BUCKLE DEVICE

In a buckle device, a wire harness is connected to a buckle body, and the wire harness is mounted to a mounting plate of a boot. Therefore, in a case in which, at the time of light collision of a vehicle, tension is applied to a belt to extend the belt, and the buckle body is extended upward, the mounting plate is elastically bent, and the upward movement of the wire harness is allowed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress disconnection of the wire harness.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-22013 filed on Feb. 15, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a buckle device in which a coupling member is coupled to a buckle body.

Related Art

In the buckle device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2020-125010, a webbing is coupled to a buckle body, and tension is applied from the buckle body to the webbing to extend the webbing, thereby extending the buckle body.

Here, in the buckle device, in a case in which a wiring is electrically connected to the buckle body, it is preferable that disconnection of the wiring can be suppressed in a case in which the buckle body is extended.

SUMMARY

In view of such circumstances, an object of the invention is to obtain a buckle device capable of suppressing disconnection of a wiring in a case in which a buckle body is extended.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a buckle device includes a buckle body configured to engage with a tongue provided at a webbing attached to an occupant; a coupling member that is coupled to the buckle body and is extended by tension applied from the buckle body to extend the buckle body; a support member that supports the buckle body and is provided with a mounting part; and a wiring that is electrically connected to the buckle body, is mounted to the mounting part, the mounting part being elastically deformed and allowing the wiring to move in a case in which the buckle body is extended.

In the buckle device in the first aspect of the invention, the buckle body is configured to engage with the tongue provided at the webbing attached to the occupant. The coupling member is coupled to the buckle body, and the coupling member is extended by tension applied from the buckle body to the coupling member, whereby the buckle body is extended. The support member supports the buckle body, and the wiring is electrically connected to the buckle body.

Here, the wiring is mounted to the mounting part of the support member, and in a case in which the buckle body is extended, the mounting part is elastically deformed, and the wiring is allowed to move. Therefore, it is possible to suppress disconnection of the wiring.

In a buckle device according to a second aspect of the invention, in the buckle device according to the first aspect of the invention, the mounting part is elongated.

In the buckle device according to the second aspect of the invention, the mounting part is elongated. Therefore, it is possible to easily and elastically deform the mounting part.

In a buckle device according to a third aspect of the invention, in the buckle device according to the first or second aspect of the invention, a slack is provided at a part of the wiring between the buckle body and the mounting part.

In the buckle device according to the third aspect of the invention, the slack is provided at the part of the wiring between the buckle body and the mounting part. Therefore, in a case in which the buckle body is extended, the wiring can be moved due to the slack, and it is possible to further suppress the disconnection of the wiring.

In a buckle device according to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the buckle device according to any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, the mounting part is provided at a part of the support member on an inner side or an outer side in the vehicle width direction.

In the buckle device according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the mounting part is provided at the part of the support member on the inner side or the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the mounting part can be elastically deformed in the vehicle width direction.

A buckle device according to a fifth aspect of the invention in the buckle device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention further includes an extension part that is configured to extend from the support member and is adjacent to the mounting part.

In the buckle device according to the fifth aspect of the invention, the extension part is configured to extend from the support member, and the extension part is adjacent to the mounting part. Therefore, it is possible to restrict touching of an occupant with the wiring by the extension part.

In a buckle device according to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the buckle device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects of the invention, rigidity of a proximal-end side part of the mounting part is higher than rigidity of a distal-end side part of the mounting part, and the wiring is mounted to the distal-end side part of the mounting part.

In the buckle device of the sixth aspect of the invention, the rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting part is higher than the rigidity of the distal-end side part of the mounting part, and the wiring is mounted to the distal-end side part of the mounting part. Therefore, since the mounting part is elastically deformed at the proximal-end side part, it is possible to increase an elastic restoring force of the proximal-end side part of the mounting part.

