Patent Publication Number: US-10772390-B2

Title: Buckle device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a buckle device, more particularly to a buckle device disposed on a chair. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A motion simulation chair is provided with a fixing strap and a latch for fixing the occupant to the chair and prevent the occupant from being ejected when the chair provides motion simulation. 
     Please refer to the Taiwanese Patent No. M473859, a latch  1  used for seatbelt is disclosed, in which the plate of the latch  1  can be controlled to prevent the occupant&#39;s accidental open, and furthermore, it can protect the occupant when the seat provides motion simulation. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1 , the latch  1  comprises a first horizontal rod  102  disposed in a casing  101 , two first connecting regions  103  disposed on the first horizontal rod  102 , a second horizontal rod  104  disposed in a casing  101 , two vertical disks  105  pivotally disposed on the second horizontal rod  104 , two second connecting regions  106  disposed on the two vertical disk  105 , and two first springs  107  disposed on the first connection region  103  and the second connection region  106 . The two first spring  107  are tension springs for pulling the two vertical disk  105  to rotate in the casing  101 . Both ends of the two first springs  107  are respectively provided with a circular first fastener  108 , and plural first fasteners  108  respectively engage with the two first connecting regions  103  and the two second connecting regions  106 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 2 , the latch  1  further comprises a third horizontal rod  109  disposed on the casing  101 , a press member  110  disposed in the casing  101 , two third connecting regions  111  disposed on the press member  110 , and two second springs  112  disposed between the third horizontal rod  109  and the third connecting region  111 . The two second springs  112  are tension springs for pulling the press member  110  to move in the casing  101 . Both ends of the two second springs  112  are respectively provided with a circular second fastener  113 , and plural second fasteners  113  are respectively engage with the third horizontal rod  109  and the two third connecting regions  111 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3 , the latch  1  further comprises a fourth horizontal rod  114  disposed on the casing  101 , two electromagnetic components  115  disposed on the casing  101 , two metal bars  116  pivotally disposed on the two electromagnetic components  115 , two fourth connecting regions  117  disposed on the two metal bars  116 , and two third springs  118  disposed between the fourth horizontal rod  114  and the fourth connecting region  117  are disposed. The two third springs  118  are tension springs for pulling the two metal bars  116  to move in the casing  101 . Both ends of the two third springs  118  are respectively provided with a circular third fastener  119 , and plural third fasteners  119  are respectively engage with the fourth horizontal rod  114  and the fourth connecting region  117 . 
     The junction where the first spring  107  and the first fastener  108  connected, the junction where the second spring  112  and the second fastener  113  connected, and the junction where the third spring  118  and the third fastener  119  connected, will become brittle over time and break easily due to spring fatigue. 
     Therefore, the following drawbacks and disadvantages still exist with prior art invention: 
     1. Insufficient Durability 
     The prior art invention uses a tension spring, and annular fasteners must be configured on both sides of the tension spring to fasten two objects and provide a tensile force between the two objects. However, the junction between the tension spring and the annular fastener is easy to become brittle after a certain number of expansions, and the durability is obviously insufficient. 
     2. Complex Assembly 
     Each fastener must be engaged with a connecting region disposed on the object. The fastener components are various and must be assembled according to a tedious standard procedure. For example, the third horizontal rod  109  of the prior art is not only provided to the second fastener  113  of the second spring  112  for engagement, but also has to pass through the press member  110  for controlling the movement of the press member  110 , which increases difficulty of assembly. 
     3. Complicated Structure 
     Each movable object must be provided with a spring and a fixing member fixed to the casing. The second connecting region  106  and the fourth connecting region  117  of the prior art are screw parts, and the first connecting region  103  and the third connecting region  111  are convex structure, which requires various and abundant springs. Therefore, the structure of the conventional latch is complicated. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to provide a buckle with high durability and simple structure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, an objective of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a buckle device, comprising a main unit, at least one disk unit, a press unit, and an elastic unit. 
