Through anchor

In a through anchor (10), when an occupant is restrained by webbing (30) in a vehicle emergency, the webbing (30) is moved to the vehicle front side in an insertion hole (22) of a guide piece (18) by movement of the occupant due to inertia, and a vehicle front side end face of the webbing (30) contacts a peripheral face of the insertion hole (22) at high load. A gap is formed between the guide piece (18) and an anchor plate (12). The guide piece (18) is accordingly moved to the vehicle front side with respect to the anchor plate (12) by the webbing (30), thereby enabling occurrence of skewing of the webbing (30) toward the vehicle front side in the insertion hole (20) to be suppressed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a through anchor through which webbing applied to a vehicle occupant is inserted.

BACKGROUND ART

In a through anchor disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2013-91446, a webbing insertion hole is formed piercing through a metal plate, and a resin mold portion is fixed to the periphery of the webbing insertion hole of the metal plate. Furthermore, an insertion hole is formed to the resin mold portion, and the webbing is inserted in the length direction through the insertion hole.

It would be preferable to be able to suppress the occurrence of skewing of the webbing toward the width direction in the insertion hole of the through anchor (so-called jamming).

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

In consideration of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to obtain a through anchor capable of suppressing the occurrence of skewing of the webbing toward the width direction in the insertion hole.

Solution to Problem

A through anchor of a first aspect of the present invention includes: a main body member formed with a through hole; and a slide support member that is attached to a periphery of the through hole of the main body member, that is formed with an insertion hole through which a webbing that is applied to a vehicle occupant is inserted in a length direction of the webbing such that the webbing is slidably supported, and that is movable in a webbing width direction with respect to the main body member.

A through anchor of a second aspect of the present invention is the through anchor of the first aspect of the present invention, further including an insertion portion that is provided at the slide support member and formed with an insertion hole, wherein a gap is provided in the webbing width direction between the insertion portion and a peripheral face of the insertion through hole.

A through anchor of a third aspect of the present invention is the through anchor of the first aspect or the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the main body member anchors movement of the slide support member in a webbing thickness direction with respect to the main body member.

A through anchor of a fourth aspect of the present invention is the through anchor of any one of the first aspect to the third aspect of the present invention, further including an anchor portion that is provided at the slide support member, that is anchored to the main body member, and that anchors movement of the slide support member in the webbing length direction with respect to the main body member.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

In the through anchor of the first aspect of the present invention, the main body member is formed with the through hole, and the slide support member is attached to the periphery of the through hole of the main body member. Furthermore, the slide support member is formed with the insertion hole, the webbing that is applied to the vehicle occupant is inserted through the insertion hole in the length direction of the webbing such that the slide support member slidably supports the webbing.

The slide support member is configured movable in the webbing width direction with respect to the main body member. The slide support member is accordingly moved by the webbing in the webbing width direction with respect to the main body member, enabling the movement range of the webbing in the width direction to be increased, and enabling the occurrence of skewing of the webbing toward the width direction in the insertion hole to be suppressed.

In the through anchor of the second aspect of the present invention, the insertion portion is provided at the slide support member, and the insertion portion is formed with the insertion hole.

The gap is provided in the webbing width direction between the insertion portion and the peripheral face of the through hole. This enables movement of the insertion portion in the webbing width direction with respect to the through hole, enabling movement of the slide support member in the webbing width direction with respect to the main body member.

In the through anchor of the third aspect of the present invention, the main body member anchors movement of the slide support member in the webbing thickness direction. Thus when the slide support member is moved in the webbing width direction with respect to the main body member, movement of the slide support member in the webbing thickness direction with respect to the main body member can be anchored, enabling the slide support member to move smoothly in the webbing width direction with respect to the main body member.

