Switch-equipped buckle device

• US 8,869,357 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2009
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Midorikawa, Yukinori, Oyamada, Ayaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): UPCHURCH, DAVID M
• Application Number:
  US13/132,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20110232052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,797 Days
• Field of Search: 246/33, 246/40, 246/41
• US Class Current: 24/640
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2523 acting parallel to the main plane of the buckle and in the same direction as the fastening action
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 15/04 Stationary parts; Contacts mounted thereon
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45623 and operator therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4566 including slidably connected and guided element on receiving member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45665 for shifting pivotally connected interlocking component

Abstract

A switch-equipped buckle device capable of accurately detecting an attachment-detachment state of a tongue plate by mounting fixed contacts immovably therein. The switch-equipped buckle device has, inside a buckle body, a slide switch that detects a state of attachment of the tongue plate according to the sliding position of an ejector. A slider of the slide switch is integrated with the ejector, and three fixed contacts of the slide switch are integrated with a lower case by insert molding.

Claims

1. A switch-equipped buckle device comprising:

a tongue plate provided in a seat belt;

a buckle body which has a resin outer case, and to and from which the tongue plate is configured to be attached and detached in an attachment-detachment direction;

an ejector that is provided inside the outer case, the ejector sliding along the attachment-detachment direction of movement defined by the tongue plate from a detachment position where the tongue plate is detached from the buckle body to an attachment position where the tongue plate is attached to the buckle body, and the ejector sliding along the attachment-detachment direction of movement from the attachment position to the detachment position when the attachment of the tongue plate is released; and

a slide switch configured to detect a state of attachment of the tongue plate according to the detachment or attachment position of the ejector, wherein the slide switch includes a movable contact and a fixed contact, the movable contact of the slide switch is coupled to and movable with the ejector in the attachment-detachment direction of movement, the fixed contact of the slide switch is provided integrally within a bottom wall of the outer case and has an upper surface that is exposed at an upper surface of the bottom wall of the outer case, and wherein the upper surface of the fixed contact is flush with the upper surface of the bottom wall.

2. The switch-equipped buckle device according to claim 1, wherein

the buckle body includes the outer case, a frame disposed inside the outer case and having an insertion path for the tongue plate, a latch member that is rotatably provided on the frame and configured to rotate to latch the tongue plate when the tongue plate is inserted along the insertion path, and the ejector is provided on the frame so as to slide along the attachment-detachment direction of movement defined by the tongue plate and push the tongue plate out of the buckle body by sliding from the detachment position to the attachment position when the tongue plate is inserted into the insertion path, and by sliding from the attachment position to the detachment position when latching to the tongue plate is released, and

the movable contact being connected and movable with the ejector.

3. The switch-equipped buckle device according to claim 1, wherein the fixed contact is constituted by first, second and third contacts, the third contact is a common contact and is located spaced apart and between the first and second contacts-along a sliding direction of the movable contact, and

wherein when the ejector is at the detachment position, the movable contact is in contact with both the first contact and the third contact, and when the ejector is at the attachment position, the movable contact is in contact with both the second contact and the third contact.

4. The switch-equipped buckle device according to claim 1, wherein the fixed contact is respectively constituted by a plurality of metal plates.

5. The switch-equipped buckle device according to claim 4, wherein the bottom wall of the outer case is a molding having the metal plates are integrated therein.

6. A switch-equipped buckle device comprising:

a tongue plate provided in a seat belt;

a buckle body which has a resin outer case, and to and from which the tongue plate is configured to be attached and detached in an attachment-detachment direction;

an ejector that is provided inside the outer case, the ejector sliding along the attachment-detachment direction of movement defined by the tongue plate from a detachment position where the tongue plate is detached from the buckle body to an attachment position where the tongue plate is attached to the buckle body, and the ejector sliding along the attachment-detachment direction of movement from the attachment position to the detachment position when the attachment of the tongue plate is released; and

a slide switch configured to detect a state of attachment of the tongue plate according to the detachment or attachment position of the ejector, wherein the slide switch includes a movable contact and a fixed contact, the movable contact of the slide switch is coupled to and movable with the ejector in the attachment-detachment direction of movement, the fixed contact of the slide switch is provided integrally within a bottom wall of the outer case and has an upper surface that is exposed at an upper surface of the bottom wall of the outer case; and

wherein the movable contact is coupled to the ejector by a slider that engages the ejector, the slider being fixed relative to the moveable contact.

