Buckle apparatus for seat belt

Disclosed is a buckle apparatus for a seat belt. The buckle apparatus Includes an upper cover including a front plate formed with an opening part; a lower cover engaged with a lower portion of the upper cover and provided therein with a base frame; a latch member including one end rotatably supported on the base frame and locked with a tongue plate inserted through the opening part; an ejector assembly provided on the base frame for locking and releasing between the tongue plate and the latch member; and a release button slidably provided on both sides of the base frame and disposed in an upper portion of the opening part so that one side of the release button is exposed. At least one elastic member is integrally provided on an upper end of the front plate to elastically press a bottom surface of the tongue plate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 371 U.S. National Stage of International Application No. PCT/KR2013/008619, filed Sep. 26, 2013, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 1020120087827, filed Aug. 10, 2012. The entire disclosures of each of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a buckle apparatus locking/releasing a tongue plate of a seat belt.

BACKGROUND ART

Automobiles and various types of transportation vehicles include a seat belt protecting a passenger from impact. The seat belt is provided with a buckle apparatus for locking/releasing a tongue plate of the seat belt.

The buckle apparatus includes a latch member having a claw pressed to an engagement direction by a spring and fitted with the tongue plate. The tongue plate connected to the seat belt is inserted into the buckle apparatus so that the latch member of the buckle apparatus is fitted with the tongue plate, and the latch member engages with the tongue plate by a locking bar so that the seat belt confines the passenger.

To release engagement of the latch member with the tongue plate, if a release button is pressed in the release direction, the locking bar is moved to a release location so that the tongue plate is released from a buckle.

However, the buckle apparatus has a problem in that the tongue plate moves (hereinafter referred to as ‘up-down movement’) in the direction approximately perpendicular to the insertion direction of the buckle when the tongue plate is inserted into the buckle apparatus.

A buckle for a seat belt according to the related art is disclosed in European Patent No. 0557983 and Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0416588.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

The present invention has been made to solve the problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a buckle apparatus in which an elastic member for preventing a tongue plate inserted into the buckle apparatus from moving in an up-down direction is integrated with an upper cover forming an outer appearance of the buckle apparatus.

Solution to Problem

In order to accomplish the object of the present invention, there is provided a buckle apparatus for a seat belt, the buckle apparatus including an upper cover including a front plate formed with an opening part; a lower cover engaged with a lower portion of the upper cover and provided therein with a base frame; a latch member including one end rotatably supported on the base frame and locked with a tongue plate inserted through the opening part; an ejector assembly provided on the base frame for locking and releasing between the tongue plate and the latch member; and a release button slidably provided on both sides of the base frame and disposed in an upper portion of the opening part so that one side of the release button is exposed, wherein at least one elastic member is integrally provided on an upper end of the front plate to elastically press a bottom surface of the tongue plate.

According to the present invention, the elastic member may include a support part protruding from the upper end of the front plate toward an inner side of the upper cover and movable up and down; and a pressing protrusion protruding from a free end of the support part and coming into contact with the bottom surface of the tongue plate.

According to the present invention, the pressing protrusion may include a contact surface coming into contact with the bottom surface of the tongue plate; and an inclined surface inclined downward from the contact surface toward a proximal end of the support part.

According to the present invention, the front plate may be inclined toward the opening part to guide an insertion operation of the tongue plate.

According to the present invention, the opening part may be defined by transverse walls protruding from inner surfaces of both side walls of the upper cover; and longitudinal walls extending downward from each distal end of the transverse walls by a predetermined distance, and the elastic member protrudes from the upper end of the front plate located between the longitudinal walls.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, the elastic member includes a support part protruding from the upper end of the front plate toward an inner side of the upper cover and movable up and down; and a pressing protrusion protruding from a free end of the support part and coming into contact with a bottom surface of the tongue plate, and is integrated with an upper cover, thereby reducing the number of components, simplifying an assembling process, and reducing a defect caused by an assembling error.