In the through anchor of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the anchor portion provided at the slide support member is anchored to the main body member, anchoring movement of the slide support member in the webbing length direction with respect to the main body member. Thus when the slide support member is moved in the webbing width direction with respect to the main body member, movement of the slide support member in the webbing length direction with respect to the main body member can be anchored, enabling the slide support member to move smoothly in the webbing width direction with respect to the main body member.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a face-on view of a through anchor10(the webbing hanger) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in a vehicle-attached state as viewed from the vehicle width direction inside.FIG. 2Ais a face-on view of a relevant portion of the through anchor10, in the vehicle-attached state as viewed from the vehicle width direction inside. Note that, in the drawings, the arrow FR indicates the vehicle front, the arrow IN indicates the vehicle width direction inside, and the arrow UP indicates upward when the through anchor10is attached to a vehicle.

The through anchor10according to the present exemplary embodiment is employed in what is referred to as a three-point seatbelt device as a so-called slip joint (shoulder anchor). The through anchor10is disposed at the vehicle width direction outside and the vehicle rear side of a vehicle body upper portion of a seat (not illustrated in the drawings) for seating an occupant in a vehicle (automobile).

As illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 2A, the through anchor10includes a metal (steel material) plate shaped anchor plate12(seeFIG. 4) as a main body member (strength member). The anchor plate12is manufactured by punch press working.

A circular shaped fixing hole14serving as an attachment portion is formed piercing through an upper portion of the anchor plate12, and the anchor plate12is fixed (attached) to the vehicle body by a bolt (not illustrated in the drawings) fitted through the fixing hole14. As a result, the through anchor10is capable of swinging in the vehicle front-rear direction about the bolt.

A through hole16, configured as a U shape viewed from the vehicle width direction, is formed piercing through an up-down direction intermediate portion of the anchor plate12. A vehicle front-rear direction center portion of the through hole16configures an elongated rectangular shaped central through hole16A, and the central through hole16A extends in the vehicle front-rear direction. Substantially rectangular shaped end through holes16B are configured at a vehicle front side end portion and a vehicle rear side end portion of the through hole16, respectively. The end through holes16B communicate with the central through hole16A in the vehicle front-rear direction, and extend upward (in an orthogonal (intersecting) direction) with respect to the central through hole16A.

A guide piece18, configured in resin as a U shape viewed from the vehicle width direction and serving as a slide support member, is attached around the entire periphery of the through hole16of the anchor plate12, at an up-down direction intermediate portion of the anchor plate12. The guide piece18only covers the vicinity of the entire periphery of the through hole16of the anchor plate12, and the guide piece18does not cover the entire body of an outer peripheral edge face12A of the anchor plate12.

An insertion portion20, configured as a U shape viewed from the vehicle width direction, is provided at the guide piece18, and the insertion portion20is disposed inside the through hole16. A vehicle front-rear direction center portion of the insertion portion20configures an elongated rectangular column shaped central insertion portion20A, and the central insertion portion20A extends in the vehicle front-rear direction. Substantially rectangular column shaped end insertion portions20B are configured at a vehicle front side end portion and a vehicle rear side end portion of the insertion portion20. The end insertion portions20B are connected to the central insertion portion20A in the vehicle front-rear direction, and extend upward (in an orthogonal (intersecting) direction) with respect to the central insertion portion20A.

The central insertion portion20A is fitted in the up-down direction inside the central through hole16A of the through hole16(seeFIG. 3D), and an up-down direction clearance between the central insertion portion20A and an inner peripheral face of the central through hole16A is set as a required minimum in consideration of design and manufacturing variations (set as zero when manufacturing restrictions are in place).

The end insertion portions20B are fitted in the up-down direction inside the respective end through holes16B of the through hole16(seeFIG. 3B), and an up-down direction clearance between the respective end insertion portions20B and inner peripheral faces of the end through holes16B is set as a required minimum in consideration of design and manufacturing variations (set as zero when manufacturing restrictions are in place).

The central insertion portion20A is anchored in the up-down direction at the inner peripheral face of the central through hole16A, and the end insertion portions20B are anchored in the up-down direction at the respective inner peripheral faces of the end through holes16B, thereby anchoring up-down direction movement of the guide piece18with respect to the anchor plate12.

