JP2018103649A - Buckle device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a buckle device which can inhibit contact sound occurring between connection members.SOLUTION: A lift-up buckle device 10 includes: a buckle 14 which is engaged with a tongue 12 into which webbing 20 attached to an occupant is inserted; two metallic wires 30 arranged in parallel to each other, each metallic wire 30 fixed to the buckle 14 at one longitudinal end part and configured to move with the buckle 14; a resin coating material 46 which covers at least a longitudinal part of at least one of the two wires 30 and inhibits contact between the wires 30; and driving means 16 which is connected with the other longitudinal end parts of the wires 30 and moves the wires 30 in a longitudinal direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a buckle device.

  As shown in Patent Document 1, a motor is connected to one end in the longitudinal direction and a buckle is connected to the other end, and the buckle is moved through the cable by the driving force of the motor. Buckle devices are known.

  In this buckle device, the buckle is supported by two metal cables. For this reason, for example, when the occupant twists the buckle to engage the tongue with the buckle, the cables, that is, the metals may come into contact with each other, and a contact sound may be generated.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-44460

  An object of this invention is to provide the buckle apparatus which can suppress the contact sound of connection members in view of the said fact.

  The buckle device according to claim 1 is arranged in parallel with a buckle engaged with a tongue through which a webbing to be attached to an occupant is inserted, and one end in a longitudinal direction thereof is fixed to the buckle and moves together with the buckle. Two metal connecting members, a resin coating material that covers at least a part of at least one of the two connecting members in the longitudinal direction and suppresses contact between the connecting portions, and the connecting member Drive means for moving the connecting member in the longitudinal direction.

  According to the said structure, the buckle fixed to two connection members and a connection member can be moved to a longitudinal direction with the drive force of a drive means. At this time, since at least one part of at least one of the two connecting members is covered with the resin coating material, the metal connecting members come into contact with each other to generate a contact sound. It can be suppressed by a coating material.

  The buckle device according to claim 2 is the buckle device according to claim 1, wherein the buckle device is provided between the buckle and the driving unit, and the metal guide member that holds the connecting member in a curved state; A guide groove formed in the guide member and into which the connecting member is inserted, and the coating material is provided from a longitudinal end of the connecting member to a range inserted into the guide groove.

  According to the above configuration, since the coating material is provided in a range to be inserted into the guide groove of the connecting member, contact between the guide groove of the metal guide member and the metal connecting member is suppressed by the coating material. Thus, generation of contact sound can be suppressed.

  Moreover, the coating material is provided over the longitudinal direction one end part fixed to the buckle from the range inserted in the guide groove of a connection member. For this reason, the contact between the connecting members when the occupant twists the buckle can be suppressed by the coating material, and the generation of contact noise can be suppressed.

  A buckle device according to a third aspect is the buckle device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the coating material is made of a thermosetting elastomer.

  In general, thermosetting elastomers have higher heat resistance than resin materials such as nylon. Here, according to the above configuration, since the coating material is composed of a thermosetting elastomer, for example, the interior of the vehicle in which the buckle device is installed is hotter than the configuration in which the coating material is nylon or the like. When it becomes, it can suppress that a coating material deform | transforms with a heat | fever.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the contact sound between the connecting members.

It is sectional drawing seen from the vehicle width direction inner side which shows the buckle apparatus in an example of embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the connection part of the buckle of a buckle apparatus and a connection member. It is an enlarged view which shows the guide member of a buckle apparatus in case a buckle exists in a raise position.

  Hereinafter, an example of a buckle device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, when describing the front, back, left, right, up, and down directions, it is assumed that the direction is viewed from the occupant seated on the vehicle seat, the arrow FR appropriately shown in each figure is the vehicle front side, and the arrow UP is The vehicle upper side and the arrow RH indicate the vehicle width direction outer side, respectively.

(overall structure)
As shown in FIG. 1, a lift-up buckle device 10 as a buckle device of the present embodiment includes a buckle 14 with which a tongue 12 is engaged, and a drive unit 16 that moves the buckle 14 from a lowered position to a raised position. And an up device 18. The tongue 12 is inserted with a webbing 20 attached to the occupant.

  The driving means 16 includes a motor 22, a drive screw 24 whose longitudinal end is engaged with the output shaft 22 </ b> A of the motor 22 so as to be integrally rotatable, and the axial direction of the drive screw 24 as the drive screw 24 rotates. The slider 26 is moved. The motor 22 is a DC motor, and is fixed to a housing 28 provided on the vehicle body of the vehicle.

  The drive screw 24 is a cylindrical rod-like member extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a male screw (not shown) is formed on the outer peripheral surface along the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, the slider 26 is a cylindrical member in which a female screw (not shown) is formed on the inner peripheral surface, and the female screw of the slider 26 is screwed to the male screw of the drive screw 24.

