Safety belt buckle
| Title: | Safety belt buckle |
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| Patent Number: | 4,614,010 |
| Publication Date: | September 30, 1986 |
| Appl. No: | 06/740,725 |
| Application Filed: | June 03, 1985 |
| Abstract: | An improved subassembly can be used in either a top release buckle or an end release buckle. The subassembly includes an elongated metal base. A latch bar is pivotally supported in openings in side portions of the base for movement between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition. A slide is movable along the base to move the latch bar between the engaged and disengaged conditions and to hold the latch bar in the engaged condition. The slide has a pair of side sections which are engaged by either the actuator pad of a top release buckle or the actuator slide of an end release buckle. The side sections of the slide have cam surfaces which move the latch bar between the engaged and disengaged conditions. The side sections of the slide member have blocking surfaces which hold the latch bar in the engaged condition. An ejector member ejects a safety belt tongue from a buckle upon movement of the latch bar to the disengaged condition and blocks movement of the latch bar from the disengaged condition until the tongue is again inserted into the buckle. |
| Inventors: | Charlton, Keith D. (Midland, CAX); Bracnik, Anthony S. (Penetanguishene, CAX); Forget, Kenneth M. (Lafontaine, CAX) |
| Assignees: | TRW Inc. (Cleveland, OH) |
| Claim: | Having described a specific preferred embodiment of the invention, the following is claimed |
| Claim: | 1. An apparatus for use in either a top release buckle having a manually movable actuator pad in an upper portion of the buckle or an end release buckle having a manually movable actuator slide in an end portion of the end release buckle, said apparatus comprising |
| Claim: | a base |
| Claim: | a latch bar disposed on said base and movable between engaged and disengaged conditions in which said latch bar is effective to hold or release a tongue connected with a safety belt |
| Claim: | slide means movable along said base for moving said latch bar between the engaged and disengaged conditions, said slide means including actuator surface means engageable by the actuator pad when said apparatus is used in a top release buckle and engageable by the actuator slide when said apparatus is used in an end release buckle, and |
| Claim: | spring means for urging said slide means toward a first position in which said latch bar is in the engaged condition, said slide means being movable along said base against the influence of said spring means from a first position to a second position to move said latch bar from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition under the influence of force applied against said actuator surface means by the actuator pad when said apparatus is used in a top release buckle and by the actuator slide when said apparatus is used in an end release buckle. |
| Claim: | 2. An apparatus for use in either a top release buckle having a manually movable actuator pad in an upper portion of the buckle or an end release buckle having a manually movable actuator slide in an end portion of the end release buckle, said apparatus comprising |
| Claim: | a latch bar disposed on said base and movable between engaged and disengaged conditions in which said latch bar is effective to respectively hold or release a tongue connected with a safety belt; |
| Claim: | slide means movable along said base for moving said latch bar between the engaged and disengaged conditions, said slide means including actuator surface means engageable by the actuator pad when said apparatus is used in a top release buckle and engageable by the actuator slide when said apparatus is used in an end release buckle; and |
| Claim: | spring means for urging said slide means toward a first position in which said latch bar is in the engaged condition, said slide means being movable along said base against the influence of said spring means from a first position to a second position to move said latch bar from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition under the influence of force applied against said actuator surface means by the actuator pad when said apparatus is used in a top release buckle and by the actuator slide when said apparatus is used in an end release buckle, said slide means including first and second cam surfaces for engaging opposite end portions of said latch bar and moving said latch bar from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition during movement of said slide means along the base under the influence of force applied against said actuator surface means by the actuator pad when said apparatus is used in a top release buckle and by the actuator slide when said apparatus is used in an end release buckle. |
| Claim: | 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said slide means includes blocking surface means for blocking movement of said latch bar from the engaged condition when said slide means is in the first position. |
| Claim: | 4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said actuator surface means includes a first surface area adjacent to one end portion of said latch bar and a second surface area disposed adjacent to the other end portion of said latch bar, said first and second surface areas sloping at an acute angle to the direction of movement of said slide means along said base, said slide means being movable along said base from the first position to the second position under the influence of force components applied in a first direction against said first and second surface areas by the actuator pad when said apparatus is used in a top release buckle and being movable along said base from the first position to the second position under the influence of force components applied against said first and second surface areas in a second direction transverse to the first direction by the actuator slide when said apparatus is used in an end release buckle. |
| Claim: | 5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said slide means further includes first and second blocking surfaces for engaging opposite end portions of said latch bar and blocking movement of said latch bar from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition when said slide means is in the first position. |
| Claim: | 6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further including ejector means for ejecting a tongue from a buckle upon movement of said latch bar from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition and for holding said latch bar in the disengaged condition until a tongue is inserted into a buckle. |
| Claim: | 7. An apparatus for use in either a top release buckle having a manually movable actuator pad in an upper portion of the buckle or an end release buckle having a manually movable actuator slide in an end portion of the end release buckle, said apparaturs comprising |
| Claim: | a base; |