According to the present invention, a tongue plate can be easily inserted and a bottom surface of the inserted tongue plate can be elastically pressed efficiently by the pressing protrusion including a contact surface coming into contact with the bottom surface of the tongue plate and an inclined surface inclined downward from the contact surface toward a proximal end of the support part.

According to the present invention, the front plate can be inclined toward the opening part to guide an insertion operation of the tongue plate, thereby facilitating an insertion operation of the tongue plate.

According to the present invention, the opening part may include transverse walls protruding from inner surfaces of both side walls of the upper cover; and longitudinal walls extending downward from each distal end of the transverse walls by a predetermined distance, thereby stably supporting the release button and guiding the insertion operation of the tongue plate.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, but various modifications may be realized. The present embodiments are provided to make the disclosure of the present invention perfect and to make those skilled in the art perfectly comprehend the scope of the present invention.

In drawings, reference characters “F”, “R”, “U” and “L” refer to front, rear, upper and lower directions, respectively.

FIG. 1is a perspective view showing a configuration of a buckle apparatus for a seat belt according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 1, a buckle1includes an upper cover300and a lower cover500, in which a buckle assembly100is accommodated inside the upper cover300and the lower cover500.

The upper cover300includes a front plate330formed with an opening part310.

A release button170is disposed in an upper portion of the opening part310, and a tongue plate3is inserted through a tongue plate insertion part311of the opening part310formed below the release button170.

Transverse walls360supporting the release button170protrude from an inner surface of both side walls350of the upper cover30, and longitudinal walls370extend from the transverse walls360in the lower direction L by a predetermined distance H to guide insertion of the tongue plate3.

The front plate330is inclined toward the opening part310so that the tongue plate3is easily inserted.

At least one elastic member390elastically pressing a bottom surface of the tongue plate3is provided in an upper end331of the front plate330between the longitudinal walls370, and prevents the inserted tongue plate3in a lower portion of the release button170from moving upper and lower directions (U and L).

FIG. 2is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating the buckle apparatus for a seat belt according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 2, a buckle assembly100is mounted inside the upper cover300and the lower cover500, and includes a base frame110, a latch member130including one end rotatably supported in both sides of the base frame110and inserted into the tongue plate3, an ejector assembly200locking/releasing the latch member130, and a release button170releasing the locking of the tongue plate3.

A frame opening part510is formed in a front end of the lower cover500and a protrusion112formed in a front end of the base frame110extends by passing through the frame opening part510.

In addition, the buckle assembly100includes a hall switch180, which detects whether the occupant wears the safety belt by sensing the locking and releasing of the tongue plate3and an alarm switch190.

Hereinafter, each element of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 3is an exploded perspective view illustrating the buckle apparatus for a seat belt according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 3, a base frame110is a fundamental element, in which a release button170, a latch member130, an ejector assembly200, a hall switch180, and an alarm switch190are mounted.

The base frame110includes both side walls111and a bottom plate113, and has a substantially U-shape. A pair of button guide holes115is formed at front ends of the both side walls113and a guide rib171of the release button170is inserted into the button guide holes115to slidably move therein. A pair of hinge holes117is formed in a rear end of the both side walls111so that a hinge protrusion131of the latch member130is rotatably inserted in the hinge holes117. A pair of ejector slots118is formed in the center of a lower end of the both side walls111in the front and rear directions F and R so that the ejector21is inserted into the ejector slots118.

A pair of button slots119is formed in an upper side of the ejector slots118so that a protrusion173formed at a rear end of the release button170is inserted into the button slots119. A moving slot116is formed between the button guide hole115and the button slot119and a locking bar230of the ejector assembly200is inserted into the moving slot116to move along the moving slot116.

The moving slot116includes a first groove116aformed in the front and rear directions F and R to form a locking position of the latch member130and a second groove116bformed in the upper direction (U) from the first groove116ato form a release position of the latch member130.