     The main unit includes a housing surrounding a housing space, a disk support body disposed in the housing space, and a press support body disposed in the housing space. 
     The disk unit includes at least a vertical disk pivotally connected to the disk support body, a first clamping region disposed on the vertical disk, a spring housing disposed on the vertical disk, a spring disk support region disposed on the vertical disk, and a rotation limiting region disposed on the vertical disk, wherein the vertical disk is movable between a disk latched position and an disk unlatched position, and the press support body presses against the rotation limiting region. 
     The press unit includes a press body disposed on the housing, at least one press limiting through-hole disposed on the press body, at least one press latching region disposed on the press body, and at least one spring press support region disposed on the press body, when the vertical disk located at the disk latched position, the press support body cooperating with the press limiting through-hole, the press body being movable between a press latched position and an press unlatched position, when the press body located at the press latched position, the first clamping region engaged with the press latching region to fasten the vertical disk located at the disk latched position. 
     The elastic unit includes at least one first spring body, wherein the first spring body is a thrust spring, the spring disk support region supporting one end of the first spring body, the spring press support region supporting the other end of the first spring body, the spring housing accommodating the first spring body, the first spring body pushing the vertical disk to the disk unlatched position, and the first spring body pushing the press body to the press latched position. 
     Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention is that the spring disk support region protrudes from convex of the vertical disk, and one end of the first spring body is sleeved on the spring disk support region. 
     Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention is that the spring press support region protrudes from convex of the press body, and the other end of the first spring body is sleeved on the spring press support region. 
     Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention is that the spring disk support region is disposed at a side of the spring housing, and the vertical disk is pushed by the first spring body. 
     Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention is that the disk unit further includes a protrusion disposed on the vertical disk, and the protrusion presses against a side of an end of the first spring body. 
     Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention is that the disk unit further includes a spout stop region disposed on the rotation limiting region, and the spout stop region controls rotation angle when the vertical disk is located at the disk unlatched position. 
     Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention is that the present invention is detachable to combine with a latch plate device, wherein the latch plate device is provided with a tongue, the main unit further including an insertion slot disposed on the housing, the insertion slot provided for tongue insertion, the disk unit further including a second clamping region disposed on the vertical disk, when the press body is located at the press latched position, the tongue engaged with the second clamping region, and the latch plate device not able to be separated from the buckle device. 
     Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention is that the present invention further comprises at least one magnetic engagement unit, wherein the magnetic engagement unit includes an electromagnetic body disposed on the housing, an electromagnetic retractable rod pivotally disposed on the electromagnetic body, and an electromagnetic latching region disposed on the electromagnetic retractable rod, the disk unit further including a third clamping region disposed on the vertical disk, the elastic unit further including at least one second spring body, when the vertical disk located at the disk latched position, the electromagnetic retractable rod moving between an electromagnetic latched position and an electromagnetic unlatched position, the electromagnetic body pushing the electromagnetic retractable rod to the electromagnetic unlatched position, the second spring body pushing the electromagnetic retractable rod to the electromagnetic latched position, when the electromagnetic retractable rod is moved to the electromagnetic latched position, the electromagnetic latching region engaged with the third clamping region to fasten the vertical disk on the disk latched position. 
     Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention is that the magnetic engagement unit further includes a spring magnet support region disposed on the electromagnetic body, and a spring rod support region disposed on the electromagnetic retractable rod, the second spring body being a thrust spring, the second spring body sleeved on the electromagnetic retractable rod, the spring magnet support region supporting one end of the second spring body, and the spring rod support region supporting the other end of the second spring body. 
     Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention is that the main unit further includes a rod support body disposed in the housing space, the magnetic engagement unit further including a rod limiting hole disposed on the electromagnetic retractable rod, the rod support body cooperating with the rod limiting hole to control the position of the electromagnetic retractable rod moving between the electromagnetic unlatched position and the electromagnetic latched position. 