| Claim: | a latch bar disposed on said base and movable between engaged and disengaged conditions in which said latch bar is effective to hold or release a tongue connected with a safety belt; |
| Claim: | spring means for urging said slide means toward a first position in which said latch bar is in the engaged condition, said slide means being movable along said base against the influence of said spring means from a first position to a second position to move said latch bar from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition under the influence of force applied against said actuator surface means by the actuator pad when said apparatus is used in a top release buckle and by the actuator slide when said apparatus is used in an end release buckle; |
| Claim: | said base having an elongated configuration with a pair of side portions extending lengthwise of said base and a web portion extending between said side portions, said side portions of said base including surface means for a least partially defining a pair of apertures, said latch bar being supported in said apertures for movement between the engaged and disengaged conditions; |
| Claim: | said latch bar extending across said base in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said base and having a first end poriton projecting outwardly from one of the side portions of said base and a second end portion projecting outwardly from the other side portion of said base; |
| Claim: | said slide means including a first cam surface disposed adjacent to the one side portion of said base and engageable with the first end portion of said latch bar and a second cam surface disposed adjacent to the other side portion of said base and engageable with the second end portion of said latch bar. |
| Claim: | 8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 further including a tubular housing extending around at least a portion of said base, first connector means for preventing relative movement between said housing and base, said slide means being disposed between said housing and base, said housing including surface means for guiding movement of said slide means relative to said base and housing, a cover enclosing at least a portion of said housing and base, said cover having an open end through which said housing and base are inserted into said cover, and second connector means for preventing relative movement between said housing and cover. |
| Claim: | 9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said side portions include a pair of inturned flange sections having inner side surfaces facing toward said web portion and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said base, said apparatus further including an ejector member disposed in abutting engagement with said inner side surfaces of said flange sections and slidable along said flange sections, and second spring means for effecting sliding movement of said ejector member along said flange sections to eject a tongue connected with a safety belt from a buckle upon movement of said latch bar to the disengaged condition with a tongue inserted in the buckle. |
| Claim: | 10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said actuator surface means includes a first actuator surface disposed adjacent to the one side portion of said base and engageable by a first surface on the actuator pad when said apparatus is used in a top release buckle and by a first surface on the actuator slide when said apparatus is used in an end release buckle, said actuator surface means including a second actuator surface disposed adjacent to the other side portion of said base and engageable by a second surface on the actuator pad when said apparatus is used in a top release buckle and by a second surface on the actuator slide when said apparatus is used in an end release buckle. |
| Claim: | 11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said slide means includes a first side section disposed adjacent to said first side portion of said base, a second side section disposed adjacent to said second side portion of said base, and a bridge section extending between said first and second side sections, said first cam surface and said first actuator surface being disposed on said first side section of said slide means, said second cam surface and said second actuator surface being disposed on said second side section of said slide means, said bridge section of said slide means being disposed in abutting engagement with and being slidable along an outer side surface of said web portion of said base. |
| Claim: | 12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said base further includes a spring retaining portion projecting from said outer side surface of said web portion of said base in a direction opposite to said side portions of said base, said spring means including a coil spring disposed adjacent to said outer side surface of said web portion and having a first end portion disposed in abutting engagement with said slide means and a second end portion disposed in abutting engagement with said spring retaining portion of said base. |
| Claim: | 13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said slide means further includes an elongated spring mounting section projecting from said bridge section of said slide means in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said base, said spring retaining portion of said base including first and second guide surfaces disposed adjacent to opposite sides of said spring mounting section of said slide means to at least partially guide movement of said slide means relative to said base. |
| Claim: | 14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 further including an ejector member disposed between said side portions of said base and movable along an inner side surface of said web portion of said base, and second spring means for moving said ejector member along said web portion of said base to eject a tongue connected with a safety belt from a buckle upon movement of said latch bar to the disengaged condition with a tongue inserted in the buckle. |
| Claim: | 15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said slide means further includes first blocking surface means disposed on the first side section of said slide means for engaging the first end portion of said latch bar and second blocking surface means disposed on the second side section of said slide means for engaging the second end porton of said latch bar, said first and second blocking surface means blocking movement of said latch bar from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition when said slide means is in the first position. |
| Claim: | 16. A buckle for receiving a tongue connected with a safety belt, said buckle comprising |
| Claim: | an elongated base having a web portion and a pair of side portions which project in a first direction from said web portion and extend lengthwise of said base |