The release button170is mounted in front of a base frame110to move in the front and rear directions F and R along the button guide hole115and the button slot119. The release button170is pressed when a belt wearer unlocks the tongue plate3to release the locking state between the tongue plate3and the latch member130. A tongue plate insertion part176is formed at a lower portion of the release button175so that the tongue plate3can be inserted between a lower portion of a pressing part175of the release button170and a bottom plate113of the base frame110.

The guide rib171inserted into a button guide hole115protrudes from inner surfaces of the both side walls177of the release button170. A hinge groove178is concavely formed in an inner bottom of the release button170so that a hinge pin191of an inertial lever160is loosely inserted into the hinge groove178. A pressing groove179is concavely formed in a rear end of the guide rib177so that both ends of a locking bar230are inserted into the pressing groove179.

The ejector assembly200is used for allowing the latch member130to engage with or to be separated from the tongue plate3, and includes an ejector210, the locking bar230, a hook lever250, and a spring270.

A spring seat133is formed at the center portion of the latch member130through the cutting process so that a spring270can be positioned in the spring seat133. A fitting protrusion135, around which the spring270is fitted, is provided in a rear end of the spring seat130. A claw137inserted in a locking groove3aof the tongue plate3protrudes at a front end of the latch member130.

The ejector210includes an ejector body211having a contact end211astraightly formed in a width direction perpendicular to the front and rear directions F and R of the base frame110to make contact with an end of the tongue plate3, and a sliding protrusion213protruding from both sides of the ejector body211to be fitted into the ejector slot118.

An end of the hook lever250is rotatably supported on the center portion of the ejector body211. The claw251locked with an outer peripheral surface of the locking bar230protrudes from a bottom surface of the hook lever250. A spring protrusion253fitted with the other end of the spring270protrudes from a top surface of the hook lever250. The spring270elastically supports the hook lever250such that the hook lever250always presses the locking bar230.

The buckle1is provided with an inertial lever160which is prepared inside the release button170to prevent the ejector assembly200from being released due to inertial force generated during an operation of a pre-tensioner. The inertial lever160includes hinge pins165which are prepared at a front end of the inertial lever160and are inserted into a hinge groove178of the release button170, and guide pins167confined in an inner side of the release button170in both sides of the hinge pins165so that the inertial lever160may not deviate in the longitudinal direction. A locking groove168inserted into an outer surface of the locking bar230is formed in a rear end of the inertial lever160.

The buckle assembly100as described above is disclosed in European Patent No. 0557983 and Korean utility model registration No. 20-0416588, so detailed description about the operation thereof will be omitted.

The buckle assembly1is not limited to the foregoing structure. A configuration for locking or releasing the tongue plate3with or from the latch member130may be variously modified.

FIG. 4is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an upper cover of the buckle apparatus for a seat belt according to the embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 5is a cross sectional view taken along line V-V ofFIG. 4.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, the upper cover300includes a front plate300having an opening part310.

The opening part310includes a button insertion part313prepared at an upper portion of the opening part310and in which a pressing part175ofFIG. 3is located and a tongue plate insertion part311prepared at a lower portion of the opening part310and in which the tongue plate is inserted.

A pair of transverse walls360protrudes from inner surfaces of both side walls350of the upper cover300so that a button insertion part313is formed. The transverse walls360movably support a lower end of the release button170in the front and rear directions F and R.

A longitudinal wall370extends downward in a distal end361of the transverse wall360by a predetermined length H so that a tongue plate insertion part311into which the tongue plate3is inserted is formed. The longitudinal wall370is a wall for guiding insertion of the tongue plate3, and is inclined toward a center axis of the upper cover10at a first predetermined angle θ°.

A front end of the transverse wall360is inclined toward an inside of the upper cover300at a second predetermined angle β°. As a result, the front plate330is inclined toward the opening part310so that the tongue plate3is easily inserted. That is, the front plate330covers between a front end363of the transverse wall360and a front end301of a lower side of the lower cover300and between a front end371of the longitudinal wall370and the front end301of the lower side of the lower cover300.