A buckle device according to a seventh aspect of the invention in the buckle device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects of the invention further includes a deformation member that is deformed in a case in which an extension load on the buckle body is equal to or more than a predetermined load, and allows the buckle body to extend.

In the buckle device according to the seventh aspect of the invention, the deformation member is deformed in a case in which the extension load on the buckle body is equal to or more than the predetermined load, and the buckle body is allowed to extend. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a load applied to the occupant from the webbing, and to protect the occupant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

First Embodiment

FIG.1is a right side view illustrating a buckle device10according to a first embodiment of the invention as viewed from the right.FIG.2Ais a perspective view illustrating the buckle device10as viewed from the diagonally front right.FIG.2Bis a perspective view illustrating the buckle device10as viewed from the diagonally front left.FIG.3is a cutaway view illustrating the buckle device10as viewed from the right. In the drawings, the front of the buckle device10is indicated by an arrow FR, the right (obverse side) of the buckle device10is indicated by an arrow RH, and the upper side of the buckle device10is indicated by an arrow UP.

The buckle device10according to the present embodiment constitutes a seat belt device12of a vehicle (automobile). The seat belt device12is applied to a seat (not illustrated) in a vehicle interior. The seat belt device12is provided with a winding device (not illustrated). The winding device is installed on the vehicle width direction outer side and the lower side of a seat rear part. In the winding device, a webbing14(seeFIG.1) having a long band shape is wound from the proximal end side. A webbing14is biased to the winding side to the winding device and pulled out upward from the winding device. The winding device is provided with a lock mechanism, and the lock mechanism locks pulling-out of the webbing14from the winding device in an emergency of the vehicle (in collision or the like).

The webbing14passes through a through anchor (not illustrated) movably on the distal end side with respect to the winding device. The through anchor is installed on the vehicle width direction outer side and the upper side of the seat rear part. An anchor (not illustrated) is fixed to the distal end part of the webbing14, and the anchor is installed on the vehicle width direction outer side and the lower side of the seat rear part. The webbing14movably passes through a tongue16(seeFIG.1) between the through anchor and the anchor.

The buckle device10is installed on the vehicle width direction inner side and the lower side of the seat rear part. The front, the right, and the upper side of the buckle device10are directed toward the diagonally front bottom, directed inward in the vehicle width direction, and directed toward the diagonally front top, respectively.

As illustrated inFIGS.1,2A, and2B, a buckle body18having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape is provided at an upper part of the buckle device10. The tongue16is engageable with the buckle body18from the upper side. The tongue16is engaged with the buckle body18, and the webbing14is attached to an occupant seated on the seat. As a result, a part (shoulder webbing) of the webbing14between the through anchor and the tongue16is stretched obliquely from the shoulder part to the waist part (including the chest part) of the occupant, and a part (wrap webbing) of the webbing14between the tongue16and the anchor is stretched laterally to the waist part of the occupant. The engagement of the tongue16with the buckle body18is releasable. The engagement of the tongue16with the buckle body18is released to release the attachment of the webbing14to the occupant. The lower side part of the buckle body18gradually becomes smaller downward in the right-left direction.

A buckle switch18A (seeFIG.3) as a detection unit is provided in the buckle body18. The buckle switch18A detects the engagement of the tongue16with the buckle body18and detects the attachment of the webbing14to the occupant. A plurality of buckle switches18A may be provided.

As illustrated inFIGS.3,4A, and4B, a distal-end side part (upper side part) of a band-shaped belt20(webbing) as a coupling member is coupled to the lower part of the buckle body18. The belt20is made of, for example, the same material as the material of the webbing14and made into a woven fabric.

A frame22made of metal as a support is provided in a lower part of the buckle device10, and the frame22is made to have a U-shaped plate shape in a cross section. A back plate22A is provided at a left part of the frame22. The frame22is fixed to a vehicle body side (for example, a rear part of a seat lower part) at a lower end part of the back plate22A. Leg plates22B and22C are provided at the front part and the rear part of the frame22, respectively. The leg plates22B and22C protrude rightward from the back plate22A.

