IP Library Granted Patent US 7,657,979
Granted Patent B2
US 7,657,979 · App. 10/577,842 · Granted Feb 9, 2010

Buckle switch and buckle device

Assignees: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.; Autoliv Development AB
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,657,979
App. No.
10/577,842
Granted
Feb 9, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

To provide a buckle switch and buckle device wherein a first switch section and a second switch section are unitized to provide improved assembling workability and increased production efficiency. As a tongue plate is inserted to a buckle body to move a slider, a pressing segment 23 b of the slider rotates a leaf spring 46 in a direction a and, hence, a depressible portion 44 c is depressed to cause a movable member 44 to move in a direction X 2 . At this time, a stationary contact 71 a moves into and is pinched by pinch members 53 of a movable contact 50 disposed on the movable member 44 , rendering the switch section SW 1 to assume a conductive state. Concurrently, since a magnet M 2 is placed in opposition to a magnetic detecting element 61 , a second switch section SW 2 is switched over. By unitizing the first and second switch sections, assembling workability of a buckle switch 40 to the buckle body can be improved, enabling an increase in production efficiency.

Claims (22)

1. A buckle switch for detecting buckling and unbuckling states between a tongue plate, attached to a seat belt, and a buckle body to and from which the tongue plate is buckled and unbuckled, the buckle switch comprising:

a case;

a movable member freely movable within the case;

an urging member for urging the movable member in a direction to move away from the case;

a first switch section including a movable contact disposed on the movable member and a stationary contact disposed in a position opposite to the movable contact inside the case; and

a second switch section including a magnet and magnetic detection means one of which is disposed on the movable member and the other disposed in the case;

the buckle body having an inside including a slider movable with the tongue plate when the tongue plate is inserted to the buckle body,

wherein the movable member is caused to move in a direction against the urging member due to movement of the slider to render the movable contact and the stationary contact of the first switch section conductive to switch an output state of the magnetic detection means of the second switch section,

and wherein the urging member is disposed between the first switch section and the second switch section.

2. A buckle switch for detecting buckling and unbuckling states between a tongue plate, attached to a seat belt, and a buckle body to and from which the tongue plate is buckled and unbuckled, the buckle switch comprising:

a case;

a movable member freely movable within the case;

an urging member for urging the movable member in a direction to move away from the case;

a first switch section including a movable contact disposed on the movable member and a stationary contact disposed in a position opposite to the movable contact inside the case; and

a second switch section including a magnet and magnetic detection means one of which is disposed on the movable member and the other disposed in the case;

the buckle body having an inside including a slider movable with the tongue plate when the tongue plate is inserted to the buckle body,

wherein the movable member is caused to move in a direction against the urging member due to movement of the slider to render the movable contact and the stationary contact of the first switch section conductive to switch an output state of the magnetic detection means of the second switch section,

and wherein the one of the stationary contact and the movable contact includes a pair of pin-shaped terminals and the other includes pinch members between which the pin-shaped terminals are sandwiched for sliding capabilities.

3. The buckle switch according to claim 2 , wherein one pin-shaped terminal and the other pin-shaped terminal are formed in different lengths in dimension and the pin-shaped terminal with a short length in dimension is operative to be brought into or out of pinching engagement with the pinch members.

4. The buckle switch according claim 2 or 3 , wherein the urging member is disposed between the first switch section and the second switch section.

5. The buckle switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the magnetic detection means internally incorporates a hall element as a magnetic detecting element.

6. A buckle device including the buckle switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 1, 2019
From: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048209/0197 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE BUSINESS ADDRESS FOR AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB IN THE ASSIGNMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL 019310/FRAME 0592. Recorded Feb 1, 2010
From: MIDORIKAWA, YUKINORI; OYAMADA, AYAKI; MORI, TOSHIHARU
To: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
Reel/Frame 023880/0481 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 17, 2007
From: MIDORIKAWA, YUKINORI; OYAMADA, AYAKI; MORI, TOSHIHARU
To: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
Reel/Frame 019310/0592 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2003-366816 · Oct 28, 2003 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070271746A1 · Nov 29, 2007