7. The switch-equipped buckle device according to claim 6, wherein the slider includes a pin, the pin extending through a pin hole formed in the ejector.

9. The switch-equipped buckle device according to claim 6, wherein the buckle body includes the outer case, a frame disposed inside the outer case and having an insertion path for the tongue plate, a latch member that is rotatably provided on the frame and configured to rotate to latch the tongue plate when the tongue plate is inserted along the insertion path, and the ejector is provided on the frame so as to slide along the attachment-detachment direction of movement defined by the tongue plate and push the tongue plate out of the buckle body by sliding from the detachment position to the attachment position when the tongue plate is inserted into the insertion path, and by sliding from the attachment position to the detachment position when latching to the tongue plate is released, and the movable contact being connected and movable with the ejector.

10. The switch-equipped buckle device according to claim 6, wherein the fixed contact is constituted by first, second and third contacts, the third contact is a common contact and is located spaced apart and between the first and second contacts along a sliding direction of the movable contact, and wherein when the ejector is at the detachment position, the movable contact is in contact with both the first contact and the third contact, and when the ejector is at the attachment position, the movable contact is in contact with both the second contact and the third contact.

11. The switch-equipped buckle device according to claim 6, wherein the fixed contact is respectively constituted by a plurality of metal plates.

12. The switch-equipped buckle device according to claim 11, wherein the bottom wall of the outer case is a molding having the metal plates integrated therein.

8. A switch-equipped buckle device comprising:

a tongue plate provided in a seat belt;

a buckle body which has a resin outer case, and to and from which the tongue plate is configured to be attached and detached in an attachment-detachment direction;

an ejector that is provided inside the outer case, the ejector sliding along the attachment-detachment direction of movement defined by the tongue plate from a detachment position where the tongue plate is detached from the buckle body to an attachment position where the tongue plate is attached to the buckle body, and the ejector sliding along the attachment-detachment direction of movement from the attachment position to the detachment position when the attachment of the tongue plate is released; and

a slide switch configured to detect a state of attachment of the tongue plate according to the detachment or attachment position of the ejector, wherein the slide switch includes a movable contact and a fixed contact, the movable contact of the slide switch is coupled to and movable with the ejector in the attachment-detachment direction of movement, the fixed contact of the slide switch is provided integrally within a bottom wall of the outer case and has an upper surface that is exposed at an upper surface of the bottom wall of the outer case; and

wherein the moveable contact is coupled to the ejector by a pin, the pin extending in a direction transverse to the attachment-detachment direction.

13. The switch-equipped buckle device according to claim 8, wherein the buckle body includes the outer case, a frame disposed inside the outer case and having an insertion path for the tongue plate, a latch member that is rotatably provided on the frame and configured to rotate to latch the tongue plate when the tongue plate is inserted along the insertion path, and the ejector is provided on the frame so as to slide along the attachment-detachment direction of movement defined by the tongue plate and push the tongue plate out of the buckle body by sliding from the detachment position to the attachment position when the tongue plate is inserted into the insertion path, and by sliding from the attachment position to the detachment position when latching to the tongue plate is released, and the movable contact being connected and movable with the ejector.

14. The switch-equipped buckle device according to claim 8, wherein the fixed contact is constituted by first, second and third contacts, the third contact is a common contact and is located spaced apart and between the first and second contacts along a sliding direction of the movable contact, and wherein when the ejector is at the detachment position, the movable contact is in contact with both the first contact and the third contact, and when the ejector is at the attachment position, the movable contact is in contact with both the second contact and the third contact.

15. The switch-equipped buckle device according to claim 8, wherein the fixed contact is respectively constituted by a plurality of metal plates.

16. The switch-equipped buckle device according to claim 15, wherein the bottom wall of the outer case is a molding having the metal plates integrated therein.