A spool24that is made of metal and has a substantially cylindrical shape as a winding shaft passes through the leg plates22B and22C of the frame22. The spool24is supported by the frame22. The axial direction of the spool24is parallel to the front-rear direction, and the spool24is made rotatable about the central axis. A proximal-end side part (lower side part) of the belt20is coupled to the spool24. The belt20is wound around the spool24and pulled out upward from the left side of the spool24.

A case26that is made of metal as a locking body is disposed on the front side of the frame22(leg plate22B). The case26is provided with a regulation plate26A that has a substantially rectangular plate shape as a restriction part. The regulation plate26A is fixed to the leg plate22B, and thus the case26is fixed to the leg plate22B. A locking cylinder26B having a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape is integrally formed on the front side of the regulation plate26A. The axial direction of the locking cylinder26B is parallel to the front-rear direction. The inside of the locking cylinder26B penetrates the regulation plate26A and is opened to the rear side of the regulation plate26A. The front part of the spool24is coaxially inserted into the case26.

A torsion shaft28that is made of metal and has a substantially circular columnar shape as a deformation member (energy absorbing member) is coaxially disposed in the case26. The front end part of the torsion shaft28is locked to the front end part in the locking cylinder26B in a relatively non-rotatable manner. The rear end part of the torsion shaft28is coupled to the spool24in a relatively non-rotatable manner to restrict the rotation of the spool24.

A boot30(seeFIGS.4A,4B,5A,5B,6A, and6B) having a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape as a support member is provided in a range from the buckle body18to the frame22. The boot30is made of soft resin and has flexibility (elasticity). The upper part of the boot30gradually becomes smaller downward in the right-left direction. The lower side part of the buckle body18is fitted into the upper part of the boot30, thereby restricting the downward movement of the buckle body18. The belt20is inserted into the boot30, and the frame22(including the spool24) is inserted into the lower part of the boot30. The inside of the lower part of the boot30is opened to the front side, and the case26protrudes to the front side of the lower part of the boot30. Just above the lower part in the boot30is supported by the frame22from the lower side, which restricts the downward movement of the boot30. An elastic contraction force is applied to the boot30between the buckle body18and the frame22in a state where the belt20is wound around the spool24as described above, and thus the tension is applied to the belt20. The boot30biases the frame22downward to be self-standing with respect to the frame22and biases the buckle body18upward to be self-standing.

The left wall and the rear wall of the boot30are extended downward. An extension portion of the left wall of the boot30is made to serve as a fixing wall30A that has a rectangular plate shape as a fixing part, and an extension portion of the rear wall of the boot30is made to serve as an extension wall30B that has a rectangular plate shape as an extension part. A clip (not illustrated) made of hard resin passes through the fixing wall30A of the boot30and the back plate22A of the frame22. The clip sandwiches the fixing wall30A and the back plate22A and fixes the boot30to the frame22.

A mounting plate30C having a long plate shape as a mounting part is integrally formed at the rear end part of the right wall of the boot30. The mounting plate30C is made to have a rectangular cross section. The mounting plate30C extends downward, and the mounting plate30C is adjacent to the vicinity of the front side of an extension wall30B of the boot30. A thickness dimension of a proximal-end side part (upper side part) of the mounting plate30C is larger than a thickness dimension of a distal-end side part (lower side part) of the mounting plate30C, and a left surface of a part between the proximal-end side part and the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C is inclined rightward as being directed downward. Therefore, a cross-sectional coefficient of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C is larger than a cross-sectional coefficient of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C, and the rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C is larger than the rigidity of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C. A part of the right wall of the boot30in the vicinity of the mounting plate30C is made to have a large thickness similar to the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C.

