bottom plate portion, and the bottom plate portion and a part of the lower peripheral wall portion close the open surface.

3. The buckle device according to claim 1, wherein the upper cover has a canopy portion and an upper peripheral wall portion that rises from the periphery of the canopy portion, and a rib extending in the vertical direction is provided on the inner side surface of the upper peripheral wall portion, and the lower end of the rib contacts the upper plate of the switch base.

4. The buckle device according to claim 3, wherein the movable terminal is bent in an L-shape, and the bent portion is in contact with the switch slider, and the terminal contact portion of the switch slider includes an upper surface and a lower surface, and a slope connecting the upper surface and the lower surface.

5. The buckle device according to claim 4, wherein, when the switch portion is of the normally closed type, the switch slider is installed such that the upper surface of the terminal contact portion contacts the bent portion when the tongue is not inserted, and the lower surface of the terminal contact portion contacts the bent portion when the tongue is inserted; and when the switch portion is of the normally open type, the switch slider is installed such that the lower surface of the terminal contact portion contacts the bent portion when the tongue is not inserted, and the upper surface of the terminal contact portion contacts the bent portion when the tongue is inserted.

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