     The advantage of the present invention is that the spring disk support region and the spring press support region are designed to provide an arrangement which the first spring body doesn&#39;t need an annular fastener, and the first spring body is a thrust spring. This arrangement can extend the lifespan of the buckle device and the press body is rotated by the thrust of the first spring body to push the press body, which maintains the basic function of the buckle device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates the arrangement of a first spring of a prior art invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the arrangement of a second spring of the prior art invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the arrangement of a third spring of the prior art invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of the present buckle device in which a latch plate device is engaged with the buckle device, a vertical disk located at the disk latched position, a press body located at a press latched position, and an electromagnetic retractable rod located at an electromagnetic latched position; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the embodiment of the present buckle device in which the vertical disk is located at the disk latched position, the press body located at a press unlatched position, and the electromagnetic retractable rod located at the electromagnetic latched position; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the embodiment of the present buckle device in which the vertical disk is located at the disk latched position, the press body located at the press latched position, and the electromagnetic retractable rod located at an electromagnetic unlatched position; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the embodiment of the present buckle device in which the latch plate device is separated from the buckle device, the vertical disk located at a disk unlatched position, the press body located at a press unlatched position, and the electromagnetic retractable rod located at the electromagnetic unlatched position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which provides better understanding to a person having ordinary skill in the art but shall not be construed as limiting the invention. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4 ., a preferred embodiment according to the buckle device, wherein the buckle device is detachable to combine with a latch plate device  2 . The latch plate device  2  is provided with a tongue  21 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the buckle device comprises a main unit  3 , two disk unit  4 , a press unit  5 , two magnetic engagement unit  6  and an elastic unit  7 . 
     The main unit  3  includes a housing  32  surrounding a housing space  31 , an insertion slot  33  disposed on the housing  32 , a disk support body  34  disposed in the housing space  31 , a press support body  35  disposed in the housing space  31 , and a rod support body  36  disposed in the housing space  31 . 
     Each disk unit  4  includes a vertical disk  41  pivotally connected to the disk support body  34 , a spring housing  42  disposed on the vertical disk  41 , a spring disk support region  43  disposed on the vertical disk  41 , a protrusion  44  disposed on the vertical disk  41 , a rotation limiting region  45  disposed on the vertical disk  41 , a spout stop region  46  disposed on the rotation limiting region  45 , a first clamping region  47  disposed on the vertical disk  41 , a second clamping region  48  disposed on the vertical disk  41 , and a third clamping region  49  disposed on the vertical disk  41 . 
     The press unit  5  includes a press body  51  disposed on the housing  32 , two press limiting through-holes  52  disposed on the press body  51 , two press latching region  53  disposed on the press body  51 , and two spring press support regions  54  disposed on the press body  51 . 
     Each magnetic engagement unit  6  includes an electromagnetic body  61  disposed on the housing  32 , an electromagnetic retractable rod  62  pivotally disposed on the electromagnetic body  61 , an electromagnetic latching region  63  disposed on the electromagnetic retractable rod  62 , a spring magnet support region  64  disposed on the electromagnetic body  61 , a spring rod support region  65  disposed on the electromagnetic retractable rod  62 , and a rod limiting hole  66  disposed on the electromagnetic retractable rod  62 . 
     The elastic unit  7  includes two first spring bodies  71  disposed between the spring disk support region  43  and the spring press support region  54 , and two second spring bodies  72  disposed between the spring magnet support region  64  and the spring rod support region  65 . 
     The number of the disk unit  4 , the press limiting through-hole  52 , the press latching region  53 , the spring press support region  54 , the first spring body  71  and the second spring body  72 , depends on different situations and shall not be construed as limiting the invention. 
     The tongue  21  is disposed on one end of the latch plate device  2 , and the other end of the latch plate device  2  is coupled to a seat belt of the seat. Based upon the number of the disk units  4 , the tongue  21  is provided with two fastening holes, and the insertion slot  33  of the main unit  3  provides the tongue  21  of the latch plate device  2  for insertion. The number of the fastening hole on the tongue  21  should match the number of the disk unit  4 , and shall not be construed as limiting the invention. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the disk support body  34 , the press support body  35 , and the rod support body  36  are circular cylinders horizontally disposed in the housing space  31 , and the disk support body  34 , the press support body  35 , and the both ends of the rod support body  36  are fixed to the housing  32 . 