The right side of the lower part (part below the spool24) of the buckle device10is covered with a cloth-like cover (not illustrated), and the cover is fixed to the seat. The buckle device10protrudes diagonally forward and upward of the vehicle from between the seat and the cover, and the extension wall30B of the boot30is exposed on the vehicle upper side between the seat and the cover.

One end of a wire harness32(seeFIG.3) as a wiring is electrically connected to the buckle switch18A in the buckle body18. The wire harness32is routed below the boot30from the lower end of the buckle body18through the inside of the boot30(including a space between the rear wall (including the extension wall30B) of the boot30and the leg plate22C of the frame22). The wire harness32is provided with two (may be three or more) electric wires32A. The electric wire32A is made into, for example, an AVSS line (thin low-voltage electric wire for an automobile) and is provided with a sheath on the outer periphery. A vinyl tube32B having a circular tubular shape as a covering tube is provided on the other end side from one end part of the wire harness32, and the vinyl tube32B has flexibility. The two electric wires32A are inserted into the vinyl tube32B, and the two electric wires32A are protected by the vinyl tube32B. For example, a U-shaped slack32C is provided at one end part (a part of only two electric wires32A) of the wire harness32.

A tape34(adhesive tape) as a mounting member is wound around the outer periphery of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C of the boot30and the wire harness32. The wire harness32is mounted to the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C by the tape34. Thus, the movement of the wire harness32from the inside of the boot30to the lower side (outer side) of the boot30is restricted.

The buckle switch18A is electrically connected to a control device36of the vehicle via the wire harness32. For example, an airbag device38and a warning device40of the vehicle are electrically connected to the control device36. In a case in which the buckle switch18A does not detect the engagement of the tongue16with the buckle body18(the attachment of the webbing14to the occupant), the airbag device38is not actuated at the time of collision of the vehicle or the warning device40warns the occupant to urge the attachment of the webbing14, under the control of the control device36. In a case in which the buckle switch18A detects the engagement of the tongue16with the buckle body18(the attachment of the webbing14to the occupant), the airbag device38is actuated at the time of collision of the vehicle, or the warning device40does not warn the occupant to urge the attachment of the webbing14, under the control of the control device36.

Next, the action of the embodiment will be described.

In the seat belt device12having the above configuration, in the buckle device10, the torsion shaft28restricts the rotation of the spool24to restrict the pulling-out of the belt20from the spool24and the upward extension of the buckle body18, and the webbing14is attached to the occupant by engaging the tongue16of the webbing14with the buckle body18.

At the time of collision of the vehicle (in emergency), the locking mechanism of the winding device locks the pulling-out of the webbing14from the winding device, whereby the occupant is restrained by the webbing14. For example, in a case in which an inertial force is applied to the occupant and the webbing14is pulled by the occupant, a pulling force from the spool24is applied to the belt20from the webbing14via the tongue16and the buckle body18, whereby a rotational force is applied to the spool24.

At the time of collision other than light collision of the vehicle (for example, at the time of high-speed collision), the torsion shaft28is deformed to be twisted (plastically deformed) between the front end part and the rear end part by the rotational force applied to the spool24, and the rotation of the spool24is allowed, so that the belt20is allowed to be pulled out from the spool24and the buckle body18(including the tongue16) is allowed to extend upward. Therefore, a load applied from the webbing14to the occupant (particularly, the chest part) is reduced (restricted to a load (force limiter load) twisted deformation of the torsion shaft28), and kinetic energy of the occupant is absorbed by twisted deformation of the torsion shaft28, whereby the occupant is protected.

At the time of light collision of the vehicle (for example, at the time of low-speed collision), the torsion shaft28is not deformed to be twisted (plastically deformed) between the front end part and the rear end part by the rotational force applied to the spool24, and the rotation of the spool24is not allowed. Tension is applied to the belt20by the load from the occupant to the webbing14, the belt20is extended (elastically extended), and the winding part of the belt20around the spool24is fastened, whereby the buckle body18is extended upward by a predetermined distance. After the end of the light collision of the vehicle, the application of the tension to the belt20due to the load on the webbing14from the occupant is released, the extension of the belt20is released, and the winding of the winding part of the belt20around the spool24is released, whereby the buckle body18is moved downward and returned to an initial position.