| Claim: | a latch bar at least partially supported by said side portions for movement between an engaged condition in which said latch bar is effective to hold the tongue in said buckle and a disengaged condition, said latch bar having a first end portion projecting outwardly from one of the side portions of said base and a second end portion projecting outwardly from the other side portion of said base, and |
| Claim: | a slide member movable along said base between first and second positions, said slide member having surface means engageable with the first and second end portions of said latch bar to block movement of said latch bar from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition when said slide member is in the first position, said surface means being engageable with said first and second end portions of said latch bar to move said latch bar from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition during movement of said slide member from the first position to the second position. |
| Claim: | 17. A buckle as set forth in claim 16 wherein said web portion of said base has an inner side surface which faces in the first direction and an outer side surface which faces in a direction opposite to the first direction, said latch bar being disposed adjacent to the inner side surface of said web portion of said base, said slide member being disposed adjacent to the outer side surface of said web portion of said base. |
| Claim: | 18. A buckle for receiving a tongue connected with a safety belt, said buckle comprising |
| Claim: | an elongated base having a web portion and a pair of side portions which project in a first direction from said web portion and extend lengthwise of said base; |
| Claim: | a latch bar at least partially supported by said side portions for movement between an engaged condition in which said latch bar is effective to hold the tongue in said buckle and a disengaged condition, said latch bar having a first end portion projection outwardly from one of the side portions of said base and a second end portion projection outwardly from the other side portion of said base; and |
| Claim: | a slide member movable along said base between first and second positions, said slide member having surface means engageable with the first and second end portions of said latch bar to block movement of said latch bar from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition when said slide member is in the first position, said surface means being engageable with said first and second end portions of said latch bar to move said latch bar from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition during movement of said slide member from the first position to the second position; |
| Claim: | said web portion of said base having an inner side surface which faces in the first direction and an outer side surface which faces in a direction opposite to the first direction, said latch bar being disposed adjacent to the inner side surface of said web portion of said base; |
| Claim: | said slide member being disposed adjacent to the outer side surface of said web portion of said base; |
| Claim: | and said slide member having a first side section disposed adjacent to the first side portion of said base, a second side section disposed adjcent to the second side portion of said base, and a bridging section extending between said first and second side sections; |
| Claim: | said surface means including a first cam surface disposed on the first side section of said slide member and engageable with the first end portion of said latch member during movement of said slide member from the first position to the second position, a second cam surface disposed on the second side of said slide member and engageable with the second end portion of said latch member during movement of said slide member from the first position to the second position, a first blocking surface disposed on the first side section of said slide member and enagageable with the first end portion of said latch member when said slide member is in the first position, and a second block surface disposed on the second side section of said slide member and engageable with the second end portion of said latch member when said slide member is in the first position. |
| Claim: | 19. A buckle as set forth in claim 18 wherein said first side section of said slide member includes a first opening in which the first end portion of said latch bar is disposed, said second side section of said slide member includes a second opening in which the second end portion of said latch bar is disposed, said first opening being at least partially defined by said first cam surface and said first blocking surface, said second opening being at least partially defined by said second cam surface and said second blocking surface. |
| Claim: | 20. A buckle as set forth in claim 18 wherein said first and second blocking surfaces extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of said base, said first and second cam surfaces being skewed at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of said base. |
| Claim: | 21. A buckle as set forth in claim 18 further including spring means for urging said slide member toward the second position, said base including a spring retaining portion projecting from said outer side surface of said web portion, said spring means being compressed between said slide member and said spring retaining portion of said base upon movement of said slide member to the second position. |
| Claim: | 22. A buckle as set forth in claim 18 wherein said side portions of said base include a pair of flanges having inner side surfaces which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of said base and which face toward the inner side surface of said web portion of said base, said buckle further including an ejector member disposed between the inner side surfaces of said flanges and the inner side surface of the web portion of said base, and ejector spring means for moving said ejector member along said base to eject the tongue from said buckle upon movement of said latch member from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition. |
| Claim: | 23. A buckle as set forth in claim 22 further including slide spring means for urging said slide member toward the first position, said ejector member having surface means for blocking movement of said latch bar from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition and movement of said slide member to the first position under the influence of said slide spring prior to insertion of the tongue into said buckle. |
| Claim: | 24. A buckle as set forth in claim 22 further including a tubular housing at least partially enclosing said base and slide member, said tubular housing having first guide track means for engaging said slide member and at least partially guiding movement of said slide member between the first and second positions, said tubular housing having positioning surface means for engaging said flanges to at least partially position said base relative to said housing. |