     The first spring body  71  is a thrust spring, the spring disk support region  43  supporting one end of the first spring body  71 , the spring press support region  54  supporting the other end of the first spring body  71 . The spring disk support region  43  protrudes from convex of the vertical disk  41 , and one end of the first spring body  71  is sleeved on the spring disk support region  43 . The spring press support region  54  protrudes from convex of the press body  51 , and the other end of the first spring body  71  is sleeved on the spring press support region  54 . 
     It is noted that the first spring body  71  is a thrust spring, and one end of the first spring body  71  is sleeved on the spring disk support region  43  which can push the vertical disk  41  to rotate. The other end of the first spring body  71  is sleeved on the spring press support region  54  which can push the press body  51  to move. The conventional design with the tension springs requires annular fasteners disposed on both ends of the tension spring to provide the tension between the two objects, and the junction where the annular fastener and the tension spring connected will become brittle due to metal fatigue. Therefore, the present invention can avoid the aforementioned disadvantages, and indeed extend the lifespan of the buckle device. 
     The vertical disk  41  appears like a plate. The disk support body  34  is disposed at the center of the vertical disk  41 . The spring housing  42  is a groove on the outer edge of the vertical disk  41 . The spring disk support region  43  is disposed at a side of the spring housing  42 , so that the first spring body  71  can push the vertical disk  41  to rotate, and the spring housing  42  can accommodate the first spring body  71 . The protrusion  44  is disposed on the outer side of the vertical disk  41 , and the protrusion  44  presses against the outer side of one end of the first spring body  71  sleeved on the spring disk support region  43 , which prevents one end of the first spring body  71  from exceeding outer edge of the vertical disk  41 . Furthermore, it can prevent the first spring body  71  from interfering with other components and prevent awkward rotation of the vertical disk  41 . 
     The vertical disk  41  is rotatable on the disk support body  34 , and the vertical disk  41  rotates between a disk latched position and a disk unlatched position. 
     The tongue  21  can be inserted into the housing space  31  of the main unit  3  via the insertion slot  33 , when the tongue  21  of the latch plate device  2  inserts into the housing space  31  via the insertion slot  33 , the tongue  21  can push the vertical disk  41  to the disk latched position. 
     The second spring body  72  is a thrust spring, the second spring body  72  sleeved on the electromagnetic retractable rod  62 , the spring magnet support region  64  supporting one end of the second spring body  72 , and the spring rod support region  65  supporting the other end of the second spring body  72 . The second spring body  72  can push the electromagnetic retractable rod  62  to move to the electromagnetic latched position. 
     When the electromagnetic body  61  is powered up, the thrust of the second spring body  72  can be resisted to push the electromagnetic retractable rod  62  to the electromagnetic unlatched position, and when the electromagnetic body  61  is not powered up, the second spring body  72  can push the electromagnetic retractable rod  62  to move. 
     The rod support body  36  cooperates with the rod limiting hole  66  to control position of the electromagnetic retractable rod  62  moving between the electromagnetic unlatched position and the electromagnetic latched position. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , when the vertical disk  41  is located at the disk latched position, the press support body  35  cooperates with the press limiting through-hole  52 , so that the press body  51  moves between a press latched position and a press unlatched position. 
     When the press body  51  is located at the press latched position, the first spring body  71  can push the press body  51  to the press latched position, and the first clamping region  47  is engaged with the press latching region  53 , so that the vertical disk  41  can be fastened on the disk latched position. 
     The press body  51  can receive an external force to resist the thrust of the first spring body  71 , so that the press body  51  can move to the press unlatched position. 