The slack32C is provided at one end part of the wire harness32, and the wire harness32is mounted to the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C of the boot30. Therefore, at the time of the light collision of the vehicle, the buckle body18is extended upward, and the wire harness32is moved integrally with the buckle body18upward. Thus, the slack32C at one end part of the wire harness32is removed, and the wire harness32applies an upward moving force to the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C.

Here, in a case in which the wire harness32applies the upward moving force to the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C, the mounting plate30C is elastically bent, and the upward movement of the wire harness32is allowed (seeFIG.7). Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the tension applied to the wire harness32, and to suppress disconnection of the wire harness32.

After the end of the light collision of the vehicle, the buckle body18is moved downward and returned to the initial position. Thus, the mounting plate30C is elastically restored, and the wire harness32is moved downward. Therefore, the wire harness32can be returned to the initial position, the buckle device10can be returned to the initial state, and the replacement of the buckle device10can be made unnecessary.

The mounting plate30C is elongated. Therefore, at the time of the light collision of the vehicle, the mounting plate30C can be easily elastically bent in the longitudinal direction, and the mounting plate30C can easily allow the upward movement of the wire harness32.

The slack32C is provided at one end part of the wire harness32. Therefore, at the time of the light collision of the vehicle, the wire harness32can be moved upward by the slack32C, and thus it is possible to further suppress the disconnection of the wire harness32. In addition, since the disconnection of the wire harness32can be suppressed not only by the slack32C of the wire harness32but also by the elastic bending of the mounting plate30C, it is possible to reduce the amount of the slack32C of the wire harness32, to suppress an occurrence of a situation in which the wire harness32is displaced by the slack32C and interferes with other components, and to simplify the layout in the boot30.

The rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C is larger than the rigidity of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C. In a case in which the mounting plate30C is elastically bent, an intermediate part of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C is bent while the proximal-end side end part of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C is bent (seeFIG.7). Therefore, after the end of the light collision of the vehicle, it is possible to increase the elastic restoring force against the bending of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C, to favorably move the wire harness32downward, and to favorably return the wire harness32to the initial position.

In addition, the rigidity of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C is smaller than the rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C. Therefore, in a case in which the mounting plate30C is elastically bent, it is possible to increase the bending amount of the proximal-end side end part of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C and to suppress an occurrence of a situation in which the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C and the wire harness32are tilted to the left side of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C.

Further, the mounting plate30C is provided on the inner side (right side) of the boot30in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the mounting plate30C can be elastically deformed in the vehicle width direction of the boot30(the inner side of the boot30in the embodiment).

The extension wall30B of the boot30is disposed on the vehicle upper side (rear side) of the mounting plate30C and the wire harness32. Therefore, it is possible to restrict touching of the occupant with the wire harness32by the extension wall30B at the normal time of the vehicle.

At the time of the light collision of the vehicle, the amount of upward movement of the wire harness32due to the slack32C at the one end part of the wire harness32is larger than the amount of upward movement of the wire harness32due to the elastic bending of the mounting plate30C. Therefore, at the normal time of the vehicle, the tension of the webbing14applied to the buckle body18is smaller than the tension at the time of the light collision of the vehicle, and the disconnection of the wire harness32is suppressed by the slack32C of the wire harness32. Thus, it is possible to suppress the elastic bending of the mounting plate30C, which is performed an excessive number of times.

In the embodiment, the thickness of the entire proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C in a width direction is larger than the thickness of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C. The thickness of a part of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C in the width direction may be larger than the thickness of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C. Even in this case, it is possible to efficiently increase the cross-sectional coefficient of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C and to efficiently increase the rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C.