A gap is formed in the vehicle front-rear direction (seeFIG. 3E) between a vehicle front side end face of the end insertion portion20B and a vehicle front side end face of the end through hole16B, and between a vehicle rear side end face of the end insertion portion20B and a vehicle rear side end face of the end through hole16B, respectively. The vehicle front-rear direction dimensions of the respective gaps between the vehicle front side end face of the end insertion portion20B and the vehicle front side end face of the end through hole16B, and the vehicle rear side end face of the end insertion portion20B and the vehicle rear side end face of the end through hole16B, are set to be the same as each other.

An insertion hole22, configured as a U shape viewed from the vehicle width direction, is formed piercing through the insertion portion20, and the insertion hole22is configured as smaller than, and substantially similarly shaped to, the through hole16. A vehicle front-rear direction center portion of the insertion hole22configures a central insertion hole22A, and the central insertion hole22A extends in the vehicle front-rear direction. End insertion holes22B are configured at a vehicle front side end portion and a vehicle rear side end portion of the insertion hole22, and the end insertion holes22B are connected to the central insertion hole22A in the vehicle front-rear direction, and extend upward (in an orthogonal (intersecting) direction) with respect to the central insertion hole22A.

A lower side face of the insertion hole22configures a slide face24(support face) (seeFIG. 3CandFIG. 3D), and the slide face24is curved in a substantially semi-circular arc cross-section convex shape, as viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction.

A front wall26and a back wall28, each configured in a flat plate shape and serving as an anchor portion, are provided at a vehicle width direction inside portion and a vehicle width direction outside portion of the guide piece18, respectively (seeFIG. 3AtoFIG. 3E). The front wall26and the back wall28are integrally formed to the insertion portion20, and the vehicle width direction inside face of the front wall26is in the same plane as the vehicle width direction inside face of the insertion portion20, and the vehicle width direction outside face of the back wall28is in the same plane as the vehicle width direction outside face of the insertion portion20. The outer peripheries of the front wall26and the back wall28configure the outer periphery of the guide piece18. The front wall26covers the through hole16of the anchor plate12and the entire peripheral direction edge portion of the through hole16from the vehicle width direction inside, and the back wall28covers the through hole16of the anchor plate12and the entire peripheral direction edge portion of the through hole16from the vehicle width direction outside. The entire peripheral direction edge portion of the through hole16of the anchor plate12is sandwiched between the front wall26and the back wall28, and the front wall26and the back wall28are thereby anchored to the anchor plate12, anchoring movement of the guide piece18in the vehicle width direction with respect to the anchor plate12.

The guide piece18is, for example, fixed to the anchor plate12at the front wall26and the back wall28, thereby restricting vehicle front-rear direction movement of the guide piece18with respect to the anchor plate12.

An elongated belt shaped webbing30is inserted through (fed through) the central insertion hole22A (the central through hole16A of the through hole16) of the insertion hole22of the guide piece18(the insertion portion20), so as to be movable in the length direction of the webbing. A base end side of the webbing30, further to the vehicle width direction outside (vehicle outside) than the insertion hole22, extends to the lower side of the through anchor10, and is taken up on a take-up device (not illustrated in the drawings). The take-up device is fixed to the vehicle width direction outside and lower side of the seat for seating an occupant, and biases the webbing30in a take-up direction. A leading end side of the webbing30, further to the vehicle width direction inside (vehicle interior side) than the insertion hole22, extends to the lower side of the through anchor10, and is fixed to the vehicle width direction outside and lower side of the seat. As a result, the webbing30contacts the slide face24of the insertion hole22and is supported (hangs) in a folded state due to the biasing force of the take-up device, such that the webbing30slides over and is guided by the slide face24when the webbing30moves in the length direction of the webbing with respect to the insertion hole22.

The leading end side of the webbing30beyond the through anchor10(the insertion hole22) is inserted through a tongue (not illustrated in the drawings) and the tongue is configured movable along the length direction of the webbing30. A buckle (not illustrated in the drawings) is attached to the vehicle width direction inside and lower side of the seat, and the webbing30is applied to an occupant seated in the seat (not illustrated in the drawings) by pulling the webbing30out from the take-up device against the biasing force, and engaging the tongue in the buckle.