     The electromagnetic latching region  63  is engaged with the third clamping region  49 . Therefore, when the press body  51  is located at the press unlatched position, the first clamping region  47  is separated from the press latching region  53 , and the vertical disk  41  won&#39;t rotate and fixed to the disk latched position. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , when the vertical disk  41  is located at the disk latched position, the electromagnetic retractable rod  62  is movable between an electromagnetic latched position and an electromagnetic unlatched position. The electromagnetic body  61  pushes the electromagnetic retractable rod  62  to the electromagnetic unlatched position, and the second spring body  72  pushes the electromagnetic retractable rod  62  to the electromagnetic latched position. 
     When the electromagnetic retractable rod  62  is moved to the electromagnetic latched position, the electromagnetic latching region  63  is engaged with the third clamping region  49 , so that the vertical disk  41  is fastened to the disk latched position. 
     When the electromagnetic retractable rod  62  is moved to the electromagnetic unlatched position, the tongue  21  is engaged with the second clamping region  48  because the press body  51  is located at the press latched position, and the vertical disk  41  won&#39;t be rotated and is fixed to the disk latched position. 
     When the vertical disk  41  is fixed to the disk latched position by the press body  51  or the electromagnetic retractable rod  62 , the tongue  21  of the latch plate device  2  cannot be separated from the buckle device. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 7 , when the press body  51  is located at the press unlatched position, and meanwhile the electromagnetic retractable rod  62  is located at the electromagnetic unlatched position, the first spring body  71  can push the vertical disk  41  to rotate and cooperates with the press support body  35  to press against the rotation limiting region  45 , so that the vertical disk  41  can move to the disk unlatched position. 
     The rotation limiting region  45  protrudes from the outer edge of the vertical disk  41 , and the rotation limiting region  45  pushes against the first spring body  71  providing the thrust to the vertical disk  41 , so that the vertical disk  41  is located at the disk unlatched position. 
     The spout stop region  46  is a beveled edge on the convex of the rotation limiting region  45 , and the spout stop region  46  controls the rotation angle of the vertical disk  41  located at the disk unlatched position. 
     When the press body  51  is pushed by the external force to the press unlatched position, and meanwhile the electromagnetic retractable rod  62  is pushed by the electromagnetic body  61  to the electromagnetic unlatched position, the first spring body  71  can push the vertical disk  41  to the disk unlatched position, and the tongue  21  of the latch plate device  2  is pushed outward. 
     With above description, the present buckle device has following benefits: 
     1. Extended Lifespan 
     The first spring body  71  and the second spring body  72  of the present invention are thrust springs, which can improve the drawback of tension spring caused by metal elastic fatigue and extend the lifespan of the present buckle device. 
     2. Smooth Spring Movement 
     The protrusion  44  can be supported on the outer side of one end of the first spring body  71  sleeved on the spring disk support region  43 , which prevents one end of the first spring body  71  from exceeding the vertical disk  41 . Furthermore, it can prevent the first spring body  71  from interfering with other components, so that the first spring body  71  can push the vertical disk  41  to rotate smoothly. 
     3. Accurate Control of Position 
     The spout stop region  46  is a beveled edge of the convex of the rotation limiting region  45 , and the first spring body  71  can be accurately provided to push the vertical disk  41  to the disk unlatched position, and the tongue  21  of the latch plate device  2  is pushed outward, so that the rotation limiting region  45  is prevented from interfering with the press body  51  to generate structural friction. 
     In conclusion, the first spring body  71  and the second spring body  72  of the present invention are thrust springs, and the vertical disk  41  is provided with the spring housing  42 , the spring disk support region  43  and the protrusion  44 . The press body  51  is provided with the spring press support region  54 , so that the first spring body  71  can respectively rotate the vertical disk  41  and move the press body  51 , which effectively reducing the number of springs and maintaining the movement of the buckle device. Furthermore, because the first spring body  71  and the second spring body  72  are thrust springs, metal elastic fatigue can be prevented, and extend the lifespan of the present buckle device. Therefore, the objective of the present invention can be obtained. 
     Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.