  Further, the other end portions in the longitudinal direction of two metal wires 30 as connecting members are fixed to the slider 26. The two wires 30 are arranged in parallel to each other in the vehicle width direction (see FIG. 2), and one end in the longitudinal direction is fixed to the buckle 14 via a joint anchor 46, respectively.

  Further, the lift-up device 18 is provided with a rail 32 for guiding the slider 26. The rail 32 is made of a steel plate material having a U-shaped cross section with the lower side open, and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction along the drive screw 24. A drive screw 24 and a slider 26 are disposed in the rail 32.

  One end portion in the longitudinal direction of the rail 32 is fixed to the housing 28, and the other end portion in the longitudinal direction is fixed to the outer side surface in the vehicle width direction of the wire guide 34 as a guide member. The wire guide 34 is a metal member that is substantially fan-shaped in a side view, and has a guide groove 36 that opens on the inner side surface 34A in the vehicle width direction.

  A metal cover plate (not shown) is attached to the inner side surface 34A of the wire guide 34 in the vehicle width direction so as to cover the opening of the guide groove 36. In addition, the other end in the longitudinal direction of the drive screw 24 is rotatably locked to the wire guide 34.

  The guide groove 36 is curved in an arc shape in a side view, and one end portion in the longitudinal direction is opened to the front side surface of the wire guide 34 and the other end portion in the longitudinal direction is opened to the upper side surface of the wire guide 34. ing.

  The other end in the longitudinal direction of the guide groove 36 has a tapered shape in which the inner diameter gradually increases, and the curvature is guided to the vehicle front side portion of the periphery of the guide groove 36 on the upper surface of the vehicle of the wire guide 34. A chamfered portion 38 having a curved surface larger than the curvature of the groove 36 is formed.

  Further, two wires 30 are inserted into the guide groove 36, and the extending direction of the wire 30 is changed by bending the wire 30 in an arc shape along the guide groove 36. Specifically, the axial direction of the wire 30 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is changed by the wire guide 34 to an obliquely upward direction of the vehicle.

  One end of the lower cover 40 in the longitudinal direction is engaged with the upper surface of the wire guide 34 in the vehicle. The lower cover 40 is a cylindrical member formed of a resilient material such as rubber and extends obliquely upward in the vehicle. Further, a bendable portion 40A that can be bent as a deformation starting point is formed in a portion on the vehicle front side in the vicinity of the wire guide 34.

  Further, a curl cord 42 connected to a wire 30 and a buckle switch (not shown) in the buckle 14 is inserted into the lower cover 40, and an upper cover 44 is slid at the other longitudinal end of the lower cover 40. Supported as possible.

  The upper cover 44 is a cylindrical member made of a resin material harder than the lower cover 40 and extends obliquely upward in the vehicle along the longitudinal direction of the lower cover 40. Further, the buckle 14 is fixed in the upper cover 44, and the wire 30 and the curl cord 42 connected to the buckle 14 are inserted.

(Coating material)
The two wires 30 are each covered with a coating material 48 over the entire circumference. The coating material 48 is made of a resin material having flexibility and heat resistance, and is particularly made of a thermosetting elastomer. In addition, the coating material should just be comprised with resin materials other than the nylon etc. which are easy to deform | transform with heat, for example, may be comprised with polyolefin.

  As shown in FIG. 2, one end in the longitudinal direction of the wire 30 is inserted and fixed in a joint anchor 46 fixed to the lower end of the buckle 14, and the length of the wire 30 inserted in the joint anchor 46 is fixed. One end portion in the direction is covered with a coating material 48. That is, the position of one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the wire 30 is the position of one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the coating material 48.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, when the buckle 14 is at the highest position (an “ascending position” to be described later), the position along the vehicle front side of the wire guide 34, that is, at one end in the longitudinal direction of the guide groove 36. The position is the position of the other end in the longitudinal direction of the coating material 48. Thereby, the wire 30 is covered with the coating material 48 over a range in which the wire 30 is inserted into the guide groove 36 from one end in the longitudinal direction.

(Function and effect)
In the lift-up buckle device 10 of the present embodiment, for example, when the seating of the occupant on the seat is detected by a detection means such as a load sensor provided on the vehicle seat, the motor 22 of the lift-up device 18 is driven by the drive screw 24. Rotate to one side.

  When the drive screw 24 rotates, the slider 26 is guided by the rail 32 and moves to the vehicle rear side along the drive screw 24. Thereby, the buckle 14 fixed to the longitudinal direction one end part of the wire 30 is pushed up in the vehicle diagonally upward direction (arrow A direction of FIG. 3).