When the webbing30is applied to the occupant, the leading end side of the webbing30beyond the through anchor10(the insertion hole22) extends from the through anchor10toward the vehicle front diagonal downward side, and the through anchor10swings toward the vehicle front side. Furthermore, extraction of the webbing30from the take-up device is locked by the take-up device in the event of a vehicle emergency (such as a collision).

Explanation follows regarding operation of the exemplary embodiment.

In the through anchor10with the above-described configuration, the guide piece18is attached to the entire periphery of the through hole16of the anchor plate12, the webbing30is movably inserted along the length direction through the insertion hole22(central insertion hole22A) of the guide piece18(insertion portion20), and the webbing30is slidably supported by the slide face24of the guide piece18.

In the event of a vehicle emergency (such as a collision), extraction of the webbing30applied to the occupant from the take-up device is locked by the take-up device, and the occupant is restrained by the webbing30. In such an event, due to movement of the occupant under inertia, the webbing30is moved to the vehicle front side (one width direction side of the webbing30) of the insertion hole22(the central insertion hole22A and the vehicle front side end insertion hole22B), and the vehicle front side end face (one width direction side end face) of the webbing30contacts the vehicle front side end face of the vehicle front side insertion hole22B at high load.

When this occurs, the gap formed in the vehicle front-rear direction between the vehicle front side end face of the end insertion portion20B of the guide piece18(insertion portion20) and the vehicle front side end face of the end through hole16B of the anchor plate12(through hole16) enables movement of the insertion portion20to the vehicle front side with respect to the through hole16, enabling movement of the guide piece18toward the vehicle front side with respect to the anchor plate12. As a result, when the vehicle front side end face of the webbing30contacts the vehicle front side end face of the vehicle front side end insertion hole22B of the guide piece18at high load, as described above, fixture of the guide piece18to the anchor plate12is released by the webbing30, and the guide piece18is moved to the vehicle front side with respect to the anchor plate12(seeFIG. 2B). This enables the range of movement of the webbing30toward the vehicle front side to be increased, enabling occurrence of skewing of the webbing30in the insertion hole22toward the vehicle front side (so-called jamming) to be suppressed.

Moreover, the central insertion portion20A of the guide piece18(the insertion portion20) is anchored in the up-down direction (the webbing30thickness direction) at the inner peripheral face of the central through hole16A of the anchor plate12(the through hole16), and the end insertion portions20B of the guide piece18(the insertion portion20) are anchored in the up-down direction to the respective inner peripheral faces of the end through holes16B of the anchor plate12(the through hole16), anchoring movement of the guide piece18in the up-down direction with respect to the anchor plate12. As a result, when the guide piece18is moved toward the vehicle front side with respect to the anchor plate12by the webbing30, as described above, movement of the guide piece18in the up-down direction with respect to the anchor plate12can be anchored, enabling the guide piece18to move smoothly to the vehicle front side with respect to the anchor plate12. This enables the movement range of the webbing30to the vehicle front side to be effectively increased, enabling occurrence of skewing of the webbing30in the insertion hole22toward the vehicle front side (so-called jamming) to be effectively suppressed.

Furthermore, the front wall26and the back wall28of the guide piece18are anchored to the anchor plate12, anchoring movement of the guide piece18with respect to the anchor plate12in the vehicle width direction (the webbing30length direction). As a result, when the guide piece18is moved to the vehicle front side with respect to the anchor plate12by the webbing30, as described above, movement of the guide piece18in the vehicle width direction with respect to the anchor plate12can be anchored, enabling the guide piece18to move even more smoothly to the vehicle front side with respect to the anchor plate12. This enables the movement range of the webbing30to the vehicle front side to be even more effectively increased, enabling occurrence of skewing of the webbing30to the vehicle front side in the insertion hole22(so-called jamming) to be still more effectively suppressed.

Note that the through anchor10is applied to a slip joint in the exemplary embodiment. However, the through anchor10may also be applied to a tongue.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS