Vehicle Buckle Support with Thin Inner Boot for Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle seat belt buckle support structures either increase complexity and cost or compromise operability and noise reduction, with high rigidity leading to poor wearability and rattling noise issues.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle buckle support apparatus with a cylindrical resin inner boot featuring a thin portion on the seat-side wall for improved flexibility and a reinforcing structure to stabilize bending, reducing rattling noise and enhancing wearability by allowing easy buckle engagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the inner boot is made with high rigidity through mold forming, then structural stability is improved, but operability when an occupant puts on webbing deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidoperability when putting on webbing

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by forming a thin portion at a specific location on the inner boot (between the anchor plate and buckle, on the seat-side surface). This localized thinning reduces rigidity only where needed to improve wearability during buckling, while the rest of the boot maintains its structural stability through normal thickness and mold-formed reinforcement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If the inner boot is made with high rigidity, then structural stability is improved, but rattling noise when the buckle abuts against the console box increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidrattling noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The thin portion is strategically positioned on the seat-side surface of the inner boot to create localized flexibility. This allows the boot to absorb vibrations and movements that would otherwise cause the buckle to abut against the console box, reducing rattling noise while maintaining overall structural stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The thin portion acts as a pre-designed cushioning element that absorbs shocks and vibrations before they can transmit to the buckle and console box assembly. This beforehand cushioning prevents the harmful rattling noise from occurring in the first place.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a flanged collar is arranged inside the boot and attached to the floor, then the inner boot stability is improved, but the number of parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinner boot stabilityVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the stabilizing function previously performed by a separate flanged collar into the inner boot structure itself. The thin portion and overall boot geometry are designed to provide stability without requiring additional components, thereby reducing the number of parts while maintaining inner boot stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The inner boot is designed to perform multiple functions: it protects the webbing, provides structural stability, reduces noise, and enables easy wearability. By integrating these functions into a single component with optimized geometry (including the thin portion), the need for separate stabilizing components like flanged collars is eliminated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If through-holes are formed in the cover member to enable flexibility, then wearability is improved, but the appearance deteriorates and structure becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovewearabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the flexibility function from the cover member (by eliminating through-holes) and relocates it to the inner boot structure itself through the thin portion. This allows the flexibility needed for wearability to be achieved in a cleaner, more integrated manner without compromising appearance or increasing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The apparatus improves wearability and reduces rattling noise by allowing the buckle to tilt smoothly and minimizing contact with the console box during vehicle vibrations, while maintaining a simplified structure and reducing costs.

Implementation Method 1

a thin portion that is formed in a width direction of the inner webbing, between an upper end portion of the anchor plate and a lower end portion of the buckle, on a surface side of the seat-side side wall portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlexibility through geometric design:

Data Source

PatentUS8789889B2Vehicle buckle support apparatus

Publication Date: 2014.07.29 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A vehicle buckle support apparatus is arranged between a console box and a seat cushion. The vehicle buckle support apparatus includes a cylindrical inner boot that covers an inner webbing that connects a buckle and an anchor plate together. A thin portion is formed in a width direction of the inner webbing, on a middle portion in a height direction of a seat-side side wall portion of the inner boot.