Second Embodiment

FIG.8Ais perspective view illustrating a buckle device50according to a second embodiment of the invention as viewed from the diagonally front right.FIG.8Bis a perspective view illustrating the buckle device50as viewed from the diagonally rear right.

The buckle device50according to the present embodiment has substantially the similar configuration to the configuration of the first embodiment, but differs in the following points.

As illustrated inFIGS.8A,8B,9A,9B,10A, and10B, in the buckle device50according to the embodiment, a boot30is not provided with an extension wall30B.

In the boot30, the thickness dimension of the proximal-end side part (upper side part) of a mounting plate30C is not larger (made the same) than the thickness dimension of the distal-end side part (lower side part) of the mounting plate30C, and the thickness of a part of the right wall of the boot30in the vicinity of the mounting plate30C is not made larger. The mounting plate30C is made to have an L-shaped cross section. The rear end part of the mounting plate30C protrudes leftward and is integrated with the rear wall of the boot30. Therefore, the cross-sectional coefficient of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C and the cross-sectional coefficient of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C are large, and the rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C and the rigidity of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C are large.

In a case in which, at the time of light collision of a vehicle, a wire harness32is moved upward integrally with a buckle body18, and the mounting plate30C is elastically bent, the intermediate part of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C is bent while the proximal-end side end part of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C is bent.

Here, also in the embodiment, it is possible to exhibit the actions and effects similar to those of the first embodiment except for the action and effect obtained by making the rigidity of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C smaller than the rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C and the action and effect obtained by the extension wall30B of the boot30.

In the embodiment, the cross-sectional coefficient of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C is equal to the cross-sectional coefficient of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C, and the rigidity of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C is equal to the rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C. The cross-sectional coefficient of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C may be smaller than the cross-sectional coefficient of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C, and the rigidity of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C may be smaller than the rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C.

Third Embodiment

FIG.11Ais perspective view illustrating a buckle device60according to a third embodiment of the invention as viewed from the diagonally front right.FIG.11Bis a perspective view illustrating the buckle device60as viewed from the diagonally rear right.

The buckle device60according to the present embodiment has substantially the similar configuration to the configuration of the first embodiment, but differs in the following points.

As illustrated inFIGS.11A,11B,12A,12B,13A, and13B, in the buckle device60according to the embodiment, a boot30is not provided with an extension wall30B.

In the boot30, the thickness dimension of the proximal-end side part (upper side part) of a mounting plate30C is not larger (made the same) than the thickness dimension of the distal-end side part (lower side part) of the mounting plate30C, and the thickness of a part of the right wall of the boot30in the vicinity of the mounting plate30C is not larger. Therefore, the cross-sectional coefficient of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C and the cross-sectional coefficient of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C are small, and the rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C and the rigidity of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C are small.

In a case in which, at the time of light collision of a vehicle, a wire harness32is moved upward integrally with a buckle body18, and the mounting plate30C is elastically bent, the intermediate part of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C is bent while the proximal-end side end part of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C and the proximal end part of the mounting plate30C are bent.

Here, also in the embodiment, it is possible to exhibit the actions and effects similar to those of the first embodiment except for the action and effect obtained by making the rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C larger than the rigidity of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C and the action and effect obtained by the extension wall30B of the boot30.

In the second embodiment and the third embodiment, the boot30is not provided with the extension wall30B. The boot30may be provided with the extension wall30B.

In the first to third embodiments, the mounting plate30C is provided inside the boot30in the vehicle width direction. The mounting plate30C may be provided outside the boot30in the vehicle width direction.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG.14is a right side view illustrating a buckle device70according to a fourth embodiment of the invention as viewed from the right.

The buckle device70according to the present embodiment has substantially the similar configuration to the configuration of the first embodiment, but differs in the following points.

As illustrated inFIGS.14and15A, in the buckle device70according to the embodiment, a boot30is not provided with an extension wall30B.