At least one elastic member390is integrally provided on the upper end331of the front plate330located between the longitudinal walls370, and elastically presses the bottom surface3bof the tongue plate3inserted through the tongue plate insertion part311to prevent the tongue plate3from moving upper and lower directions U and L in a lower portion of the release button170.

A protrusion385is additionally formed such that a concave part383is formed in a center portion of an upper end331of the front plate330and into which a frame cover protrusion112formed in a front end of the base frame110is inserted. A cover protrusion380and a frame protrusion112are fitted with each other such that upper surfaces thereof can be aligned in the same plane to prevent the interference with the tongue plate3upon the insertion and separation operations of the tongue plate3.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the opening part310is partitioned by the transverse walls360and the longitudinal walls370and includes a tongue plate insertion part311and a release button insertion part313.

Alternatively, the transverse walls360and the longitudinal walls370may be omitted. In this case, a panel (not shown) covering the opening part310is prepared in a front end of the release button170, and a lower portion of the panel is cut such that the tongue plate3can be inserted into the panel.

FIG. 6is a longitudinal section view taken along line VI-VI ofFIG. 4, andFIG. 7is an enlarged view showing a portion VII ofFIG. 4.

Referring toFIGS. 6 and 7, an elastic member390protrudes from an upper end331of the front plate330in the rear direction (R). The elastic member390includes a support part391including one side391supported to be moved in upper and lower directions and a pressing protrusion393is provided in a top surface of a free end391of the support part391to support a bottom surface of the tongue plate3.

The pressing protrusion393includes a contact surface making contact with a bottom surface of the tongue plate3and an inclined surface393binclined downward toward a proximal end391aof the support part391from the contact surface393a. Accordingly, the pressing protrusion393allows the tongue plate3to be easily inserted, and elastically presses a bottom surface of the tongue plate3to prevent the tongue plate3from moving up and down.

That is, when the tongue plate3is inserted through the tongue plate insertion part311disposed at a lower portion of the release button170, a front end3aof the tongue plate3is slid along the inclined surface393bof the pressing protrusion393so that the tongue plate3is smoothly inserted without interfering with the pressing protrusion393.

When the insertion is completed, the bottom surface of the tongue plate3comes into contact with the contact surface393aof the pressing protrusion393and is pressed upward, so that the up-down movement of the tongue plate3is restricted.

The elastic member390may be disposed adjacent to the longitudinal wall370.

FIG. 8is a side view showing a configuration of a buckle apparatus to which an upper cover is applied, in which only structures of a tongue plate, an upper cover plate, a lower cover plate, a release button, and a frame are schematically illustrated.

Referring toFIG. 8, the tongue plate3is introduced through the tongue plate insertion part311of the opening part310and is located between a lower portion of the release button170and the base frame110. In this case, the bottom surface of the tongue plate3is pressed by the pressing protrusion393of the elastic member390integrally formed on a lower portion of the upper cover300, thereby preventing the tongue plate3from moving in the upper and lower directions (U and L).

As described above, the elastic member390may be integrally provided on the upper cover300forming an outer appearance, so that the number of components can be reduced and the assembling process can be simplified. Further, the defect due to an assembling error may be reduced, so that the up-down movement of the tongue plate3can be effectively prevented.

Although it has been described that the elastic member390is integrally provided with the upper cover300in a structure where the release button170is pressed in a front end of the upper cover300of the buckle apparatus1, the present invention is also applicable to a buckle apparatus for releasing the locking of the tongue plate by pressing the release button downward from the upper end of the upper cover.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that the exemplary embodiments help one ordinary skilled in the art to easily realize the present invention should not be limited to these exemplary embodiments and accompanying drawings. Therefore, various changes and modifications can be apparently made by the skilled in the art without departing from the technical sprit of the present invention. In addition, it is understood that parts that can be easily changed by the skilled in the art are within the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.