  At this time, the upper cover 44 is guided by the lower cover 40 together with the buckle 14 and is pushed up obliquely upward of the vehicle. As described above, the buckle 14 is moved from the “lowering position” to the “upward position”, so that the occupant can easily engage the tongue 12 with the buckle 14 and can easily attach the webbing 20. .

  In contrast, when engagement of the tongue 12 with the buckle 14 is detected by a buckle switch (not shown), the motor 22 of the lift-up device 18 rotates the drive screw 24 to the other side. When the drive screw 24 rotates, the slider 26 is guided by the rail 32 and moves to the front side of the vehicle along the drive screw 24.

  As a result, the buckle 14 fixed to one end in the longitudinal direction of the wire 30 and the upper cover 44 to which the buckle 14 is fixed are pulled down in the vehicle diagonally downward direction (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3). To “down position”. Further, when the buckle 14 moves between the “lowering position” and the “upward position”, the wire 30 slides in the guide groove 36 of the wire guide 34.

  Here, in the present embodiment, a range in which the wire 30 is inserted into the guide groove 36, that is, a range in which the wire 30 slides in the guide groove 36 is covered with the coating material 48 over the entire circumference. For this reason, the coating material 48 can prevent the metal wire 30 and the metal guide groove 36 from coming into direct contact and generating contact noise.

  Further, when the occupant twists the buckle 14 to engage the tongue 12 with the buckle 14, the two wires 30 are connected to the buckle 14, particularly above the range where the two wires 30 are inserted into the guide groove 36. One end in the longitudinal direction is twisted together with the buckle 14.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the wire 30 is covered with the coating material 48 from the range where the wire 30 is inserted into the guide groove 36 to one end in the longitudinal direction. For this reason, when the wire 30 is twisted with the buckle 14, it can suppress by the coating material 48 that the wires 30 contact directly and a contact sound generate | occur | produces.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the two wires 30 are used as a connection member. For this reason, compared with the structure using one wire of the same thickness, the strength of the connecting member can be increased, and the cross-sectional area of the wire is reduced compared to the structure using one thick wire. The size of the buckle device 10 as a whole can be reduced.

  Further, since the two wires 30 are respectively covered with the coating material 48, the rigidity of the wire 30 can be increased by the coating material 48, and the self-supporting property of the wire 30 can be increased.

  In this embodiment, when the vehicle suddenly decelerates at the time of a vehicle collision or the like, the lower cover 40 bends with the constricted portion 40A as a deformation starting point, and the wire 30 (tang 12) is pulled toward the front of the vehicle as shown by a broken line in FIG. It is done. Here, the other end in the longitudinal direction of the guide groove 36 is tapered, and the chamfered portion 38 is formed on the periphery of the guide groove 36, so that the wire 30 is curved along the curved surface of the chamfered portion 38. .

  Thereby, compared with the structure by which the periphery of the guide groove 36 in the vehicle upper surface of the wire guide 34 is made into an acute angle, the local load to the wire 30 and the coating material 48 can be suppressed. For this reason, it is possible to suppress bending wrinkles on the wire 30 and the coating material 48, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in durability of the wire 30 and the coating material 48.

(Other embodiments)
In addition, although an example of embodiment was demonstrated about this invention, this invention is not limited to this embodiment, Other various embodiment is possible within the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the coating material 48 is provided over the entire circumference of the range in which the two wires 30 are inserted into the guide groove 36 from one longitudinal end thereof. However, the coating material 48 may be provided at a position where the contact between the two wires 30 can be suppressed, and may be provided on either one of the two wires 30.

  Further, it may be provided only at one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the wire 30 or only in a range where the wire 30 is inserted into the guide groove 36. Further, for example, a plurality of coating materials 48 may be provided at intervals along the longitudinal direction of the wire 30.

10 Lift-up buckle device (buckle device)
12 tongue 14 buckle 16 driving means 20 webbing 30 wire (connection member)
34 Wire guide (guide member)
36 Guide groove 46 Coating material

Claims (3)

A buckle with which a tongue into which a webbing to be attached to a passenger is inserted is engaged;
Two metal connecting members that are arranged in parallel with each other, one end in the longitudinal direction is fixed to the buckle, and moves together with the buckle;
A resin coating material that covers at least a part of at least one of the two connecting members in the longitudinal direction and suppresses contact between the connecting portions;
Driving means connected to the other longitudinal end of the connecting member and moving the connecting member in the longitudinal direction;
A buckle device comprising: A metal guide member provided between the buckle and the driving means and holding the connecting member in a curved state;
A guide groove formed in the guide member and into which the connecting member is inserted;
With
The coating material is provided over a range inserted into the guide groove from one longitudinal end of the connecting member,
The buckle device according to claim 1.   The buckle device according to claim 1, wherein the coating material is made of a thermosetting elastomer.