A mounting plate30C is integrally formed at an intermediate part of the rear wall of the boot30in the right-left direction. The thickness dimension of the proximal-end side part (upper side part) of a mounting plate30C is not larger (made the same) than the thickness dimension of the distal-end side part lower side part of the mounting plate30C, and the thickness of a part of the rear wall of the boot30in the vicinity of the mounting plate30C is not larger. Therefore, the cross-sectional coefficient of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C and the cross-sectional coefficient of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C are small, and the rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C and the rigidity of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C are small.

In a case in which, at the time of light collision of a vehicle, a wire harness32is moved upward integrally with a buckle body18, and the mounting plate30C is elastically bent, the intermediate part of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C is bent while the proximal-end side end part of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C and the proximal end part of the mounting plate30C are bent (seeFIGS.15B and15C).

Here, also in the embodiment, it is possible to exhibit the actions and effects similar to those of the first embodiment except for the action and effect obtained by making the rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C larger than the rigidity of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C, and the action and effect obtained by providing the mounting plate30C inside the boot30in the vehicle width direction, and the action and effect obtained by the extension wall30B of the boot30.

In the embodiment, the cross-sectional coefficient of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C is equal to the cross-sectional coefficient of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C, and the rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C is equal to the rigidity of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C. The cross-sectional coefficient of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C may be larger than the cross-sectional coefficient of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C, and the rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C may be larger than the rigidity of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C. In this case, a part of the rear wall of the boot30in the vicinity of the mounting plate30C may have a large thickness similar to the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG.16Ais rear view illustrating a buckle device80according to a fifth embodiment of the invention as viewed from the rear.FIG.16Bis a perspective view illustrating the buckle device80as viewed from the rear side.

The buckle device80according to the present embodiment has substantially the similar configuration to the configuration of the first embodiment, but differs in the following points.

As illustrated inFIGS.16A,16B,16C,17A,17B, and17C, in the buckle device80according to the embodiment, a mounting plate30C is integrally formed at a corner part between the right wall and the rear wall of a boot30. The thickness dimension of the proximal-end side part (upper side part) of the mounting plate30C is not larger (made the same) than the thickness dimension of the distal-end side part (lower side part) of the mounting plate30C, and the thickness of a part of the corner part between the right wall and the rear wall of the boot30in the vicinity of the mounting plate30C is not larger. Therefore, the cross-sectional coefficient of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C and the cross-sectional coefficient of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C are small, and the rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C and the rigidity of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C are small.

In a case in which, at the time of light collision of a vehicle, a wire harness32is moved upward integrally with a buckle body18, and the mounting plate30C is elastically bent, the intermediate part of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C is bent while the proximal-end side end part of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C and the proximal end part of the mounting plate30C are bent.

Here, also in the embodiment, it is possible to exhibit the actions and effects similar to those of the first embodiment except for the action and effect obtained by making the rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C larger than the rigidity of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C, and the action and effect obtained by providing the mounting plate30C inside the boot30in the vehicle width direction.

In the embodiment, the cross-sectional coefficient of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C is equal to the cross-sectional coefficient of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C, and the rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C is equal to the rigidity of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C. The cross-sectional coefficient of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C may be larger than the cross-sectional coefficient of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C, and the rigidity of the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C may be larger than the rigidity of the distal-end side part of the mounting plate30C. In this case, the part of the corner part between the right wall and the rear wall of the boot30in the vicinity of the mounting plate30C may have a larger thickness similar to the proximal-end side part of the mounting plate30C.

In the first to fifth embodiments, the spool24, the case26, and the torsion shaft28are provided in the frame22, and the belt20is coupled to the spool24. The belt20may be coupled to the frame22without providing the spool24, the case26, and the torsion shaft28in the frame22.

In the first to fifth embodiments, the deformation member is the torsion shaft28. The deformation member may be a member other than the torsion shaft28.