| Claim: | 25. A buckle as set forth in claim 24 wherein said tubular housing has second guide track means for engaging said ejector member and at least partially guiding movement of said ejector member relative to said base. |
| Claim: | 26. A buckle as set forth in claim 25 wherein said side portions of said base include a pair of tangs which engage said housing to retain said base against movement relative to said housing. |
| Claim: | 27. A buckle as set forth in claim 18 further including a housing at least partially enclosing said base and slide member, said housing having an end wall which extends across one end of said base, said end wall having surface means at least partially defining a narrow slot through which the tongue is inserted into said buckle, first connector means for connecting said base with said housing, a cover enclosing at least a portion of said housing and said base, said cover having an open end through which said housing and base are inserted into said cover, said open end of said cover including an end surface which is disposed in abutting engagement with said end wall of said housing, and second connector means for connecting said cover with said housing. |
| Claim: | 28. A buckle as set forth in claim 18 further including a tubular housing at least partially enclosing said base and slide member, an actuator pad pivotally supported by said housing, said actuator pad being disposed in abutting engagement with said slide member and being pivotal toward said base to move said slide member from the first position to the second position, a cover enclosing at least a portion of said housing and actuator pad, and means for interconnecting said base, housing and cover to hold them against movement relative to each other. |
| Claim: | 29. A buckle as set forth in claim 28 further including spring means for urging said slide member toward the first position and for urging said actuator pad to pivot in a direction away from said base. |
| Claim: | 30. A buckle as set forth in claim 18 further including a tubular housing at least partially enclosing said base and slide member, an actuator slide slidably supported by said housing for movement along a path extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said base, a cover enclosing at least a portion of said housing and said actuator slide, and means for interconnecting said base, housing and cover to hold them against movement relative to each other. |
| Claim: | 31. A buckle for receiving a tongue connected with a safety belt, said buckle comprising |
| Claim: | a latch bar disposed on said base and movable between an engaged condition in which said latch bar is effective to hold the tongue in said buckle and a disengaged condition |
| Claim: | a slide movable along said base between first and second positions, said slide including cam surface means for moving said latch bar from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition upon movement of said slide from the first position to the second position |
| Claim: | an actuator pad movable relative to said base from an initial position to an actuated position to move said slide from the first position to the second position, and |
| Claim: | spring means for urging said actuator pad toward its initial position and for urging said slide to its first position, said spring means including a single spring element having a first end portion disposed in abutting engagement with a stationary surface and a second end portion disposed in abutting engagement with said slide and with said actuator pad. |
| Claim: | 32. A buckle as set forth in claim 31 further including a tubular housing extending around at least a portion of said base and said slide, said housing including surface means for supporting said actuator pad for pivotal movement between the initial and actuated positions, said actuator pad being pivotal to said initial position under the influence of said spring means while said slide remains stationary relative to said base, said slide being movable relative to said base to said first position under the influence of said spring means while said actuator pad is in said initial position. |
| Claim: | 33. A buckle as set forth in claim 32 wherein said slide includes an elongated spring mounting section, said spring element being a coil spring which telescopically receives said spring mounting section. |
| Claim: | 34. A buckle as set forth in claim 33 wherein said base includes a spring retaining portion, said stationary surface being disposed on said spring retaining portion, said spring retaining portion including first and second guide surfaces disposed adjacent to opposite sides of said spring mounting section to at least partially guide movement of said slide relative to said base. |
| Claim: | 35. An apparatus for use in either a top release buckle having a manually movable actuator pad in an upper portion of the buckle or an end release buckle having a manually movable actuator slide in an end portion of the end release buckle, said apparatus comprising |
| Claim: | slide means movable along said base for moving said latch bar between the engaged and disengaged conditions, said slide means including first surface means engageable by the actuator pad when said apparatus is used in a top release buckle and engageable by the actuator slide when said apparatus is used in an end release buckle, said slide means including second surface means spaced from said first surface means and engageable with said latch bar to move said latch bar from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition, and |
| Claim: | spring means for urging said slide means toward a first position in which said latch bar is in the engaged condition, said slide means being movable along said base against the influence of said spring means from a first position to a second position to press said second surface means against said latch bar and move said latch bar from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition under the influence of force applied against said first surface means by the actuator pad when said apparatus is used in a top release buckle and by the actuator slide when said apparatus is used in an end release buckle. |
| Claim: | 36. An apparatus as set forth in claim 35 wherein said slide means includes third surface means for engaging said latch bar and blocking movement of said latch bar from the engaged condition when said slide means is in the first position. |
| Current U.S. Class: | 24/639; 24/635; 24/640; 24/642 |
| Current International Class: | A44B 1125 |
| Patent References Cited: | 3605210 September 1971 Lohr 3760467 September 1973 Lohr 4094046 June 1978 Takada 4181832 January 1980 Ueda 4228567 October 1980 Ikesue et al. 4301576 November 1981 Cunningham 4380100 April 1983 Crisp |
| Primary Examiner: | Sakran, Victor N. |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Yount & Tarolli |
| Accession Number: | edspgr.04614010 |
| Database: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| Language: | English |
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